Daily Retreat 08/23/08
2008 Aug 23 Sat: Ordinary Weekday/ BVM/ Rose of Lima, v
Ez 43: 1-7ab/ Ps 84(85): 9ab and 10. 11-12. 13-14/ Mt 23: 1-12
From today’s readings: “And I saw that the temple was filled with the glory of the LORD.... The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.... Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted....”
Restoration
Chapters Nine and Ten of Ezekiel related the distressing details of the Lord’s abandonment of His Temple and holy city. But the book ends on an upbeat note, since most of the final chapters of Ezekiel prophesy the messianic restoration of the Lord’s dwelling place. You might find these final chapters a touch tedious at times in the attention paid to particulars, although today’s reading is an exception (as is chapter Forty-Seven, read during Lent).
So today, not only does the lectionary close the pages of the book of Ezekiel, but to the whole of prophetic literature, since beginning on Monday, the first readings will be taken from the New Testament for a few weeks.
Take the time today then, to thank God for all His prophets. In the Old Testament times, their message exhorted the chosen people to penance in preparation for the coming of the Messiah - in our times, the words of the prophets still resound with the wisdom of divine instruction, for we too are in need of penance and greater appreciation and recognition of the presence of God, who promised, “This is where My throne shall be, this is where I will set the soles of My feet; here I will dwell among the children of Israel forever!”
Ez 43: 1-7ab/ Ps 84(85): 9ab and 10. 11-12. 13-14/ Mt 23: 1-12
From today’s readings: “And I saw that the temple was filled with the glory of the LORD.... The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.... Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted....”
Restoration
Chapters Nine and Ten of Ezekiel related the distressing details of the Lord’s abandonment of His Temple and holy city. But the book ends on an upbeat note, since most of the final chapters of Ezekiel prophesy the messianic restoration of the Lord’s dwelling place. You might find these final chapters a touch tedious at times in the attention paid to particulars, although today’s reading is an exception (as is chapter Forty-Seven, read during Lent).
So today, not only does the lectionary close the pages of the book of Ezekiel, but to the whole of prophetic literature, since beginning on Monday, the first readings will be taken from the New Testament for a few weeks.
Take the time today then, to thank God for all His prophets. In the Old Testament times, their message exhorted the chosen people to penance in preparation for the coming of the Messiah - in our times, the words of the prophets still resound with the wisdom of divine instruction, for we too are in need of penance and greater appreciation and recognition of the presence of God, who promised, “This is where My throne shall be, this is where I will set the soles of My feet; here I will dwell among the children of Israel forever!”
posted by FrPitstick | 8/20/2008
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