Blessed are you, Father,
Lord of heaven and earth,
for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom
to mere children. MT 11:25
ECCLESIASTICUS 15:16-21
My Soul's Beloved,
Our fallen nature has so weakened us that, left to itself, we will always choose the broad road and the easy path. A consistent lack of discipline and moderation in all things sets us up for moral, physical, and above all, spiritual decline, decay, and malaise. Self-indulgence and instant self-gratification are what the world and the worldly promote, and we, because we lack purpose and will, readily believe the lies and fall into the trap that will ultimately destroy not just our body but our soul.
We were created for life, joy, purpose, and spiritual and physical well-being. Sadly, because we choose not to live pure and holy lives as children of God, we have lost our moral compass. We have lost a sense of all that is right, true, good, and beautiful, and all that is ugly, illogical, and immoral, and even positively demonic, has taken hold of so many.
Today, Your Word reminds us that we have autonomy over our choices. We can choose to freely obey or disobey Your commandments that give life and direction to our lives. When we choose to disobey, we have no one to blame for the sorry mess we make, and the consequences of our error destroy not just our lives but the lives of those who love us.
If you wish, you can keep the commandments,
to behave faithfully is within your power.
He has set fire and water before you;
put out your hand to whichever you prefer.
Man has life and death before him;
whichever a man likes better will be given him.
For vast is the wisdom of the Lord;
he is almighty and all-seeing.
His eyes are on those who fear him,
he notes every action of man.
He never commanded anyone to be godless,
he has given no one permission to sin.
PSALM 118(119):1-2,4-5,17-18,33-34
They are happy who follow God’s law!
They are happy whose life is blameless,
who follow God’s law!
They are happy who do his will,
seeking him with all their hearts.
You have laid down your precepts
to be obeyed with care.
May my footsteps be firm
to obey your statutes.
Bless your servant and I shall live
and obey your word.
Open my eyes that I may see
the wonders of your law.
Teach me the demands of your statutes
and I will keep them to the end.
Train me to observe your law,
to keep it with my heart.
1 CORINTHIANS 2:6-10
My Soul's Beloved,
We have a wisdom to offer those who have reached maturity: not a philosophy of our age, it is true, still less of the masters of our age, which are coming to their end. The hidden wisdom of God which we teach in our mysteries is the wisdom that God predestined to be for our glory before the ages began. It is a wisdom that none of the masters of this age have ever known, or they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory; we teach what scripture calls: the things that no eye has seen and no ear has heard, things beyond the mind of man, all that God has prepared for those who love him.
These are the very things that God has revealed to us through the Spirit, for the Spirit reaches the depths of everything, even the depths of God.
MATTHEW 5:17-37
If you wish, you can keep the commandments,
to behave faithfully is within your power.
He has set fire and water before you;
put out your hand to whichever you prefer.
Man has life and death before him;
whichever a man likes better will be given him.
For vast is the wisdom of the Lord;
he is almighty and all-seeing.
His eyes are on those who fear him,
he notes every action of man.
He never commanded anyone to be godless,
he has given no one permission to sin.
PSALM 118(119):1-2,4-5,17-18,33-34
They are happy who follow God’s law!
They are happy whose life is blameless,
who follow God’s law!
They are happy who do his will,
seeking him with all their hearts.
You have laid down your precepts
to be obeyed with care.
May my footsteps be firm
to obey your statutes.
Bless your servant and I shall live
and obey your word.
Open my eyes that I may see
the wonders of your law.
Teach me the demands of your statutes
and I will keep them to the end.
Train me to observe your law,
to keep it with my heart.
They are happy who follow God’s law!
1 CORINTHIANS 2:6-10
My Soul's Beloved,
The great tragedy of the lives of the vast majority of people in this age is that we have chosen mediocrity in every sphere of our lives. Content with choosing to exist at a very base and animal level, we have so blunted our senses that we lack the eagerness of spirit that strives for excellence in thought, word, and action. Those great intellects of the past who were ready to sacrifice all in the pursuit of knowledge have left us treasure troves of wisdom that still feed us. Sadly, too many prefer to chase what perishes.
Beloved, fill us anew with Your Holy Spirit so that our lives may be transformed and we can hunger and thirst for wisdom that is eternal. Thank You, Lord.
We have a wisdom to offer those who have reached maturity: not a philosophy of our age, it is true, still less of the masters of our age, which are coming to their end. The hidden wisdom of God which we teach in our mysteries is the wisdom that God predestined to be for our glory before the ages began. It is a wisdom that none of the masters of this age have ever known, or they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory; we teach what scripture calls: the things that no eye has seen and no ear has heard, things beyond the mind of man, all that God has prepared for those who love him.
These are the very things that God has revealed to us through the Spirit, for the Spirit reaches the depths of everything, even the depths of God.
MATTHEW 5:17-37
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