THE VALUE OF KEEPING SHUT

 . . I am ashamed of all I have said . . . ? Job 42:6

Although God?s ways are often unpredictable, I?ve noticed that He has a favorite method of teaching me the value of controlling anger and avoiding hatred. He always makes sure that when I am about a hair?s breadth away from hating a person with all my strength, He reveals to me a hidden aspect of  that person, which will then make it impossible for me to abhor him or her. For instance, I would discover that a seemingly superficial person was actually a God-fearing soul devoted to hearing daily mass.
      I remember a particularly stressful week at the office. I felt that the workload was too heavy because of the unreasonable decisions one of the managers was making. Every time I read her e-mail, I felt like banging my head on the keyboard. It didn?t help that she refused to listen ? no one could tell her off or oppose her commands. I told my closest friends how much I couldn?t stand to work with her.
      Then, at the end of that week, I found out about her selfless acts of charity. And all I could do was kick myself for allowing my words to speak ill of her.
      Until I learn how to give people the benefit of the doubt, God will continue to send misunderstood people my way. Until that time, I had better practice shutting up.Anna dG.

REFLECTION:
Are you getting mad too easily? Are you letting your words hurt your neighbor?

Father, teach me to control my tongue and judgment.

66 Teach me wisdom and knowledge, for in your commands I trust. (R) 71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes. (R) 75 I know, O LORD, that your ordinances are just, and in   your faithfulness you have afflicted me. (R) 91 according to your ordinances they still stand firm all things serve you. (R) 125 I am your servant; give me discernment that I may know your decrees. (R) 130 The revelation of your words sheds light, giving understanding to the simple. (R)

G O S P E L

Luke 10:17-24

Today is the Feast of the Holy Rosary. Let us reflect on the place of the Rosary in our lives as well as our duty to proclaim the Gospel. Perhaps we can link the two together by seeing the Rosary a s a powerful intercessory tool that we should never forget in the battle against sin and in our call to preach the Good News to the Nation. Mary, as the Mother of Jesus, has a special place  in her heart for praying for the salvation of souls. Let us enlist her as a member of our army as we march forth to proclaim the Good News to the peoples of the world.

17 The seventy -two returned rejoicing, and said, ?Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.? 18 Jesus said, ?I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. 19 Behold, I have given you the power ?to tread upon serpents? and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.? 21 At that very moment he rejoiced [in] the holy Spirit and said, ?I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.? 23 Turning to the disciples in private he said, ?Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24 For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.?
  
my reflections
think: We should never give up on our faith ? it will be worth it in the end.

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God?s special verse/thought for me today________________

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T O D A Y ? S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 2Maccabees 1-3

It must have been a picture of joy and gladness: the 72 disciples (see the reflection for October 5) are now coming back triumphantly as it were from their mission. But of course Jesus at once corrects the motive for their jubilation: ?Do not rejoice so much in the fact that the devils are subject to you as that your names are inscribed in heaven.?
      After making that statement, it was Jesus? turn himself to rejoice: ?I offer you grateful praise, O Father....? And then finally, he turned once again to his disciples to tell them privately, ?Blessed are the eyes that see what you see....?
      It was, in other words, a succession of testimonies of joy, praise and blessing. (With God?s love, shouldn?t this be the case in our lives as well?)
      The First Reading, instead, is the conclusion of the Book of Job (which we have been reading for some days now). It is a sober ending to a biblical book that is admittedly difficult to understand. Somehow the same is true with the theme itself of the book (the will of God vis-a-vis suffering): it is just as painful to accept as well. But as we read in the epilogue of the book, the Lord in the end restored Job?s fortunes. Job?s repentant and surrendering attitude before God is worth emulating.
      Life, with all its joys and sorrows, its mysteries and complexities, its ups and downs ? all of life is truly always under the loving care of our Lord and our Blessed Mother. Here then is a marvelous motive for the devotion of the Holy Rosary, of which Mary is Lady and Queen. (Today, in fact, is the Memorial of our Lady of the Holy Rosary.)
      May we always entrust ourselves to our Lady of the Rosary. And may she ever accompany and guide us through the mysteries of life ? with all its joys and sorrows, glories and the miseries, lights and shadows. Fr. Martin M.

REFLECTION QUESTION:
Do I always rejoice? Do I remember God?s love especially in times of tribulation?

Mother Mary, pray for me when I am weak. Help me hunger more for God.

 Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.