|
By these things examine thyself: By whose rules am I acting? In whose name? In whose strength? For whose glory? What faith, humility, self-denial and love of God and to people have there been in my actions?
- Anonymous
(How would you answer these questions at this time in your life?) |
|
|
Jb 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5; Ps 139:1-3, 7-8, 9-10, 13-14ab
Lk 10:13-16
Jesus said to them,
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty deeds done in your midst
had been done in Tyre and Sidon,
they would long ago have repented,
sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon
at the judgment than for you.
And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to
heaven?
You will go down to the netherworld.’
Whoever listens to you listens to me.
Whoever rejects you rejects me.
And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
USCCB Lectionary
|
|
|
Luke 10: 13-16 (Townships cursed)
Today we again return to the sobering theme
of procrastinating in our response to Christ. Jesus curses Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum because they have not accepted the offer of salvation. We, too, should never take for granted Jesus' invitation to follow him. Furthermore, there are times in our lives when we are especially aware of this offer, and our responses then are crucial to our formation.
* "It only takes a moment to be loved a whole life through," John Powell said. Have you experienced such peak moments in your life? Did you ever withdraw from the promise of such a moment? Pray for the grace to recognize and accept these invitations when they come.
* Spend some time with the verse “He who hears you, hears me.” What does this say to you about the importance of your example to others?
Paperback, Kindle
|
|
|
|
|
The Way of Perfection, by Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
Treats of these last words of the Paternoster: "Sed libera nos a malo. Amen." "But deliver us from evil. Amen."
I think the good Jesus was right to ask this for Himself, for
we know how weary of this life He was when at the Supper He said to His Apostles: "With desire I have desired to sup with you" -- and that was the last supper of His life. From this it can be seen how weary He must have been of living; yet nowadays people are not weary even at a hundred years old, but always want to live longer. It is true, however, that we do not live so difficult a life or suffer such trials or such poverty as His Majesty had to bear. What was His whole life but a continuous
death, with the picture of the cruel death that He was to suffer always before His eyes? And this was the least important thing, with so many offenses being committed against His Father and such a multitude of souls being lost. If to any human being full of charity this is a great torment, what must it have been to the boundless and measureless charity of the Lord? And how right He was to beseech the Father to deliver Him from so many evils and trials and to give Him rest for ever in His
Kingdom, of which He was the true heir.
- Chapter 42 (Keep in mind that she is writing to sisters in a cloistered contemplative order.)
Paperback, Kindle
|
|
|
|
|
|
