(a PDF copy for printing is attached)
Five Important Spiritual Thoughts from the Liturgy of the Word
…and follow up for the Secular Franciscan
October 13 – October 19
1 — “Beware of the
leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees.” (Lk 12:1)**…Am
I hypocritical in my speech or actions?
2 – “But when the Son of Man comes, will
he find faith on earth?” (Lk 18:8)**…A resolution today:
pray the Nicene Creed slowly.Extended meditation
[see Matthew 15:28]She
had reason to dislike, hate almost, the people who had settled in her
area. Never really agreeing with the
religion they taught, she had more than enough to do to keep her family healthy
without calling on any god. Her husband
had passed away early, and her daughter had something wrong with her. She didn’t really know what it was, but she
almost thought that the devil himself had possessed her at times. She had tried the so-called professional
people who try to heal such things, but was not able to find any help for her.Then
she heard about this man who had the power to heal. He was of that faith of many of the people
around her, although she didn’t really believe it. After she heard of him and found that he was
near where she lived, she had followed him around, and watched what he was
capable of doing.So,
with a feeling that it couldn’t hurt anything, she brought her daughter to him,
but he and his school of followers refused to listen to her. She was discouraged, but finally had a chance
to speak to him directly. Her
conversation with him was at first hostile.
He had called her a name, but she answered back with her usual
straightforward way of speaking, demanding almost that he listen to her.He
finally did, and he healed her daughter.
She immediately saw what kind of man he was, and what kind of faith he
was asking of others. She accepted what
he said, becoming one of the many people who were accepting what he said. He even complimented her on her faith in him.
3 — “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” (Lk 12:15)**
…Are
there some possessions that I should give away?
4 — “The Kingdom of
God is at hand for you.” (Lk 10:9)**…Do
I act as though I am proclaiming the Kingdom of God?
5 – “Much will be
required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person
entrusted with more.” (Lk 12:48)**…God
has given me so much; can I name an area in particular in which I am giving
back to God?
**one of the most important passages of the Gospels
