Let us meditate once more on these words of St. Anthony Abbot:
“He who sits in the desert and seeks to have a calm heart, has been spared from three combats: that of listening, that of speech and that of sight. He has only one battle left to fight: the battle against impurity”.
The last two days, we had reflected on the fight against what we hear and what we speak. Today, we will devote ourselves to the struggle in relation to what we look at.
In today’s meditation, we continue the theme we had begun yesterday, in memory of Saint Anthony Abbot. Let us listen again to the words of this father of the desert, to continue to describe the combat that we Christians are called to wage:
“He who sits in the desert and seeks to be calm of heart, has been spared from three combats: the combat of listening, the combat of speech and the combat of sight. He has only one battle left to fight: the battle against impurity”.
“Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said: ‘Father…'” (Jn 17:1).
This is the predominant attitude of Jesus: raising His eyes to the Father. It expresses the very depths of His being, for He came into the world to do the will of the Father (cf. Jn 4:34). Nothing was more important to Him! His heart was at all time focused on the Father.
“Just and true are thy ways, O King of the ages!” (Rev 15:3c).
Who can understand and accept the ways of our Father? Sometimes we can understand them after the fact, but rarely at the time they happen.
Eph 6:10-13,18
Reading corresponding to the memorial of St. Anthony Abbot
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. Read More
“He who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son” (2 Jn 1:9).
True communion with the Father and the Son takes place when we abide in the right doctrine, says the Apostle John.
1 Sam 16:1-13
The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me him whom I name to you.”
“You must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48).
The creative love of God, on which we meditated yesterday, leads us along the path of sanctification, so that this exhortation of Jesus becomes a reality: “You must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect”.
These words should not discourage us, even though in their sublime light we see how unworthy we are. Let us remember the exclamation we make at every Holy Mass before receiving Communion: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed”. Read More
In the traditional calendar, today is the memorial of Saint Paul, the hermit. We will therefore listen to the reading appropriate to this occasion. If you prefer a meditation that corresponds to today’s calendar, you can find it here: http://en.elijamission.net/the-value-of-fasting/
Phil 3:7-12
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Read More
“The Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights” (Prov 3:12).
Our Father not only surrounds us with His warm, tender, and provident love, which gives us security in our existence; but, moved by this same love, He also reproves and corrects us, thus showing Himself to be our Father who loves us as children.
