Wednesday, November 9 : The letter to Diognetus

Christians are not distinguished from the rest of mankind in country or speech or customs. For they do not live somewhere in cities of their own or use some distinctive language or practise a peculiar manner of life. They have no learning discovered by the thought and reflection of inquisitive men, nor are they the authors of any human doctrine, like some men. Though they live in Greek and barbarian cities, as each man’s lot is cast, and follow the local customs in dress and food and the rest of their living, their own way of life which they display is wonderful and admittedly strange. They live in their native lands, but like foreigners. They take part in everything like citizens, and endure everything like aliens. Every foreign country is their native land, and every native land a foreign country… They find themselves in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh (cf 2Co 10,3; Rm 8,12-13). They remain on earth, but they are citizens of heaven (Ph 3,20; He 11,16; 13,14). They obey the established laws, and in their own lives they surpass the laws. They love all men, and are persecuted by all men. They are unknown, and they are condemned; they are put to death, and they are made alive. They are poor, and they make many rich. They are in need of all things, and they abound in all things. They are dishonored, and in their dishonor they are glorified. They are abused, and they are vindicated. They are reviled, and they bless. They are insulted, and they do honor… To put it briefly, what the soul is to the body, Christians are to the world.
maronite readings – rosary,team