“The prayer that a person offers with all their strength has great power. It sweetens a bitter heart, cheers a sad heart, enriches a poor heart, makes a foolish heart wise, makes a timid heart brave, strengthens a weak heart, opens the eyes of a blind heart, and warms a cold soul. It draws the great God to a small heart and lifts the hungry soul to the God of fullness” (St. Matilda of Hackeborn).
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In praise of wisdom
Wis 7:7-10.15-16
Reading for the memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas
And so I prayed, and understanding was given me; I entreated, and the spirit of Wisdom came to me. I esteemed her more than sceptres and thrones; compared with her, I held riches as nothing. I reckoned no precious stone to be her equal, for compared with her, all gold is a pinch of sand, and beside her, silver ranks as mud. I loved her more than health or beauty, preferred her to the light, since her radiance never sleeps. May God grant me to speak as he would wish and conceive thoughts worthy of the gifts I have received, since he is both guide to Wisdom and director of sages; for we are in his hand, yes, ourselves and our sayings, and all intellectual and all practical knowledge. Read More
SPEAK TO GOD AS YOU WOULD SPEAK TO A MAN
“Faith truly exists when one speaks to God in the same way one would speak to a man” (St. John Vianney).
The true parentage of Jesus
Mk 3:31-35
At that time, his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting about him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you.” And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking around on those who sat about him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
This Gospel passage is in no way a rejection by the Lord of His mother and brothers and sisters, as might appear at first glance. Rather, the Lord broadens our gaze by directing it to the whole of humanity, which is called to constitute a single heavenly and universal family.
Rekindling the gift of God
2 Tim 1:1-8
Reading for the memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus
From Paul, apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God in accordance with his promise of life in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, dear son of mine. Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord. Night and day I thank God whom I serve with a pure conscience as my ancestors did. I remember you in my prayers constantly night and day; I remember your tears and long to see you again to complete my joy. I also remember your sincere faith, a faith which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am sure dwells also in you. That is why I am reminding you now to fan into a flame the gift of God that you possess through the laying on of my hands. God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power and love and self-control. So you are never to be ashamed of witnessing to our Lord, or ashamed of me for being his prisoner; but share in my hardships for the sake of the gospel, relying on the power of God.
STAY CALM
“Stay calm. I am the Eternal One, and I hold time in My hands” (Inner Word).
Spiritual teachers often speak to us about serenity. It means that we should not allow the various events that befall us to rob us of our calm or cause us to act rashly. However, this does not mean a “stoic calm,” which observes everything with a certain indifference and avoids taking any inner stance. Nor does it refer to laziness of soul or spirit, which lets itself be shaken or motivated by nothing and ultimately sinks into indifference.
THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE
“Consider that today has been given to you so that through it you may earn eternity. Resolve firmly to make good use of the day for this cause” (St. Francis de Sales).
Today is the day that has been given to me by my Heavenly Father! We cannot know for sure whether there will be a tomorrow. If we make good use of today for eternity and do not waste it, our life will take on a fruitful focus.
Feast of the conversion of St. Paul: The greatness of a vocation
Note: Although today is Sunday, we would like to dedicate today’s meditation to the liturgical feast that is normally celebrated on 25 January: the Conversion of Saint Paul. The tireless Apostle of the Gentiles has, in fact, become our patron saint for the mission entrusted to us. Those who would prefer to listen to a meditation on today’s reading can find the corresponding link at the end of the text.
Acts 22:3-16
“I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cili′cia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gama′li-el, educated according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as you all are this day. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priest and the whole council of elders bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brethren, and I journeyed to Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished. “As I made my journey and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me.
THE DESIRE OF OUR GUARDIAN ANGEL
“Our angel’s desire to help us is much greater than our desire to let him help us” (St. John Bosco).
In his infinite goodness, our Heavenly Father grants us a reliable friend and lifelong companion. It is a great joy for our guardian angel to accompany us, because on the one hand this service allows him to show his love for God, whose command he fulfills, and on the other hand he can offer us his love through his help and fraternal closeness.