Saturday of the Eleventh week in Ordinary Time
Feast of Saints John Fisher, Bishop, and Thomas More, Martyrs -
Proper readings
Saturday, 22 June 2013
2 Cor. 12:1-10.
Brothers and sisters: I must boast; not that it is
profitable, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
I know someone in Christ who, fourteen years ago (whether in
the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows), was caught up to the
third heaven.
And I know that this person (whether in the body or out of
the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up into Paradise and heard
ineffable things, which no one may utter.
About this person I will boast, but about myself I will not
boast, except about my weaknesses.
Although if I should wish to boast, I would not be foolish,
for I would be telling the truth. But I refrain, so that no one may think more
of me than what he sees in me or hears from me because of the abundance of the
revelations. Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the
flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too
elated.
Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might
leave me, but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is
made perfect in weakness." I will rather boast most gladly of my
weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me.
Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships,
persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then
I am strong.
The angel of the LORD encamps
Around those who fear him, and delivers them. Taste and see how good the LORD is;
Blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
Fear the LORD, you his holy ones,
for nought is lacking to those who fear him. The great grow poor and hungry;
but those who seek the LORD want for no good thing.
Come, children, hear me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Which of you desires life,
and takes delight in prosperous days?
GOSPEL St. Matthew 6:24-34.
Jesus said to his disciples: «No one can serve two masters.
He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise
the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you
will eat (or drink), or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more
than food and the body more than clothing?Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?
Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?
Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the
wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin.
But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was
clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?'
All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given you besides.
Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of
itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.
Commentary of the day
:
Saint Ignatius Loyola
(1491-1556), founder of the Jesuits
Spiritual Exercises,
233-234 (trans. Thomas Corbishley SJ)
"All these things will be given you besides"
Contemplation for achieving love:
A preliminary observation is to remark that... Love consists
in a reciprocal interchange, the lover handing over and sharing with the
beloved his possessions... and the other does the same...Asking for what I
want. Here it will be to beg for a deep-felt appreciation of all the blessings
I have been given, that out of the fullness of my gratitude I may become
completely devoted to his Divine Majesty in effective love. The first point is
to recall the good things I have received: my creation, redemption, personal
gifts. I will rouse myself to reckon how much our Lord God has done for me, how
much that is his own he has shared with me; I will further consider the divine
plan whereby this same Lord wants to give me all that it is in his power to
give. I then turn to myself and try to see what reason and justice demand that
I offer, nay, give, His Divine Majesty in return-all that belongs to me, and
with it all that I am in myself - in the spirit of one who makes a present out
of a great love: “Take, Lord, into your possession, my complete freedom of
action, my memory, my understanding and my entire will, all that I have, all
that I own: it is your gift to me, I now return it to you. It is all yours, to
be used simply as you wish. Give me your Love and your grace; it is all I
need”.
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