Daily Thought

  Really Enjoyed This Meditation! He took the man and . . . healed him. (Luke 14:4) The man whom Jesus healed had dropsy. Nowadays, the word “edema” is used, but both words refer to a buildup of fluid in the body that causes limbs to swell, joints to stiffen, and movement to be hampered. The Pharisees who witnessed this miracle would have known Jesus’ view of healing on the Sabbath because the question had already been asked and answered, to their humiliation (Luke 13:10-17). They weren’t likely to welcome such a healing the second time around. But still, Jesus was offering them an invitation—this time to seek their own healing. It’s an invitation for all of us: to be healed of spiritual bloat and stiffness so that we can deepen our relationship with the Lord. It’s easy to settle into a fixed, familiar understanding of who God is and what he wants. But more than anything, what he wants is an intimate and fluid relationship with us, one that moves and grows and matures daily. So Jes...

 

  God's Mercy Allows Us To Joyfully Continue On Our Way Chase all gloominess from your heart, and, even if you do something wrong, don’t get upset, since that would do even more harm than the wrongdoing. Instead, humble yourself gently, asking God’s pardon, decide that you will do better in future and joyfully continue on your way. St. Paul of the Cross

  Waiting On the Lord Our soul waits for the LORD, he is our help and shield. For in him our hearts rejoice; in his holy name we trust. May your mercy, LORD, be upon us; as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:20-22

  Let Nothing Disturb You Let nothing Disturb you, Let nothing frighten you, Though all things pass, God does not change. Patience wins all things. But he lacks nothing who possesses God; For God alone suffices. St. Teresa of Avila

  Prayer & The Grace of Surrender “It can happen that the opportunity for a great offering to our Lord coincides with a time of great personal pain. ...Unique to each life, that day may come with no preparation, not at all anticipated.  ...And yet this juncture in time, in God’s vision and plan, is not for sadness and pain, but rather invites a different understanding of God, and perhaps a contemplative turn in life. ...A sacrificial act of offering must take place, more serious than any other renunciation we have made in our lives.  It is a profound offering to God of what he has taken from us, holding back nothing, uniting ourselves now to his choice, even as this act may cost much in tears.  ‘Yes, Lord, this, too, indeed everything you have asked, I offer to you.’  This act repeated possibly for many days subsequently may be decisive for all subsequent relations with God.  The essential truth of sacrifice as an outpouring - a bloodletting of the hear...

  Focus On The Great Commandment Lectio Luke 11:42–46 Meditatio “These you should have done, without overlooking the others.” Sometimes I get so caught up in details that I miss the big picture. This can be helpful when I need to focus. But it can also be a problem if I’m so focused that I miss the opportunities to serve others that God shows me right now. Jesus is talking about this with the Pharisees and scholars of the Law. In this instance they are following the law of paying certain tithes, but are not giving attention to the greatest commandment of all, love for God. In building a house, the interior design is important, but the foundation and walls have to be put up first! If the foundation is not solid, then the rest of the house cannot stand. Jesus acknowledges that tithes should be paid, but we can’t overlook the most important laws: love of God and neighbor. Sometimes the good that we choose to do can be self-serving and lead us to rely on ourselves. Jesus offers us the ...

  True Charity True charity consists in bearing all our neighbor’s defects – not being surprised at their weakness, but edified at their smallest virtues. St.  Thérèse of Lisieux

  Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan - 10 Rules for Life I will live the present moment to the fullest. I will discern between God and God’s works. I will hold firmly to one secret: prayer. I will see in the Holy Eucharist my only power. I will have only one wisdom: the science of the Cross. I will remain faithful to my mission in the Church and for the Church as a witness of Jesus Christ. I will seek the peace the world cannot give. I will carry out a revolution by renewal in the Holy Spirit. I will speak one language and wear one uniform: Charity. I will have one very special love: The Blessed Virgin Mary. 

On the Good and Peaceable Person First keep yourself in peace, then you will be able to bring others to peace. The peaceable person does more good than one who is highly educated. The overly passionate person turns even good to evil, and readily believes evil. The good and peaceable person turns all things to good. Whoever is in perfect peace suspects no one. But whoever is discontented and disturbed is agitated by various suspicions, and neither has rest, nor permits others to rest. Often such a person says what should not be said and does not do what should be done. While considering what others ought to do, do not neglect what you yourself are bound to do. It is better to have zeal toward yourself in the first place, and then you may justly exercise zeal toward your neighbor. You know well how to excuse and gloss over your own deeds, but you will not accept the excuses of others. It is more just for you to accuse yourself and to excuse another. If you wish others to put up with you,...