FW: Meditation:

[joachim]

Title: FW: Meditation:

The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, February 21, 2002
    St. Peter Damian

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
    Esther C:12,14-16,23-25 or 4:17 (Esther's prayer)
    Psalm 138:1-3,7-8
    Matthew 7:7-12

A Reflection on Today's Scripture:

Today's First Reading from the Book of Esther gives us a very lovely
account of an adult woman's urgent prayer. What is so touching, is, she
tells God all she remembers hearing about him. She remembers that as a
child she heard what He promised He would do and now she is counting on
Him to do it.

It makes me wonder what kinds of things the children of our time hear
about God. Does anyone tell them of God's power and might? Do they hear
and have certainty that God can do all things and yet stoops down from
heaven to listen to their smallest prayer. Do they believe that no
matter what their difficulties, God is always there willing and anxious
to hear and help?

If we lack the treasure that Esther had, the one that comes from hope in
an Almighty, a beneficent God, or fear that so many others lack it, we
must not despair. Despair is one of the devil's most subtle and
effective weapons. Instead we must enkindle the flame and retell the
story of God - not only privately for our own hearts to hear, but
publicly that others may hear.

    Dearest Lord reignite the fire of Your very self within us.
         Give us unfailing hope which flows from deep abiding faith
              in Your ever present and never ending love. Amen.

- Donna Raye Nelson, ocds ([EMAIL PROTECTED])


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