Sunday, September 18 : Saint Gregory Nazianzen

       You should know where your own existence comes from, breath, intellect, and what is most precious of all: knowledge of God; from where comes hope of the kingdom of heaven and of beholding the glory that, at present, you see only dimly as in a mirror but that, tomorrow, you will see in all its purity and brilliance (1 Cor 13:12). From whence does it come that you are a child of God, inheritor along with Christ (Rm 8:16-17) and, dare I say it, that you yourself are a god ? Where does all this come from, and through whom ?        Again, to speak only of things of lesser importance, those that are obvious: who granted you sight of the beauty of the heavens, the movement of the sun, the cycle of the moon, the countless stars and, in it all, the harmony and order governing them ? (…) Who gave you the rain, the cultivation of the land, food, art, laws, cities, a civilized life, close relationships with people like yourself ?        Isn’t it from He who, before all else and in return for all His gifts, requires of you to love humankind ? (…) When He, our God and Lord, is not ashamed to be called our Father, are we going to deny our brethren ? No, my brothers and friends, do not let us be dishonest stewards of the good things confided to us.
Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team