A Penitent Blogger

Mindful of my imperfections, seeking to know Truth more deeply and to live Love more fully.

Quid sum miser tunc dicturus? Quem patronum rogaturus? Cum vix iustus sit securus?
Recordare, Iesu pie, Quod sum causa tuae viae: Ne me perdas illa die...

Sunday, October 30, 2011

A good Psalm for every day

O LORD, my heart is not proud,
nor are my eyes haughty;
I busy not myself with great things,
nor with things too sublime for me.

Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted
my soul like a weaned child.
Like a weaned child on its mother's lap,
so is my soul within me.

O Israel, hope in the LORD,
both now and forever.


(The Responsorial Psalm at today's Mass, Psalm 131, but well worthwhile to repeat prayerfully EVERY day)

Sunday, October 23, 2011

The true good

Today’s first reading (Exodus 22:20-26) contains strong words from the Lord.

Many of us, sadly, do not really listen to these words, but rather filter them through our own political and economic viewpoints: perhaps rationalizing them away, perhaps directing them against our favorite villains.

Each of us should read these words again carefully: applying them to our own lives; getting past ideology, rationalization, and demonization; focusing on our personal imperatives of justice, charity, and what is truly good.

"You shall not molest or oppress an alien,
for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt.
You shall not wrong any widow or orphan.
If ever you wrong them and they cry out to me,
I will surely hear their cry.
My wrath will flare up,
and I will kill you with the sword;
then your own wives will be widows,
and your children orphans.

"If you lend money
to one of your poor neighbors among my people,
you shall not act like an extortioner toward him
by demanding interest from him.
If you take your neighbor's cloak as a pledge,
you shall return it to him before sunset;
for this cloak of his
is the only covering he has for his body.
What else has he to sleep in?
If he cries out to me, I will hear him;
for I am compassionate."

Sunday, October 09, 2011

Knowing how to live - no matter what

I know how to live in humble circumstances;
I know also how to live with abundance.

In every circumstance and in all things
I have learned the secret of being well fed
and of going hungry,
of living in abundance
and of being in need.

I can do all things
in him who strengthens me.


(from today's Epistle - Phillipians 4:12-14, 19-20)

Sunday, October 02, 2011

Focus on the good

Have no anxiety at all,
but in everything,
by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.

Then
the peace of God
that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds
in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true,
whatever is honorable,
whatever is just,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is gracious,
if there is any excellence
and if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.

Keep on doing
what you have learned and received
and heard and seen in me.

Then the God of peace will be with you.


(Today's Epistle - Pillipians 4:6-9)