“WHOEVER ABIDES IN THE TEACHING…”

262nd Meditation

 “Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son” (2 Jn 1:9).

Our Heavenly Father has shown us a sure way to remain in communion with Him. Holy Scripture urges us again and again to hold fast to the doctrine that has been revealed to us. St. Paul even states that though an angel should come down from heaven and preach to us a gospel other than the one we have received, “let him be accursed” (Gal 1:8). No false doctrine must find a place in us, so that communion with our Father may unfold in the fullness of truth. Read More

“IF ANYONE DOES LOVE THE WORLD…”

261st Meditation

“If anyone does love the world, the love of the Father finds no place in him” (1 Jn 2:15).

As the Gospel tells us, “no one can serve two masters” (Mt 6:24). Our heart must belong undividedly to the Heavenly Father, and then we will learn to love the world with the love of the Father: “This is how God loved the world: he gave his only Son” (Jn 3:16). Read More

THANK THE FATHER WITH JOY

260th Meditation

When we begin to give heartfelt thanks to our Father, we go deeper and deeper into the reality of our existence. We discover more and more how much He has given us. Everything that we often take for granted, becomes from this perspective a reason for us to thank the Father unceasingly and joyfully, and enables us to grow in the awareness of His love for us. Read More

LENTEN ITINERARY | Day 10: The struggle against gluttony

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Yesterday we reflected on the passage of the purification of the Temple, and then applied it to our “inner temple,” which also requires purification.

At the beginning of our “Lenten itinerary” I quoted the prayer of St. Nicholas of Flüe, the first part of which said, “My Lord and my God, detach me from everything that distances me from You.” This affirmation synthesizes the so-called “purgative way” in the spiritual journey. Read More

LENTEN ITINERARY | Day 9: The Purification of the Temple

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Having heard in yesterday’s reading how the “wrath of the Lord” because of the wickedness of the City of Nineveh was appeased by the penitence of its inhabitants, so that the punishment did not fall on them, it is fitting that today we meditate on the passage of the purification of the Temple (Mt 21:12-13), which was the Gospel of the Traditional Mass two days ago. Read More

THE FEAR OF THE LORD

258th Meditation

“Come, my children, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord” (Ps 34:11) – the psalmist tells us, and the Book of Proverbs stresses, “The first principle of wisdom is the fear of the Lord” (Prov 9:10).

We know the fear of God as one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. It teaches us a great gentleness in our relationship with God, which will later also have an effect on our relationship with our neighbour. Read More

THOSE WHO LOOK TO HIM ARE RADIANT

257th Meditation

 

“Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed” (Ps 34:4).

When we always try to raise our eyes to the Father, our whole life is illuminated and transfigured by His light. Life becomes transparent, because when we live consciously under the gaze of our Father, nothing impure can resist. St. Benedict urged his monks to live always in the awareness of God’s presence. Read More