#Psalm 119:97

[jesus-is-lord-and-savior]

Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.

(Psalm 119:97, ESV)

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

I Love Your Law

MEM.

O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. — Psalm 119:97 | King James Version (KJV) The King James Version Bible is in the public domain. Cross References: Psalm 1:2; Psalm 119:15; Psalm 119:47-48; Psalm 119:96

[trueconservativepundit]

How Spiritually Healthy Are You?

By Adrian Rogers “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.”  Psalm 119:97 My wife gives me brewer’s yeast every morning for the vitamins in it. And then on top of that, bee pollen. Then a fist full of vitamins and then two-percent milk. At first, these habits were foreign, and I did not have a taste for them, but over time my appetite has changed and I’ve learned to like…

[walkswithmyfather]

Psalm 119:97-104 (NASB1995). “O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For they are ever mine. I have more insight than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, Because I have observed Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, For You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.”

“Our Amazing Bible” By In Touch Ministries:

“A Bible is our personal copy of God's voice, and we should treasure it as such.”

“We often take our Bibles for granted. But have you ever considered how astounding it is that the God of the universe cared enough about humanity to give us His written Word so we could know Him? The Scriptures record God’s thoughts, words, desires, and purposes as well as His interventions in human history. The climax of His revelation is encompassed in the coming of His Son as our Savior, His plan of redemption, and Christ’s future return as King of Kings.

Amazingly, the Scriptures were compiled from the writings of more than three dozen people, recorded over a period of about 1,400 years! Each book of the Bible reflects its human author’s personality, background, and vocabulary, yet every word was inspired as God Himself spoke through each writer (2 Peter 1:20-21). What’s more, though written by multiple hands over multiple centuries, Scripture is a cohesive compilation: Its message is consistent in truth, purpose, and prophecy.

Without God’s Word, we would know very little about Him and nothing about redemption. So never take your Bible for granted. Each time you open it, you are hearing God’s voice speaking directly to you. Take advantage of this privilege and read it regularly.”

[Photo by Aaron Burden at Unsplash]

[soaringeaglesingingjoy]

Pursue what matters most

In the book of Romans, Paul begs Christians to give their entire lives over to God because God sacrificed everything for them. Jesus gave up His life so that we could experience His unending love and grace. We cheapen His gifts if we refuse to align our lives with the way Jesus lived.

But we give our lives to God by making Him the one thing we pursue above anything else.

So here are 5 steps you can practice—right now—to help you put God first.

Give thanks

“We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds.”

Psalms 75:1 ESV

Right now, take a moment to thank God for what He’s already done for you. Reflect on His faithfulness, and recount the stories you have seen and heard of His wonderful power.

Spend 5 minutes in silence

“Abide in me, and I in you.”

John 15:4 ESV

Abiding in Jesus starts with stillness. So right now, pause, take a deep breath, and give anything concerning you over to God. Spend 5 minutes centering your heart on the One who matters most.

Remember Whose you are

“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV

God loves you. The price He paid for you cost Him everything. So remind yourself of Whose you are, and reflect on some of the things God says about you.

Meditate on God’s Word

“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.”

Psalms 119:97 ESV

One of the best ways to find out how Jesus wants you to live is by spending time in Scripture. As you do, ask God to speak to you through His Word about what His will is.

Focus on what is excellent

“…If there is any excellence … think about these things.”

Philippians 4:8 ESV

You have been given the mind of Christ. If you’re not sure what you should think about, try asking yourself: What is praiseworthy? What thoughts and actions would honor God?

Make a list of whatever comes to mind, and pursue those things.

By practicing these steps every day, you can create habits that will help you pursue intimacy with God every day, and put Him first above everything else.

[granonine]

MEM

Psalm 119:97-104 O how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through Thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for Thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Thy precepts. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep Thy…

[holystormfire]

How often should we read the Bible?

Deuteronomy 6:6

“And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.”

Deuteronomy 17:19

“He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the LORD his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees.”

Joshua 1:8

“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”

Psalm 119:97

Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long.

The Bible is for regular reading and meditation. God says to read it “continually.” Continually doesn’t mean reading the Bible just when we get around to it. If possible, we should read God’s Word every day because that is one of the primary ways he communicates with us. It is the first step taking forward to a relationship with God. To understand Him is to know Him, and when we know Him we find ourselves with Him throughout.

[hiswordsarekisses]

This really blew me away this morning…

“…To ‘love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" ~ Here are a few obvious aspects:

You seek fellowship with him and long to gaze upon his beauty (Psalm 27:4). You rejoice in meditating on his Word and rise early to pray (Psalm 119:97; Mark 1:35). You always delight to do his will (Psalm 40:8). A regard for his glory governs and motivates everything you do (1 Corinthians 10:31)—eating and drinking, working and playing, buying and selling, reading and speaking, even driving. You’re never discouraged or frustrated by adverse circumstances because you’re confident God is working all things together for your good (Romans 8:28). You’re always content because you know he’ll never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

Or look at what Jesus called the "second" commandment: "love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39, NIV). Among other things, this would mean that you never show selfishness, irritability, peevishness, or indifference in your dealings with others. You take a genuine interest in their welfare and seek to promote their interests, honor, and well-being. You never regard them with prideful superiority or talk about their failings. You never resent any wrongs they do to you, but instead are always ready to forgive. You always treat them as you would have them treat you.

Do you begin to grasp some of the implications of what it means to obey these two commandments?”

“On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matt22:40)

Most of us don’t even think about the 2 commandments the Lord said are most important in the course of a day, let alone aspire to obey them. ~ Instead we content ourselves with avoiding major outward sins and performing accepted Christian duties.”

(Jerry Bridges)

[albertfinch]

PRAYING FOR YOUR CHILDREN

That they will know Christ as Savior early in life.

      Psalm 63:1, Timothy 3:15

That they will have a hatred for sin. Psalm 97:10

That they will be caught when guilty. Psalm 119:71

That they will be protected from the evil one in each area of their lives: spiritual, emotional, physical. John 17:15

That they will have a responsible attitude in all their interpersonal relationships.

      Daniel 6:3

That they will respect those in authority over them. Romans 13:1

That they will desire the right kind of friends and be protected from the wrong

      friends.  Proverbs 1:10-11

That they will be kept from the wrong mate and saved for the right one.

      2 Corinthians 6:14-17

That they, as well as those they marry, will be kept pure until marriage.

      1 Corinthians 6:18-20

That they will learn to totally submit to God and actively resist Satan in all circumstances. James 4:7

That they will be singlehearted, willing to be sold out to Jesus Christ.

      Romans 12:1-2

That they will be hedged in so that they cannot find their way to wrong people or wrong places and that the wrong people cannot find their way to them. Hosea 2:6

            QUESTIONS TO ASK MYSELF:

What am I willing to do to affect the spiritual destiny of my children?

Am I willing to pray the above verses over my children every day?

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

[pugzman3]

Psalms chapter 119

Mem

97 MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.

103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

[yuttikkele]

may29 • psalm 119:97-112 / proverbs 16:8-9

Meditate on the Lord’s law through the day. God’s commandments make us wiser than our enemies. His word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. I will incline my heart to perform God’s statutes unto the end.

It’s better to have little with righteousness than to have great revenues without righteousness. Humans decide what we will do, but God directs our steps.

Tis all for the day!! Have a spectacular one!!!! :DD

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Living His Word

"Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." — Joshua 1:7-8

In Joshua's day, if you wanted to meditate on the Word of God, then all you had was the "Book of the Law." This is what Christian scholars call the "Pentateuch," the first five books of the Old Testament written by Moses. In our day, of course, we have much more at our disposal for meditation: both Old and New Testaments. In each era, however, meditating on the Word of God leads to the same result: prosperity and success.

The reason for this is that when one meditates on the Word one begins to see reality from God's perspective; one begins to see reality for what it actually is. Those who meditate on the Word become wise. David said that by meditating on God's Word he became wiser than his enemies, teachers, and elders (Psalm 119:97-100). The wise person knows what to do and how to prosper and be successful in life. That's why Solomon prayed for wisdom when he wanted success as King of Israel (I Kings 3).

Meditation on the Word of God is the practice of focusing one's thoughts on the Word to reflect on it, ponder over it, memorize it, and pray about it. It helps us with what the Apostle Paul would call the "renewing of our minds" and thus keeps us from being "conformed to this world" (Romans 12:2). It should not be confused with Eastern mystical meditation. Mysticism usually involves the emptying of the mind, whereas Christian meditation involves filling the mind with the Word of God.

Don't forget the obedience part of God's admonition to Joshua. It doesn't make much sense to meditate on the Word and never put it into practice. Wise people don't just know things, they also do things.

© 2016 by Bible League International

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

18th November >> Mass Readings (Except USA)

Friday, Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time

    or 

Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles.

Friday, Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Colour: Green)

First Reading

Apocalypse 10:8-11

I was told to swallow the scroll, and to prophesy.

I, John, heard the voice I had heard from heaven speaking to me again. ‘Go,’ it said ‘and take that open scroll out of the hand of the angel standing on sea and land.’ I went to the angel and asked him to give me the small scroll, and he said, ‘Take it and eat it; it will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will taste as sweet as honey.’ So I took it out of the angel’s hand, and swallowed it; it was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach turned sour. Then I was told, ‘You are to prophesy again, this time about many different nations and countries and languages and emperors.’

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 118(119):14,24,72,103,111,131

R/ Your promise is sweet to my taste, O Lord.

I rejoiced to do your will    as though all riches were mine. Your will is my delight;    your statutes are my counsellors.

R/ Your promise is sweet to my taste, O Lord.

The law from your mouth means more to me    than silver and gold. Your promise is sweeter to my taste    than honey in the mouth.

R/ Your promise is sweet to my taste, O Lord.

Your will is my heritage for ever,    the joy of my heart. I open my mouth and I sigh    as I yearn for your commands.

R/ Your promise is sweet to my taste, O Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

cf. 2 Timothy 1:10

Alleluia, alleluia! Our Saviour Jesus Christ abolished death and he has proclaimed life through the Good News. Alleluia!

Or:

John 10:27

Alleluia, alleluia! The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice, says the Lord, I know them and they follow me. Alleluia!

Gospel

Luke 19:45-48

You have turned God's house into a robbers' den.

Jesus went into the Temple and began driving out those who were selling. ‘According to scripture,’ he said ‘my house will be a house of prayer. But you have turned it into a robbers’ den.’

   He taught in the Temple every day. The chief priests and the scribes, with the support of the leading citizens, tried to do away with him, but they did not see how they could carry this out because the people as a whole hung on his words.

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

---------------------------------------------

Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

(Liturgical Colour: White)

(There is no choice between ferial and memorial readings today, because all readings are proper to the memorial)

First reading

Acts of the Apostles 28:11-16,30-31

So we came to Rome.

At the end of three months we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island; she came from Alexandria and her figurehead was the Twins. We put in at Syracuse and spent three days there; from there we followed the coast up to Rhegium. After one day there a south wind sprang up and on the second day we made Puteoli, where we found some brothers and were much rewarded by staying a week with them. And so we came to Rome.

   When the brothers there heard of our arrival they came to meet us, as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them he thanked God and took courage. On our arrival in Rome Paul was allowed to stay in lodgings of his own with the soldier who guarded him.

   Paul spent the whole of the two years in his own rented lodging. He welcomed all who came to visit him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete freedom and without hindrance from anyone.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 97(98):1-6

R/ The Lord has shown his salvation to the nations.

Sing a new song to the Lord    for he has worked wonders. His right hand and his holy arm    have brought salvation.

R/ The Lord has shown his salvation to the nations.

The Lord has made known his salvation;    has shown his justice to the nations. He has remembered his truth and love    for the house of Israel.

R/ The Lord has shown his salvation to the nations.

All the ends of the earth have seen    the salvation of our God. Shout to the Lord, all the earth,    ring out your joy.

R/ The Lord has shown his salvation to the nations.

Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp    with the sound of music. With trumpets and the sound of the horn    acclaim the King, the Lord.

R/ The Lord has shown his salvation to the nations.

Gospel Acclamation

cf. Te Deum

Alleluia, alleluia! We praise you, O God, we acknowledge you to be the Lord. The glorious company of the apostles praise you, O Lord. Alleluia!

Gospel

Matthew 14:22-33

Jesus walks on the water.

Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he would send the crowds away. After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea, for there was a head-wind. In the fourth watch of the night he went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified. ‘It is a ghost’ they said, and cried out in fear. But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, ‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.’ It was Peter who answered. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink. ‘Lord! Save me!’ he cried. Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. ‘Man of little faith,’ he said ‘why did you doubt?’ And as they got into the boat the wind dropped. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[catolinewsdailyreadings]

Monday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of Monday, September 2, 2024

Reading 1

1 COR 2:1-5

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming the mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling, and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of spirit and power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 119:97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102

R./ Lord, I love your commands.

How I love your law, O LORD! It is my meditation all the day. R./ Lord, I love your commands.

Your command has made me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. R./ Lord, I love your commands.

I have more understanding than all my teachers when your decrees are my meditation. R./ Lord, I love your commands.

I have more discernment than the elders, because I observe your precepts. R./ Lord, I love your commands.

From every evil way I withhold my feet, that I may keep your words. R./ Lord, I love your commands.

From your ordinances I turn not away, for you have instructed me. R./ Lord, I love your commands.

Gospel

LK 4:16-30

Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, "Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing." And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, "Is this not the son of Joseph?" He said to them, "Surely you will quote me this proverb, 'Physician, cure yourself,' and say, 'Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.'" And he said, "Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian." When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

[walkswithmyfather]

“4 Ways to Read God’s Word” By Andrew Murray:

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” —Psalm 1:1-2.

Here are some simple rules for Bible reading:

1. Read God’s Word with great reverence.

Meditate a moment in silence on the thought that the words come from God Himself. Bow in deep reverence. Be silent unto God. Let Him reveal His Word in your heart.

2. Read the Bible with careful attention.

If you read the words carelessly, thinking that you can grasp their meaning with your human understanding, you will use the words superficially, and not enter into their depths. When a person tries to explain anything wonderful or beautiful to us, we give our entire attention to try to understand what is said. How much higher and deeper are God’s thoughts than our thoughts.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9).

We need to give our undivided attention to understand even the superficial meaning of the words. How much harder to grasp the spiritual meaning?

3. Read the Word of God with the expectation of the guidance of God’s Spirit. It is God’s Spirit alone that can make the Word a living power in our hearts and lives.

Read Psalm 119. Notice how earnestly David prays that God will teach him, and open his eyes, and give him understanding, and incline his heart to God’s ways. As you read, remember that God’s Word and God’s Spirit are inseparable.

4. Read Scripture with the firm purpose of keeping the Word day and night in your heart and in your life. The whole heart and the whole life must come under the influence of the Word.

David said: “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” (Psalm 119:97). And so in the midst of his daily work, the believer can cherish God’s Word in his heart and meditate on it.

Read Psalm 119 again, until you accept God’s Word with all your heart, and pray that God may teach you to understand it and carry out its precepts in your life.

CARRY THE LIGHT creates Christian Classic eBooks, audiobooks, and videos. We send these around the world for free. Here is a link to over 200 books - enjoy and pass them on!”

Links:

https://www.smore.com/s7ya6-carry-the-light

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#CarryTheLight #christianbooks”

[ongolecharles]

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS (DSR) 📚 Group, Mon Sept 02nd, 2024 ... Monday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year B

Reading 1

---------

1 COR 2:1-5

When I came to you, brothers and sisters,

proclaiming the mystery of God,

I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom.

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you

except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling,

and my message and my proclamation

were not with persuasive words of wisdom,

but with a demonstration of spirit and power,

so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom

but on the power of God.

Responsorial Psalm

---------------

PS 119:97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102 

R. (97) Lord, I love your commands.

How I love your law, O LORD!

It is my meditation all the day.

R. Lord, I love your commands.

Your command has made me wiser than my enemies,

 for it is ever with me.

R. Lord, I love your commands.

I have more understanding than all my teachers

when your decrees are my meditation.

R.  Lord, I love your commands.

I have more discernment than the elders,

because I observe your precepts.

R. Lord, I love your commands.

From every evil way I withhold my feet,

that I may keep your words.

R. Lord, I love your commands.

From your ordinances I turn not away,

for you have instructed me.

R. Lord, I love your commands.

Alleluia

---------

LK 4:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me;

he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

---------

LK 4:16-30

Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,

and went according to his custom

into the synagogue on the sabbath day.

He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.

He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring glad tidings to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Rolling up the scroll,

he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,

and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.

He said to them,

“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

And all spoke highly of him

and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.

They also asked, “Is this not the son of Joseph?”

He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb,

‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place

the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’”

And he said,

“Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.

Indeed, I tell you,

there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah

when the sky was closed for three and a half years

and a severe famine spread over the entire land.

It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,

but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.

Again, there were many lepers in Israel

during the time of Elisha the prophet;

yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

When the people in the synagogue heard this,

they were all filled with fury.

They rose up, drove him out of the town,

and led him to the brow of the hill

on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong.

But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

***

FOCUS AND LITURGY OF THE WORD

When my daughter was very young a nighttime ritual included the reading of a book of bible stories for children. One of our favorites was the story of Naaman the Syrian. (In our liturgy the full story of Naaman is in the morning readings, 2 Kings 5:9-14) It helps us to understand more fully today’s Gospel, so I will summarize it here. Naaman is not an Israelite but a foreigner, a Syrian. He is a wealthy, powerful man, not given to nonsense. You can picture him in all his regalia, pulling up to the door of the prophet Elisha, reining in his horses, his chariot stopping in a great cloud of dust. Already he has humbled himself to go to this foreign prophet’s simple abode, seeking a cure for the leprosy that disfigures and threatens his power, his very survival. Elisha seemingly insults him by not appearing in person to lay hands on him, cure him. Instead, he sends a messenger to tell him to do something totally ridiculous. Unimaginable. Beneath him. "Go and wash seven times in the Jordan and your flesh will heal, and you will be clean” are the instructions from the messenger.

Fuming, Naaman mutters that his native rivers are just as good as the Israelite river Jordan. I'm out of here .  But hear this! His servants come and reason with him that since the prophet could have told him something extraordinary and Naaman would have followed those instructions but instead the prophet told him something simple, he should do it. The servants were correct. Words from the humble are wise. So Naaman plunges seven times in the Jordan and his flesh is clean - he can now safely be welcomed into his community and exercise what we hope is a humbled power.

The Gospel takes us a step further in trust and faith. While Naaman rested his faith on the humble servants and the messenger of the prophet, Jesus tells us through the writings of Paul our faith may rest on the power of God. He recalls for us the healings that God worked through the faith of foreigners although there were many in Israel in need of healing. The drama in  this Gospel has Jesus reading from the Torah in front of the usual crowd in the synagogue on the sabbath. He reads from Isaiah the famous passage of healings, healings by the Messiah and not a prophet. He claims the scripture passage is fulfilled this day in the hearing of those assembled, and returns to his seat. Again, fury! The congregation rises up and drives Jesus out of town to a high precipice where they intend to push him to his death for what they thought was blasphemy, claiming to be the Son of God. Jesus slips away. His time had not yet come.

The lessons I drew from the readings and Gospel called me to hear advice from the humble, but also to listen always for that quiet whispering voice of God giving me what I might mistake for ridiculous guidance (washing in the Jordan?) but to discern God’s wisdom and caring for me in unsuspected ways. I don’t mean hearing voices, just being attentive to the Spirit whose word is peace. To embrace humility and place my faith and trust in God alone.To bring the healing of peace and comfort to those I meet every day. To offer each person I meet a gift of joy or consolation, to ask their name and use it.

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SAINT OF THE DAY

Blessed John Francis Burte and Companions

(d. September 2, 1792 and January 21, 1794)

Blessed John Francis Burté’s and Companions’ Stories

These priests were victims of the French Revolution. Though their martyrdom spans a period of several years, they stand together in the Church’s memory because they all gave their lives for the same principle. In 1791, the Civil Constitution of the Clergy required all priests to take an oath which amounted to a denial of the faith. Each of these men refused and was executed.

John Francis Burté became a Franciscan at 16 and after ordination taught theology to the young friars. Later he was guardian of the large Conventual friary in Paris until he was arrested and held in the convent of the Carmelites.

Appolinaris of Posat was born in 1739 in Switzerland. He joined the Capuchins and acquired a reputation as an excellent preacher, confessor, and instructor of clerics. Preparing for his assignment to the East as a missionary, he was in Paris studying Oriental languages when the French Revolution began. Refusing the oath, he was swiftly arrested and detained in the Carmelite convent.

Severin Girault, a member of the Third Order Regular, was a chaplain for a group of sisters in Paris. Imprisoned with the others, he was the first to die in the slaughter at the convent.

These three plus 182 others—including several bishops and many religious and diocesan priests—were massacred at the Carmelite house in Paris on September 2, 1792. They were beatified in 1926.

Born in 1737, John Baptist Triquerie became a Conventual Franciscan. He was the chaplain and confessor of Poor Clare monasteries in three cities before he was arrested for refusing to take the oath. He and 13 diocesan priests were martyred in Laval on January 21, 1794. He was beatified in 1955.

Reflection

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“Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” was the motto of the French Revolution. If individuals have “inalienable rights,” as the Declaration of Independence states, these must come not from the agreement of society—which can be very fragile—but directly from God. Do we believe that? Do we act on it?

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