Written by Oscar Hardman (1880-1964), English priest and author. This is an excerpt from his book “The Ideals of Asceticism.”
True social progress can never be effected solely by programs of reform, organized demand, and legislative action. High wages and abundant leisure, good housing, and improved sanitation, are not able of themselves to guarantee progress or even to check deterioration. It is of far greater importance that people should be clean and sober in their habits, and thrifty in their use of time and money, and that all the relationships of the members of a community should be inspired by love rather than controlled by principles of legal justice and economic equality: and these things are most surely promoted by the presence of earnest Christian living ascetically in the midst of society under various types of organization.
Prayer:
Written by Victoria Riollano, a contemporary author, speaker, and professor.
Dear Lord, thank you for being a loving and forgiving God. I thank you for your example of how to live and walk in peace and forgiveness. I look forward to opportunities to live at peace with everyone. Although the world may teach me to hold a grudge, I choose to follow your way instead. Lord, search my heart and show me any person that I may have negative feelings towards. I ask for wisdom on how to cultivate peace and walk free from bitterness. Give me a heart for those that I don’t understand and help me to always walk in your love. Help me to do my part in living at peace with everyone. In Jesus Name. Amen.
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