The Catholic Calendar for Friday, November 14, 2003
Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Wisdom 13:1-9
Psalm 19:2-5
Luke 17:26-37

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

....As It Was In the Days Of Noah...

You know, nobody expected The Flood. Everyone was `jus' doin' my thing' when the first drops of rain fell. In fact, they may have never seen the rain, if they were downriver from the downpours. They hadn't the least notion of what was about to happen.

I'm certain that God, in His mercy, sent them sufficient signs and warnings that they could have prepared themselves.... they could have been listening to His voice, as did Noah. They could have spent some quiet time examining their relationship with God. But they didn't. They were just out there `doin' my thing' and drowned. They `went in ignorance of God' and because of their inattentiveness to Him, they paid the ultimate price.

The Lord has promised `No more world-wide floods.' But that doesn't stop localized disasters such as the Mississippi floods or the San Francisco earthquake. It doesn't stop terrorist acts, like the car bombs in Saudi Arabia or our own Oklahoma bombing. It doesn't stop financial catastrophes like bankruptcy or a government impasse over the budget.

We're called to keep our eyes peeled for the Mighty Hand of God, which works so subtly as to be unrecognizable -- unless we're really looking for it. We're called to be stewards of our goods -- but more importantly, of our souls. We're called to be ready to account for ourselves anytime, anywhere, on a moment's notice.

I don't always succeed. Yet, this I know: the Lord is merciful. If I seek His mercy, He will make sure I find it. Praise be to Him!

Open my eyes, O Lord,
that I may constantly look for you.
Open my mind,
that I may think before I act,
and consider how my behavior
will affect my relationship to You.
Open my heart
that I may welcome You there.
Amen.

- Rose Atiyeh @>-->--

____________________

These meditations are also available by email subscription
©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

posted by joachim at 5:39 AM