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Here lies the tremendous mystery - that God should be all-powerful, yet refuse to coerce. He summons us to cooperation. We are honoured in being given the opportunity to participate in his good deeds. Remember how He asked for help in performing his miracles: "Fill the waterpots, stretch out your hand, distribute the loaves."
- Elisabeth Elliot
(What kind of co-operation with God are you being called to these days?)
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Webinars
August 13, 2020: Christianity and Evolution by Philip St. Romain
September 10, 2020: What does it Mean to be Pro-Life? by Philip
St. Romain
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EZ:2:8 - 3:4; PS 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131
MT 18:1-5, 10, 12-14
The disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?”
He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,
“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever becomes humble like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
for I say to you that their angels in heaven
always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.
What is your opinion?
If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,
will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills
and go in search of the stray?
And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it
than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.
In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father
that one of these little ones be lost."
USCCB Lectionary
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Praying the Daily Gospels: A Guide to Meditation, by Philip St. Romain,
2018 (3rd ed.)
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Matthew 18: 1-5, 10, 12-14 (Childlike faith)
Acknowledging our absolute dependence on grace is the first step toward spiritual growth. People who are self-important cut themselves off from grace. This is why Jesus holds out a little child as a model for us, assuring us that our standards of importance are not God's.
• In what ways are you aware of being dependent on God? Do you believe that you have accomplished anything without God’s help?
• The parable of the lost sheep teaches us that God loves individuals, not just groups of people. Spend some time simply relaxing in the awareness that God loves you, knows you, and delights in you.
Paperback, Kindle and eBook
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Treatise on the Love of God, by St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
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BOOK I: CONTAINING A PREPARATION FOR THE WHOLE TREATISE
Chapter 17: That we have not the power to love God above all things
But, O eternal God! those great spirits which had so great an inclination to love it, were all wanting in force and courage to love it well. By visible creatures they have known the invisible things of God, yea even his eternal power also and divinity, says the Apostle, so that they are inexcusable. Because that, when they knew God, they have not
glorified him as God, or given thanks. They glorified him indeed in some sort, attributing to him sovereign titles of honour, yet they did not glorify him as they ought, that is, they did not glorify him above all things; not having the courage to destroy idolatry, but communicating with idolators, detaining the truth which they knew in injustice, prisoner in their hearts, and preferring the honour and vain repose of their lives before the honour due unto God, they grew vain in their
knowledge.
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