Thursday, October 26, 2017

Thursday, Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of the day: RB 19
Mass: Romans 6:19-23; Resp. Psalm 1; Luke 12:49-52

You may recall the blogpost of October 11. To refresh your memory, it was on that day that Saint Benedict began his eleven chapters (Chapters 8-18) devoted to praying the Divine Office, aka, Liturgy of the Hours. Yesterday we completed those chapters. Today and tomorrow we are gifted with reflecting on two of my favorite chapters of the Rule, both support Ch. 8-18 and point to the importance of our demeanor and attitude when we pray the psalms, and when we pray in general. So beautiful are the chapters that today I include Chapter 19, “The Discipline of the Psalmody,” for your personal reflection.


We believe that the divine presence is everywhere and that in every place the eyes of the Lord are watching the good and the wicked (Prov 15:3). But beyond the least doubt we should believe this to be especially true when we celebrate the Divine Office.
We must always remember, therefore, what the Prophet says: Serve the Lord with fear (Ps 2:11), and again, Sing praise wisely (Ps 46[47]:8); and, In the presence of the angels I will sing to you (Ps 137[138]:1). Let us consider, then, how we ought to behave in the presence of God and his angels, and let us stand to sing the psalms in such a way that our minds are in harmony with our voices.

As an aside, I can’t help but recall a letter written to a diocesan newspaper, a question and answer column so to speak. A woman was inquiring whether or not it was appropriate for her to drink a Starbucks coffee during the celebration of the Eucharist. She could see no reason why she couldn’t since her baby drinks from a bottle during Mass. How would you answer the woman’s question?


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