Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Saint Athanasius (d. 373)

Readings of the day: RB Prologue 1-7
Mass: Ac 15:1-6; Resp Ps 122; Jn 15:1-8


EVERY TIME YOU BEGIN A GOOD WORK, YOU MUST PRAY TO THE LORD MOST EARNESTLY TO BRING IT TO PERFECTION.
(RB Prol. 4)

IF YOU REMAIN IN ME AND MY WORDS REMAIN IN YOU, ASK FOR WHATEVER YOU WANT AND IT WILL BE DONE FOR YOU.
(Jn 15:7)

These two passages stick out for me this morning. In the first, St Benedict tells us that every time we begin a good work we must pray to God. He doesn’t say, when we feel like it, or are in the mood, or remember, or like the work. Rather, it is every time. St John tells us that if we remain in the TRUE VINE Jesus Christ, and HIS WORDS remain in us, ask for whatever we want and it will be done for us. Some things to ponder for today: pray for the gift of prayer; persevere in prayer; ask the Lord to help you; pray that whatever you do bears fruit; remain rooted in the WORD; trust; believe. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks, receives, and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened (Mt 7:7-8).

Praying means being with God, experiencing God, loving God.
(Pope Francis, Twitter, May 2, 2018)


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