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Ascetic tenacity, even if it is not masochism or lust for self-destruction, runs the risk of being an extreme example of the will to power and possession - Lucifer's own special temptation. Ascesis then becomes the most dangerous of idols. That is why God expects from us,
basically, love and humility.
- Olivier Clement, The Roots of Christian Mysticism -
(Do you push yourself too hard with certain disciplines? Maybe not hard enough with others? Check yourself to see how your spiritual discipline helps you to grow in love and humility.)
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1 Jn 4:19–5:4; Psalm 72:1-2, 14 and 15bc, 17
Lk 4:14-22
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,
and news of him spread throughout the whole region.
He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.
He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,
and went according to his custom
into the synagogue on the sabbath day.
He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them,
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
And all spoke highly of him
and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.
Praying the Daily Gospels: A Guide to Meditation, by Philip St. Romain, 2018 (3rd ed.)
Luke 4:14-22 (Jesus at Nazareth)
The Jewish synagogue was the place where people from the local community gathered to worship. As part of the service, people from the congregation were invited to read Scripture passages. Frequently the president of the synagogue invited distinguished guests to comment on the passages. It was often from that forum that Jesus addressed the Jews.
• Although Jesus obviously disagreed with the manner in which many aspects of Judaism were taught, he still went to the synagogue to worship with the people. What does this say to you about community and ~worship?
• Spend some time with the verse “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me.” Pray for the grace to believe these words.
Treatise on the Love of God, by St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
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BOOK II: THE HISTORY OF THE GENERATION AND HEAVENLY BIRTH OF DIVINE LOVE
Chapter 17: That the love which is in hope is very good, though imperfect
But there is a great difference between this expression: I love God for the good which I expect from him, and this: I only love God for the good which I expect from him: as again it is a very different thing to say: I love God for myself: and I love God for the love of myself. For when I say I love God for myself, it is as if I said: I love to have God, I love that God should be mine, should be my sovereign
good; which is a holy affection of the heavenly spouse, who a hundred times in excess of delight protests: My beloved to me, and I to him, who feedeth among the lilies. But to say: I love God for love of myself, is as if one should say; the love which I bear to myself is the end for which I love God; in such sort that the love of God would be dependent, subordinate, and inferior to self-love, to our love for ourselves, which is a matchless impiety.
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