“Observe the commandments of the Lord. There is nothing more noble and exalted than serving God” (St. Lawrence Justinian).
These words were spoken by St. Lawrence Justinian, Patriarch of Venice, whose feast we celebrate today according to the traditional calendar. They were his final words before he died. He died saying, “I come to You, O Jesus.”
Lk 5:33-39
‘They then said to him, ‘John’s disciples are always fasting and saying prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees, too, but yours go on eating and drinking. ‘Jesus replied, ‘Surely you cannot make the bridegroom’s attendants fast while the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them; then, in those days, they will fast. ‘He also told them a parable, ‘No one tears a piece from a new cloak to put it on an old cloak; otherwise, not only will the new one be torn, but the piece taken from the new will not match the old. ‘And nobody puts new wine in old wineskins; otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins and run to waste, and the skins will be ruined. No; new wine must be put in fresh skins. And nobody who has been drinking old wine wants new. “The old is good,” he says.’‘ Read More
“Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us?” (Mal 2:10)
Beloved Father, in these words, we catch a glimpse of the unity among all people, as you have ordained. We are all created in Your image and likeness and are all called to be with You in eternity. However, this can only happen if we live according to the order you have established. Since you created us with free will, we can fail to reach our goal if we abuse the freedom you gave us.
Lk 5:1-11
‘Now it happened that he was standing one day by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the crowd pressing round him listening to the word of God, when he caught sight of two boats at the water’s edge. The fishermen had got out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats – it was Simon’s – and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.’ Simon replied, ‘Master, we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.’ And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they signalled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them; when these came, they filled both boats to sinking point.
“The more we read the Gospel, the stronger we will be” (St. Pius X).
To assimilate the Lord’s words, internalize them, and put them into practice is the sure compass on our journey in pursuit of Christ, provided we do so in accordance with the authentic Magisterium of the Church. It is the Word of God — not human reflection. It has the power to enlighten and strengthen us, as the Scriptures themselves affirm:
Lk 4: 38-44
At that time, Jesus left the synagogue, and entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they besought him for her. And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her; and immediately she rose and served them. Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them, and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ. And when it was day he departed and went into a lonely place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them; but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
1 Thess 5:1-6,9-11
Bretheren, as to the times and the seasons, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as travail comes upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape. But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. Read More
“The Father saw him coming from afar and had compassion on him!” (Lk 15:20).
We all know the moving New Testament passage about the prodigal son who squandered his fortune and returned to his father’s house. There, he was joyfully received by his father, and a feast was celebrated. We understand very well that something of the true image of our heavenly Father should be conveyed to us.
“The Holy Spirit is always ready to enlighten and strengthen you” (Interior Word).
The creative friendship of the Holy Spirit becomes a reality in all those who strive to love the heavenly Father. He accompanies, enlightens, and strengthens the human soul until it becomes a constant praise of God, so that He may glorify Himself more and more in it. Read More
1 Thess 4:13-18
Brethren, we would not have you ignorant, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. Read More
