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Prayer opens the understanding to the brightness of Divine Light, and the will to the warmth of Heavenly Love--nothing can so effectually purify the mind from its many ignorances, or the will from its perverse affections. It is as a healing water which causes the roots of our good desires to send forth fresh shoots, which washes away the soul's imperfections, and allays the thirst of passion.
- François de Sales (1567-1622), Introduction to the Devout Life
So . . . pray! :)
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ACTS 5:34-42; Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14
JN 6:1-15
Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee.
A large crowd followed him,
because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.
Jesus went up on the mountain,
and there he sat down with his disciples.
The Jewish feast of Passover was near.
When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him,
he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?”
He said this to test him,
because he himself knew what he was going to do.
Philip answered him,
“Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough
for each of them to have a little.”
One of his disciples,
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish;
but what good are these for so many?”
Jesus said, “Have the people recline.”
Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.
So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,
and distributed them to those who were reclining,
and also as much of the fish as they wanted.
When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples,
“Gather the fragments left over,
so that nothing will be wasted.”
So they collected them,
and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments
from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.
When the people saw the sign he had done, they said,
“This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.”
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off
to make him king,
he withdrew again to the mountain alone.
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture
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"If their purpose or activity is human in its origins, it will destroy itself. If, on the other hand, it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them." —Acts 5:38-39
The apostles had been arrested for teaching the people of Jerusalem about Jesus. They were brought to trial before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish "Supreme Court." The apostles stood their ground and declared they would continue teaching about Jesus, and would obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). "When the Sanhedrin heard this, they were stung to fury and wanted to kill them. Then a member of the Sanhedrin stood up, a
Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law highly regarded by all the people. He had the accused ordered out of court for a few minutes, and then said to the assembly, '...Have nothing to do with these men. Let them alone. If their purpose or activity is human in its origins, it will destroy itself. If, on the other hand, it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them without fighting God Himself' " (Acts 5:33-35, 38-39).
We who live in the twenty-first century should stop and think about the origins of Christianity. We are asked to give our lives to a Man condemned to death, the equivalent of being put to death today in the electric chair. His main followers were a group of uneducated fishermen. Yet we moderners still continue to follow this Man two thousand years later. This is a great testament to the truth that Jesus is God and
His Church is led by the Holy Spirit.
Gamaliel's words echo strongly today, just as they did to the Sanhedrin. Gamaliel and St. Luke are telling us that the Church comes from God. Pour your heart and your life into God's Church.
Prayer: "Lord, remember Your church throughout the world; make us grow in love together with" our Pope, bishops, and clergy.
Promise: "I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living." —Ps 27:13
Presentation Ministries
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Abandonment to Divine Providence
- by Jean-Pierre de Caussade
BOOK II,
CHAPTER II. THE DUTIES OF THOSE SOULS CALLED BY GOD TO THE STATE OF ABANDONMENT
SECTION V. The Duty of the Present Moment: The Only Rule
From souls in this state God exacts the most perfect docility to the action of His grace.
Yes! give to God what belongs to Him, and remain lovingly passive in his hands.
Hold for certain that what takes place either exteriorly or interiorly is best for you. Allow God to act, and abandon yourself to Him. Let the chisel perform its office, the needle do its work. Let the brush of the artist cover the canvas with many tints which only have the appearance of daubs. Correspond with all these divine operations by a simple and constant submission, a forgetfulness of self, and an assiduous
application to duty. Continue thus in your own groove without studying the way, the ins and outs, and surroundings, the names or particulars of the places; go on blindly pursuing this path, and you will be shown what is to follow. Seek only the kingdom of God and His justice by love and obedience, and all the rest will be added to you. We meet with many souls who are distressed about themselves, and inquire anxiously, "Who will direct us so that we may become mortified and holy, and attain
perfection?‚" Let them search in books for the description and characteristics of this marvellous work, its nature and qualities; but as for you, do you remain peacefully united to God by love, and follow blindly the clear straight path of duty. The angels are at your side during this time of darkness, and they will bear you up. If God requires more of you, He will make it known to you by His inspirations.
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