LET US LIE IN WAIT FOR THE VIRTUOUS MAN
FRIDAY 4TH WEEK OF LENT: Universalis
First Reading Wisdom 2:1,12-22
Let us lie in
wait for the virtuous man and condemn him to a shameful death
The godless say
to themselves, with their misguided reasoning: ‘Our life is short and dreary, nor
is there any relief when man’s end comes, nor is anyone known who can give
release from Hades. Let us lie in wait for the virtuous man, since he annoys us
and opposes our way of life, reproaches us
for our breaches of the law and accuses us of playing false to our upbringing. He
claims to have knowledge of God, and calls himself a son of the Lord. Before us
he stands, a reproof to our way of thinking, the very sight of him weighs our
spirits down; his way of life is not like other men’s, the paths he treads are
unfamiliar. In his opinion we are counterfeit; he holds aloof from our doings
as though from filth; he proclaims the final end of the virtuous as happy and
boasts of having God for his father. Let us see if what he says is true, let us
observe what kind of end he himself will have. If the virtuous man is God’s
son, God will take his part and rescue him
from the clutches of his enemies. Let us test him with cruelty and with
torture, and thus
explore this gentleness of his and put his endurance to the proof.
Let us condemn
him to a shameful death since he will be looked after – we have his word
for it.’ This is the way they reason, but they are misled, their malice makes
them blind. They do not know the hidden things of God, they have no hope that holiness will be rewarded, they can see no reward
for blameless souls
Responsorial Psalm: The Lord is close to the broken-hearted.
Gospel John 7:1-2,10,25-30 They would have arrested him, but his time
had not yet come
Jesus stayed in Galilee; he could not stay
in Judaea, because the Jews were out to kill him. As the Jewish feast of
Tabernacles drew near, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went up
as well, but quite privately, without drawing attention to himself. Meanwhile
some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, ‘Isn’t this the man they want to
kill? And here he is, speaking freely, and they have nothing to say to him! Can
it be true the authorities have made up their minds that he is the Christ? Yet
we all know where he comes from, but when the Christ appears no one will know
where he comes from.’
Then, as Jesus taught in the Temple, he
cried out:
‘Yes, you know me and you know where I
came from. Yet I have not come of myself: no, there is one who sent me and I
really come from him, and you do not know him, but I know him because I have
come from him and it was he who sent me.’
They would have arrested him then, but
because his time had not yet come no one laid a hand on him.
Father they are happy who follow your law. Your law is perfect. You are perfect. You are Holy Lord. Help me Father as I strive to obey your law.
Lord Jesus I trust in you. Lord how can I love my enemies, and pray for those who persecute me. As human it is impossible to love those who persecute me. Help me Father. Virgin Mary, full of grace pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. God’s Angels and Saints pray for me, My Angel Guardian pray for me.
Pray the Holy Rosary: Ave Maria.
As we approach Easter, it is not too late to be reconciled with God, and His Son Jesus Christ. Whenever I find it difficult to pray or sleep, I listen to my psalms.
Psalm 51 for confession.
As the Dewy Shades
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