Friday, September 3 : Saint Benedict

Up with us then at last, for Scripture arouses us saying: “Now is the hour for us to rise from sleep” (Rm 13,11). Let us open our eyes to the divine light, and let us hear with attentive ears the warning that the divine voice cries daily to us : “Today if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Ps 95[94],8). And again: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rv 2,7). And what does he say? “Come, children, hear me and I will teach you the fear of the Lord” (Ps 34[33],12). “Run while you have the light of life , lest the darkness of death overtake you” (Jn 12,35). And the Lord, seeking his worker among the multitudes to whom he thus cries, says again: “Which of you desires life and would like to see prosperous days? (Ps 34[33],13) And if hearing him you answer, “I am he,” God says to you: if you would have true and everlasting life, “keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek after peace and pursue it” (Ps 34[33],14-15). And when you have done these things, my eyes will be upon you and my ears open unto your prayers. And before you call me, I shall say to you, “Lo, here I am” (Is 58,9). What can be sweeter to us, dearest brethren, than this voice of our Lord inviting us? Behold in his loving mercy the Lord show us the way of life. Let us therefore gird our loins with faith and the performance of good deeds, and following the guidance of the gospel, walk in his paths so that we may merit to see him who has called us into his Kingdom (1Thes 2,12). For if we wish to live in the dwellings of his Kingdom, unless we run there with good deeds we shall not arrive.

maronite readings – rosary,team