Reading 1 Wis 1:1-7
Love justice, you who judge the earth;think of the Lord in goodness,
and seek him in integrity of heart;
Because he is found by those who test him not,
and he manifests himself to those who do not disbelieve him.
For perverse counsels separate a man from God,
and his power, put to the proof, rebukes the foolhardy;
Because into a soul that plots evil, wisdom enters not,
nor dwells she in a body under debt of sin.
For the holy Spirit of discipline flees deceit
and withdraws from senseless counsels;
and when injustice occurs it is rebuked.
For wisdom is a kindly spirit,
yet she acquits not the blasphemer of his guilty lips;
Because God is the witness of his inmost self
and the sure observer of his heart
and the listener to his tongue.
For the Spirit of the Lord fills the world,
is all-embracing, and knows what man says.
Gospel Lk 17:1-6
Jesus said to his disciples,"Things that cause sin will inevitably occur,
but woe to the one through whom they occur.
It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck
and he be thrown into the sea
than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
Be on your guard!
If your brother sins, rebuke him;
and if he repents, forgive him.
And if he wrongs you seven times in one day
and returns to you seven times saying, "I am sorry,"
you should forgive him."
And the Apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."
The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you would say to this mulberry tree,
'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."
The Gospel today always stops me in my tracks, especially when it comes to my behavior around my children. I have a lot of weaknesses, unfortunately my children are exposed to almost all of them on a daily bases. I do not want to be the cause of my children's sins. I don't want them to learn bad habits, or bad attitudes, I don't want them to learn sin through exposure to it. I get discouraged often, knowing that I have failed to show my children the "Way" because of my own weakness. I try to be conscious of what my children are learning through me every day, and to ask God to change my heart and my habits daily.
I take heart though, when I read the first reading again today...God manifests himself to those who believe, and seek Him with integrity of Heart. Hopefully my children will see how earnestly I try to seek God in everything I do, and that when I fail, I continually turn to God to seek forgiveness and strength to change.
Come Holy Spirit, be with me today, allow me to do God's work, allow me the goodness I need to lead my children to Him. Amen
Thank you, Grace for such a beautiful reflection. I am keeping this close today! I have been trying to worry less in front of the kids. I notice them getting impatient or getting quickly upset when things aren't going the way they want them to go... which I know they are getting from me! I have been slipping back into stress-mode and realize that they pick up on it even when I am doing my best to "hide" it from them. So I have been praying for more peace and want them to see that I give it all to God and that I truly trust Him! Thank you for your encouragement to turn to God and ask for forgiveness and goodness. Create in me a clean heart, God!
ReplyDeleteHere is a great quote from Mother Angelica--
ENTRUSTING YOUR FAMILY TO GOD
In your family, trust your children to Jesus. I know the economy is bad and you worry about tomorrow and you worry about your investments. But you have only one investment: in the kingdom of heaven. When you have Jesus in your heart, you can do all things and overcome the entire world for yourself and your children.