Monday, July 8 : Saint John Cassian

In my opinion it would be unworthy of us to withdraw even for a moment from the contemplation of Christ. When we have lost sight of him even briefly, let us turn our mind’s regard back to him, directing the eyes of our heart as by a very straight line. For everything lies in the soul’s inner sanctuary. There, after the devil has been expelled and the vices no longer reign at all, the kingdom of God can be established in us, as the evangelist says: “The kingdom of God will not come with observation…. For amen I say to you that the kingdom of God is within you.” But within us there can be nothing else than knowledge or ignorance of the truth, and the love of either the vices or the virtues, by which we make ready a kingdom in our hearts either for the devil or for Christ. The apostle Paul also describes the characteristics of this kingdom when he says: “For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Thus, if the kingdom of God is within us, and the kingdom of God is itself righteousness and peace and joy, then whoever abides in these things is undoubtedly in the kingdom of God… Let us lift up the eyes of our soul to that kingdom, which is endless joy.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team