Week Two - Monday
1st Reading
Baruch 5:1-9
Ora / Pray
Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery;
put on the splendor of glory from God forever:
wrapped in the cloak of justice from God,
bear on your head the mitre
that displays the glory of the eternal name.
For God will show all the earth your splendor:
you will be named by God forever
the peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship.
Up, Jerusalem! stand upon the heights;
look to the east and see your children
gathered from the east and the west
at the word of the Holy One,
rejoicing that they are remembered by God.
Led away on foot by their enemies they left you:
but God will bring them back to you
borne aloft in glory as on royal thrones.
For God has commanded
that every lofty mountain be made low,
and that the age-old depths and gorges
be filled to level ground,
that Israel may advance secure in the glory of God.
The forests and every fragrant kind of tree
have overshadowed Israel at God’s command;
for God is leading Israel in joy
by the light of his glory,
with his mercy and justice for company.
Labora / Work
There are times in our marriage that we wander around in our “robes of mourning and misery.” Sometimes it feels like there is no hope for a better marriage, that this is as good as it will ever be. Our communication is ineffective, our children don’t listen, our bank account is shrinking along with our retirement account as the stock market continues to drop. This is misery and I’m in mourning!! How will any of this change? And yet, it does! How? By the grace of the Sacrament of Matrimony. We have to remember that there is grace in our relationship if we have a sacramental marriage. God is there and so is His help. If you are in a stressful place in your marriage or family right now just stop and ask for some of the grace of your sacrament. It’s that easy and amazingly effective. God wants us to call on Him for help. If you are struggling in your marriage, pray for the sacramental grace for your marriage and your spouse. If your family is going through difficulties right now, together pray for the sacramental grace. God wants to lead you in “joy by the light of His glory, with His mercy and justice for company.”
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