“BECOMING AWARE OF OUR IMPERFECTION”

“The only perfection of human beings lies in their becoming aware of their imperfection.” (St. Jerome)

What may at first sound like a pessimistic statement about human beings reveals itself, upon closer examination, to be a piece of wisdom that St. Jerome shares with us.

This insight helps us overcome false pride and self-assurance, enabling us to deeply understand our reality as human beings. The important thing now is how we deal with this. It would certainly be wrong to succumb to a kind of disordered sadness because of our imperfections, though we can, of course, mourn the loss of Paradise and all its consequences. Instead, this insight becomes an invitation to turn to the “Perfect One”: our beloved Father. By seeking Him and sharing in His perfection, we awaken to true life and to a proper understanding of our existence.

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Preparing the Return of the Lord

Today we will reflect on the Gospel for the 19th Sunday after Pentecost, according to the traditional calendar.

Mt 22:1-14

Jesus began to speak to them in parables once again, ‘The kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a king who gave a feast for his son’s wedding. He sent his servants to call those who had been invited, but they would not come. Next he sent some more servants with the words, “Tell those who have been invited: Look, my banquet is all prepared, my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, everything is ready. Come to the wedding.” But they were not interested: one went off to his farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his servants, maltreated them and killed them. The king was furious. He despatched his troops, destroyed those murderers and burnt their town. Then he said to his servants, “The wedding is ready; but as those who were invited proved to be unworthy, go to the main crossroads and invite everyone you can find to come to the wedding.”

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True joy

Lk 10:17-24

The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will. All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” Read More

“THE SEA OF GOD’S GOODNESS”

“Let us plunge into the sea of His goodness, where every weakness is wiped away and fear is transformed into love” (Saint Paul of the Cross).

A similar passage is found in Madre Eugenia’s Little Book of the Father, in which we are invited to plunge into the sea of the Father’s mercy, where we are to be purified and strengthened so that we may continue our journey.

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Children and angels

Mt 18:1-5.10

Reading of the memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

‘At this time the disciples came to Jesus and said, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven?’ So he called a little child to him whom he set among them. Then he said, ‘In truth I tell you, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven. And so, the one who makes himself as little as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. ‘Anyone who welcomes one little child like this in my name welcomes me. ‘See that you never despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven are continually in the presence of my Father in heaven.’ Read More

“FORGETTING GOD”

“Oh, how My paternal love has been forgotten by Men! Yet I love you so tenderly!” (Little Book of the Father)

How easily we humans forget God’s blessings, and with them, our Father, who bestowed them upon us. The consequences are inevitable, for our living connection to God and His presence in our lives is lost. We then easily sink into the normal routine of life without remembering the Lord.

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Distance from the world

Lk 10:1-12

Jesus said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.  Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.  Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road.  Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’  And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you.  And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages; do not go from house to house.  Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’  But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off against you; nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’  I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on that day for Sodom than for that town. Read More

Living in vigilance

Mt 13:47- 52

Reading corresponding to the memorial of St. Jerome

Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet that is cast in the sea and brings in a haul of all kinds of fish. When it is full, the fishermen bring it ashore; then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in baskets and throw away those that are no use.This is how it will be at the end of time: the angels will appear and separate the wicked from the upright, to throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. ‘Have you understood all these?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Well then, every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of Heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom new things as well as old.’

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“HOLD YOUR SOUL IN YOUR HANDS”

 

“No one is wiser than the one who always holds his soul in his hands. Man has no treasure more precious than his soul. He must therefore be vigilant and constantly on guard, for nothing compares to the salvation of the soul.” (Thomas à Kempis)

Elsewhere, Thomas à Kempis laments: „For a small reward, a man will hurry away on a long journey; while for eternal life, many will hardly take a single step.“

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