One Minute Reflection – 27 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – St Bede the Venerable (673-735) Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church – Timothy 4:1-8; Matthew 5:3-19. – – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel but upon a candlestick that it may shine to all who are in the house.” – Matthew 5:15
REFLECTION – “Nothing is more cold than a Christian who is not dedicated to saving others. In this respect there can be no pretence of poverty – the widow who gave her two tiny coins would rise up and call you to account (Lk 21:2). Peter too, who said: “Silver and gold have I none” (Acts 3:6). And Paul, who was so poor that he often went hungry and lacked the necessary means to live on (1 Cor 4:11). Neither can you protest your humble birth – they too were of modest degree. Ignorance will noy give you any better excuse – they were uneducated too … It is no good claiming sickness – Timothy was subject to frequent illnesses (1 Tm 5:23) … Anybody at all can be of service to his neighbour if he would do what he can …
Do not say that it is impossible for you to draw others because, if you are a Christian, it is impossible that you should not! Every tree bears its own fruit (Mt 17:17) and, since there is no contradiction in nature, what we are saying is likewise true, since it follows from the very nature of a Christian … It is easier for light to be darkness than that the Christian should not shine!” – St John Chrysostom (345-407) Bishop of Constantinople, Father and Doctor of the Church (Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles, 20:3-4 ).
PRAYER – O God, Who enlightened Your Church with the learning of blessed Bede, Your Confessor and Doctor, graciously grant that Your servants may ever be enlightened by his wisdom and helped by his merits. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
AnaStpaul 