Tuesday, January 10 : Blessed Guerric of Igny

“Prepare a way for the Lord.” Brethren, however far you journey along it… from the very nature of goodness there is no limit to the way along which you travel. And so… the wise and indefatigable traveler… can say to himself each day: “Now I begin”… And how many “go astray in the wilderness”… None of them can yet say: “Now I begin.” For “the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord.” If the beginning of wisdom, then surely it is also the beginning of the way of goodness… It is this that encourages praise…; it also moves the proud to penance, so that they hear the voice of him crying in the wilderness,ordering the preparation of the way and thus showing how to begin it: “Do penance for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand”… If you are on the way then fear only one thing: lest you leave it, lest you offend the Lord who leads you along it so that he would abandon you to “wander in the way of your own heart”… If you feel that the way is too narrow look forward to the end to which it leads you. If you were to see how everything is to be attained, then you would say without hesitation: “Broad indeed is your command!” If you cannot see so far, believe Isaiah who could…: “Behold,” he says, “the redeemed shall walk by this way and the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Sion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads. They shall obtain also joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Those who dwell sufficiently on this end I think will not only make the way easier for himself but also grow wings so that he no longer walks but flies… May he who is the track of the runners and the reward of the winners lead and guide you along it: he, Christ Jesus (Biblical references : Ps 77[76],11 Vg; 107[106],4; Pr 1,7; Ps 110[109],10; Mt 3,2; 4,17; Is 57,17; Mt 7,14; Ps 119[118],96; Is 35,10)

maronite readings – rosary,team