The moral virtues belong to the contemplative life as a predisposition. For the act of contemplation, in which the contemplative life essentially consists, is hindered both by the impetuosity of the passions and by outward disturbances. Now the moral virtues curb the impetuosity of the passions and quell the disturbance of outward occupations. Hence moral virtues belong to the contemplative life as a
predisposition.
- St. Thomas Aquinas -
(After awhile, healthy moral dispositions become more habitual, enabling one to open more deeply to God. What virtues do you need to give more attention to these days?)
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SIR 48:1-14; Ps 97:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7
MT 6:7-15
Jesus said to his disciples:
“In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them.
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“This is how you are to pray:
‘Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.’
“If you forgive others their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”
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Reflection on the Scriptures |
These are not ordinary times and this prayer, The Our Father, the Lord’s Prayer is no ordinary prayer. This prayer, these words are invitational into a deep and intimate relationship with our Father. Jesus is encouraging us to go to our Father, praise Him, confide in Him, and ask for our daily bread – whatever it might be for today. Jesus and his Father are suffering
with and among us. Jesus wept at the prospect of having to leave his beloved friends. Overlooking Jerusalem, Jesus wept, aware of the many he had not touched. For the ones who did not know him. For those suffering, hungry for their daily bread and not knowing who or how to ask. And yet, Jesus and our Father dwell among us. What do I need to get through today? How am I encountering Jesus and his Father in my life today? How and what was I fed? Where
and how was I protected from evil and harm? Where and how was I aware of a loving presence surrounding and protecting me. These are not ordinary times, but we have an extra-ordinary prayer and we are living in the extra-ordinary compassion, love and abiding presence of Jesus and his Father, Our Father.
- by Joan Blandin Howard
Revelations of Divine Love
- by Julian of Norwich
Sixteenth Revelation, Chapter 77
"Accuse not thyself overmuch, deeming that thy tribulation and thy woe is all thy fault."
"All thy living is penance profitable."
"In the remedy He willeth that we rejoice"
OUR good Lord shewed the enmity of the Fiend: in which Shewing I understood that all that is contrary to love and peace is of the Fiend and of his part. And we have, of our feebleness and our folly, to fall; and we have, of mercy and grace of the Holy Ghost, to rise to more joy. And if our enemy aught winneth of us by our falling, (for it is his pleasure,)
he loseth manifold more in our rising by charity and meekness. And this glorious rising, it is to him so great sorrow and pain for the hate that he hath to our soul, that he burneth continually in envy. And all this sorrow that he would make us to have, it shall turn to himself. And for this it was that our Lord scorned him, and [it was] this [that] made me mightily to laugh.
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