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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“Those who love me will keep my word,

and my Father will love them,

and we will come to them and make our home with them.”

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– John 14:23 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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Keeping Jesus’ word means

being good and faithful in putting His word into practice;

it means

never giving up in seeking to live it sincerely and unstintingly,

as you fulfill its every consequence

in the hidden and silent sacrifice of each day.

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Our basic attitude towards the Lord must be faithfulness.

In being faithful, we gladly accept His plan for us,

even though we will never completely understand how it will unfold.

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Faithfulness, for the Christian,

should mean consistency to live in accordance with what one believes;

and to adapt one’s own life accordingly,

embracing, practicing, following the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Duration is the most exacting test of faithfulness,

and duration comes from loyalty.

Loyalty for a day or two is easy,

but we are called to be persistently loyal.

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Am I consistent in my faithfulness to the Lord’s teachings?

Am I truly loyal to God?

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I need to persevere;

I must not give up;

I must keep check on my tendency to be self-centered

I must keep on asking the Lord to heal me, change me, and renew me.

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QUOTE…and PRAYER…

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"Late have I loved You,

O Beauty so ancient and so new,

late have I loved You!

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You were within me,

and I was in the world outside myself.

I searched for You

in the world outside myself…

You were with me,

but I was not with You.

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The beautiful things of this world

kept me far from You

and yet, if they had not been in You,

they would have no being at all.

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You called me;

You cried aloud to me;

You broke my barrier of deafness;

You shone upon me;

Your radiance enveloped me;

You cured my blindness."

– St. Augustine

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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O Lord, my God, I love You and I want keep Your word.

Cure me, Lord, and help me with my determination to overcome my selfishness.

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