Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 21 July – ‘ … Sacred Scripture is the Lord’s money!’

One Minute Reflection – July– “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St Praxedes, Virgin (Died 164) – 1 Corinthians 10:6-13; Luke 19:41-47 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

And He entered the temple and began to cast out those who were selling and buying in it, saying to them, it is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer’ but you have made it a den of thieves.” – Luke 19:45-46

REFLECTION – “God does not want His temple to be a trader’s lodge but the home of sanctity. He does not preserve the practice of the Priestly service by the dishonest duty of religion but by voluntary obedience. Consider what the Lord’s actions impose on you, as an example of living. He taught in general that worldly transactions must be absent from the temple but He drove out the moneychangers in particular. Who are the moneychangers, if not those, who seek profit from the Lord’s money and cannot distinguish between good and evil? Sacred Scripture is the Lord’s money!” – St Ambrose (340-397) Father and Doctor of the Church (Exposition on the Gospel of Luke, 9).

PRAYER – Graciously hear us, O God our Saviour, that, as we rejoice in the festival of blessed Praxedes, thy Virgin, so may we be nourished by the food of her heavenly teaching, as to be enlightened by the fervour of her dedicated holiness. Through the same 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).

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 29 May – ‘… Those who want to be favourably listened to by God, must begin by listening to God. …’

One Minute Reflection – 29 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mother of God” – St Maria Magdalena de’ Pazzi O.Carm (1566-1607) Virgin – 2 Corinthians 10:17-18; 11:1-2; Matthew 25:1-13 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Amen I say to you, I know you not.” – Matthew 25:12

REFLECTION – “Pay attention, dear brothers – the holy Scriptures were passed onto us, so to speak, like letters come from our homeland. Our homeland, indeed, is paradise; our forebears are the Patriarchs, the Prophets, the Apostles and the Martyrs; our fellow countrymen, the Angels; our King, Christ. When Adam sinned, we were thrown into the exile, as it were, of this world. But because our King is faithful and merciful, more than we can imagine or express, He deigned to send us the holy Scriptures through the Patriarchs and the Prophets, as the letters of invitation, with which He invites us to our eternal and original homeland. … Because of His unspeakable Kindness, He has invited us to reign with Him.

In these conditions, what idea do they have of themselves, these servants who do not deign to read the letters which invite us to the happiness of the Kingdom? … “If anyone does not acknowledge this, he is not acknowledged” (1 Cor 14:38). Certainly, the one who neglects to look for God in this world, by reading the Sacred texts, God, in His turn, will refuse to admit him to eternal happiness. He should fear that he may find the doors locked, leaving him outside with the foolish virgins (Mt 25:10) and that he might hear: “ I do not know who you are, I do not know you, depart from me, all you evildoers. ” … Those who want to be favourably listened to by God, must begin by listening to God. How could we have the effrontery to want God to listen to us favourably, if we attach so little importance to Him that we neglect to read His precepts!?” – St Caesarius of Arles (470-543) Bishop, Father of the Church (Sermons – 7).

PRAYER – O God, lover of chastity, Who endowed with heavenly gifts, blessed Mary Magdalena, a virgin on fire with love for You, grant that we, who keep this feast-day in her honour, may imitate her by purity and love. 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).