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Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.
- The Talmud (Echoing Micah 6:8.)
(What is the most important work entrusted to you this day?)
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1 Pt 5:5b-14; Ps. 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17; John 15: 12-17
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall
proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, "My kindness is
established forever";
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
The heavens proclaim your wonders, O LORD,
and your faithfulness, in the assembly of the holy ones.
For who in the skies can rank with the LORD?
Who is
like the LORD among the sons of God?
Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;
in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.
At your name they rejoice all the day,
and through your justice they are exalted.
USCCB Lectionary
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John 15:12-17 (Love one another)
Thousands of pages of
reflection have been written about Jesus Christ and the meaning of his revelation for us. Jesus sums up everything in today’s reading, briefly and succinctly! We are to bear fruit for the glory of God, for God has chosen us to share with one another his love for us.
- A pious tradition suggests that at the end of our lives, when we stand before God, he will ask us only one question: ‘Have you lived your life in such a way as to show others that I loved you?” Using this past week as the basis for your answer, how would you respond?
- Do you believe that God has chosen you to be one of his friends? How do you experience this?
Paperback, Kindle
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The Way of Perfection, by Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) Continues the same subject and gives counsels concerning different kinds of temptation. Suggests two remedies by which we may be freed from temptations.
When you find yourselves in this state, cease thinking, so far as you can, of your own wretchedness, and think of the mercy of God and of His love and His sufferings for us. If your state of mind is the result of temptation, you will be unable to do even this, for it will not allow you to quiet your thoughts or to fix them on anything but will only weary you the more: it will be a great thing if you can recognize it as a temptation. This
is what happens when we perform excessive penances in order to make ourselves believe that, because of what we are doing, we are more penitent than others. If we conceal our penances from our confessor or superior, or if we are told to give them up and do not obey, that is a clear case of temptation. Always try to obey, however much it may hurt you to do so, for that is the greatest possible perfection.
- Chapter 37 (Keep in mind that she is writing to sisters in a cloistered contemplative order.)
Paperback, Kindle
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