The vigilance of a Christian

Lk 12: 35-38

‘See that you have your belts done up and your lamps lit. Be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. In truth I tell you, he will do up his belt, sit them down at table and wait on them. It may be in the second watch that he comes, or in the third, but blessed are those servants if he finds them ready.’ Read More

THE FIGHT AGAINST EVIL THOUGHTS

486th Meditation

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Mt 22:37).

Another passage of Scripture tells us that “perverse thoughts separate men from God” (Wis 1:3).

If we are to love our Heavenly Father with all our mind, and thus reciprocate His love for us, we must be mindful of our thoughts and not simply be carried away by them without examining them. Read More

Fighting greed

Lk 12:13-21

One of the multitude said to Jesus, “Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me.”  But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?” And he said to them, “Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Read More

TO LOVE GOD WITH ALL OUR MIND

485th Meditation

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Mt 22:37).

We all know this commandment (Dt 6:5), of which Jesus reminds us again in the Gospel. It is the first and most important of all the commandments. When we observe it, it gives us the strength to keep the second commandment, to love our neighbor as ourselves, as we begin to see him as a beloved child of God. Read More

Caution in the face of praise

Mt 22:15-21

Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how to entangle him in his talk.  And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodi-ans, saying, Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God truthfully, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men.  Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” Read More

The Holy Spirit: the key to standing firm

Lk 12:8-12

‘I tell you, if anyone openly declares himself for me in the presence of human beings, the Son of man will declare himself for him in the presence of God’s angels. But anyone who disowns me in the presence of human beings will be disowned in the presence of God’s angels. ‘Everyone who says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven, but no one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will be forgiven. ‘When they take you before synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say, because when the time comes, the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.’ Read More

WEAKNESS: A DIVINE REMEDY

482nd Meditation

“Do not grieve when you feel your weakness. On the contrary, rejoice, for I am your defense and your victory” (Inner Word).

It is very important for us to know that our Father does not measure us by our weaknesses. Rather, we should be aware that His goodness accompanies us precisely in those areas where we feel weak. Of course, as we follow the Lord, we must work on our weaknesses and not just give in to them. But in His wisdom, our Father leaves us certain weaknesses so that we do not become proud and always remember that it is He who gives us the victory. Read More

No hypocrisy

Lk 12:1-7

At that time, so many thousands of the multitude had gathered together that they trod upon one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

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