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F.Leo Clifford Reflection:Are we Consistent?-- EWTN: Father Leo Clifford Reflection-Are we Consistent?More
F.Leo Clifford Reflection:Are we Consistent?--
EWTN: Father Leo Clifford Reflection-Are we Consistent?
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MARCH 28, 2011
DAILY PRAYER WITH REGNUM CHRISTI
UNWELCOME HOMECOMING
March 28, 2011
Monday of the Third Week of Lent
Luke 4:24-30
Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: "Amen, I say
to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I
tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when
the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine …More
MARCH 28, 2011
DAILY PRAYER WITH REGNUM CHRISTI
UNWELCOME HOMECOMING
March 28, 2011
Monday of the Third Week of Lent
Luke 4:24-30
Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: "Amen, I say
to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I
tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when
the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine
spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was
sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again,
there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the
prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the
Syrian." When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all
filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led
him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to
hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and
went away.
Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, as I prepare for Easter during this
Lenten season, I turn to you once again in prayer. I believe that you
are my creator and that you have created me to know, love and serve
you. I believe that you want to help me fulfill my purpose in life;
that is why you came to earth to suffer and die. I offer you my
prayer today as a small token of my gratitude, a small token of my
desire to live my life for you. I know that sometimes I can let
things get between us. Now, during this time of prayer, I want to
give all my attention to you so that you - and not my egoism or
passions - may govern my life choices.
Petition: Lord, help me to have the humility to accept your will for
my life.
1. No Special Privileges Jesus' fellow townsmen are upset with
Jesus for pointing out that there were times in history that God
showed his favor to Gentiles and not just Jews. They are upset
because they had put their security in their Jewish heritage and the
promises made to their people through the Patriarchs. They want to
think that because they are Jews somehow God must show them more
favor than the Gentiles. We, too, can make this mistake. We think
that because we belong to this or that organization, or because we
have this or that position, somehow God must give us more attention
and special privileges. Isn't this often the cause of indignation in
our lives? We are upset when do not receive preferential treatment.
We think that we are deserving of more. Does that indignation ever
grow so strong that I try to rid myself of Christ?
2. Seeking God's Blessings Why did God send Elijah to help the
widow in Zarephath and Elisha to cleanse Naaman the Syrian? Surely it
was not because they were more important or holier people. God chose
them because they welcomed him. The widow in Zarephath happily went
to fetch Elijah a drink of water when he asked for it and obediently
gave him the last of the food she had. Naaman repented from his
indignation and went to bathe in the Jordan as Elisha told him to do.
God gives his gifts to those who welcome him.
3. Willfull Acceptance of Christ Christ is perhaps too familiar to
his townsmen. They are not able to recognize who he really is. They
are upset with the way he speaks, and so they do not accept him. Will
I accept Christ in my life? Perhaps he is too familiar to me. I think
I know who he is. Perhaps I am unwilling to accept his teachings.
Perhaps I am indignant that he has blessed others more than me. The
people of Nazareth tried to throw Jesus over a cliff, but they could
not get rid of him. Their assault was futile. Christ simply walked
away. Christ cannot be gotten rid of. Perhaps there are times in my
life when I want to get rid of Christ, but I can never destroy or
blot him out of existence. He is always there waiting for me to
accept him.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, please help me so that my ideas
about how things should be will not cloud my vision of who you are.
As I prepare for the approaching Easter, help me to purify myself of
all egoism, sensuality, vanity and pride so that I can accept your
love with an open heart.
Resolution: I will look for an instance during the day when I can
welcome Christ's teaching into my life.
meditation.regnumchristi.org
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👍 Boy, this certainly "hit home"!! 🙏 🙏 🙏