Do I really know myself? My biggest defect. Josemaria said that we might become very good in something, but if we lack humility, were like building our temple on sand. And that can't go anywhere if we are not humble. This image of our Lord shows the importance of self knowledge. Luke 6:39-42: 'Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,” when you cannot see the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye.’' Thumbnail: The Majestat Batlló is a 12th century Romanesque wooden crucifix, now in the National Art Museum of Catalonia in Barcelona. Music: Carlos Gardel, Soledad, arranged by Bert Alink. What does this mean for our sanctity, our holiness? Can we do it? A meditation at Lyncroft Centre, Toronto, September 18, 2022. He was so struck by this one word, that he had it embroidered on altar cloths, written out in stone, and even he would write it out as an aspiration on a piece of paper and use this as a bookmark in his breviary. What jumped out at him was a single word (in Latin) that opened up for him a whole world of possibilities, of enthusiasm, and generosity in serving God. He had this ability to read into the Gospel all the potential that was locked inside those divinely inspired lines. Not a B&W photo, low density, or without all the colour potential. This is the one were you can really see all the details, even on a large screen. The reason of our life is that we exist for one single reason: to be the best version of ourselves. For he says: “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. German National Museum, Nuremberg.Ģ Cor 6, 1: As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 78r from the Codex Aureus of Echternach, ca.

Music: Carlos Gardel (1890-1935), Soledad, arranged for guitar by Bert Alink Eric Nicolai, on September 25, the 26th week of Ordinary Time.

What to do with this feeling? A meditation preached by Fr. Both are overwhelmed in different ways, and we too get overwhelmed. Lazarus struggles to survive with his poverty and sores, the rich man goes on hardened among all that luxury piling over in his face. But when we step back, we see that both men are quite overwhelmed by life. Luke 16:19-31: One of the most striking parts of today’s parable of poor Lazarus and the Rich man, the dives, is the way the rich man, even in the afterlife, still speaks of the poor man as a servant who is supposed to do his bidding: “Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue.” He needs help, he has never really helped himself or helped overs. Ink drawing, Rijiksmuseum, Public Domain. Thumbnail: Rembrandt, The Good Samaritan 1630. Music: Carlos Gardel, Soledad, arranged for guitar by Bert Alink. Eric Nicolai at Lyncroft Centre, October 5, 2022. If busy were a person, would you spend all day with that person today, and then all day with that person again tomorrow? I don’t think so.Ī meditation by Fr. It makes you feel overwhelmed, tired, and inadequate. Who or what are the other robbers in our life?īusy is not your friend. Jesus said to him, ‘Go, and do the same yourself.’ “Look after him,” he said “and on my way back I will make good any extra expense you have.” Which of these three, do you think, proved himself a neighbour to the man who fell into the brigands‘ hands?’ ‘The one who took pity on him’ he replied. Next day, he took out two denarii and handed them to the innkeeper.

He then lifted him on to his own mount, carried him to the inn and looked after him. He went up and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. But a Samaritan traveller who came upon him was moved with compassion when he saw him. In the same way a Levite who came to the place saw him, and passed by on the other side. Now a priest happened to be travelling down the same road, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. Luke 10:25-37: ‘A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of brigands they took all he had, beat him and then made off, leaving him half dead.

Opus domini priority