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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, August 5, 2002 The Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary in Rome) Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word: Jeremiah 28:1-17 Psalm 119:29,43,79-80,95,1021 Matthew 14:13-21 A reflection on today's Scripture. . . . "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Over the past several decades Scripture scholars and theologians have expended much time and energy trying to disprove the Bible, substituting natural explanations for supernatural events performed by God. Unfortunately they have spawned skepticism among some of our "faithful" and hardened skeptics in their unbelief. Pride has led our scholars to apply their scientific methodology to a subject that cannot be reduced to fit the tiny dimensions of our human perceptions, our finite minds. There is, however, a more basic reason underlying this pride; it is their own spiritual darkness, their own unbelief that has resulted from their lack of a true, intimate and loving knowledge of God that can be gained only through prayer and genuine worship. For it is the Holy Spirit of God who teaches us all spiritual truths, not the mere machinations of the human mind. Some account for the feeding of the multitudes by suggesting that the people were mesmerized into thinking their bellies were full. Others say that the people were carrying their own food, but fearing that they might have to share it with those who had none, they had kept it hidden until Jesus offered to share His own small store, blessed the five loaves and two fish and began to distribute them. Similar explanations are offered for practically every miracle Christ performed because human lust can take on many forms; it is not limited to food, drink, sex, money or fame; there is also a lust for knowledge even in the realm of spiritual truths. This lust to know about God without any personal knowledge of Him renders man incapable of discerning that which is of the Spirit. The bottom line is a blindness that leads to death. Lord of all, illumine our hearts, for it is in our deepest beings that we can come to a true faith in You, Your gift to all who are earnestly seeking to know and to love You. Amen. - Marie Bocko, ocds YOU CAN HELP to evangelize the Word of God: Please recommend our website to your friends and Catholic webmasters at: http://www.borg.com/~joachim/DailyMeds.html (case sensitive). ARCHIVED Meditations: http://www.abcsoffaith.com/quiet/quietplace.html and at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] For ALL communications, including subscribe/unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (c)2002 The Way, The Truth, The Life. Permission granted to make reprints of the meditations or to post on any web page, except for profit. Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible with Revised New Testament and Revised Psalms (c)1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Full text from the New American Bible: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm Lives of the Saints: http://www.christdesert.org/public_texts/martyrology/ |
Title: Meditation: Monday, August 5, 2002
