Grace is constantly present, and is rooted in us, and worked into us like leaven, from our earliest years, until the thing thus present becomes fixed in a person like a natural endowment, as if it were one substance with the person. But, for one's own good, it manages one is many different ways, after its own pleasure."
- Pseudo-Macarius, "Homily I," 5th C -
(How has grace been "worked" into you through the years? What are the signs of its presence?)
|
2 KGS 24:8-17; Ps 79:1B-2, 3-5, 8, 9
Gospel MT 7:21-29
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
Did we not drive out demons in your name?
Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’
Then I will declare to them solemnly,
‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
When Jesus finished these words,
the crowds were astonished at his teaching,
for he taught them as one having authority,
and not as their scribes.
Shalom Place Covid-19 resource page
- Practical, inspirational and spiritually formative writings and podcasts
Reflection on the Scriptures |
The combination of the pandemic and the global cry for racial justice is providing the opportunity for us to each examine how we are bringing our values to action. Jesus calls us to ensure our values are aligned with his teachings. And he uses the metaphor of building a home as he implores us to build our home on rock so we can withstand all of the challenges and temptations
of our secular world.
Today in prayer I ask for God’s support in exploring these questions: Are my deeply held values grounded in the teaching of Jesus? Do I spend my time and money in alignment with these values? How can I push myself to go beyond my comfort zone as Jesus so gracefully modeled throughout his life? When I feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problems we face, how can I act in
an impactful way?
Spending my gifts to act on the will of God is a rock solid plan.
- by Mary Lee Brock
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"
Then is this the remedy, that we be aware of our wretchedness and flee to our Lord: for ever the more needy that we be, the more speedful it is to us to draw nigh to Him. And let us say thus in our thinking: I know well I have a .shrewd pain; but our Lord is All-Mighty and may punish me mightily; and He is All-Wisdom and can punish me discerningly;
and He is all-Goodness and loveth me full tenderly. And in this beholding it is necessary for us to abide; for it is a lovely meekness of a sinful soul, wrought by mercy and grace of the Holy Ghost, when we willingly and gladly take the scourge and chastening of our Lord that Himself will give us. And it shall be full tender and full easy, if that we will only hold us satisfied with Him and with all His works.
|
|
|
