7.07.12 Lectio: Ez 2.2-5 Meditatio: "And whether they heed or resist - for they are a rebellions house - they shall know that a prophet has been among them.”Ez 2.5 Oratio:”O God, You know us and You love us even though we are rebellious. I remember Your prophet Ezekiel declared that You would continue to send prophets to us even though we obstinate and hard of heart. Grant that I may not heed or resist the voice of the prophets but act on their messages. I ask this of You, who lives and reigns with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.” Contemplatio: Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes. Operatio: Reflect on "heed or resist”; listen or tune out; impact or no effect; in prayer ask for the grace to listen to the prophetic voices God sends to us; and be pro-active in my response to his or her message. Tomorrow’s reading: Hos 2.16, 17b-18, 21-22

7.06.12 Lectio: Am 9.11-15 Meditatio: "I will plant them upon their own ground, never shall they be plucked from the land I have given them, say I, the Lord, your God.”Am 9.15 Oratio:”O God, You have provided so well for us. I remember Your prophet Amos proclaimed that You would plant Your people in a place that will never be taken away from them - Your kingdom. Grant that I may be ever grateful for the earth You have provided for me in the here and the now and for heaven which You have provided for us in the hereafter. I ask this of You, who lives and reigns with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.” Contemplatio: Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes. Operatio: Reflect on "plucked”; taken; picked; a people exiled by force; displaced; in prayer thank God for His loving care of us both now and forever; and may I be given the grace to do my part to build up His kingdom here on earth. Tomorrow’s reading: Ez 2.2-5

7.05.12 Lectio: Am 8.4-6, 9-12 Meditatio: "Yes, days are coming, says the Lord God, when I will send famine upon the land. Not a famine of bread, or thirst for water, but for hearing the word of the Lord.” Am 8.11 Oratio:”O God, how dense we are to Your ways and our true needs. I remember Your prophet Amos warned Your chosen people that their idolatrous ways would lead to the greatest of all famines - a deprivation of Your saving word. Grant that I may be ever grateful for hearing Your Word preached and may I always respond to it. I ask this of You, who lives and reigns with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.” Contemplatio: Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes. Operatio: Reflect on "famine”; major scarcity; physical - unproductive lands; spiritual - unproductive hearts; in prayer ask for the grace for a faith which is open to the Word of God and takes it in and produces the fruit that God wants of me. Tomorrow’s reading: Am 9.11-15

7.04.12 Lectio: Am 7.10-17 Meditatio: "To Amos, Amaziah said, ‘Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah. There earn your bread by prophesying’.” Am7. 12 Oratio:”O God, how hard of heart we can be to Your wishes. I remember Your prophet Amos was sent away by the priestly leader of Bethel because he was calling the people back to You and Your ways. Grant that I may recognize the prophets in my midst and heed them. I ask this of You, who lives and reigns with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.” Contemplatio: Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes. Operatio: Reflect on "prophet”; one who speaks to others about God and what they need to know about God and God’s will; our Pope, our bishops in union with the Pope. In prayer thank God for the prophetic voices of our times and for the grace to be listen and act. Tomorrow’s reading: Am 8.4-6, 9-12

7.03.12 Lectio: Am 5.14-15,21-24 Meditatio: "Hate evil and love good, and let justice prevail at your gate.” Am 5.15a Oratio:”O God, You have given us the way to eternal life with You. I remember Your prophet Amos proclaimed the twin keys to eternal life - love the good and practice justice. Grant that I may not be drawn by the apparent good and love only the real good and strive to live in right relationship with all. I ask this of You, who lives and reigns with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.” Contemplatio: Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes. Operatio: Reflect on "love the good”; real and not apparent good, goods that satisfy integral human fulfillment; IHF as our professor Grisez wrote, and seek the good that does fulfill and strive to live in right relationship with God, others and self for that is the meaning of justice. Tomorrow’s reading: Am 7.10-17

7.02.12 Lectio: Eph 2.19-22 Meditatio: "So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God.” Eph 2.19 Oratio:”O God, You want all to be part of Your kingdom. I remember Paul wrote to the Ephesians stating that they were all members of the household of God - Jews and Gentiles alike. Grant that I may see that all are my brothers and sisters in Christ and treat them as family. I ask this of You, who lives and reigns with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.” Contemplatio: Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes. Operatio: Reflect on "sojourners”; to journey with but not part of the group; temporary connection; in prayer thank God for bringing all all people into His household and for the grace to be ever mindful that we are all one in Christ. Tomorrow’s reading: Am 5.14-15,21-24

7.01.12 Lectio: Amos 2.6-10, 13-16 Meditatio: "Thus says the Lord: For three crimes of Israel and for four, I will not revoke my word: Because they sell the just man for silver and the poor man for a pair of sandals.” Amos 2.6 Oratio: O God, You are so merciful and kind to us despite our depravity. I remember Your prophet Amos declared You would not revoke Your word to the chosen people despite the disdain they held the poor among them considering worth no more than a pair of sandals. Grant that I may strive to follow the way of the Lord and not presume on Your kindness but rely on Your mercy. I ask this of You, who lives and reigns with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.” Contemplatio: Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes. Operatio: Reflect on "pair of sandals;” basic footwear, inexpensive; in prayer ask for the grace to see in the poor Christ and always treat them with the greatest respect and kindness. Tomorrow’s reading: Eph 2.19-22