Mt 10: 26-32
Gospel for the memorial of Saint Pantaleon, Martyr
At that time, Jesus said to his apostles: Therefore fear them not. For nothing is covered that shall not be revealed: nor hid, that shall not be known. That which I tell you in the dark, speak ye in the light: and that which you hear in the ear, preach ye upon the housetops.
406th Meditation
“In my love, I have projected great plans for you” (Inner Word).
Once our Father has subjected everything to His loving dominion, down to the smallest detail, He has great plans in mind for us human beings.
Indeed, it is not just a few people who are called to find the way of faith, but all. Not only some must learn that their Creator and Redeemer is the kindest of all fathers, but all mankind must know it and hear it. Not only the Church must know it, but the call of a Father full of love must resound to the ends of the earth and in every possible way. Read More
405th Meditation
“Without temptations, we would not perceive God’s care for us, nor would we acquire confidence in Him, nor learn the wisdom of the Spirit, nor would the love of God be consolidated in the soul” (Isaac of Syria).
What we have said in the last meditations regarding the struggle against the powers of darkness, we can also apply to the struggle against temptations, to which we are inevitably exposed during our pilgrimage through this world. These are part of the struggle entrusted to us. Read More
Mt 13:16-17
(Gospel for the Memorial of Sts. Joachim and Anne)
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: “Blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. For, amen, I say to you, many prophets and just men have desired to see the things that you see, and have not seen them, and to hear the things that you hear and have not heard them.”
404th Meditation
“In the salvific plan of my love, struggle occupies an important place” (Interior Word).
The struggle that the Lord wages for us and with us against the powers of darkness is not only unavoidable, but is part of the salvific plan of His love. Just as on the path of following Christ it is necessary to engage in spiritual combat in order to restrain our passions and resist the seductions of this world, it is also necessary to fight against the fallen angels. Indeed, it is they who besiege human beings, leading them astray and weaving a web of lies around them. Read More
Mt 20:20-28
Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, adoring and asking something of him. Who said to her: What wilt thou? She saith to him: Say that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left, in thy kingdom. And Jesus answering, said: You know not what you ask. Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink? They say to him: We can.
403rd Meditation
“If armies in camp should stand together against me, my heart shall not fear” (Ps 26:3).
Although the armies advancing against us are not visible, they are no less real than those engaged in physical warfare. We are surrounded by invisible enemies, who want to divert us from the way of salvation and, if they do not succeed, at least try to hinder us. This is what the Apostle Paul describes in the Letter to the Ephesians:
“Our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but (…) against the spirits of wickedness in the high places” (Eph 6:12). Read More
Ex 14:5-18
‘When Pharaoh king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, he and his officials changed their attitude towards the people. ‘What have we done,’ they said, ‘allowing Israel to leave our service?’ So Pharaoh had his chariot harnessed and set out with his troops, taking six hundred of the best chariots and all the other chariots in Egypt, with officers in each. The Lord made Pharaoh King of Egypt stubborn, and he gave chase to the Israelites. Read More
Wis 12:13.16-19
For there is no other God but thou, who hast care of all, that thou shouldst shew that thou dost not give judgment unjustly. For thy power is the beginning of justice: and because thou art Lord of all, thou makest thyself gracious to all. For thou shewest thy power, when men will not believe thee to be absolute in power, and thou convincest the boldness of them that know thee not. Read More
402nd Meditation
“O my God, if my tongue is not able to say at every opportunity that I love You, at least I want my heart to repeat it to You as many times as I take a breath” (St. John Mary Vianney).
The Holy Curé of Ars was a soul inflamed with love, who wanted to correspond fully to the love of the Lord, a true example for all priests! His heart burned for God. What he would have wanted most of all was to enter a contemplative monastery in order to express all his love for the Lord. But God had other plans for him. Thus the Curé of Ars spent countless hours in the confessional, serving the Lord and the salvation of souls. Read More
