24 February 2022

Praying with the saints in Ordinary Time: 24 February 2022

Inside the chapel at Terenure College, Dublin … a Carmelite-run school in Dublin (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

Patrick Comerford

Before this day begins, I am taking some time early this morning for prayer, reflection and reading.

The Church Calendar is now in Ordinary Time until Ash Wednesday next week (2 March 2022). During this month in Ordinary Time, I hope to continue this Prayer Diary on my blog each morning, reflecting in these ways:

1, Short reflections drawing on the writings of a great saint or spiritual writer;

2, the day’s Gospel reading;

3, a prayer from the USPG prayer diary.

At present, I am exploring the writings of the great Carmelite mystic, Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582), so my quotations over these few days are from her writings:

‘In light of heaven, the worst suffering on earth will be seen to be no more serious than one night in an inconvenient hotel.’

Mark 9: 42-50 (NRSVA):

[Jesus said:] 42 ‘If any of you put a stumbling-block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.

49 ‘For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.’

The Prayer in the USPG Prayer Diary today (24 February 2022) invites us to pray:

Let us pray for Christian campaign groups such as Christian Concern for One World, which advocates fair trade, supporting refugees and caring for creation.

Yesterday’s reflection

Continued tomorrow

Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition copyright © 1989, 1995, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org

2 comments:

ian said...

I have found your photograph of the Grinling Gibbons monument in St Editha's church in Tamworth on the internet. I am writing an article for the Church Monuments Society about a Grinling Gibbons monument for the 7th Earl Of Huntingdon in St Helen's church, Ashby de la Zouch. In a letter to Grinling Gibbons the 7th Earl talks about the monument in Tamworth. I would like to include your photograph as an illustration to the article if you are agreeable.

Thank you

Ian Scruton

Patrick Comerford said...

Of course you're wlecome to use my photograph in the way you've requested Ian. Please name me as the photographer, and, if possible, please send me a link to the published paper or a photocopy, Patrick