Thursday in the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

We pray Thursday in the eighth week of Ordinary Time and offer our whole day to Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. We then hear Saint Gregory the Great show how God’s law is read and lived through love that becomes real virtues in everyday life. 
• opening invocation and plea for God’s help 
• Morning Offering uniting prayers, works, joys, and sufferings to the Mass 
• Saint Gregory’s teaching that love interprets the law 
• Scripture anchors from Jesus and Saint Paul on love fulfilling the law 
• how charity becomes patience, kindness, humility, and mercy toward others 
• closing collect for peace and quiet devotion, plus Sacred Heart and Marian prayers 
If you found this time of prayer and reflection fruitful and would like more opportunities to grow in your faith, consider joining the Cristeros and purchasing our publications, now available on Amazon.com. The Cristeros app is available on the Apple App and Google Play Store. More information on the Cristeros can be found at theCristeros.org.

Transcript

Thursday Opening And Sign Of Cross

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Thursday, in the eighth week of ordinary time. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Asking God For Help

SPEAKER_00 0:11

O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me.

Morning Offering Through Mary

SPEAKER_00 0:17

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day, in union with the holy sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, for the remission of my sins, for the intentions of my family and friends, and in particular, for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.

Saint Gregory On Love And Virtue

SPEAKER_00 0:39

From the Moral Reflections on Job by Saint Gregory the Great, Pope. How must we interpret this law of God? How, if not by love? The love that stamps the precepts of right living on the mind and bids us put them into practice. Listen to truth speaking of this law. This is my commandment, that you love one another. Listen to Paul. The whole law, he declares, is summed up in love. And again, help one another in your troubles, and you will fulfill the law of Christ. The law of Christ, does anything other than love more fittingly describe it? Truly, we are keeping this law when out of love we go to the help of a brother in trouble. But we are told that this law is manifold. Why? Because love's lively concern for others is reflected in all the virtues. It begins with two commands, but it soon embraces many more. Paul gives a good summary of its various aspects. Love is patient, he says, and kind. It is never jealous or conceited. Its conduct is blameless. It is not ambitious, not selfish, not quick to take offense. It harbors no evil thoughts, does not gloat over other people's sins, but is gladdened by an upright life. The man ruled by this love shows his patience by bearing wrongs with equanimity, his kindness by generously repaying good for evil. Jealousy is foreign to him. It is impossible to envy worldly success when he has no worldly desires. He is not conceited. The prizes he covets lie within. Outward blessings do not elate him. His conduct is blameless, for he cannot do wrong in devoting himself entirely to love of God and his neighbor. He is not ambitious. The welfare of his own soul is what he cares about. Apart from that he seeks nothing. He is not selfish. Unable to keep anything he has in this world, he is as indifferent to it as if it were another's. Indeed, in his eyes nothing is his own but what will be so always. He is not quick to take offense, even under provocation. Thought of revenge never crosses his mind. The reward he seeks hereafter will be greater in proportion to his endurance. He harbors no evil thoughts. Hatred is utterly rooted out of a heart whose only love is goodness. Thoughts that defile a man can find no entry. He does not gloat over other people's sins. No, an enemy's fall affords him no delight, for loving all men, he longs for their salvation. On the other hand, he is gladdened by an upright life. Since he loves others as himself, he takes as much pleasure in whatever good he sees in them as if the progress were his own. That is why this law of God is manifold. Owe no one anything except to love one another, for whoever loves his neighbor fulfills the law. Love is the fulfillment of the law. All God's commands are summed up in one: love your neighbor as you love yourself. Love is the fulfillment of the law.

Closing Prayer And Marian Devotions

SPEAKER_00 4:15

Grant us, O Lord, we pray, that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule, and that your church may rejoice untroubled in her devotion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. All that I have and all that I am, I give to your hands, Jesus, through the heart of Mary, your blessed mother. Amen. Sacred heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Invitation To Cristuros Resources

SPEAKER_00 4:57

If you found this time of prayer and reflection fruitful and would like more opportunities to grow in your faith, consider joining the Cristuros and purchasing our publications, now available on Amazon.com. The Cristuros app is available on the Apple App and Google Play Store. More information on the Cristuros can be found at eCristuros.org.