Thanks for your post.
I remember that Joshua was having trouble fighting Amalek, and as long as Moses prayed, Joshua was winning. That’s when Aaron and Hur came to help Moses by keeping his hands up in prayer. Joshua won.
How much we need each other! I believe that the Lord planned it that way—He sent his disciples out in twos—He asked why they were asleep in the Garden when He needed them to be awake with Him.
I also remember that when Jesus said “one of you will betray Me”, it was St. John who asked “is it me, Lord?”. That’s why we should all look to our own inclinations to betray the Lord in so many small but damaging ways—we should always ask first if it is we who are the betrayers, as St. John did. He didn’t first look at or accuse the others—he was only concerned if it was he himself who had not measured up to Christ’s love and mercy.
Today’s Mass readings were so helpful as I thought of all these things:
* “The one who serves God willingly is heard; his petition reaches the heavens”. “The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds”
*The Lord redeems the lives of his servants; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in Him” Ps 34
*From now on tthe crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance” 2Timothy
*and then bracketing the Gospel of Luke 18:9-14: “Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else”——”I tell you..whoever exalts himself shall be humbled and the one who humbles himself shall be exalted”.
I have also been reading all these posts and seeing the mention of the Holy Spirit being the one who teaches us. This is true. And I also remember that there are fruits of the Holy Spirit that St. Paul tells us about—fruits that bear witness to the Holy Spirit teaching and guiding us and among those fruits are: charity, joy, patience, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, mildness, meekness ...” and all those fruits that show a benignity of spirit. By these fruits we will be known.
As for your French friends—as a Lay Carmelite I understand fully about Therese—and Catherine is a soul-friend as well.
Regards and respectfully,
ROE
After Mass I went to the celebrant and preacher and told him, "I thank God I am not one of those people who thanks God for not being one of those people."
He thought for a minute, and cracked up.
The sermon was about pride and despair in prayer and it was very good.
I LOVE the Moses AND Joshua and Hur example.
But, if Charlton Heston plays Moses and Ben Hur, who plays Hur?