The following mediation by Fr. Bede Jarett was the reflection for Sunday’s reading in my devotional, “Magnificat.” It’s excerpted from the book “He Dwells in Your Soul, Encountering the Living God Within You.”

The vision has come; it cannot simply open my eyes to new things in life without thereby altering that very life itself. Not only shall I find that what seemed to me before to be evil now appears to me to be a blessing; but on that very account, what before I tried to avoid, or, having got, tried to be rid of, I shall now accept, perhaps even seek. Similarly, whereas when I was weak, now I am strong’ and increase of strength means new activities, new energy put into the old work and finding its way into works altogether new. … Once upon a time I thought happiness meant comfort; now I see that it means something quite different. My view of happiness has changed. I am therefore obliged to change also my idea as to the means and conditions whereby, and in which, happiness can be found.