And in that day ye shall ask Me nothing. Truly, truly, I say
unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name,
He will give it you.
(John 16:23)

First of all, we have to learn to pray always unceasingly.
(Gregory of Nyssa)

The Christian should not let the sun set on an angry fit
of a brother, lest night separate both from each other
and leave an inexorable verdict in the Day of Judgement.
(Basil the Great)

Virgins shall be brought to the king after her; Her fellows
shall be brought to you; they shall be brought with gladness
and exaltation.
(Ps. 45:14b-15a)

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you and
will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
(Deut. 31:8)

Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shall Thou dwell in the
land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
(Ps. 37:3)

Just as too much drinking comes from habit, so too from
habit comes over indulgence in sleep.
(John Climacus)

If a person wishes, he may live for God.
(S. Macarius)

In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so,
I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
(John 14:2)

Dear beloved, He defeated the whole world as we see. He did
not conquer it by military powers, but by the ignorance of
the cross. All spirits surrendered to Him when His body was
raised on the cross.
(S. Augustine)

REFLECTION:

Prayer is great good. For when we speak to a person endowed with
virtue, we receive much benefit. How much greater benefits will
flow on persons who speak with God. For prayer is speaking with God.

Heavenly Father, help us to pray to You through Jesus and in the
Holy Spirit. Let us be faithful to our daily conversations with You.
(S. Augustine)

HOMILY:

The Angels of God

Praise ye the Lord, all His angels, praise ye Him all His hosts. (Psa. 148:2)

Adoration is the first duty of man to God, but how little fulfilled! How little prayer there is in most lives. How little even with believers except for Corporate Prayer in Church. With infinite mercy God willed man out of nothing into being, so that man might know and praise the Eternal Beauty and Goodness which God is. And man remains unseeing and unresponsive - ready to praise anything except his Creator.

This makes us glad to think of the Holy Angels of God. A vaster world than ours - each of the nine choirs may be more numerous than all the human race. In their faculties of knowing and loving they tower up far out of sight; their praise to God is an example to us all. The whole and all-sufficient occupation of the angels is the praise and adoration of God.

Our Lord is pleased that His Father is known and loved by those who see the Father's Face. He teaches us to pray, 'Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.' The angels' praise (compared with ours), is like some mighty orchestra and choir, compared with a beggar singing out of tune in the street.

And yet God the Son took on man's nature, not the angels. They played so much a part in Our Lord's life from the Annunciation to the Ascension. It is said that the Star that led the Magi to the Christ Child was made up of myriads of angels, and it was angels who gave the glad tidings of the Lord's Birth to the Shepherds on the hills.

So once more be grateful for the mercies of Our God to us, and realize better in the future our primary duty of praise and adoration to Him, both in private prayer as well as public prayer.

If someone does something for you, it is polite to say thank you and not to take it for granted.

Alas how many people take God for granted? No matter how little the Blessing received we should give thanks, be like the Angels and praise Him without ceasing both day and night.

To Thee be glory and praise, now and ever, unto Ages of Ages. AMEN!

Today's Readings:

Evening: Psalm 37:3,5&7; Luke 10:38-42.
Morning: Psalm 48:1 & 8; Matt. 12:35-50.
Liturgy: Heb. 9:1-12; 2 John 1:1-13; Acts 1:1-14;
Psalm 45:12-13; Gospel Luke 1:39-56.

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