Today, August 17
Feast of the Day
No feast of the day
Saint of the Day
Readings of the Day
Book of Ezekiel 24,15-24.
Thus the word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, by a sudden blow I am taking away from you the delight of your eyes, but do not mourn or weep or shed any tears. Groan in silence, make no lament for the dead, bind on your turban, put your sandals on your feet, do not cover your beard, and do not eat the customary bread. That evening my wife died, and the next morning I did as I had been commanded. Then the people asked me, "Will you not tell us what all these things that you are doing mean for us?" I therefore spoke to the people that morning, saying to them: Thus the word of the LORD came to me: Say to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord GOD: I will now desecrate my sanctuary, the stronghold of your pride, the delight of your eyes, the desire of your soul. The sons and daughters you left behind shall fall by the sword. You shall do as I have done, not covering your beards nor eating the customary bread. Your turbans shall remain on your heads, your sandals on your feet. You shall not mourn or weep, but you shall rot away because of your sins and groan one to another. Ezekiel shall be a sign for you: all that he did you shall do when it happens. Thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
Book of Deuteronomy 32,18-19.20.21.
You were unmindful of the Rock that begot you, you forgot the God who gave you birth. When the LORD saw this, he was filled with loathing and anger toward his sons and daughters. "I will hide my face from them," he said, "and see what will then become of them. What a fickle race they are, sons with no loyalty in them!" "Since they have provoked me with their 'no-god' and angered me with their vain idols, I will provoke them with a 'no-people'; with a foolish nation I will anger them."
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 19,16-22.
A young man approached Jesus and said, "Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?" He answered him, "Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." He asked him, "Which ones?" And Jesus replied, " 'You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother'; and 'you shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" The young man said to him, "All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to (the) poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Daily Reflection
One day, Lord Bernard approached Francis secretly, for he did not then have a companion... And Lord Bernard said: "Brother, I want to give away all my worldly goods for the love of my Lord who gave them to me, as it seems best to you." Francis told him: "We will go to the church early in the morning and, through the book of the Gospels, we will learn how the Lord instructed his disciples." Rising at daybreak, then, together with another man named Peter, who also wanted to become a brother, they went to the church... They entered for prayer, but, because they were simple, they did not know how to find the passage in the Gospel about renunciation. They prayed devoutly that the Lord would show them his will on opening the book the first time. When they had finished praying, Blessed Francis took the closed book and, kneeling before the altar, opened it. At its first opening the Lord's counsel confronted them: “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell everything you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven”. Blessed Francis was overjoyed when he read this passage and thanked God. But since he was a true worshiper of the Trinity, he desired it to be confirmed by a threefold affirmation. He opened the book a second and a third time. When he opened it up the second time he saw: “Take nothing for your journey” (Lk 9,3) and at the third opening: “If any man wishes to come after me. he must deny himself” (Lk 9,23)... Francis said: "Brothers, this is our life and rule and that of all who will want to join our company. Go, therefore, and fulfill what you have heard." Then Lord Bernard, who was very rich, after selling all he had and acquiring a large sum of money, went and distributed it all to the city's poor... And, from that hour, they lived according to the form of the holy Gospel as the Lord had shown them. This is why Blessed Francis said in his Testament: “The Lord himself revealed to me that I should live according tot he form of the holy Gospel”.