Dear Subscribers, A good Monday morning to you! I have recently "straightened-up" the copy on our website, now making it very easy to read. Please be sure to check it out and see if you agree. And please be sure to recommend our site to your friends and many acquaintenances. Thank you for helping to spread The Faith. Sincerely in Christ, - Joachim Nelson, o.c.d.s. The Daily Meditations http://homepage.mac.com/ojoachim The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, September 12, 2001 The Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word: Colossians 3:1-11 Psalm 145:2-3,10-13 Luke 6:20-26 Full text: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm A Reflection on Today's Scripture: In today's First Reading, St Paul tells the Colossians to, "Mind the things that are above, not the things that are on the earth." (Colossians 3:2) The New American Bible uses instead, the words: "be intent on". To be intent on something requires a sense of purpose. It alludes to an expenditure of energy and effort; and an awareness of the worthwhile nature of such an activity. Perhaps part of our failure in being intent on the things that are from above involves our unwillingness to expend the necessary energy that is required or our failure to comprehend that the whole process has merit and is worthwhile. Maybe it is both. I am convinced that part of the Devil's 'modus operandi' is to make these two necessary components: effort and an awareness of the merit of the "prize" so distorted that the alternative ways of the world are viewed as normal and natural and therefore altogether good. It is the challenge of all of us to recognize that what really is normal and natural is to seek the goodness of God, to imitate Him who in His image we have been made. Let us not then be duped by the things here below, but instead rely on God's grace to illuminate The Way to the things that are from above and will last forever. Finally let us not be worn out before we even begin our search for heavenly things, for it is not on our strength, endurance and stamina that we must rely, but on that of the Innocent Lamb of God who conquered all Evil by being weak, humble and submissive to the Will of the Father. It was not death that resulted in such a seemingly disgraceful end, but life eternal, not just for Christ, but all of us who will let His Saving Blood fall efficaciously on us. - Donna Raye Nelson, ocds (c)2001 The Way, The Truth, The Life. Permission granted to make reprints of the meditations 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: www.abcsoffaith.com/quiet/quietplace.html Also at: http://www.mail-archive.com/dailymed%40saturn.nibcomp.com For all communications, including subscribe/unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
