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The chief thing is to take the burden on one's shoulders. As you press forward, it soon shakes down and the load is evenly distributed.
- St. John Bosco -
(The acceptance of necessary suffering is a key to sanity and serenity. What does this mean for you at this time in your life?)
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2 KGS 25:1-12; Ps 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6
MT 8:1-4
When Jesus came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.
And then a leper approached, did him homage, and said,
“Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”
He stretched out his hand, touched him, and said,
“I will do it. Be made clean.”
His leprosy was cleansed immediately.
Then Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one,
but go show yourself to the priest,
and offer the gift that Moses prescribed;
that will be proof for them.”
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture
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“That should be the proof they need.” —Matthew 8:4
St. Paul was once a “leper” to Christians, a vicious persecutor of those who followed Jesus. He was converted but the community didn’t believe it, and wouldn’t allow Paul into the family of Christians. Barnabas was convinced of Paul’s genuine, authentic conversion and persuaded the community (Acts 9:26-27). The best way Paul could give evidence of his healing from “leprosy” was to produce good fruit and so glorify
God (see Jn 15:8).
St. Mark was a “leper” in that he deserted the first Christian missionary journey (Acts 13:13; 15:38). Barnabas gave Mark another chance. While Paul refused to believe that Mark was genuinely healed and ready to evangelize again, Barnabas believed in Mark. The best way Mark could give evidence of his healing was to produce good fruit and so glorify God (Jn 15:8).
Healed and converted “lepers” are accountable to God, not man. They need not prove themselves before men. However, some people need evidence of full conversion and healing (see Mt 3:8), and the best evidence is fruit (Mt 7:20), that is, undeniable holiness and good works for His kingdom.
All disciples of Jesus are preoccupied with bearing fruit for Him. If we just concentrate on bearing fruit for Jesus, God will make sure that everything else we need is taken care of. “Go forth and bear fruit” (Jn 15:16).
Prayer: Jesus, with my past sins I have been a leper. May I find my identity in You alone and spend the rest my life serving You fruitfully with love.
Promise: Jesus “said: ‘I do will it. Be cured.’ ” —Mt 8:3
Presentation Ministries
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Abandonment to Divine Providence
- by Jean-Pierre de Caussade
BOOK II,
CHAPTER III. THE TRIALS CONNECTED WITH THE STATE OF ABANDONMENT
SECTION I. Unwise interference.
Second trial of the state of abandonment. The apparent uselessness and exterior defects allowed by God in the souls He wills to raise to this state.
The second trial of souls conducted by God in this way is the result of their apparent uselessness, and of their exterior defects. There can be neither honour nor reward in a service hidden, often enough, under the most utter incapacity and uselessness, as far as the world is concerned. Doubtless those who are given more important posts, are not, on this account, necessarily precluded from the state of abandonment.
Less still is this state incompatible with striking virtue, and that sanctity which attracts universal veneration. Nevertheless there is a far greater number of souls raised to this sublime state whose virtue is known only to God. By their state these souls are free from nearly every outward obligation. They are little suited for worldly business or affairs, for complicated concerns, or for putting their mind into the conducting of industries. It seems as though they were quite useless; nothing
is noticeable in them but feebleness of body, mind, imagination and passions. They take no notice of anything. They are, so to say, quite stupid, and possess nothing of that culture, study, or reflexion which go to the making of a man. They are like children of nature before they are placed in the hands of masters to be formed. They have noticeable faults which, without rendering them more guilty than children, cause more offence. God takes away everything but innocence in order that they should
have nothing to rely upon but Him alone. The world, being in ignorance of this mystery can only judge by appearance, and can find nothing in them to its taste, nor anything that it values. It, therefore, rejects and despises them, and they seem to be exposed to censure from all. The more closely they are observed, the less is thought of them and the more opposition do they encounter; no one knows what to make of them. Although some hidden voice seems to speak in their favour, yet people prefer
to adhere to their own malignant prepossessions rather than to follow this instinct, or at least to suspend their judgment. Their actions are pried into to find out their opinions, and like the Pharisees who could not endure the actions of Jesus, they are regarded with such prejudice that everything they do appears either ridiculous or criminal.
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