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"An elder replied, 'I tell you, many have ruined their bodies with no discernment and gone away without finding anything. We may have evil-smelling breath because of our fasting, we may know the Scriptures by heart, we may recite all the psalms. . . and still lack what God is looking for--love and humility."
- Anonymous Sayings of the Desert Fathers -
(Whatever helps us become more loving and humble is good for us; whatever hinders us is not. What does this mean in your life?)
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PHIL 3:17—4:1; PS 122:1-2, 3-4AB, 4CD-5
LK 16:1-8
Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a steward
who was reported to him for squandering his property.
He summoned him and said,
‘What is this I hear about you?
Prepare a full account of your stewardship,
because you can no longer be my steward.’
The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do,
now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me?
I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg.
I know what I shall do so that,
when I am removed from the stewardship,
they may welcome me into their homes.’
He called in his master’s debtors one by one.
To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’
He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note.
Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’
Then to another he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’
He replied, ‘One hundred measures of wheat.’
He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note;
write one for eighty.’
And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently.
For the children of this world
are more prudent in dealing with their own generation
than the children of light.”
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture
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“Unfortunately, many go about in a way which shows them to be enemies of the cross of Christ.” —Philippians 3:18
Our lifestyle shows the world whether we are friends or enemies of the crucified Jesus (Phil 3:18). We, His disciples, testify to our belief in His crucified love by the way we go about denying ourselves and carrying our own crosses (see Lk 9:23).
Your own life screams to the world that you are a friend or an enemy of the cross of Jesus. What is your life saying? What crosses would you run away from if Jesus offered them to you? (see Mk 14:50-51) Would you flee from the crosses of:
- having more children in obedience to God’s will,
- speaking up in public for Jesus at the risk of ridicule,
- tithing ten percent of your income and giving alms,
- fasting another day a week to win spiritual victories,
- turning off or throwing out your TV, and limiting time on your handheld electronic devices,
- making a public stand for life,
- working for justice for the poor and oppressed,
- speaking out publicly for holiness and chastity, or
- being a caregiver for a dying or special-needs person?
Jesus offers these and other crosses to us every day. When we decide to be a friend of His cross and pick it up each day, we paradoxically find our life (Lk 9:24) instead of losing it. “Enemies of the cross of Christ...will end in disaster!” (Phil 3:18, 19) Repent of refusing any cross. Die to the “things of this world” (Phil 3:19). Lift high your cross.
Prayer: Jesus, may I be crucified to the world (Gal 6:14). May I never leave the foot of Your cross — not even for a moment of relief. I find all my comfort in being by Your side (cf Ps 94:19).
Promise: “We have our citizenship in heaven.” —Phil 3:20
Presentation Ministries
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Abandonment to Divine Providence
- by Jean-Pierre de Caussade
BOOK II,
CHAPTER IV. CONCERNING THE ASSISTANCE RENDERED BY THE FATHERLY PROVIDENCE OF GOD TO THOSE SOULS WHO HAVE ABANDONED THEMSELVES TO HIM
SECTION II. Diversity of Grace
The afflictions which the soul is made to endure are but loving artifices of God which will, one day, give it great joy.
O Lord! it can be truly said that You carry Your children in Your arms during this long night of faith, and that You are pleased to allow an infinite variety of thoughts to pass through their minds; thoughts holy and mysterious. In the state in which these dreams of the night place them, they indeed experience the utmost torment of fear, anguish, and weariness, but on the bright day of eternal glory these will give place to
a true and solid joy.
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