A LAMP TO MY FEET. A LIGHT FOR MY PATH.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide

and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it.

For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life,

and there are few who find it.”

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– Matthew 7:13-14 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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The way of sin is momentarily pleasant

and calls for no effort,

but…it leads in the direction of eternal perdition.

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The plain fact is that

the majority appear to avoid the narrow gate and the road that leads to life

– they even despise it because it involves carrying “the cross”;

it involves self-giving

and self-sacrifice.

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Self-denial,

forgiveness of others,

monogamy,

meekness,

renunciation of the pursuit of wealth as the chief end to life,

and other basic principles of faith and morality

– all seem to be diametrically opposed to our baser instincts

which propel us constantly in the direction of the the narrow gate

leading to the wide, glittery and seducing road.

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It is only those truly desiring salvation,

who set their minds upon the things of heaven and on the Lord’s promise.

It is only those truly desiring salvation,

who determinedly enter and negotiate, with God’s help,

the narrow and demanding way…that leads to eternal Life.

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QUOTE…

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“If a man resolves

to submit himself to carrying this cross

– that is to say, if he resolves to desire in truth

to meet trials and to bear them in all things for God’s sake,

he will find in them all

great relief and sweetness

wherewith he may travel upon this road,

detached from all things

and desiring nothing.

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Yet, if he desires to possess anything

– whether it comes from God or from any other source –

with any feeling of attachment,

he has not stripped and denied himself in all things;

and thus he will be unable to walk along this narrow path

or climb upward by it”

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– St. John of the Cross

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, detach me from everything, help me overcome my weaknesses…and lead me along Your Way.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye,

but do not notice the log in your own eye?”

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– Matthew 7:3 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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A good verse to live by.

Maybe we should print this verse

and put it where we can see it every day!

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When we think we’ve spotted a defect in others,

rather than focus on that possible defect

we should use the opportunity to look at ourselves.

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We need to stop, often, and look inwardly.

How do others see us?

Most importantly,

what does God, who sees everything,

see in us that does not please Him?

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But we must beware,

for if we see nothing wrong with ourselves,

then we really do have a big problem.

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QUOTE…

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"To criticize, to destroy, is not difficult;

any unskilled labourer knows how to drive his pick

into the noble and finely-hewn stone of a cathedral.

To construct: that is what requires the skill of a master"

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– St. Josemaria Escriva

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Search me, O God, so that I may see the truth about myself,

and then change me. For this I pray.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Because You are my helper,
I sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings.
I cling to You;
Your strong right hand holds me securely.

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– Psalm 63:7-8 (NLT)

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SING FOR JOY …

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…and may today’s verses and the words, below, of the beautiful song of worship “Shadow of Your Wings”,

give you courage, inner joy and, above all, great hope in Jesus.

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[please click here to watch video…and to sing in worship to the Lord.]

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“Shadow of Your Wings”

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My spirit rests in You alone
You’re all I know.
Embrace and touch me
like a child, I’m safe in You.
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You’re my shelter through it all
You’re my refuge and my strength.
Lord I hide in the shadow of Your wings.
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My Lord, You’re faithful
You supply all good things.
You know completely all my thoughts,
my deepest needs.
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You’re my shelter through it all
You’re my refuge and my strength.
Lord I hide in the shadow of Your wings..

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Jesus, my Helper, You fill me with strength, hope and joy.

Thank You, Jesus!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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In order to keep me from becoming conceited,

I was given a thorn in my flesh,

a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

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– 2 Corinthians 12:7 (JB)

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REFLECTION…

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This thorn refers to that weakness,

which God permits – though not approves –

so as to ensure that our spiritual gifts do not make us proud.

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Which, or what, or who is your thorn?

If you do not think you have one, please think again,

and look closely at yourself,

because it is only the Saints in heaven who do not.

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If you are a practicing Christian

and yet you struggle to identify your thorn,

then perhaps you should check your pride – it could be your thorn!

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If you are aware of your thorn,

then entrust it to God.

His grace will be enough to enable you to cope with this difficulty,

and to overcome it and the taunts of the evil one,

who constantly seeks to put obstacles in our way

and to frustrate our spiritual progress.

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If we let God take over,

when we are weak, we are strong.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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I am weak, Lord. Stay with me, take over, and I will be strong.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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I will boast only in the Lord;
let all who are helpless take heart.
Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;
let us exalt His name together.

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I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me.
He freed me from all my fears.
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Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;
He saved me from all my troubles.

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– Psalm 34:2-6 (NLT)

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QUOTE…

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“Every joy and suffering, every event and need

can become the matter for thanksgiving

which, sharing in that of Christ, should fill one’s whole life:

‘Give thanks in all circumstances.’ (1 Thess 5:18) ”

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– Catechism of the Catholic Church – CCC 2648

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Father God, You are great, I exalt Your Holy Name and I give You thanks. Amen.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“If you do not forgive others,

then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done.”

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– Matthew 6:15 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…

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A God who forgives is a wonderful God.

But if God, who is thrice-holy, has mercy on the sinner,

how much more ought we to forgive others.

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No one on earth is perfect.

In the same way as God loves us, even though we have defects,

and forgives us,

we should love others, even though they have defects,

and we should forgive them.

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If we wait to love people who have no defects,

we shall never love anyone.

If we wait until others mend their ways or apologise,

we will scarcely ever forgive them

…with the consequence that we ourselves will never be forgiven.

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“If you do not forgive others,

then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done.”

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QUOTE…

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“All right: that person has behaved badly towards you.

But, haven’t you behaved worse towards God?”

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– St. Josemaria Escriva

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Father, I love You and I need Your love, and I desire Your forgiveness.

Father, I want to do Your will.

Father, with the help of Your grace, I forgive.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“When you pray, go away by yourself,

shut the door behind you,

and pray to your Father in private.

Then your Father, who sees everything,

will reward you.”

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– Matthew 6:6 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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By saying “you” (in the Aramaic singular)

our Lord indicates, quite unequivocally,

the need for personal prayer

– like a child to the Father –

alone with God.

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“When you pray,

go away by yourself,

shut the door behind you…”

Public prayer,

which is when we, the faithful, assemble together,

is something necessary and holy;

but it should never

displace obedience to this clear commandment of our Lord.

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“…and your Father…

will reward you.”

We pray in secret,

we open our hearts to God, in private,

and the Father rewards us,

through the joy and peace with which He fills our hearts

– an interior serenity…yet visible to all!.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Father, have mercy on me and fill me with joy.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“You must be perfect

– just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

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– Matthew 5:48 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…

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Strictly speaking, it is quite impossible for a created being to be as perfect as God.

What our Lord means here

is that God’s own perfection should be the model which every faithful Christian tries to follow,

even though we realise that there is an infinite distance between ourselves and our Creator.

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This, however, does not reduce the force of this commandment;

it sheds more light on it.

It is a difficult commandment to live up to,

but with the help of God’s grace

and by gladly accepting it

we can strive towards divine perfection.

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Certainly, the perfection which we should imitate

does not refer to the power and wisdom of God, which are totally beyond our scope.

Here Jesus is referring primarily to love and mercy.

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Clearly, Jesus’ call to holiness is not a recommendation

but a commandment.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Jesus, make me holy – fill me with mercy and love.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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We beg you who have received God’s grace

not to let it be wasted.

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Hear what God says:

“When the time came for me to show you favour,
I heard you;
when the day arrived for me to save you,
I helped you.”

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Listen! This is the hour to receive God’s favour;

today is the day to be saved!

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– 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (GNT)

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QUOTE…

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“We receive the grace of God in vain

when we receive it at the gate of our heart,

without allowing it to enter:

we receive it without receiving it;

we receive it without fruit,

since there is no use in feeling the inspiration

if one does not consent unto it.

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And just as the sick man who has the medicine in his hands,

if he takes only part of it, will only partially benefit from it,

so too, when God sends a great and mighty inspiration to move us to embrace his love,

if we do not avail of it in its entirety,

we shall benefit from it only partially"

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– St Francis de Sales

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“The day of salvation is here before us.

The call of the good shepherd has reached us:

‘I have called you by name’. (Is 43:1)

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Since love repays love, we must

reply: ’Here I am, for You called me’. (1 Sam 3:5)[…]

I will be converted,

I will turn again to the Lord

and love Him as He wants to be loved"

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– St Josemaria Escriva

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Here I am, for You called me.

Renew me, O Lord, and grant that I may love You as You want to be loved.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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You are my hiding-place;
You protect me from trouble.

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– Psalm 32:7 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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God is so gentle with us.

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We can go to Him with our fears,

whether they are real or imagined.

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When the heart is broken with grief,

and burdened with guilt;

when all human comfort fails;

when no rest can be found for our troubled mind;

if we humbly approach God,

He will surround us with His loving arms,

talk softly to us,

heal us

and strengthen us

until we are brave enough to face the world again.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, You are my hiding place, my refuge, my strength.

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