The Feast of St Benedict | Thursday 11 July 2024

Today is Thursday 11 July, the feast of Saint Benedict, in the 14th week of Ordinary Time.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo sing: ‘Baba wethu singenile’: ‘Our father, we have entered in the holy place, as you have invited us. Be close to us. Open our hearts to understand your word. Remove the darkness that surrounds us and give us your light.’

(Lyrics currently unavailable)

Today’s reading is from the Book of Proverbs.

Proverbs 2:1-9

My child, if you accept my words
and treasure up my commandments within you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
if you indeed cry out for insight,
and raise your voice for understanding;
if you seek it like silver,
and search for it as for hidden treasures—
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk blamelessly,
guarding the paths of justice
and preserving the way of his faithful ones.
Then you will understand righteousness and justice
and equity, every good path.

Today’s passage speaks of making ears “attentive to wisdom” and inclining the “heart to understanding”. Why not take a moment to begin this prayer time by making your ears attentive to wisdom and your heart inclined to understanding? What might God want to say to you today?

When was the last time you really searched for something “like hidden treasures”? Perhaps lost car keys, or a passport? Or maybe something more precious to you? Can you remember what that felt like?

As you listen to the passage again, notice this language of ‘seeking’ and see if you recognise it in your own relationship to God…

“Then you will understand…” Is there something you would like to understand better at the moment? Speak with God about anything this prayer time has stirred up in you…

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.