Daily Retreat 09/25/06
2006 Sep 25 Mon: Ordinary Weekday
Prv 3: 27-34/ Ps 14(15): 2-3a. 3bc-4ab. 5/ Lk 8: 16-18
From today’s readings: “Envy not the lawless man and choose none of his ways... The just man shall dwell on Your holy mountain, O Lord.... There is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light....”
God’s Omniscience
God knows absolutely everything - everything from the past, everything from the present, and everything from the future! God even knows our most secret thoughts, which should give all of us something to think about. For, even very self-controlled people are apt at times to give free rein to their thoughts, and this can easily lead to sins of the mind.
For even though it is certainly less sinful to merely think about some crime and never actually commit the heinous deed, still, Jesus insists that thoughts and attitudes can be sinful in themselves (e.g., Matthew 5:28). And at the Last Judgment, “the conduct of each one and the secrets of hearts [will] be brought to light” (CCC §678).
But, just as much as they can be sinful, our thoughts can also be virtuous, leading us to prayer, contemplation, and the formation of noble intentions, which, with God’s help, we can put into practice. So then, enlightened by the awareness that God knows even our thoughts, we should strive to make them a holy offering as well, since “there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.”
Prv 3: 27-34/ Ps 14(15): 2-3a. 3bc-4ab. 5/ Lk 8: 16-18
From today’s readings: “Envy not the lawless man and choose none of his ways... The just man shall dwell on Your holy mountain, O Lord.... There is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light....”
God’s Omniscience
God knows absolutely everything - everything from the past, everything from the present, and everything from the future! God even knows our most secret thoughts, which should give all of us something to think about. For, even very self-controlled people are apt at times to give free rein to their thoughts, and this can easily lead to sins of the mind.
For even though it is certainly less sinful to merely think about some crime and never actually commit the heinous deed, still, Jesus insists that thoughts and attitudes can be sinful in themselves (e.g., Matthew 5:28). And at the Last Judgment, “the conduct of each one and the secrets of hearts [will] be brought to light” (CCC §678).
But, just as much as they can be sinful, our thoughts can also be virtuous, leading us to prayer, contemplation, and the formation of noble intentions, which, with God’s help, we can put into practice. So then, enlightened by the awareness that God knows even our thoughts, we should strive to make them a holy offering as well, since “there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.”
posted by FrPitstick | 9/21/2006
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