SPIRITUAL EXCERCISES & RSV BIBLE EXTRACTS - WEEK 98
STARTS THURSDAY 10th DECEMBER 2009
“ABANDON YOURSELVES TO GOD”
(A) STEPS TOWARDS TOTAL ABANDONMENT OF SELF TO GOD
Weekly message No. 93 (5th December 1985).
Third step: Preparing the way for the Lord.
“Dear children! I am calling you to prepare yourselves for Christmas by means of penance, prayer and works of charity. Dear children, do not look toward material things, because then you will not be able to experience Christmas. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
PRACTICAL: During this week make an effort in doing some works of mercy.
The seven Corporal Works of Mercy:
1. To feed the hungry.
2. To give drink to the thirsty.
3. To clothe the naked.
4. To harbour the harbourless.
5. To visit the sick.
6. To visit the imprisoned.
7. To bury the dead.
The seven Spiritual Works of Mercy:
1. To convert the sinner.
2. To instruct the ignorant.
3. To counsel the doubtful.
4. To comfort the sorrowful.
5. To bear wrongs patiently.
6. To forgive injuries.
7. To pray for the living and the dead.
Thursday: The priority of God’s kingdom.
Matthew 6:33-34.
33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. 34Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.
Friday: “Repent … Prepare a way for the Lord.”
Matthew 3:1-3.
1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”
Cf. Isaiah 40:3-5.
3A voice cries: In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Saturday: A call to turn back to the Lord with contrite heart.
Joel 2:12-18.
12“Yet even now,” says the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil. 14Who knows whether he will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, a cereal offering and a drink offering for the LORD, your God? 15Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; 16gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. 17Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep and say, “Spare thy people, O LORD, and make not thy heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’” 18Then the LORD became jealous for his land, and had pity on his people.
Sunday: St John the Baptist is calling the people to do works of mercy as a sign of repentance and conversion.
Luke 3:10-14.
10And the multitudes asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11And he answered them, “He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.” 12Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13And he said to them, “Collect no more than is appointed you.” 14Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Rob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
Monday: The blessings of almsgiving.
Tobit 4:7-11.
7Give alms from your possessions to all who live uprightly, and do not let your eye begrudge the gift when you make it. Do not turn your face away from any poor man, and the face of God will not be turned away from you. 8If you have many possessions, make your gift from them in proportion; if few, do not be afraid to give according to the little you have. 9So you will be laying up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity. 10For charity delivers from death and keeps you from entering the darkness; 11and for all who practice it charity is an excellent offering in the presence of the Most High.
Cf. Tobit 12:8-9.
8Prayer is good when accompanied by fasting, almsgiving, and righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than much with wrongdoing. It is better to give alms than to treasure up gold. 9For almsgiving delivers from death, and it will purge away every sin. Those who perform deeds of charity and of righteousness will have fullness of life.
Tuesday: Merciful love expiates sins.
Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 3:30-31.
30Water extinguishes a blazing fire: so almsgiving atones for sin. 31Whoever requites favours gives thought to the future; at the moment of his falling he will find support.
Tuesday: Cf. 1 Peter 4:8.
8Above all hold unfailing your love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.
Wednesday: Imitating God by being merciful.
Luke 6:35-36.
35But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. 36Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.