November 2013
Suffering Priests. That priests who experience difficulties may find comfort in their suffering, support in their doubts, and confirmation in their fidelity.
Latin American Churches. That as fruit of the continental mission, Latin American Churches may send missionaries to other Churches.
Wednesday of the Thirty-second week in Ordinary Time
Commentary of the day
Saint Basil (c.330-379), monk and Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, Doctor of the Church
Great monastic Rules, § 2
"Where are the other nine?"
After having offended our Benefactor by our indifference to his signs of goodwill, we have nevertheless not been forsaken by the Lord's goodness nor cut off from his love, but we have been rescued from death and restored to life by our Lord Jesus Christ. And the way in which we have been saved is even more worthy of wonder. “Though he was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave” (Phil 2,6-7).
He carried our weakness and bore our sufferings, he was put to death for our sake that we might be saved by his wounds, he redeemed us from the curse by becoming accursed for us (cf Is 53,4-5; Gal 3,13). He endured the most degrading of deaths to lead us to life and glory. And it was not enough for him to restore to life those who lay in death. He clothed them again in the divine dignity and prepared for them in everlasting rest a happiness that exceeds all human imagining.
How, then, shall we repay the Lord for all he has given us? His goodness is such that he asks nothing in return for his blessings: he satisfied with being loved.