January 29
"On Him we have set our hope that He will deliver us again."
-2 Corinthians 1:10
Today's Reflection:
God will intervene. He will come to our aid. He does have a plan. And His plan is devised for our welfare. This calls us reflect prayerfully on the challenges we are facing, the difficulties that are presenting themselves, the trials that are bearing down on us, and to ask this question: Where is God in this situation, and what is He saying to me? I know that He is involved -- Scripture has told me that. So what are His will and His purpose in the midst of this event?
January 28
"The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
-Mark 12:28-31
Today's Reflection:
The passage reveals an important truth to us about the virtue of charity: true love of neighbor flows from true love of God. Jesus tells the scribe that the first commandment is to love God with the entirety of our being. Then we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. The love of God is a prerequisite for love of neighbor and for every charitable action.
Practicing the corporal works of mercy is a practical way to grow in the virtue of charity. Seek at least one way that you can do so this week.
(1) Feed the hungry. (2) Give drink to the thirsty. (3) Clothe the naked. (4) Shelter the homeless. (5) Visit those in prison. (6) Comfort the sick. (7) Bury the dead.
January 25
"It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me."
-Galatians 2:20
Today's Reflection:
Today we celebrate the conversion of St. Paul. His powerful experience of Jesus Christ turned him from a persecutor of Christians to one of the greatest evangelizers of Christianity. Like him, we are called to meet Christ and grow in union with Him. How can you meet Him today? In what ways can you allow Him to live more powerfully in you?
January 24
"The chief exercise of prayer is to speak to God and to hear God speak in the bottom of your heart."
St. Francis de Sales
Today's Reflection:
Prayer is the gateway to friendship and intimacy with God. Do you have a regular and consistent time of prayer? Are there ways you can improve your prayer time? What one step will you take today?
January 23
"[She] kept all these things in her heart."
-Luke 2:51
Today's Reflection:
Prayer is the answer. Prayer is what the Blessed Virgin Mary did when she faced the contradictions of her life as Mother of the Messiah. It was in her heart that Our Lady found the grace and consolation she needed. In our barren times, how do we need to pray more, not less?
Dearest Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!
