Mar172019

Lent Sunday reading

Abram brought Him (God) all these, split them in two,
and placed each half opposite the other;
but the birds he did not cut up.
Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses,
but Abram stayed with them.
As the sun was about to set, a trance fell upon Abram,
and a deep, terrifying darkness enveloped him.

The Lord is my light and my salvation.

While He (Jesus) was still speaking,
a cloud came and cast a shadow over them,
and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my chosen Son; listen to Him.”
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.

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Mar112019

Self Awareness

For all my deeds done,
And undone,
Those in need of undoing,
For deeds never done,
I plead for mercy,
For my imperfections,
Failures and weaknesses,
My omissions,
My hardened heart,
May Your Holy perfection,
Be enough to suffice,
To protect and bless,
All those I have harmed.

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Mar082019

Living Lent with peace of mind

“It is great wisdom to know how to be silent and to look at neither the remarks, nor the deeds, nor the lives of others.” –St John of the Cross. The Carthusians teach, the greatest gift we can offer to one another is silence.

St John of the Cross. Euclid, Ohio.

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Mar072019

Lenten message from a saint

Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly.

Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them – every day begin the task anew. ―St. Francis de Sales

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Mar042019

Onward with Sirach

To the penitent God provides a way back,
he encourages those who are losing hope
and has chosen for them the lot of truth.
Return to him and give up sin,
pray to the LORD and make your offenses few.
Turn again to the Most High and away from your sin,
hate intensely what he loathes,
and know the justice and judgments of God,
Stand firm in the way set before you,
in prayer to the Most High God.

Who in the nether world can glorify the Most High
in place of the living who offer their praise?
Dwell no longer in the error of the ungodly,
but offer your praise before death.
No more can the dead give praise
than those who have never lived;
You who are alive and well
shall praise and glorify God in his mercies.
How great the mercy of the LORD,
his forgiveness of those who return to him!

 

 

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Feb282019

Accountability

Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.

“Everyone will be salted with fire.Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.” –Gospel of Mark

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