“God acts in the simplicity of open hearts, in the patience of those who pause until they see clearly” (Let Us Dream, p.61).  These words of Pope Francis are among many thoughts he has on discerning: discerning what is the voice of God or the movement of the Spirit and what is the voice of the “bad spirit” as he calls it. 

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Mt 13: 44). What is it that we have found and are ready, without much deliberation, to go and sell all we have for the treasure lying within the field of our lives? The next terse parable holds a similar dynamic: “A merchant in search of fine pearls finds one of great price, goes and sells all he has and buys that pearl” (Mt 13:45). Is this not how a vocation is born? Or, minimally, a life dedicated to giving one’s self totally for the ‘treasure’ or the ‘pearl’. We have all bought the field containing the treasure…We took the leap of faith…it was led by joy in the finding and followed by joy in ‘selling all’ for the treasure, the gift. But, how do we keep this dynamic alive?

Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Doctor of the Church (d. 444)
Readings of the day: RB 20 The Ideal of True Reverence in PrayerMass: 2 K 22:8-13; 23:1-3; Resp Ps 119; Mt 7:15-20
St Cyril of Alexandria
By their fruits you will know them.
A fitting commentary on today’s Gospel comes from our reading at Morning Prayer

Readings of the day: RB 19 Our Approach to PrayerMass: 2 K 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36; Resp Ps 48; Mt 7:6, 12-14

How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
St Benedict echoes the teaching of Jesus in the Prologue of the Holy Rule: ‘Do not be daunted immediately by fear and run away from the road that l

Saint Anthony of Padua, Doctor of the Church (d. 1231)

Readings of the day: RB 10 The Night Office in SummertimeMass: 1 K 18:20-39; Resp Ps 16; Mt 5:17-19
THE LORD IS GOD, FOLLOW HIM.
Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge;I say to the Lord: ‘My Lord are you.’
They multiply their sorrowswho court othe