Plot no evil against your neighbor, against one who lives at peace with you.Quarrel not with a man without cause, with one who has done you no harm. Proverbs 3:29

Reflection:
Ever wonder what type of world we have become, when we read or hear from the news sources someone killed for nothing over nothing. Or read of someone's plot against another. We read of this in today's first reading, yet we live it today as if it was written with us in mind.

These words are before Christ, yet Jesus came to fulfill much of what has been written. He came to save, to teach, to show us love. Why have we stopped learning his lessons then? Do we plot against him too? Maybe, considering we are living in such dark times. Where we have literally shut off the light from within.

We are always reminded of God's love, yet we often do nothing to change our world. We have many things that happen that show us where we err, but we do not change it. We have much plotting but we do not stop it. No one will admit when the plotting begins that what they are doing is wrong. We are the cause of having so much taken away from us.

Our lamps do not burn brightly, and what we do have is being taken away. When we love more is given, then the light from God that is within burns all the brighter. I much rather prefer being lit up like a lamp than being part of the darkness, what do you prefer?

I took this past week off to do a retreat to start afresh after being accepted into the Third Order of Dominicans. After being a Postulant for a year, this acceptance now marks an entry as a Novice. I live my life in this world but begin to live according to the rule of St. Dominic.

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother
and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved
he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
Then he said to the disciple,
“Behold, your mother.”
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
John 19:25-27

Reflection:
Our heavenly mother stands at the foot of the cross, and weeps the tears of utmost sorrow. Since Jesus loves his mother so much, he gives her to the apostles, and she takes them as hers.

A gesture of love, so his mother will not be alone in the world. But in the heavenly court Jesus is with her always. How is it her tears still come when she is in heaven, she should be happy.

She is our mother at the point that Jesus gave her to the apostles, she then became ours. What a beautiful gift Jesus gave of his mother. But she cries for us too, just as she did for Jesus on the cross. Her tears still fall because we have not reconciled ourselves to her Son and to God who are one with each other.

What a wonderful mother we have in Mary, that she is so concerned with our sins, to see us free from them. She is beautiful beyond belief, because her heart is filled with everlasting love for us as it is with God. Let us dry her tears once and for all. Let us be filled with the love of God that brings peace to all.

May her tears no longer be shed out of sorrow, but out of joy.