Daily Readings, Ho̔milíes, and Prayers - 03월/16日/2022ياش

Today is the 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐭

In the name of the Father, ✠
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit,
𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗻.

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲'𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 is from the book of 𝕵𝖊𝖗𝖊𝖒𝖎𝖆𝖍 4:23-31
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition

23 I looked on the earth, and lo, it was waste and void;
and to the heavens, and they had no light.
24 I looked on the mountains, and lo, they were quaking,
and all the hills moved to and fro.
25 I looked, and lo, there was no one at all,
and all the birds of the air had fled.
26 I looked, and lo, the fruitful land was a desert,
and all its cities were laid in ruins
before the Lord, before his fierce anger.

27 For thus says the Lord: The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end.

28 Because of this the earth shall mourn,
and the heavens above grow black;
for I have spoken, I have purposed;
I have not relented nor will I turn back.

29 At the noise of horseman and archer
every town takes to flight;
they enter thickets; they climb among rocks;
all the towns are forsaken,
and no one lives in them.
30 And you, O desolate one,
what do you mean that you dress in crimson,
that you deck yourself with ornaments of gold,
that you enlarge your eyes with paint?
In vain you beautify yourself.
Your lovers despise you;
they seek your life.
31 For I heard a cry as of a woman in labour,
anguish as of one bringing forth her first child,
the cry of daughter Zion gasping for breath,
stretching out her hands,
‘Woe is me! I am fainting before killers!’

𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: In vain you beautify yourself.

We live in a world of pleasure. I have used that intro before. But the word here today is vanity. Vanity can be known as something in excess of what is essential. What are the essentials? These are food and water, air, shelter, clothing/armour/protection, and most recently: connectivity. Are these vanity? No, because they have a reason. It becomes vanity when you put in, style, class, when you put fragrance to the air, the house you adorn with a lot of plants or decorations, etc.

But is it wrong? No. It is not wrong to enjoy ourselves once in a while. We have free will, and we need to know how to exercise free will perfectly, so that we could attain heaven.

There was an uproar in my class, when my values teacher spoke of her opinions about crop-tops. I agreed on the students, because they claim that: "No one can tell anyone what to wear," liberalism, etc. I told my parents the story, and they agreed with the teacher. They said that, it is due to respect. In my values education, we are told that, the true exercise of free will is when it helps someone.

Do we help other people in doing this? Or do we just help ourselves?

It is important to note that enjoying ourselves is important, but to the point of gaining an addiction is not good. We enjoy ourselves, but we also should know how to maintain control over ourselves. Our desires should not be above us, or even God. God is the only one that should be transcendentally above all of us. God is above your enemies and fears. God is above temptation. God is above past offences, iniquities, and sinfulness. God is above the entirety of creation. God is above the hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones; and the rainbow after the rain.

If we see God above all, we can never mourn, fear, or shaken. Jeremiah speaks of a vision of disasters, calamities, fire and brimstone. But we must have hope. For thus says the Lord: «The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end.» God is merciful above all. We must hope in the Divine Mercy and have faith. And as we live our days, we must do it for Love; Love of God, Fellow, and Creation.

𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫:

Steady our boat of pilgrimage, Lord. We fear Your wrath, we fear Your anger. But we hope in Your mercy. Forgive us. Strengthen our Faith and Hope. We believe through You, nothing is impossible, because You are God of everything. Keep us away from evil deeds. Make us see you in our activities and inactivities. Let all our deeds bear fruit for Your name. All of these we ask in Your mighty name:

In the name of the Father, ✠
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit,
𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗻.

This painting represents the Dutch "Vanitas" (Latin for vanity) by Adam Bernaert,[1] The Walters Art Museum. from Wikipedia