Reconciliation in Christ

Christ died for us while we were still sinners

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We followed the reading of the day because we celebrated and reflected already the high feast of Corpus Christi last Thursday.

Rom 5,6-11

When we were still helpless, at the appointed time, Christ died for the godless. You could hardly find anyone ready to die even for someone upright; though it is just possible that, for a really good person, someone might undertake to die. So it is proof of God’s own love for us, that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. Read More

Elishas call

The prophets Elijah and Elisha

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1 Kgs 19,19-21

Leaving there, he came on Elisha son of Shaphat as he was ploughing behind twelve yoke of oxen, he himself being with the twelfth. Elijah passed near to him and threw his cloak over him. Elisha left his oxen and ran after Elijah. ‘Let me kiss my father and mother, then I will follow you,’ he said. Elijah answered, ‘Go, go back; for have I done anything to you?’ Elisha turned away, took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He used the oxen’s tackle for cooking the meat, which he gave the people to eat. He then rose and, following Elijah, became his servant. Read More

The prophet Elijah and the Holy Spirit

 

To the holy prophet Elijah many chapels and churches are consecrated and he is regarded by the Carmelites as their religious father and model.

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1. Kgs 19,9.11-16

There he went into a cave and spent the night there. Then the word of Yahweh came to him saying, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ Then he was told, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before Yahweh.’ For at that moment Yahweh was going by. A mighty hurricane split the mountains and shattered the rocks before Yahweh. But Yahweh was not in the hurricane. And after the hurricane, an earthquake. But Yahweh was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake, fire. But Yahweh was not in the fire. And after the fire, a light murmuring sound. Read More

The dignity of the Holy Mass

Solemnity of Corpus Christi

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Jn 6,51-58

I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.’ Then the Jews started arguing among themselves, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ Jesus replied to them: In all truth I tell you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise that person up on the last day. Read More

The decision

The cave of the prophet Elijah, Mount Carmel

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1 Kgs 18,20-39

Ahab called all Israel together and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. Elijah stepped out in front of all the people. ‘How long’, he said, ‘do you mean to hobble first on one leg then on the other? If Yahweh is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him.’ But the people had nothing to say. Elijah then said to them, ‘I, I alone, am left as a prophet of Yahweh, while the prophets of Baal are four hundred and fifty. Let two bulls be given us; let them choose one for themselves, dismember it but not set fire to it. Read More

Salt of the earth, light of the world

You are light for the world

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Mt 5,13-16

You are salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled under people’s feet. You are light for the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in people’s sight, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven. Read More

The Beatitudes

Ancient musical notation of the Beatitudes in Gregorian notation, Church of the Beatitudes, Galilee.

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Mt 5,1-12

Seeing the crowds, he went onto the mountain. And when he was seated his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them: How blessed are the poor in spirit: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs. Blessed are the gentle: they shall have the earth as inheritance. Blessed are those who mourn: they shall be comforted. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for uprightness: they shall have their fill. Read More

Retreat of Pentecost, Part 7

O most blessed Light divine, Let Your radiance in us shine, And our inmost being fill

Vigil lamps hanging in the innermost chamber of the Aedicule, in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem

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“O most blessed Light divine, Let Your radiance in us shine, And our inmost being fill.”

Here the Holy Spirit is addressed especially as a precious gift of the faithful.

It is an important distinction between people who do not yet know and live the true faith and the faithful. The first are lured and called by the Holy Spirit, and he wants to convince them of the truth of the gospel. Read More

Retreat of Pentecost, Part 6

Comfort in suffering and death

The suffering should be consciously brought into contact with God so that it can be transformed and become a “bright suffering”.

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The name Comforter for the Holy Spirit becomes very meaningful, because it is precisely in times of such tribulation through suffering that the Holy Spirit is present. There is a time of weeping and mourning (cf. Eccl 3,4). This is part of our life and if this were to be completely absent in some people, then we think that they have no heart. Jesus himself wept because of the death of Lazarus (cf. Jn 11,35), he especially wept for Jerusalem because the hour of his gracious coming was not recognized (cf. Lk 19,41), Rachel weeps for her children who were killed (cf. Jer 31,15), etc. Read More

Retreat of Pentecost, Part 5

In trouble you are calm! In the heat moderation

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Outer restlessness

We easily allow ourselves to be absorbed by the dynamics of the works in the world and by their transmission. Also the multitude of encounters and contacts, together with today’s almost unlimited communication possibilities, easily create an almost fundamental restlessness around us. Sacred silence is found less and less often, even the churches are becoming more and more places of restlessness instead of valuable places of silence. Read More