Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Saint Patrick (5^th century)

Readings of the day: RB 38 The Weekly Reader

Mass: Jr 11:18-20; Resp Ps 7; Jn 7:40-53

Never before has anyone spoken like this man.

Loving God, you search our minds and hearts.

Help us to listen to you and proclaim,

‘This is the Christ.’

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart

and yield a harvest through perseverance.

(Verse before the Gospel, Mass)

In what one way will you be more generous today?

SAINT PATRICK, PRAY FOR US.

Thursday of the Second Week of Lent

Readings of the day: RB 23 Faults Which Deserve Excommunication; RB 24 Different Degrees of Excommunication

Mass: Jr 17:5-10; Resp Ps 1; Lk 16:19-21

I the Lord test the mind and search the heart,

to give all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their doings.

(Jr 17:10)

The following from J. Hubbard gives cause for reflection:

I have come to understand that the state of my heart is not defined by my actions, my striving, or even my accomplishments, but by my willingness to seek the mars and scratches, by acknowledging my brokenness, and by my readiness to surrender to the only One who can make my heart anew. Our loving Father awaits me in these moments, meets me in my vulnerability, and forgives me my trespasses. Lent offers us all a time to reflect, recognize, and repent—to lean in, draw closer, and to make ready our hearts to receive the brilliance and grace which Easter morning brings.

God in His providence offers us the season of Lent each year

as a chance to return to Him with all our hearts and in every aspect of our lives.

(Pope Francis, Twitter, March 1, 2018)

LOVING AND MERCIFUL GOD,

MAY OUR HEARTS OVERFLOW WITH THE INEXPRESSIBLE

DELIGHT OF LOVE!

Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent

Readings of the day: RB 21 The Deans of the Monastery

Mass: Is 1:10, 16-20; Resp Ps 50; Mt 23:1-12

The greatest among you must be your servant.

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;

but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Jesus’ words contradict contemporary ways of thinking where the richest, strongest, fastest, smartest, and best looking are served and taken care of. As are St Benedict’s qualifications for the deans of the monastery, that is, those selected to serve and take care of the needs of those placed under them. Deans are selected because of their upright lives and the wisdom of their teaching. If a dean becomes prideful, she is given ample opportunity to humble herself. If she is unwilling to change for the better, the dean is removed from her position. We are meant to serve God and one another with our God-given gifts and talents as well as with any power, prestige, and authority granted us.  

DO NOT BE CALLED ‘MASTER’; YOU HAVE BUT ONE MASTER, THE CHRIST.

We are called to live the joy that comes from the encounter with Jesus,

to overcome our selfishness, and to move beyond our comfort zone.

(Pope Francis, Twitter, Feb. 27, 2018)

Monday of the Second Week of Lent

Readings of the day: RB 20 The Ideal of True Reverence in Prayer

Mass: Da 9:4b-10; Resp Ps 79; Lk 6:36-38

Our Gospel requires little commentary:

Do not judge, and you will not be judged;

do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.

Forgive, and you will be forgiven;

give, and it will be given to you.

THE MEASURE YOU GIVE WILL BE THE MEASURE YOU GET BACK.

Second Sunday of Lent

Readings of the day: RB 19 Our Approach to Prayer

Mass: Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18; Resp Ps 116; Rm 8:31b-34; Mk 9:2-10

This is my beloved Son.

Listen to him.

Today’s Gospel prompted me to pull out picture postcards from a 2000 pilgrimage to the Holy Land. One of my favorite excursions was the trek to the top of Mount Tabor and the Basilica of the Transfiguration. I have three cards: one a view of the landscape with Tabor rising in the distance; the other two from the basilica—the stained-glass window of the crypt with peacocks and the Transfiguration mosaic. To reach the basilica the pilgrim could either walk up the Mount or take a wild car ride. One memory that lingers is the sight of people hang gliding off the mountain—oh how I wished I could join in. I also remember the sun and heat of the day—the enriching time had by all. I could have stayed on the mountain all day; it was one of those experiences I didn’t want to end. 

The passage from Mark’s Gospel recounts Jesus leading Peter, James, and John up a high mountain apart, by themselves. There, Jesus was transfigured before them—his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. Now Elijah and Moses appear talking with Jesus. This was an experience Peter didn’t want to end. He exclaims: ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’

We’ve all had moments we wish could last forever: time alone with a loved one; a really good party; the vacation of a lifetime; enjoying a favorite meal with your best friends; receiving accolades; watching your favorite team win the Super Bowl. We know life isn’t like that though. Life is full of joys, delights, thrills. At the same time, we experience times of sadness, grief, illness, diminishment, loneliness, times when we are not recognized or appreciated for our contribution to the family, community, work team. Jesus calls us to come down from the peaks and walk with him on the daily pilgrimage to death and resurrection. Jesus asks us to pick up our cross and follow him. We are on our way to everlasting life; now, we live the ups and downs of daily life; we struggle, we suffer, we die to self. Jesus accompanies us to the mountain tops, to the valleys, into the pits. Jesus is with us; He is with you. Jesus loves us; He loves you. May we walk more closely with Him during this Lenten journey and ‘look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come’ (Profession of Faith, The Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed).

I consider that the sufferings of the present time

are not to be compared with the future glory that is to be revealed in us.

(Rm 8:18)

If God is with us, who can be against us?

(Rm 8:31b)

Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter the Apostle

Readings of the day: RB 18:7-11

1 P 5:1-4; Resp. Ps 23; Mt 16:13-19

 

The Chair of Saint Peter, Bernini

Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea,

but the encounter with an event, a person,

which gives life a new horizon and decisive direction.

(Pope Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter Deus Caritas Est, 1)

Jesus questions Simon Peter: ‘Who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter responds: ‘You are Christ, the Son of the living God.’ This encounter with the living and true God certainly gave Peter’s life a new horizon and decisive direction. May we open our hearts and minds and respond to an on-going invitation: I invite all Christians everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day…No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her, since ‘no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord’ (Pope Francis, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, 3). 

You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.

I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.

WHO IS JESUS FOR YOU?

Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

Readings of the day: RB 17 The Number of Psalms to be Sung at the Hours

Mass: Is 55:10-11; Resp. Ps 34; Mt 6:7-17

IN PRAYING, DO NOT BABBLE.

Let us pray as God our master has taught us. To ask the Father in words his Son has given us, to let him hear the prayer of Christ ringing in his ears, is to make our prayer one of friendship, a family prayer. Let the Father recognize the words of his Son. Let the Son who lives in our hearts be also on our lips. We have him as an advocate for sinners before the Father; when we ask forgiveness for our sins let us use the words given by our advocate. He tells us: Whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. What more effective prayer could we then make in the name of Christ than in the words of his own prayer?

(St Cyprian)

OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN,

HALLOWED BE THY NAME,

THY KINGDOM COME,

THY WILL BE DONE,

ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD;

AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES,

AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US;

AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION,

BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

If you forgive others their trespasses,

your heavenly Father will also forgive you;

but if you do not forgive others,

neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

IS IT TIME TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS?

IS IT TIME TO FORGIVE?

Monday of the First Week of Lent

Readings of the day: RB 16 The Hours of the Word of God During the Day

Mass: Lv 19:1-2, 11-18; Resp. Ps 19; Mt 25:31-46

 

A surprise snow fall at Redwoods today

THREE QUOTATIONS FOR REFLECTION:

Brethren and friends, let us never allow ourselves to misuse what has been given to us by God’s gift…Let us not labour to heap up and hoard riches while others remain in need…Let us put into practice the supreme and primary law of God. He sends down rain on the just and sinful alike, and causes the sun to rise on all without distinction. To all earth’s creatures he has given the broad earth, the springs, the rivers and the forests. He has given the air to the birds, and the waters to those who live in the water. He has given to all the basic needs of life, not as a private possession, not restricted by law, not divided by boundaries, but as common to all, amply and in rich measure. His gifts are not deficient in any way, because he wanted to give equality of blessing to equality of worth, and to show the abundance of his generosity.

(St Gregory Nazianzen)

Time is made for dying in a thousand ways,

so why be afraid of dying when a kind of dying could come all the time?

Live every day like you’re terminal.

Live every day like your soul’s eternal.

Because it is.

1. Voskamp, The Broken Way: A Daring Path into the Abundant Life)

Just as you did it to one of the least of these

brothers or sisters of mine, you did it to me.

(Mt 25:40)

First Sunday of Lent

Readings of the Day: RB 15 When the Alleluia Should Be Said

Mass: Gn 9:8-15; Resp. Ps 25; 1 P 3:18-22; Mk 1:12-15

The Spirit immediately drove Jesus out into the wilderness.

He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan;

and he was with the wild beasts;

and the angels waited on him.

First, the Spirit descends like a dove on Jesus at his baptism. Now, the Spirit drives Jesus into the wilderness. Jesus immediately faces trials. He has paved the way. We all face our own wild beasts—day in and day out. We cannot run away. St Augustine comments: ‘Our pilgrimage on earth cannot be exempt from trial. We progress by means of trial. No one knows himself except through trial, or receives crown except after victory, or strives except against an enemy or temptations.’ The option is to face trials head on. Augustine offers this approach: ‘See yourself as tempted in Christ, and see yourself as victorious in him. He could have kept the devil from himself; but if he were not tempted he could not teach you how to triumph over temptation.’ Lost, bewildered, confused, overwhelmed? Jesus waits with love and patience. He teaches us; he leads us to our heavenly home where he sits ‘at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.’ Keep going. 

Jesus has to enter into the drama of human existence for that belongs to the core of his mission; he has to penetrate it completely, down to its uttermost depths, in order to find the ‘lost sheep,’ to bear it on his shoulders, and to bring it home.

(Pope Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth, p. 26)

Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time: MARDI GRAS

Readings of the day: RB 11 Vigils or Night Office on Sunday

Mass: Jm 1:12-18; Resp. Ps 94; Mk 8:14-21

Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above,

coming down from the Father of lights.

(Jm 1:17)

Like the disciples in today’s Gospel account, we forget the gifts God has bestowed upon us. The disciples had forgotten about Jesus feeding five thousand people on five loaves and four thousand people on seven—with leftovers! We see the disciples behaving like the Pharisees: wanting signs, making demands upon Jesus, being rebellious and skeptical. Jesus questions them: have your hearts hardened; have your eyes not seen; your ears not heard? What is our attitude to the presence of Jesus in our midst? Do we recognize His enduring love and mercy showered upon us day in and day out, in gifts great, namely, the Eucharist, and small alike—in a smile, a gesture of thanks, an act of courtesy, a helping hand, a word of encouragement, a warm embrace. Let us remember. Let us be thankful.

The ate and had their fill, and what they craved the Lord gave them;

they were not disappointed in what they craved.

(Communion Antiphon, Mass)

Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of the day: RB 10 The Night Office in Summertime

Mass: Jm 1:1-11; Resp. Ps 119; Mk 8:11-13

Whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy,

because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

Welcome to Monday. The above words from St James may bring comfort as we begin a new work week, or not. In my experience, when I face trials, I forget I knew they were going to come. Alas, they are not the trials I expected; never the ones I made up in my mind. Therefore, I am not necessarily considering the challenges nothing but joy! Were things really going to be this trying and difficult? My faith begins to waver; doubt creeps in. More wisdom from St James: ‘the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.’ Furthermore, ‘the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.’ That’s me, getting all worked up and wondering what on earth I am doing and what is going to become of it all.

Patience, dear Lord, grant us patience. Strengthen our faith, dear Jesus. Please God, grant us the wisdom to persevere and not get tossed about by the uncertainties of daily life. Help us to endure. Amen. 

May we keep the words of the psalmist in our hearts and on our lips throughout this day.

BE KIND TO ME, LORD, AND I SHALL LIVE.

Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of the day: RB 7:62-70

Mass: 1 Kings 11:29-32; 12:19; Resp. Psalm 81; Mark 7:31-37

Sr Veronique on her daily walk

Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one;

but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.

Here we have the people’s reaction to Jesus opening the ears and releasing the tongue of a deaf man with a speech impediment. With the touch of the Lord’s fingers and the spittle from his tongue, the man spoke plainly. How could the people not be astounded beyond measure exclaiming: ‘He has done everything well; He even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak!’ Still, Jesus has worked to do. He will undergo great suffering, be rejected, killed, and rise again. If we want to be Jesus’ disciples, we must follow him with our own suffering, with our own crosses—daily aches and pains, physical and emotional infirmities, irritations, and moods. At the same time, though, we reflect on the Mirabilia Dei, the marvelous things God has done for us and through us. Herein lies the paradox of our faith. With Jesus, we have work to do. Together, let us sing God’s praises.

O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name,

make known his deeds among the peoples.

Sing to him, sing praise to him;

tell of all his wonderful works.

Glory in his holy name;

let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

Seek the Lord and his strength;

seek his presence continually.

Remember the wonderful works he has done,

his miracles, and the judgments he uttered.

(Psalm 105:1-5)

Christians are called to keep alive the memory of how much God has done through them.

(Pope Francis, Twitter, Feb. 9, 2018)

Saint Josephine Bakhita (1869-1947): Former Slave, Canossian Sister

Saint Josephine Bakhita (1869-1947): Former Slave, Canossian Sister, Nurse during WWI and WWII

Saint Jerome Emiliani (1486-1537): Universal Patron of Abandoned Children and Orphans

Sr Bakhita, center

Readings of the day: RB 7:60-61

Mass: 1 Kings 11:4-13; Resp. Psalm 106; Mark 7:24-30

Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.

ALLELUIA.

(Gospel Acclamation, Mass)

I recently attended a Memorial Mass for a woman who died not long ago. There, a young man spoke articulately about how his ‘granny’ taught him the difference between attachment and unconditional love. One could hear a pin drop in the assembly. His words were moving; his message sincere. Even so, after speaking for several minutes, the young man concluded with something else he learned from his granny: ‘Too many words fall on deaf ears.’ 

The eleventh step of humility is that we speak gently and without laughter, seriously and with becoming modesty, briefly and reasonably, but without raising our voices, as it is written: ‘The wise are known by few words.’

(RB 7:60-61)

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Ordinary Time

Readings of the day: RB 7:59

Mass: 1 Kings 10:1-10; Resp. Psalm 37; Mark 7:14-23

The Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord.

It’s difficult not to be influenced by what others say. If we’ve never met someone, for example, and a friend says, ‘Oh, you’ll like him,’ or, ‘she is rude,’ we sometimes just take the opinion as final word. Then we end up not caring for the man we’re supposed to ‘like’, and being fond of the ‘rude’ woman. The Queen of Sheba would have nothing to do with all the hubbub surrounding King Solomon; she would find out for herself and form her own opinion; she would put him to her test, with hard questions. Off goes the queen with a very great retinue—camels bearing spices, very much gold, and precious stones. It must have been quite a sight. The queen proceeds to tell Solomon all that was on her mind. Solomon answers all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king which he could not explain to her. Impressed (the NRSV relates ‘there was no more spirit in her’), the queen proclaims: ‘The report was true which I heard in my own land of your affairs and of your wisdom, but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it; and behold, the half was not told me; your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report which I heard.’ Furthermore, ‘Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you on the throne of Israel for ever.’ 

It has been said: ‘Seeing is believing.’ Thomas believed when he saw and touched the wounds of Jesus (Jn 20:24-29). The Queen of Sheba believed only after seeing King Solomon in person, testing him with subtle questions. Sometimes we just have to see for ourselves. Important throughout is keeping an open mind and heart when meeting all people: the wise and not so wise, the slim and stout, young and old, the rich and poor, the good-looking and better-looking, the witty and dull, the outcast and downtrodden. There is a piece of wisdom in all of us—something in each person that tells us something about God which no one else can.  I think of the 1969 single by John Lennon, ‘Give Peace a Chance.’ All we are saying is give peace a chance. All we are saying is give people a chance. Everyone. 

Then she gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones; never again did spices come in such quantity as that which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

Saint Paul Miki and Companions (d. 1597)

Readings of the day: RB 7:56-58

Mass: 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30; Resp. Psalm 84; Mark 7:1-13

This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrine human precepts.

Here, Jesus quotes the Prophet Isaiah in response to more calculated questioning. A response as fitting today as it was then.

The ninth step of humility leads us to refrain from unnecessary speech and to guard our silence by not speaking until we are addressed. That is what scripture recommends with these sayings: Anyone who is forever chattering will not escape sin and there is another saying from a psalm: One who never stops talking loses the right way in life.

(RB 7:56-58)

Incline my heart, O God, to your decrees;

and favor me with your law.

ALLELUIA.

Saint Agatha (martyred, c. 3rd century)

Readings of the day: RB 7:55

Mass: 1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13; Resp. Psalm 132; Mark 6:53-56

To stir the imagination, I looked at three different translations of today’s Gospel. I was most interested in one verse (Mk 6:55). After the people recognized Jesus, they ‘scurried about the surrounding country…’ (NAB); ‘ran about the whole neighborhood…’ (RSV); ‘rushed about the whole region…’ (NRSV). Put another way, the people made haste. Wherever Jesus went, the people went. They brought with them the sick on mats or pallets. They begged or besought Him that they might touch even the fringe on his garment or the tassel on his cloak. As many as touched it were healed or made well. R. Guardini has this to say:

From all sides human suffering streams to [Jesus]; on foot, on the shoulders of the sturdy, on stretchers. And Jesus walks the flood of pain, and the power of God flows from him in a wave of healing, and the words of the prophet are fulfilled: ‘Surely he hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrow’ (Is 53:4). The Spirit within him has the power to heal—to heal from the root of the evil. He recreates original life new and unspoiled. Jesus’ salutary powers are inexhaustible—more than adequate for all the misery. He does not recoil from the wounds, the distorted limbs and faces that gather at this door. He holds his stand. He does not select, does not choose this malady as particularly urgent, that sufferer’s faith as particularly promising; he receives them all, simply, accepting each burden as it comes. His ‘Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened’ is practiced before it is preached (Mt 11:28).

(The Lord, p. 55)

SEEK THE LORD.

HE WILL BE FOUND.

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings of the day: RB 7:51-54

Mass: Job 7:1-4, 6-7; Resp. Psalm 147; 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23; Mark 1:29-39

Sr Godelieve on her daily walk

From an early age I developed an affinity for ‘older’ people. This may be due to being the youngest in a large family; one constantly exposed to ‘older than I’ people—the environment in which I grew up; an experience for which I am grateful. Our neighborhood, too, was abuzz with small people and big people in the mix. ‘Older’ people were constantly coming and going in our house, including friends of my parents (most of whom would be in their 90s by now). I was always in their midst and learned how to respect my parents’ friends; how to ‘behave’ (not sure I was so successful at this) in their presence and address them appropriately. When I think of these women and men, I still call them Mr and Mrs so and so. I still recall by name all the women in my mom’s Bridge Club! As a result, I have never really thought of these people as ‘old’ per se. They are simply men and women whom I came to love. In fact, to this day, when I return to my hometown to visit my sibs, I stay with the parents of a sister-in-law. I’ve known them forever it seems—they are always happy to see me. I like to hang out with them so to speak, and they humor me by letting me mow the lawn, or go out to “Pete’s” with their friends on Friday night. They are dear—I love them. 

When I entered the monastery 18 years ago, I was immediately drawn to the older sisters. As I look back, my best friends in community have always been the elders. Adding to my affinity for the elders was a special reverence for the infirmed. Immediately after I made my First Monastic Profession, the Prioress told to go the Infirmary to receive a blessing from the sisters there. It became customary for me, then, upon returning from a trip to make the Infirmary my first stop. What a gift for me to be welcomed by ‘my people’ as I like to call them. Hanging out in the infirmary became a favorite pastime. This was even extended to the Nursing Center next to the monastery. Being with the folks on ‘Memory Lane’ is something I sorely miss.

Now I am gifted with the opportunity to wake the eldest in our community from her nightly slumber. She happens to be 94 years old—sharp in mind, a lifelong learner, a delight. She goes with and eggs on my playfulness upon first waking. More often than not, we are giggling sooner rather than later. It may be her speaking in French, or telling me about her dream, or my customary, ‘How did you sleep?’.

This brings me to today’s Gospel account of Jesus loving the infirmed. Jesus was a young man with an obvious affinity for the infirmed, many of whom were likely older than he. He touched them, laughed with them, loved them unconditionally. The infirmed are His people. Jesus sees these people not as untouchables, or those to ‘put up with’, or scream at because they ‘can’t remember’ or ‘can’t hear’. Jesus sees them as sheep without a shepherd; sheep who crave love and affection. Come to think of it, we are those sheep who crave love. All of us. I am reminded of words from Pope Benedict XVI, already included in the post of December 9, 2017: ‘Seeing with the eyes of Christ, I can give to others much more than their outward necessities; I can give them the look of love which they crave’ (Encyclical Letter Deus Caritas Est, 18). The people gathered at the door of Jesus; they pursued Him wherever He went; His people found Him! We may or may not find ourselves with physical infirmities such as fevers, aches and pains, lameness, terminal illness, leprosy, or the like. What all of us find ourselves with are spiritual and emotional infirmities such as depression, isolation, neglect, loneliness—all wounds of one kind or the other. What is important to remember, no matter our condition, is: We are ‘Jesus’ kind of people—young and old alike. He waits to embrace us; grasp our hand; help us up; give us the look of love we crave; heal our wounds, Indeed, ‘Christ took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.’ ALLELUIA.

Jesus wants us to be found by those who look for Him.

But to look for Him we have to get up and go out.

(Pope Francis, Tweet, February 4, 2018)

Saint Blaise (d. 316); Saint Ansgar (d. 865); Blessed Virgin Mary

Readings if the day: RB 7:49-50

Mass: 1 Kings 3:4-13; Resp. Psalm 119; Mark 6:30-34

A life of faith means wanting to be with the Lord,

and that means constantly searching for him wherever he is.

(Pope Francis, Tweet, Feb. 4, 2018)

Jesus and the Apostles go off for R & R so to speak, to a deserted place. Vast numbers of people continued to come and go; so many people that Jesus and Co. had no opportunity to take nourishment. Not to be fooled, the people didn’t miss a beat. Missing the boat, though,

They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them.

Not to be daunted, the faithful continued searching for the Lord wherever he went.

JESUS WAITS FOR US.

HIS HEART IS MOVED WITH PITY.

HE TEACHES US.

I BELIEVE, HELP MY UNBELIEF!