One Minute Reflection – 8 November – “Pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – Readings: Wisdom 1: 1-7; Psalm 139: 1b-10; Luke 17: 1-6
“If your brother sins, rebuke him and if he repents, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive him.” – Luke 17:3-4
REFLECTION – “O you who are hard-hearted, incapable of gentleness, learn of your Creator’s goodness and do not be bitter judges and arbitrators of your fellow servants, as you wait for the coming of Him, Who will disclose the hidden places of the heart and will Himself, the all-powerful Lord, determine each one’s place in the world to come. Do not assign severe judgements, that you may not be judged in the same way and rent by the words of your own mouth, as if by sharp teeth. For it is against this kind of crime that these words of the Gospel seem to warn us: “Do not judge and you will not be judged” (Lk 6:37). In saying this, He is not doing away with discernment and wisdom; what He is referring to, as judgement, is over-severe condemnation. As far as possible, then, lighten the weight of your measure if you do not want your actions to weigh too heavily on the scales, when our lives are weighed, as on a balance, at God’s Judgement! … Never refuse to show mercy that you may not be denied forgiveness when you are in need of it yourself.” – St Asterius of Amasea (c 350– c 410) Bishop (Sermon 13)
PRAYER – O Lord our God, grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love and to be only good influences to our neighbour. May the prayers of the Blessed Virgin, all the Saints and Angels, ever intercede for the Church Militant and the Church Suffering, Amen.
AnaStpaul 
You must be logged in to post a comment.