Old Stuff

Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week of Ordinary Time

Second Reading from the Office of Readings of the Liturgy of the Hours for Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week of Ordinary Time

From a homily attributed to Saint Macarius, bishop

(Hom. 28: PG 34, 710-711)

Woe to the soul that does not have Christ dwelling in it

When God was displeased with the Jews, he delivered Jerusalem to the enemy, and they were conquered by those who hated them; there were no more sacrifices or feasts. Likewise angered at a soul who had broken his commands, God handed it over to its enemies, who corrupted and totally dishonored it. When a house has no master living in it, it becomes dark, vile and contemptible, choked with filth and disgusting refuse. So too is a soul which has lost its master, who once rejoiced there with his angels. This soul is darkened with sin, its desires are degraded, and it knows nothing but shame.

Woe to the path that is not walked on, or along which the voices of men are not heard, for then it becomes the haunt of wild animals. Woe to the soul if the Lord does not walk within it to banish with his voice the spiritual beasts of sin. Woe to the house where no master dwells, to the field where no farmer works, to the pilotless ship, storm-tossed and sinking. Woe to the soul without Christ as its true pilot; drifting in the darkness, buffeted by the waves of passion, storm-tossed at the mercy of evil spirits, its end is destruction. Woe to the soul that does not have Christ to cultivate it with care to produce the good fruit of the Holy Spirit. Left to itself, it is choked with thorns and thistles; instead of fruit it produces only what is fit for burning. Woe to the soul that does not have Christ dwelling in it; deserted and foul with the filth of the passions, it becomes a haven for all the vices.

When a farmer prepares to till the soil be must put on clothing and use tools that are suitable. So Christ our heavenly king, came to till the soil of mankind devastated by sin. He assumed a body and, using the cross as his plowshare, cultivated the barren soul of man. He removed the thorns and thistles which are the evil spirits and pulled up the weeds of sin. Into the fire be cast the straw of wickedness. And when he had plowed the soul with the wood of the cross, be planted in it a most lovely garden of the Spirit, that could produce for its Lord and God the sweetest and most pleasant fruit of every kind.

Responsory: John 15:1, 5, 9

I am the true vine and you are the branches.
--Whoever lives in me and I in him
brings forth much fruit.

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.
--Whoever lives in me and I in him
brings forth much fruit.

Prayer

Lord,
increase our eagerness to do your will
and help us to know the saving power of your love.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Let us praise the Lord.
--And give him thanks.

Posted by billw at November 27, 2002 05:32 AM