Saturday, February 10 : Isaac the Syrian

Do violence to yourself (cf Mt 11:12), strive to copy Christ’s humility so that the fire he has cast into you may burn ever brighter: the fire with which all this-worldly compulsions, which destroy the new man and defile the dwellings of our holy and mighty Lord, are consumed. For I affirm, along with Saint Paul, that “we are the temple of God” (2Cor 6:16). So let us purify his temple “as he himself is pure” (1Jn 3:3) so that he may have a desire to dwell there; let us make it holy as he himself is holy (1Pt 1:16) and adorn it with every good and worthy deed. Let us fill the temple of the dwelling place of his will as with incense: by pure prayer, the heartfelt prayer that is impossible to obtain if we give ourselves up to the constant compulsions of this world. Then will the cloud of his glory overshadow your soul and the light of his greatness shine in your hearts (cf 1Kgs 8:10). All who dwell in God’s house will be filled with joy and rejoice. But the insolent and ignoble will shrivel under the Holy Spirit’s flame.

maronite readings – rosary,team