8.28.12 Lectio: 2 Thes 3.6-10,16-18 Meditatio: "In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat.” 2 Thes 3.10 Oratio: " O God, laziness offends You and industriousness pleases You. I remember Paul declared to the Thessolonians that if they did not work, they should not eat - in short, a lazy person should not be considered a responsibility of the faith community. Grant that I may always use the talents that I have been given so as to please You and not be a burden on others. 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 "unwilling”; able but no; obstinate; in prayer thank God that the work He gives me is the work He wants me to do for Him and for others and may I always be willing to do so. Tomorrow's reading: 1 Cor 1.1-9

8.27.12 Lectio: 2 Thes 2.1-3a, 14-17 Meditatio: "Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.” 2 Thes2.5 Oratio: " O God, You have made Your truths known to us through Your apostles. I remember Paul declared that we should hold fast to the traditions that were conveyed either by letter or orally to them. Grant that I may readily accept the truths taught by the Pope and bishops of the Catholic church for they are the successors to the apostles. 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 "traditions”; our beliefs; in prayer thank God for the traditions made known to the apostles and preserved for us through their successors in the Church and the grace to always accept their teaching authority. Tomorrow's reading: 2 Thes 3.6-10,16-18

8.26.12 Lectio: 2 Thes 1.1-5, 11b-12 Meditatio: "We ought to give thanks to God always for you, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith flourishes ever more, and the love of every one of you for another grows ever greater.” 2 Thes 1.3 Oratio: " O God, You are the source of all good. I remember Paul said we should give thanks to You for the faith we have and for the love we have that flourishes amongst us. Grant that I may be ever grateful for Your graces of faith and love. 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 "flourishes”; increases; great harvest; fullness; in prayer thank God for the gift of faith and for the ability to love and ask for the grace to use these gifts in service to Him. Tomorrow's reading: 2 Thes 2.1-3a, 14-17

8.25.12 Lectio: Jos 24-2a, 15-17, 18b Meditatio: "For it was the Lord, our God, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, out of the state of slavery. He performed those great miracles before our eyes and protected us along our entire journey and among all the peoples through whom we passed.” Jos 24.17 Oratio: " O God, at times You manifest Yourself in a spectacular way to bring us to faith or to bring us comfort, or for both. I remember You performed mighty deeds in Egypt so that Your chosen people would be set free from slavery and come to accept You as their God. Grant that I may be ever grateful for Your Divine Providence. 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 "Divine Providence”; God’s loving care for us; a God who is All-Knowing; a God who is All-Caring; a God who is All-Love and who loves us dearly. In prayer thank God for watching over us with loving care and for manifesting Himself to us in big and small ways so that we are ever mindful of Him and accept Him as our God. Tomorrow's reading: 2 Thes 1.1-5, 11b-12

8.24.12 Lectio: Ez 43.1-7ab Meditatio: "and there I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming form the east. I heard a sound like the roaring of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory.” Ez 43.2 Oratio: " O God, You revealed Yourself from time to time to strengthen our faith. I remember Your revealed Yourself to Your prophet, Ezekiel and he struggled to find words to describe Your glory and majesty. Grant that I may realize Your Son reveals Himself to us in the poor, the hungry, the sick, the outcast and then respond to them in their need. 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 "glory of God”; His aberrance, indescribable; but His Son’s appearance in the anawin. In prayer ask for the grace to remember the parable of the goats and the sheep and the last judgment and respond to Jesus alive and present to us through them. Tomorrow's reading: Eph 5.21-32

8.22.12 Lectio: Ez 36.23-28 Meditatio: "I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you ; taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts." Ez 36.26 Oratio: "O God, Your heart is always on fire for love of us - and yet we do not often respond. I remember your Prophet Ezekiel expressed your longing for so very well when he declared You would replace our stony hearts with natural hearts. Grant that I may respond with a heart full of love for You and Your creation. 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 "heart...stony...natural"; source of our being; stony-dead; natural-alive; in prayer thank God for giving us the ability to love and to reflect that ability by loving others selflessly for that is how we best love You. Tomorrow's reading: Rev 21.9b-14 8.23.12 Lectio: Rev 21.9b-14 Meditatio: "Come her. I will show you the bride of the Lamb.” Rev 21.9b Oratio: " O God, You revealed for us the bride of Your Son. I remember in a vision to John, the apostle, that the bride was the new and heavenly Jerusalem - Your faithful people. Grant that I may be gifted with eternal life in the heavenly Jerusalem by being faithful to Your church here on earth founded upon Your apostles. 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 "bride”; espoused; the beloved of the groom; the heavenly Jerusalem; in prayer thank God being so kind and loving and merciful by providing a place or us where we can be with His Son and our loved ones for all eternity. Tomorrow's reading: Ez 43.1-7ab

8.21.12 Lectio: Ez 34.1-11 Meditatio: "...Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves! Should not shepherds , rather pasture sheep?” Oratio: " O God, so often we forget why we are here - to do our part to build up Your kingdom here on earth and one day to be with You forever. I remember the leaders of Israel forgot their roles of shepherds and looked out only for themselves - how sad for both the sheep and the shepherds! Grant that I may be mindful of the role You want of me and grant me the grace to do it both willingly and joyfully. 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 "shepherd”; person in charge, a mom, a dad, a teacher and the like. In prayer ask for the grace to discern God’s will for me and then to do it willingly and with love. Tomorrow's reading: Ez 36.23-28