Lk 17:26-37
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘As it was in Noah’s day, so will it also be in the days of the Son of man. People were eating and drinking, marrying wives and husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and the Flood came and destroyed them all. Read More
147th Meditation
“The Lord refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake” (Ps 23:3).
The German translation of this verse says: “The Lord satisfies my longing” instead of “He refreshes my soul”. Indeed, God has sown deep in our hearts a longing for Him. In His Wisdom, He allows us to experience that our life lacks something essential when we do not know Him and other lesser things take their place in our heart. Even if initially we do not perceive or understand much of this emptiness, and even if the many distractions temporarily satisfy us, deep down in our soul we know that: “As a deer yearns for running streams, so I yearn for you, my God” – as the psalmist expresses it (Ps 42:1).
Lk 17:20-25
Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was to come, Jesus gave them this answer, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God does not admit of observation and there will be no one to say, “Look, it is here! Look, it is there!” For look, the kingdom of God is among you.’ He said to the disciples, ‘A time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of man and will not see it. Read More
Jn 2:13-22
When the time of the Jewish Passover was near Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and in the Temple he found people selling cattle and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting there. Making a whip out of cord, he drove them all out of the Temple, sheep and cattle as well, scattered the money changers’ coins, knocked their tables over and said to the dove sellers, ‘Take all this out of here and stop using my Father’s house as a market.’ Read More
146th Meditation
“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters” (Ps 23:2).
Day after day, the Heavenly Father feeds us with His holy Word; day after day He invites us to the table of His grace; day after day He watches over our life; day after day He speaks to our heart; day after day His Holy Spirit reminds us of all that Jesus said and did (Jn 14:26); day after day our soul can graze in the green pastures of God and be satisfied.
Lk 17:7-10
At that time the Lord said, ‘Which of you, with a servant ploughing or minding sheep, would say to him when he returned from the fields, “Come and have your meal at once”? Would he not be more likely to say, “Get my supper ready; fasten your belt and wait on me while I eat and drink. You yourself can eat and drink afterwards”? Read More
145th Meditation
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” (Ps 23:1).
In order to make Himself understood, our Lord speaks to us with comparisons that we know from our human life. The image of the Good Shepherd who, in his vigilant attitude, does not lose sight of the flock entrusted to him, wants to convey to us how the Lord watches over His own.
Mk 16:15-20
Gospel for the memorial of St. Willibrordo of Utrecht
And he said to them, ‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These are the signs that will be associated with believers: in my name they will cast out devils; they will have the gift of tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison; they will lay their hands on the sick, who will recover.’ Read More
144th Meditation
“Earthly joys are fleeting. They do not last if they are not connected with me” (Inner Word).
When earthly joys are sought for their own sake, how quickly even those that are legitimate from the perspective of Christian morality pass away. They are fleeting moments, and though sometimes intoxicating and exciting, they do not last, but leave the soul empty after a while. If they are sought again and again, the same story is repeated and the deepest dimension of the human soul remains unsatisfied and without inner peace.
2 Th 2:16-3:5
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father who has given us his love and, through his grace, such ceaseless encouragement and such sure hope, encourage you and strengthen you in every good word and deed. Finally, brothers, pray for us that the Lord’s message may spread quickly, and be received with honour as it was among you; Read More
