August 25, 2016

St. Louis of France / St. Joseph Calasanz

1 Cor 1: 1-9

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

 

 

True Gladness

Today’s opening prayers entreat God to “save the one who trusts in you” and ask that we might “love what you command and desire what you promise.” I certainly hear myself  in that plea for grace and salvation on the path to true gladness. This is the core reality and the responsibility of my life in faith with God. Yet my faith also demands I ever be prepared, awake and aware, as I desire to live in the presence of God. Sometimes, I am challenged to remember that to love and live in the ways of the Lord is not easy, or may not make sense. Yet, I have chosen this path and God has chosen me. My faith is a life-long balance to share the gladness, live in the presence and accept the responsibility of my relationship with God. My true gladness comes from living in this choice.

—Mary Burke-Peterson is a parishioner at St. Nicholas Church, Evanston, an active volunteer in the Ignatian Spirituality Project, and a graduate student at Institute for Pastoral Studies at Loyola University.        

 

Prayer

Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, 
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the Lord our God be ours;
Prosper the work of our hands!

—Psalm 90: 14, 17

 

 

 

 

Please share the Good Word with your friends!