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Post by Elizabeth on Mar 1, 2020 21:29:57 GMT
MARCH 1 The Promised Gift
Christ grants justification to those who believe in Him, simply because they have faith and not because they observe the law. The blessing granted to Abraham for his exemplary faith is extended to the Gentiles, so that we may receive the promised Spirit through faith. In other words, the promised gift to believers is not a spirit of outward observance but one of inward devotion inspired by love. - Commentary on Galatians 22
Prayer. O truly full of grace! Who can explain this grace? Who is able to give thanks for this grace? - Sermon 290, 5
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Post by Elizabeth on Mar 3, 2020 3:08:57 GMT
MARCH 2 Life Entails Change
Right reason demands a change in what was right to do at some earlier time if the time or circumstance is changed. Therefore, when objectors say it is not right to make a change, truth answers with a shout that it is not right not to make a change. - Letter 138
Prayer. Lord, Thou are always preparing things. Thou prepare us for Thyself, and Thyself for us. Thou prepare a place for Thyself in us, and for us in Thyself. - Sermon on John 68, 3
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Post by Elizabeth on Mar 4, 2020 3:08:41 GMT
MARCH 3 Bear One Another's Burdens
The responsibility of love is that we bear one another's burdens. But this responsibility, which is not an eternal one, leads doubtless to an eternal blessedness in which there will be no burdens for us that we will be required to bear for one another. Now, however, while we are in this life, that is, on this journey, let us bear one another's burdens so that we can achieve that life which is free of every burden. - Eighty-three Diverse Questions 71
Prayer. Lord, inspire me with love, that I may teach sweetness. Give me patience, that I may teach discipline. Enlighten my understanding, that I may teach wisdom. - Commentary on Psalm 118 (17), 4
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Post by Elizabeth on Mar 4, 2020 19:39:32 GMT
MARCH 4 Causes of Punishment
You who boast of the punishment you endure, do you fail to see that there were three crosses when our Lord suffered? The Lord suffered between two thieves. It was not the punishment that distinguished them, but the cause for which they were punished. - Sermon 325, 2
Prayer. Thou are one God, and Thou come to my aid. In Thee nothing is lacking and nothing is in excess. In Thee the one who generates and the one generated are one alone. - Soliloquies 1, 4
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Post by Elizabeth on Mar 6, 2020 2:25:23 GMT
MARCH 5 Our All-Powerful Physician
Our wound is serious, but the Physician is all-powerful. Does it seem to you so small a mercy that, while you were living in evil and sinning, He did not take away your life, but brought you to belief and forgave your sins? What I suffer is serious, but I trust the Almighty. I would despair of my mortal wound if I had not found so great a Physician. - Sermon 352, 3
Prayer. Bring relief to a serious wound with Thy great medicine. Mine is serious, but I take refuge in the Almighty.
- Commentary on Psalm 50, 6
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Post by Elizabeth on Mar 7, 2020 3:05:15 GMT
MARCH 6 Jesus Overcame the Curse
Jesus overcame the curse on the human race by taking it upon His own person. He vanquished death by undergoing death Himself, sin by identifying Himself with sin, and the ancient serpent by another serpent. Death, sin, and the serpent were all included in God's curse on the human race after the first sin, but the cross has triumphed over each of them. - Commentary on Galatians 22
Prayer. Thou are the truest Lord. Thou are not like lords who buy with their wallets, but the Lord Who buys with blood. Thou give me the strength of salvation. - Commentary on Psalm 139, 11
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Post by Elizabeth on Mar 8, 2020 3:50:06 GMT
MARCH 7 We Pray to Him, through Him, and in Him We pray to Christ as God, and He prays for us as a servant. In the first case He is the Creator, in the second a creature. Himself unchanged, He took to Himself our created nature in order to change it, and He made us one man with Himself, Head and Body. We pray then to Him, through Him, and in Him. We speak along with Him, and He speaks along with us.
- Commentary on Psalm 85, 1
Prayer. I pray to Thee, God, for Thou lead us to every truth, tell us of every good thing, and let us come to no harm.
- Soliloquies 1, 3
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Post by Elizabeth on Mar 8, 2020 19:26:44 GMT
MARCH 8 Daily Progress toward God
As Christians, our task is to make daily progress toward God. Our pilgrimage on earth is a school in which God is the only teacher, and it demands good students, not ones who play truant. In this school we learn something every day. We learn something from commandments, something from examples, and something from Sacraments. These things are remedies for our wounds and materials for our studies. - Sermon 16A, 1
Prayer. Lord, Thou help those who turn to Thee. Thou redeem us so that we may come to Thee.
- Commentary on Psalm 17, 15
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Post by Elizabeth on Mar 10, 2020 2:05:55 GMT
MARCH 9 God Calls Us to Conversion
God calls us to correct ourselves and invites us to do penance. He calls us through the wonderful gifts of His creation, and He calls us by granting time for life. He calls us through the reader and through the preacher. He calls us with the innermost force of our thoughts. He calls us with the scourge of punishment, and He calls us with the mercy of His consolation. - Commentary on Psalm 102, 16
Prayer. Lord, see Thy work in me, not my own. For if Thou see my own work, Thou condemn me; but if Thou see Thine, Thou crown me. - Commentary on Psalm 137, 18
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Post by Elizabeth on Mar 10, 2020 23:48:39 GMT
MARCH 10
Tomorrow May Never Come
God is not now so long-suffering in putting up with you that He will fail to be just in punishing. Do not say then: "Tomorrow I shall be converted, tomorrow I shall please God, and all that I shall have done today and yesterday will be forgiven me." What you say is true: God has promised forgiveness if you turn back to Him. But what He has not promised is that you will have tomorrow in which to achieve your conversion. - Commentary on Psalm 144, 11
Prayer. Come, Lord, and act. Rouse and renew us; kindle us and carry us away; shine before us and be gentle with us. Let us love and run toward Thee. - Confessions 8, 4
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Post by Elizabeth on Mar 12, 2020 1:14:16 GMT
MARCH 11 The Lord Turns Us toward Him
Lord, Thou help us as we move toward Thee. Grant that we may never attribute to our own wisdom the fact that we are converted to Thee. Neither let us ever attribute to our strength the fact that we actually reach Thee. In this way we will avoid being repelled by Thee Who resist the proud. - Commentary on Psalm 18 (1), 15
Prayer. Lord, help us, so that a change may be achieved in us and we find Thee ready to offer Thyself for the enjoyment of those who love Thee. - Commentary on Psalm 6, 5
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Post by Elizabeth on Mar 13, 2020 2:21:09 GMT
MARCH 12 The Gift of Being Good
He Who has given us the gift of being gives us also the gift of being good. He gives to those who have turned back to Him. He even sought them out before they were converted and when they were far from His ways!
- Commentary on Psalm 103 (4), 2
Prayer. Lord, command and requisition whatever Thou wish. But heal and open my ears so that I may hear Thy voice. Heal and open my eyes so that I may see Thee commanding. Drive the madness out of me so that I may recognize Thee.
- Soliloquies 1, 5
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Post by Elizabeth on Mar 14, 2020 2:52:42 GMT
MARCH 13 The Mercy of the Shepherd Although the lost sheep could lose itself while wandering, it could not find itself. It would not have been found if the mercy of the shepherd had not sought it out. Similarly, the prodigal son was also sought out and raised up by the One Who gives life to all things. And by whom was he found if not by the One Who gives life to all things. And by whom was he found if not by the One Who came to save and seek out what was lost? - Commentary on Psalm 77, 24
Prayer. Lord, I have done much wrong and I cannot hope for a speedy rest for myself; may my torments be enough till Thy coming. Let me be tortured now; then, when Thou come, spare me. - Sermon 327, 2
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Post by Elizabeth on Mar 15, 2020 3:04:48 GMT
MARCH 15 Lent - the Epitome of Our Whole Life
Christians must always live in this way, without any wish to come down from their cross - otherwise they will sink beneath the world's mire. But if we have to do so all our lives, we must make an even greater effort during the days of Lent. It is not a simple matter of living through forty days. Lent is the epitome of our whole life. - Sermon 205, 1
Prayer. Lord Jesus, Thou suffered for us not for Thyself. Thou bore the punishment for no fault of Thy own so that Thou might abolish both the fault and the punishment. - Sermon 136, 6
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Post by Elizabeth on Mar 15, 2020 20:15:35 GMT
MARCH 15 Daily Remedy for Sin
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Let us say this sentence with sincerity, because it is an alms in itself. Sins that oppress and bury us cannot be termed trifles! What is more minute than drops of rain? Yet they fill the rivers. What is more minute than grains of wheat? Yet they fill the barns. You note the fact that these sins are rather small, but Thou do not take note that there are many of them. In any case, God has given us a daily remedy for them. - Sermon 261, 10
Prayer. "Our Father in heaven, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." - Sermon 261, 10
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