Saturday, October 9 : Saint Augustine

      “Her foundations are upon the holy hills; the Lord loves the gates of Zion.” (Ps 86  87:1-2)… “You are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone” (Ep 2:19-20)…  Christ, the cornerstone, and the apostles and mighty prophets, the hills that bear the fabric of the city, constitute a sort of living structure. This living building now makes its voice resound in your hearts. God himself, a master builder, is working in you through my tongue so that you may be built up into its structure, like so many squared stones….       Note the shape of a stone that has been perfectly squared off: Christians should have similar qualities. In all their trials they never fall; though pushed and, after a fashion, knocked over, they do not fall; for whatever way a square stone is turned, it still stands erect… Be similar to those squared stones, and be thus prepared for every shock; whatever the force which may push you, it cannot make you lose balance…        You will rise to take your place in this building by a sincere Christian life, by faith, hope and love. The holy city is constructed of its own citizens; they are themselves the blocks that form this city, for these stones are living: “You also,” says Scripture, “like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house,” (1 P 2:5)… Why are the apostles and prophets the foundations? Because their authority is the support of our weakness… Through them we enter the kingdom of God: they proclaim it to us; and while we enter by their means, we enter also through Christ, who is himself its gate (Jn 10:9).

maronite readings – rosary,team