“Who shall not return love to Him who thus loves us?
Who of the redeemed shall not love Him,
and choose in that Heart
his eternal abode?”
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Liberated by the Gospel
Over the past few months, we have systematically worked our way through the Gospel of John, the Acts of the Apostles, and the Letter to the Romans. Starting today, I will return to meditating on the daily reading or gospel. I have already meditated on many of the daily readings in recent years, so at times I will draw on reflections from past years. Occasionally, I will also take the readings according to the traditional calendar, that is, those read at the Tridentine Mass.
Mt 8:28-34 Read More
“THE PRAISE OF GOD IN THE FIRST PLACE”
“Tell me how I can worthily praise you.” — “Praise first the omnipotence of the Father, by virtue of which he acts in the Son and in the Holy Spirit according to his will, and whose immensity is beyond the grasp of any creature in heaven or on earth.” (Vision of St. Mechthild of Hackeborn).
LETTER TO THE ROMANS (Rom 14:5-6): “Conclusion of the Letter to the Romans”
Rom 14:5-6
One man esteems one day as better than another, while another man esteems all days alike. Let every one be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. He also who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.
In his next instructions to the Christian community of Rome, St. Paul intends to avoid unnecessary discord. It is important to distinguish whether what is at stake is the truth or simply differing opinions. The truth must be firmly defended. On the other hand, differing views can be allowed in second-order matters and should not give rise to quarrels. Evidently, there were disputes in the Christian community about whether meat could be eaten. It is likely that it was especially the Judeo-Christians who were concerned about this issue, since meat could have been sacrificed to idols.
LETTER TO THE ROMANS (Rom 13:1-7): “The true fulfillment of the Law”
Rom 13:1-7
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of him who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; he is the servant of God to execute his wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay all of them their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
“LET NO ONE SNATCH AWAY OUR JOY!”
“The devil rejoices, above all, when he succeeds in snatching joy from the heart of a servant of God” (St. Francis of Assisi)
“BETTER A HUMBLE SINNER THAN A PROUD PHARISEE”
“I prefer a humble sinner to a proud Pharisee, because with the former I can walk my ways. That is why I allow humiliations and, at times, withdraw my tangible grace” (Interior Word).
LETTER TO THE ROMANS (Rom 12:1-8): “Instructions for the community”
Rom 12:1-8
I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him. For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
LETTER TO THE ROMANS (Rom 10:15-21): “Israel in God’s plan”
Rom 10:15-21
How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!” But they have not all heeded the gospel; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ. But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” Again I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” Read More
MY PLANS ARE FULFILLED
“My plans are fulfilled, opportunely or inopportunely, even through missteps and darkness. No one can stop them; nothing can obscure God’s path” (Inner Word).
Our Father uses all circumstances to carry out His plan of salvation. Due to the resistance of the devil and the foolishness and weakness of man, it is true that God’s will often cannot be fulfilled directly according to His original intention. However, in His providence, our Father knows how to take this into consideration. Without abandoning his goal or changing it in principle, He pursues it through missteps and darkness.