Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord. MT 11:28
ROMANS 12:5-16
My Soul's Beloved,
While we all have different God-given gifts, some to a greater and some to a lesser degree, the greatest gift of all is the gift of faith that makes us children of God and members of His family. No one who is baptized in Your Body can say that they have not received a talent. We who receive life from the Holy Spirit are given the grace to love our neighbor as ourselves. This is not just a grace and a gift but a command of God. You, O Lord, we must love before all else, and then we must love others.
You delight in anything that we offer You, Lord, if offered with love. Every kind word, every smile, an attentive ear, an arm to lean on, nothing is too small or insignificant when done in love. However, hypocrisy is displeasing to You. We do not perform good works to make a show, or to be boastful and prideful rather You delight when we do all that is required of us with humility and obedience.
When trials come, O Lord, help us not become despondent or discouraged but to rest in Your faithfulness. All things pass in this world, and while we are invited to carry the particular cross laid on us, let us do so without complaining, trusting that You, O Lord, would not give us sufferings if it were not needful to purify, strengthen, and help us grow in virtue.
All of us, in union with Christ, form one body, and as parts of it we belong to each other. Our gifts differ according to the grace given us. If your gift is prophecy, then use it as your faith suggests; if administration, then use it for administration; if teaching, then use it for teaching. Let the preachers deliver sermons, the almsgivers give freely, the officials be diligent, and those who do works of mercy do them cheerfully.
Do not let your love be a pretence, but sincerely prefer good to evil. Love each other as much as brothers should, and have a profound respect for each other. Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit. If you have hope, this will make you cheerful. Do not give up if trials come; and keep on praying. If any of the saints are in need you must share with them; and you should make hospitality your special care.
Bless those who persecute you: never curse them, bless them. Rejoice with those who rejoice and be sad with those in sorrow. Treat everyone with equal kindness; never be condescending but make real friends with the poor. Do not allow yourself to become self-satisfied.
PSALM 130(131)
Keep my soul in peace before you, O Lord.
O Lord, my heart is not proud
nor haughty my eyes.
I have not gone after things too great
nor marvels beyond me.
Truly I have set my soul
in silence and peace.
A weaned child on its mother’s breast,
even so is my soul.
O Israel, hope in the Lord
both now and forever.
LUKE 14:15-24
My Soul's Beloved,
One of those gathered round the table said to Jesus, ‘Happy the man who will be at the feast in the kingdom of God!’ But he said to him, ‘There was a man who gave a great banquet, and he invited a large number of people. When the time for the banquet came, he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, “Come along: everything is ready now.” But all alike started to make excuses. The first said, “I have bought a piece of land and must go and see it. Please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen and am on my way to try them out. Please accept my apologies.” Yet another said, “I have just got married and so am unable to come.”
‘The servant returned and reported this to his master. Then the householder, in a rage, said to his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.” “Sir” said the servant “your orders have been carried out and there is still room.” Then the master said to his servant, “Go to the open roads and the hedgerows and force people to come in to make sure my house is full; because, I tell you, not one of those who were invited shall have a taste of my banquet.”’
All of us, in union with Christ, form one body, and as parts of it we belong to each other. Our gifts differ according to the grace given us. If your gift is prophecy, then use it as your faith suggests; if administration, then use it for administration; if teaching, then use it for teaching. Let the preachers deliver sermons, the almsgivers give freely, the officials be diligent, and those who do works of mercy do them cheerfully.
Do not let your love be a pretence, but sincerely prefer good to evil. Love each other as much as brothers should, and have a profound respect for each other. Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit. If you have hope, this will make you cheerful. Do not give up if trials come; and keep on praying. If any of the saints are in need you must share with them; and you should make hospitality your special care.
Bless those who persecute you: never curse them, bless them. Rejoice with those who rejoice and be sad with those in sorrow. Treat everyone with equal kindness; never be condescending but make real friends with the poor. Do not allow yourself to become self-satisfied.
PSALM 130(131)
Keep my soul in peace before you, O Lord.
O Lord, my heart is not proud
nor haughty my eyes.
I have not gone after things too great
nor marvels beyond me.
Truly I have set my soul
in silence and peace.
A weaned child on its mother’s breast,
even so is my soul.
O Israel, hope in the Lord
both now and forever.
Keep my soul in peace before you, O Lord.
LUKE 14:15-24
My Soul's Beloved,
Like the unnamed man who remarked rather glibly, ‘Happy the man who will be at the feast in the kingdom of God!’ thinking that because they were the chosen people of God, had a right to a seat at the banquet feast in the Kingdom of God. You quickly disabused him of that notion. Anyone who believes that because they belong to a particular church, or group, or that their prominence, titles, or office give them special privileges and rights to God's favor needs to think again. This parable clearly tells us that the Kingdom of God belongs to all. All are invited, and those who prided themselves then and continue to pride themselves now as being particularly pleasing to God rejected His Son, whom He sent as the Messiah to redeem them and the world.
Many Catholics and Christians who are baptized are indifferent to the purpose for which we are created. Our life is a gift from God, freely given. God has given us a rule for our lives through His Word and the teaching authority of Your Church, and if we refuse to conform our lives to both, we are like those who are invited but make excuses because we are preoccupied with the things of the world.
Only one thing is needful, as You pointed out to Martha, saying, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” We were created by the Father, we are redeemed by the Son, and we are sanctified by the Holy Spirit. We are created for You, Lord, not for the world, and when we choose the world, we risk losing the joy of eternal bliss in heaven and instead will find ourselves separated from You forever.
One of those gathered round the table said to Jesus, ‘Happy the man who will be at the feast in the kingdom of God!’ But he said to him, ‘There was a man who gave a great banquet, and he invited a large number of people. When the time for the banquet came, he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, “Come along: everything is ready now.” But all alike started to make excuses. The first said, “I have bought a piece of land and must go and see it. Please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen and am on my way to try them out. Please accept my apologies.” Yet another said, “I have just got married and so am unable to come.”
‘The servant returned and reported this to his master. Then the householder, in a rage, said to his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.” “Sir” said the servant “your orders have been carried out and there is still room.” Then the master said to his servant, “Go to the open roads and the hedgerows and force people to come in to make sure my house is full; because, I tell you, not one of those who were invited shall have a taste of my banquet.”’
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