Daily Reflection for Friday, October 01 2021
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Friday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/100121.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Baruch 1:15-22
Responsorial: Psalm 79:1b-2, 3-5, 8, 9
Gospel: Luke 10:13-16
Our reflection on Friday’s readings:
We have not listened to the voice of the LORD, our God, so as to follow the precepts the Lord set before us … we have been disobedient to the Lord, our God, and neglected to listen to his voice … Baruch 1:17-19
Today, October 1, the Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church, and thinking of her daily devotional book The Little Way Every Day reminds me how I helped our son to listen.
Sharing a small Scripture verse a day inspired our son to listen. You see, nine years ago in 2012, I put the iMissal app on my cellphone. Of course, there’s the calendar, Mass readings, collection of Catholic prayers, and news. There is also the section called “My Daily Bread,” which has one or more “little” verses per day. Since the app allows you to share with others, I began sharing the daily verses with our son. This was just a little nudge for him to read just a little each day and listen to the voice of our God.
Did he read and listen? Yes, because he made little, short comments about the verses by texting back with “Amen,” “That’s a favorite verse of mine,” or “I’m trying.” On occasion, when I missed sending the verses early, our son would remind me to send the daily verse by texting, “Mom, are you sick? I didn’t get a daily verse.” Is our son a good person and a free spirit? Maybe allowing ourselves more time to listen to him and to become more engaged in his life should be our focus.
Today’s daily devotional of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus is:
I feel that my mission is only beginning; my mission to make the good God loved as I love Him, to give my little way to souls.
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Psalm 95:8
Just when do I hear God’s voice? If you hear His voice today:
- Will you find just a “little way” to listen and obey?
- Will you realize that “little things” can make a big difference?
- Can you find a “little” way for every day to make a change?
May we allow ourselves to be quiet, listen to His voice, and make changes by doing the “little” things.
Dorothy and Carlos Alexander