Archive for February 17th, 2008

The object of our prayer-life is to empty ourselves and be filled with the Trinity.

February 17, 2008

When: Sunday, February 17, 2008 12:00 AM to Monday, February 18, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

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Words of Jesus

"O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me."

Matthew 17:17

Celebrate the feast of Christmas every day, even every moment in the interior temple of your spirit, remaining like a baby in the arms of the heavenly Father, where you will be reborn each moment in the Divine Word, Jesus Christ!

— St. Paul of the Cross

Abba, Father, Lord God, today You give the words of Mother Angelica to calm and feed me…

The object of our prayer-life is to empty ourselves and be filled with the Trinity. The first thing Jesus did when He became Man was to empty Himself.

"His state was Divine, yet He did not cling to His equality with God, but emptied Himself to assume the condition of a slave and become as men are; and as all men are, He was humbler yet." (Phil. 2:6,7)

Our mission in life, then, is to cooperate with God's Grace and empty ourselves and be filled with the Trinity.

We are not to seek detachment to be free of responsibility, but to enable us to love both God and man with a pure love.

We are not to withdraw from the world to be alone, but to be with God.

We are to do penance, not because it erases our guilt, but because it wipes away the traces of sin.

We are to empty ourselves, not for the sake of self-control, but to be filled with God- transformed into Jesus.

There is no definite method by which we can become selfless. Each one of us has a particular virtue and faults that make the process of becoming like Jesus different. We must look at Jesus, read His Word in Scripture and ask His Spirit to enlighten our minds and give us that particular way by which we can best attain the goal He has set for us …. Mother Angelica

O my Jesus help me to let go of myself and embrace You becoming Your image, liken my heart to Yours so I may see with Your eyes, speak with Your words, act in Your ways, and feel with Your heart. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Genesis 12:1-4<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Gen&ch=12&bv1=1&ev1=4>

1 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves." 4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

Psalm 33:4-5, 18-20, 22<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Ps&ch=33&bv1=4&ev1=5&bv2=18&ev2=20&bv3=22&ev3=22>

4 For the word of the LORD is upright; and all his work is done in faithfulness. 5 He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. 18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, 19 that he may deliver their soul from death, and keep them alive in famine. 20 Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and shield. 22 Let thy steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in thee.

2 Timothy 1:8-10<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=_2Tim&ch=1&bv1=8&ev1=10>

8 Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago, 10 and now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Matthew 17:1-19<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Matt&ch=17&bv1=1&ev1=19>

1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Eli'jah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish, I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Eli'jah." 5 He was still speaking, when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces, and were filled with awe. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear." 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. 9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of man is raised from the dead." 10 And the disciples asked him, "Then why do the scribes say that first Eli'jah must come?" 11 He replied, "Eli'jah does come, and he is to restore all things; 12 but I tell you that Eli'jah has already come, and they did not know him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of man will suffer at their hands." 13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. 14 And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and kneeling before him said, 15 "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him." 17 And Jesus answered, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me." 18 And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?"

Lenten Reflections<http://origin.ewtn.com/faith/lent/>

Pope Benedict XVI Encyclical Letter<http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html>

He who desires anything but God deceives himself, and he who loves anything but God errs miserably.

February 17, 2008

When: Saturday, February 16, 2008 12:00 AM to Sunday, February 17, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

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Words of Jesus

"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven… If you love those who love you, what merit is there in that?"

Matthew 5:44,46

He who desires anything but God deceives himself, and he who loves anything but God errs miserably.

— St. Phillip Neri

Abba, Father, Lord God, look upon us and hear our prayer. By the good works You inspire, help us to discipline our bodies and to be renewed in spirit. Lord Jesus, you spoke peace to a sinful world and brought mankind the gift of reconciliation by the suffering and death you endured. I love you and joyfully bear the name 'Christian.' Teach me to follow your example. Increase my faith, hope and charity so that I may struggle to turn hatred to love and conflict to peace. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Deuteronomy 26:16-19<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Deut&ch=26&bv1=16&ev1=19>

16 "This day the LORD your God commands you to do these statutes and ordinances; you shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul. 17 You have declared this day concerning the LORD that he is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his ordinances, and will obey his voice; 18 and the LORD has declared this day concerning you that you are a people for his own possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments, 19 that he will set you high above all nations that he has made, in praise and in fame and in honor, and that you shall be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he has spoken."

Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Ps&ch=119&bv1=1&ev1=2&bv2=4&ev2=5&bv3=7&ev3=8>

1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! 2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, 4 Thou hast commanded thy precepts to be kept diligently. 5 O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping thy statutes! 7 I will praise thee with an upright heart, when I learn thy righteous ordinances. 8 I will observe thy statutes; O forsake me not utterly!

Matthew 5:43-48<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Matt&ch=5&bv1=43&ev1=48>

43 "You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Lenten Reflections<http://origin.ewtn.com/faith/lent/>

Pope Benedict XVI Encyclical Letter<http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html>