One Minute Reflection – 15 January – Readings: Philippians 3:7-12, Matthew 11:25-30 and the Feast of Our Lady of Banneux (1933)
“Although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to the childlike”– Matthew 11:25
REFLECTION – “The fact ,that the all-powerful God has been able to humble Himself even to the humility of the human condition, constitutes a greater proof than the impact and supernatural character of miracles. Indeed, when divine power effects something of great sublimity, this is, after a fashion, in conformity with and appropriate to, God’s nature… On the other hand, that God descended even to our lowliness is, in a certain way, the expression of an overwhelming power, that is not in the least restrained, by what is contrary to its nature…
Neither the expanse of the heavens, the brightness of the stars, the governing of the universe, nor the harmony of created things, reveal the splendid power of God as much as His indulgence, which leads Him to lower Himself to the weakness of our nature… God’s goodness, wisdom, justice and power are revealed in His plans on our behalf: goodness in His will to “save that which was lost” (Lk 19,10); wisdom and justice in His manner of saving us; power in the fact that Christ became “in the likeness of men” (Phil 2,7-8) and made Himself conformable to the humility of our nature.” – St Gregory of Nyssa (c.335-395) Bishop, Father of the Church (Catechetical Discourse 23-26 ; SC 453).
PRAYER – Holy God, our Father, we turn to You in confidence as children and pray, give us meekness of heart, make us “poor in spirit” that we may recognise that we are not self-sufficient, that we are unable to build our lives on our own but need You, we need to encounter You, to listen to You, to speak to You. Help us to understand that we need Your gift, Your wisdom, which is Jesus Himself, in order to do the Your will in our lives and thus to find rest in the hardships of our journey. May the prayers of His Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Banneux, help us to learn the true humility of Your divine Son. Grant this, we pray, through our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever, amen.
AnaStpaul 