Rejoice and be glad:
your reward will be great in heaven. MT 5:12A
ZEPHANIAH 2:3,3:12-13
My Soul's Beloved,
Humility is the hallmark of saints. Nothing we ever do will be pleasing to You, O Lord, or to the Father and the Holy Spirit if it lacks the sweet fragrance of humility. You, O Lord our God, are humble; how can we poor, sinful, frail, weak creatures dare to be anything else? Pride cost Lucifer and his minions the glorious life that was theirs, and hell will be the reward of those who refuse to humble themselves before God. St. Paul reminds us so eloquently to have the same mind as Yours:
6 who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
7but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8 he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. PH 2:6-11
Beloved Lord, our days are numbered. Grant us the grace, the courage, and the strength to live them out in fear and trembling and not take our salvation for granted. Keep our gaze fixed on You, O Lord, who from the moment of Your conception until Your glorious resurrection and ascension into heaven have given us an example of the ultimate reward of authentic humility.
Seek the Lord,
all you, the humble of the earth,
who obey his commands.
Seek integrity,
seek humility:
you may perhaps find shelter
on the day of the anger of the Lord.
In your midst I will leave
a humble and lowly people,
and those who are left in Israel will seek refuge in the name of the Lord.
They will do no wrong,
will tell no lies;
and the perjured tongue will no longer
be found in their mouths.
But they will be able to graze and rest
with no one to disturb them.
PSALM 145(146):6-10
How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever,
who is just to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry,
the Lord, who sets prisoners free.
It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind,
who raises up those who are bowed down,
the Lord, who protects the stranger
and upholds the widow and orphan.
It is the Lord who loves the just
but thwarts the path of the wicked.
The Lord will reign forever,
Zion’s God, from age to age.
all you, the humble of the earth,
who obey his commands.
Seek integrity,
seek humility:
you may perhaps find shelter
on the day of the anger of the Lord.
In your midst I will leave
a humble and lowly people,
and those who are left in Israel will seek refuge in the name of the Lord.
They will do no wrong,
will tell no lies;
and the perjured tongue will no longer
be found in their mouths.
But they will be able to graze and rest
with no one to disturb them.
PSALM 145(146):6-10
How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever,
who is just to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry,
the Lord, who sets prisoners free.
It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind,
who raises up those who are bowed down,
the Lord, who protects the stranger
and upholds the widow and orphan.
It is the Lord who loves the just
but thwarts the path of the wicked.
The Lord will reign forever,
Zion’s God, from age to age.
How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
1 CORINTHIANS 1:26-31
1 CORINTHIANS 1:26-31
MATTHEW 5:1-12a
