9.30.2 Lectio: Jb 1.6-22 Meditatio: and [Job] said, ‘Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked I go back again. The Lord gives and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord’.’ Jb 1.21 Oratio: " O God, we rejoice when we received good things and we are saddened when things our people are taken away from us - but You alone are omnipotent and all-knowing, and we must trust You in our dark times. I remember Job lost everything and his response is what You want of us, too - You gave, You take away, and blessed are You. Grant that I may always take Job’s word to heart and truly mean them when adversity hits - bor I will never be able to answer the big whys in life - why was I born, at this time, into this family, why did I fall in love with this person, why was I afflicted with this disease, why did my loved ones die at this time? These ‘Whys’ can only be answered by You and I will wait Your answers in the next life. I ask these and all things through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Contemplatio: Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes. Operatio: Reflect on "the Lord gives...takes away;” all we have is gift, we are pure gift from God, our talent, our time, our family is God’s gift; in prayer thank God for all He has given us and ask for the gift of trust in times of adversity for that is how the wise sages of old handled their trials. Tomorrow's reading: Jb 3.1-3,11-17,20-23

9.29.12 Lectio: Nm 11.25-29 Meditatio: "But Moses answered him [Joshua], ‘Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets! Would that the Lord might bestow his spirit on them all’!” Nm 11. 29 Oratio: " O God, judgment belongs to You alone! I remember Moses reprimanded Joshua for being jealous that Your spirit had descended upon two others but not through Moses; and he wanted them stopped. But Moses rightly refused. Grant that I may always be aware that jealousy can easily color my judgment and ask for the grace to judge not lest in judging I also be judged. I ask these and all things through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Contemplatio: Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes. Operatio: Reflect on "jealousy”; envy; wanting what someone else has; wanting someone not to have what they do have; in prayer ask for the grace to be aware when jealousy is upon me and to refrain from judging others and to be contented with what I have and what I am. Tomorrow's reading: Jb 1.6-22

9.28.12 Lectio: Dn 7.9-10,13-14 Meditatio: "He [Christ] received dominion, glory and kingship, nations and peoples of every language serve him.” Dn 7. 13b Oratio: " O God, You did not spare Your Son from insult, rejection, pain, suffering and death when You sent Him to us - but rightfully that would not define Him. I remember Your prophet, Daniel, declared that He as the Son of Man would receive dominion and glory from all - How deserving! Grant that I may add my feeble voice to theirs and give Your Son the and You the honor and praise You both deserve. I ask these and all things through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Contemplatio: Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes. Operatio: Reflect on "dominion”; superior; rule over; in prayer thank God for Jesus and for the grace to willingly accept His dominion and reflect my acceptance by selfless service of others in His name. Tomorrow's reading: Nm 11.25-29

9.27.12 Lectio: Eccl 3.1-11 Meditatio: "A time to weep, a time to laugh; a time to mourn, a time to dance.” Eccl 3.4 Oratio: " O God, You have created us to be with You and You have planted us on this earth to prepare ourselves with Your help to come to You. I remember Your sage realized You made this earth much less than heaven for in it we would weep and we would laugh, we would mourn and we would dance - in other words it would be in our sorrow mitigated with joy that we would prepare ourselves for a life of endless joy with You - how generous on Your part! Grant that the pleasure of this world may not take my eyes off the destiny You have in mind for me. I ask these and all things through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Contemplatio: Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes. Operatio: Reflect on "time;” a moment; an hour, a day, a life; in prayer thank God for the time He gives me here on earth and for the grace to cope with the sorrows that come my way and to rejoice and be nourished by the joys that He also provides for me so that I may one day come to Him and be with Him forever in a place of eternal joy. Tomorrow's reading: Dn 7.9-10,13-14

9.26.12 Lectio: Eccl 1.2-11 Meditatio: "All rivers go the sea yet never does the sea become full. To the place where they go, the rivers keep going.” Eccl 1.7 Oratio: " O God, You are the Master Planner of the universe. I remember Qoheleth observed the rivers going to the sea and the sea never being filled - Your practice of evaporation to watering via the clouds all the earth. Grant that I may be ever thankful for having such a God like You who made the universe but who loves me though I am so small and insignificant. I ask these and all things through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Contemplatio: Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes. Operatio: Reflect on "rivers going to the sea;” the method of taking rain and snow run off to the sea so that through the transport of the clouds the land may be watered. In prayer meditate on the great order in nature - the sun, the moon, and the planets and their orbits, the air, the sea, the sky, all the living creatures and rejoice in the greatness and love of our Maker. Tomorrow's reading: Eccl 3.1-11

9.25.12 Lectio: Prv 30.5-9 Meditatio: "Put falsehood and lying far from my me, give me neither poverty nor riches; [provide me only with the food I need.] Prv 30.8 Oratio: " O God, You sage, who spoke Your wisdom in days gone by, decried lying. I remember yesterday he told of the pitfall about lying to obtain a fortune - the liar will fall in a deadly snare; today Your sage asks that you keep falsehood far from him. Grant that I may always speak the truth and live by the truth for that is the way of wisdom and righteousness. I ask these and all things through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Contemplatio: Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes. Operatio: Reflect on "falsehood;” a lie, deception in word or in deed; an untruth; in prayer ask for the virtue of integrity and to practice it no matter how difficult so that my life may reflect the life you want of Your child. Tomorrow's reading: Eccl 1.2-11

9.24.12 Lectio: Prv 21.1-6,10-13 Meditatio: "He who makes a fortune with a lying tongue, is chasing a bubble over deadly snares.” Prv 21.6 Oratio: " O God, You made us in Your image and not deceit is to be found in You. I remember one of Your wise sayings is the destiny of those with a lying tongue - falling into a deadly snare. Grant that I may always respond to Your grace and say “yes” when I mean “yes” and “no” when I mean “no” for everything else is from the evil one. I ask these and all things through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Contemplatio: Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes. Operatio: Reflect on "a bubble”; beautiful to behold; short-lived; pops; gone forever; in prayer ask for the grace of integrity and strive to be honest in all things. Tomorrow's reading: Prv 30.5-9