The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, February 20, 2001
Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Sirach 2:1-11
Psalm 37:3-4,18-19,27-28,39-40
Mark 9:30-37
Full text: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm
A Reflection on Today's Scripture:
Today's reading from the second chapter of Sirach tells us that, if
we want to serve the Lord, we must prepare ourselves for all kinds of
testing. Furthermore, we must purify our hearts and have genuine
humility in accepting these trials.
Some years ago, I underwent bypass surgery for heart blockage. I can
remember so clearly the process of first, deciding to undergo that
surgery -- a decision that was completely foreign to my heretofore
healthy condition of life. Then, having accepted that decision, the
process began of submitting in trust to what the surgeons planned to
do. The day before the surgery was the worst, for it meant giving up
control of my life, and leaving it in the hands of others. Knowing
that a top surgeon was performing the operation made it much easier,
of course.
When we desire to give our lives over in service to God, then we must
daily submit to the trial--of giving our lives over in complete trust
to the test He has prepared for us today. In truth, He is looking for
our focused submission today. It is today that we must open our
hearts and let Him perform whatever surgery is necessary to remove
the blockage of stubbornness, sin, pride, and foolishness. Knowing
that we have a top Surgeon should make it so much easier.
- Msgr. Paul Whitmore ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
(c)2000 The Way, The Truth, The Life. Permission granted to make
reprints or to post on any web page, except for profit.
YOU can help to evangelize the Word of God: Recommend to your friends
the Daily Meditations online at: http://homepage.mac.com/ojoachim
ARCHIVED Meditations at:
mlhttp://members.xoom.com/abcsoffaith/quiet1.htm
http://www.mail-archive.com/dailymed%40saturn.nibcomp.com/maillist.ht
For ALL communications, including SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
