7.30.12 Lectio: Jer 15.10, 16-21 Meditatio: "When I found your words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart.” Jer 15.16a Oratio: " O God, Your words are spirit and truth! I remember Your prophet, Jeremiah, declared that when he found Your words, he was filled with joy and happiness. Grant that I may savor every word of holy scripture for they are Your words and they are the words of life. I ask this an 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 "devoured;” take in completely; assimilate into your very being; in prayer thank God for the writers of Sacred Scripture and for those who preserved these writings down through the ages, for these inspired writings provide the way to joy and happiness both in this life and in the next. Tomorrow's reading: Jer 18.1-6

7.29.12 Lectio: Jer 14.17-22 Meditatio: "Among the nations idols is there any that gives rain? Or can the mere heavens send showers? Is it not you alone, O Lord, our God, to whom we look? You alone have done these things.” Jer 14.22 Oratio: " O God, Your creative power is amazing! I remember not only have You created the heavens and the earth and everything that is in it, but You also created me. Grant that I may ever praise and glorify You and worship You alone for there is no one beside You who has and can do such things and who does it out of love for us. I ask this an 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 "idols;” false gods; money, power, prestige; in prayer seek the grace to see things clearly so that I may always give you, O Lord, the thanks, praise and worship You are due and which You richly deserve. Tomorrow's reading: Jer 15.10, 16-21

7.28.12 Lectio: Jer 13.1-11 Meditatio: "For as close as a loin cloth clings to a man’s loins, so I made the whole house of Israel cling to me, says the Lord, to my peoples, my renown, my praise, my beauty. But they did not listen.” Jer 13.11 Oratio: " O God, You are near to us but we are often stray from You. I remember You told Your prophet, Jeremiah, that You were as close to Israelites as a loincloth is to a man’s loins, but they ignored You and went their own ways. Grant that I may rejoice in the fact that You are near and a very loving God and respond by doing Your will. I ask this an 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 "loincloth;” a garment; cover’s one’s private parts; a symbol of God’s intimate love for us; a rotted one - a symbol of our rejection of God; in prayer thank God for his loving care and give Him the honor and praise He is due by living a life in accordance with His will. Tomorrow's reading: Jer 14.17-22

7.28.12 Lectio: 2 Kgs 4.42-44 Meditatio: "But his servant objected, ‘How can I set this [ 20 loaves] before a hundred men?’ “Give it to the people to eat, ‘ Elisha replied,’ For thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and there shall be some left over’.” 2 Kgs 4.43 Oratio: " O God, Your wish is Your command for You are all-powerful. I remember Your prophet, Elisha, fed 100 men with 20 loaves for You said, ‘They shall eat and there shall be some left over,’ and they ate and there were leftovers. Grant that I may ever grateful for the Eucharist as it is an unending meal which You have so graciously provided for us. I ask this an 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 "miraculous feedings,” Elisha fed 100 men with 20 loaves and there were leftovers; Jesus fed 5000 men with 5 loaves and there were leftovers; and Jesus continues to feed all who believe in Him with His very self down through the ages; in prayer ask God for a generous spirit and allow God to multiply our efforts if that is His will. Tomorrow's reading: Jer 13.1-11

7.27.12 Lectio: Jer 7.1-11 Meditatio: "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Reform your ways and your deeds, so that I may remain with you.” Jer 7.3 Oratio: " O God, You are always there for us but You are not a magic amulet for us. I remember when Your prophet, Jeremiah, proclaimed to Your chosen people that they could not count on Your being in their Temple if they committed all kinds of evil. Grant that I may with Your graces always follow the great Law of Love. I ask this an 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 "reform”; change, root out evil and replace it with good; live selflessly’ in prayer thank God for His great kindness in watching over us with loving care and to show my gratitude with my words and my deeds that are pleasing to Him. Tomorrow's reading: 2 Kgs 4.42-44

7.26.12 Lectio: Jer 3.14-17 Meditatio: "...and they [Israel] will walk no longer in their hardhearted wickedness.” Jer 3.17c Oratio: " O God, how often we turn away from You but You always seek our return. I remember when Your chosen people turned to idolatry, You sent Your prophet, Jeremiah, to call them back to You from their hardhearted wickedness. Grant that I may be ever grateful that You sent Your Son so that will always have a permanent source calling us back to You - His church on earth. I ask this an 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 "hardhearted”; stubborn; holding on to an opinion in the face of clear evidence to the contrary; in prayer ask for the grace to have a humble and contrite heart for that is what is pleasing to our God. Tomorrow's reading: Jer 7.1-11

7.25.12 Lectio: Jer 2.1-3,7-8,12-13 Meditatio: "Two evils have my people done; they have forsaken me, the source of living waters; they have dug themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that hold no water.” Jer 2. 13 Oratio: " O God, You have provided us with the means to eternal life from the beginning. I remember Your prophet, Jeremiah, declared You were the source of living waters but Your chosen people chose cisterns, broken cisterns - idols as the source of their living waters. Grant that I may realize that I am not self-sufficient and that in You alone I am made whole. I ask this an 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 "living waters”; life-giving; God’s favors or graces or helps, in prayer thank God for the life giving waters He gives us and strive to always give Him the honor and praise He deserves. Tomorrow's reading: Jer 3.14-17