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Tuesday, February 11, 2003

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Our Lady of Lourdes


Genesis 1:20—2:4
Psalm 8
Mark 7:1-13

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moving twice

"This people pays Me lip service but their heart is far from Me. Empty is the reverence they do Me." —Mark 7:6-7

Are you a person after God's own heart who will carry out His every wish? (see Acts 13:22) Have you given your heart to the Lord? Is your heart beating as one with the Lord's heart? Is your heart close to or far from the Lord?

It is difficult to know our hearts (see Jer 17:9). However, the Lord has given us a way to judge the position of our hearts. Jesus said: "Wherever your treasure lies, there your heart will be" (Lk 12:34). If your treasure is in the bank, an IRA, or a money market account, then your hearts may not be near "our Father Who art in heaven." But if you "sell what you have and give alms" (Lk 12:33), you may be re-investing your treasures in heaven. This can transfer your heart to heaven. Then your heart will be near the Lord, your reverence will not be empty, and you will not be self-serving but God-serving (see Mk 7:6). Therefore, move your heart by moving your money and possessions to the Lord in heaven.

Prayer:  Father, may I not put my heart in the wrong place.

Promise:  "God created man in His image; in the divine image He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them, saying: 'Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it.' " —Gn 1:27-28

Praise:  James and April entrusted themselves to the patronage of Our Lady of Lourdes during a long period of danger in their lives. They were in constant peril, but emerged from the danger with no damage done.

Reference:  (For related teaching, order our booklet, The Bible on Money.)

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, August 1, 2002


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 7, 2002