February 5
“In our language families and generations are called 'houses,' the Hebrews themselves called the generation of children 'building up a house.' In this sense it is said that God built up houses for the Egyptian midwives to show that raising a house -- that is, a family -- does not consist in building a splendid residence and storing up vast worldly possessions but in training children well in the fear of God and in virtue. No trouble or labor should be spared to do this, for children are their father's and mother's crown."
- St. Francis de Sales
Today's Reflection:
How do we "train" our children to have a proper perspective toward material possessions? Toward media? Toward their usage of time?
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February 4
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed
like one of these."
-Matthew 6: 24-29
Today's Reflection:
Do you trust God? How is this evidenced in how you treat your material possessions?
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February 3
"So also you can possess riches without being poisoned by them if you merely keep them in your home and purse and not in your heart."
-St Francis de Sales
Today's Reflection:
How do we cultivate the type of detachment that is referred to in this quote from St. Francis de Sales?
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February 2
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world."
-1 John 2:15
Today's Reflection:
Are there any particular areas where you tend to "love the world?"
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February 1
"A greedy man stirs up strive, but he who trust in the LORD will be enriched...He who gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse."
- Proverbs 28: 25, 26
Today's Reflection:
In light of the passage above, do you feel that you have a proper attitude toward your material possessions?
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January 31
"And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, 'Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.'"
-Luke 5:4
Today's Reflection:
St. John Paul II encouraged all Catholics to enter the hope-filled waters of the New Evangelization. Here are eight ways you can prepare yourself to share the Catholic Faith with others (PASS IT ON): Pray, accept the call, study, sacrifice, intercede, teach by example, organize your testimony, no excuses!
Prayerfully read each word and then plan a personal strategy to implement it in your daily life. Through the grace of God, we can work together to infuse the world with the Truth who is Jesus Christ.
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January 30
"Let us forgive and ask forgiveness!...The acceptance of God's forgiveness leads to the commitment to forgive our brothers and sisters and to be reconciled with them."
-St. John Paul II
Today's Reflection:
What practical strategies can you implement to live a life of forgiveness
as encouraged by St. John Paul II?
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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?
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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.
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January 27
"If one member suffers, all suffer together."
-1 Corinthians 12:26
Today's Reflection:
In the Mystical Body, we are one in Christ Jesus. Even when it is not consciously experienced, suffering -- the common denominator of the human condition -- unites us with an unbreakable bond. But suffering itself begs us to ask questions. Why do we suffer? Why does God permit suffering to exist? What is suffering's purpose? Ponder them during your time of prayer today.
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