Thursday,
October 17th
St Ignatius
of Antioch
Jesus said to His Disciples, "I
tell you most solemnly, unless a grain
of wheat falls on the ground and dies,
it remains only a single grain, but
if it dies, it yields a rich harvest."
John
12.24
From the beginning of My Incarnate
life I learnt the truth which is
the key to wholeness and perfection,
namely the reaching out in faith
and love to be and know and do the
Father's will. And this requires
the offering of the natural selfhood
to the loving Heavenly Father. And
from that death to self-determination
and self-will grows life eternal;
growth and perfection for the faithful
one in eternity and participation
in the Father's loving purpose for
His Kingdom. To achieve this for
the world of men was My apportioned
work and destiny: in time I lived
and died in obedience to the Father's
loving purpose and in love for Me
and humankind He raised Me from
the dead to life eternal.
That life I offer all the faithful
who reach out in faith and love
to be and know and do the Father's
will. I am that life, and I enter
in the heart and mind to purify
and cleanse, progress and perfect
each soul responding to My love
through My Indwelling.