Monday, October 17, 2011

The Scriptures give us consolation

Prayer for the Day

Most Holy Trinity-- Father, Son and Holy Spirit, give me the courage and the strength to move from moment to moment, only in the way you desire for me. Amen

I will start a new feature today that I hope to continue for the rest of this "month of the Rosary". Please feel free to use the comments section to add any special intentions you would like me to include in my daily rosaries this month.

Special Intentions for my Rosary today:

For my brother Lester Bert, who will be undergoing surgery to remove some blockage in the arteries of his neck on Tuesday. Please, Blessed Mother, watch over him and his family during this anxious time.

For my grandmother, Sylveen, on the occasion of her birthday. Immaculate Heart of Mary, give Grandma a hug for me today.

For my sister Dorothy, also on her birthday. I pray that she is in the loving embrace of Jesus every day.

For Mom, because she is Mom. O, most consoling Mother of Jesus, wrap my Mom in the warmth of your Immaculate Heart today. Show her that your Son is pleased with the fruits of her many rosaries.

For all of the unemployed, that they may find meaningful work at a fair wage.

Reflection

In Luke’s gospel Jesus appoints seventy-two disciples and sends them out knowing they will encounter massive resistance. (Luke 10:1-9) But He instructs them to proclaim the Kingdom of God unabashedly — God is with them and they need not be deterred by resistance and obstacles. The truth of their message does not depend on acceptance by others but on the power of God sustaining them.

As Christians we are all called to be disciples and to witness to the power of the Lord’s presence in our lives. But oh, how often we find our witness resisted by others. Many in our secular culture simply look on us skeptically, considering us “duped” by our religious fervor. Sadly this resistance arises even from those closest to us, our family and friends.

The scriptures give us consolation. When our witness is resisted we have the confidence of knowing we are not alone: the power of God is with us. We can exclaim with Paul, that “the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that through me the proclamation might be completed.” (2 Timothy 4:10-17b)

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"I demand from you deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse or absolve yourself from it.

I am giving you three ways of exercising mercy toward your neighbor:
the first — by deed, the second — by word, the third — by prayer. In these three degrees is contained the fullness of mercy, and it is an unquestionable proof of love for Me. By this means a soul glorifies and pays reverence to My mercy.

Many souls ... are often worried because they do not have the material means with which to carry out an act of mercy. Yet spiritual mercy, which requires neither permissions nor storehouses, is much more meritorious and is within the grasp of every soul.

If a soul does not exercise mercy somehow or other, it will not obtain My mercy on the day of judgment. Oh, if only souls knew how to gather eternal treasure for themselves, they would not be judged, for they would forestall My judgment with their mercy".