1 Thess. 5:1-6.9-11.
Concerning times and seasons, brothers and sisters,
you have no need for anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know
very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night.
When people are saying, "Peace and security," then sudden disaster comes upon them, like labour pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness, for that day to overtake you like a thief.
For all of you are children of the light and children of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness.
Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober.
For God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do.
When people are saying, "Peace and security," then sudden disaster comes upon them, like labour pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness, for that day to overtake you like a thief.
For all of you are children of the light and children of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness.
Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober.
For God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do.
Ps 27(26):1.4.13-14.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
One thing I ask of the LORD
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stout-hearted, and wait for the LORD.
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
One thing I ask of the LORD
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stout-hearted, and wait for the LORD.
Lk 4:31-37.
Jesus then went down to Capernaum, a town of
Galilee. He taught them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at his
teaching because he spoke with authority.
In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice,
“Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!”
Jesus rebuked him and said, "Be quiet! Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm.
They were all amazed and said to one another, "What is there about His word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out."
And news of Jesus spread everywhere in the surrounding region.
Commentary of the day :
Saint [Padre] Pio de Pietrelcina (1887-1968)
"Come out of him!"
In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice,
“Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!”
Jesus rebuked him and said, "Be quiet! Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm.
They were all amazed and said to one another, "What is there about His word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out."
And news of Jesus spread everywhere in the surrounding region.
Commentary of the day :
Saint [Padre] Pio de Pietrelcina (1887-1968)
"Come out of him!"
Don't
let temptation frighten you. God wants to test and strengthen your soul by it
and gives you the strength to overcome it at the same time.
Up
till now your life has been that of a child but from now on our Lord wants to
treat you like an adult. However, the trials of adults are far superior to
those of a child and that is why you are so upset to begin with. But the life
of your soul will quickly settle down; it won't delay. Be patient a little
longer and all will be well.
So let all these empty forebodings drop. Remember that it isn't the Evil One's suggestions that put you in the wrong but rather your consent to those suggestions.
So let all these empty forebodings drop. Remember that it isn't the Evil One's suggestions that put you in the wrong but rather your consent to those suggestions.
Our
free will is the only thing capable of good and evil. But when our will is
groaning under the trials inflicted on us by the Tempter and does not desire
what he proposes, then not only is it not a fault but it is a virtue.
Take care not to fall into anxiety when you are struggling against these temptations because that only serves to strengthen them. You have to treat them with scorn and not worry yourself about them. Turn your thoughts to Jesus crucified, His body laid to rest in your arms, and say: “Here is my hope, the source of my joy! I bind myself to You with all my soul and will not leave You until you have set me safe.”
Take care not to fall into anxiety when you are struggling against these temptations because that only serves to strengthen them. You have to treat them with scorn and not worry yourself about them. Turn your thoughts to Jesus crucified, His body laid to rest in your arms, and say: “Here is my hope, the source of my joy! I bind myself to You with all my soul and will not leave You until you have set me safe.”
No comments:
Post a Comment