Tuesday, January 18 : Baldwin of Ford

Blessed repose and a holy satisfaction are what make for true beatitude and of this the Sabbath and the manna are symbols. When he had given rest and satiety to his people with the Sabbath and the manna, thus prefiguring the true blessedness he will give to those who obey, the Lord rebukes for his disobedience the man who might cause them to lose these most desirable possessions: “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and laws?” (Ex 16,28). After this question of the Lord’s, Moses invites his brethren to consider God’s gifts: “Take note! The Lord has given you the Sabbath. That is why on the sixth day he gives you food for two days so that you may consent to serve him.” This warning means that God will give rest for their labours to his elect and the consolations of this present life in addition to those of the life to come. But in addition to this, two forms of life are suggested to us by this passage: the active life in which we now have to work, and the contemplative life for which we are working and in which we shall be completely available to the contemplation of God. For although the contemplative life belongs especially to the world to come, yet it must be represented even in this life by the holy Sabbath rest. Concerning this rest Moses adds: “On the Sabbath day everyone is to stay home and no one is to go out.” In other words: Everyone is to rest in their house and not go out for any kind of work on the Sabbath. This teaches us that during times of contemplation we should remain within ourselves, nor go out by means of forbidden desires but collect our whole intention “in purity of heart” [as Saint Benedict says] to think on God alone and love him only.

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team