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"As the body must be born after completing its development in the womb, so a soul, when it has reached the limit of life in the body allotted it by God, must leave the body."
- St. Anthony the Great
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(And so it shall be for all who are born. Who do you feel about this? Are you ready?)
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1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-16; Ps. 27:7-9, 13-14; Mt 5:27-32
R. I long to see your face, O
Lord.
Hear, O LORD, the sound of my call;
have pity on me, and answer me.
Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks.
Your presence, O LORD, I seek.
Hide not your face from me;
do not in anger repel your servant.
You are my helper: cast me not off.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
USCCB Lectionary
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Matthew 5:27-32 (Sexual responsibility.)
The reproductive instinct is one of the
strongest of human passions and one of the most difficult to control. Jesus tells us that the key to responsible sexual expression lies in the way we think about people of the opposite gender. Do we allow ourselves to fantasize adulterous thoughts? If so, we are violating God’s law which holds that responsible sexual expression should take place in the context of a committed relationship.
- How do you comfortable are you with your own sexuality?
- How do you feel about Jesus’ teaching
on adultery?
Paperback, Kindle
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The Way of Perfection, by Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
Describes how, by striving always to walk in the love and fear of God, we shall travel safely amid all these temptations.
Those who really love God love all good, seek all good, help forward all good, praise all good, and invariably join forces with good people and help and defend them. They love only truth and things worthy of love. Do you think it possible that anyone who really and truly loves God can love vanities, riches, worldly pleasures or honours? Can he engage in strife or feel envy? No; for his only desire is to please the Beloved. Such
persons die with longing for Him to love them and so they will give their lives to learn how they may please Him better. Will they hide their love? No: if their love for God is genuine love they cannot. Why, think of Saint Paul or the Magdalen. One of these -- Saint Paul -- found in three days that he was sick with love. The Magdalen discovered this on the very first day. And how certain of it they were! For there are degrees of love for God, which shows itself in proportion to its strength. If
there is little of it, it shows itself but little; if there is much, it shows itself a great deal. But it always shows itself, whether little or much, provided it is real love for God.
- Chapter 40 (Keep in mind that she is writing to sisters in a cloistered contemplative order.)
Paperback, Kindle
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