Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs
This Week’s Intention: That God will continue to bless us with the opportunities to serve all persons, especially those most in need, in humility and with compassion and joy.
Today’s Gospel | Mark 12:18-27
Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and put this question to him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, if someone’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first married a woman and died, leaving no descendants. So the second brother married her and died, leaving no descendants, and the third likewise. And the seven left no descendants. Last of all the woman also died. At the resurrection when they arise whose wife will she be? For all seven had been married to her.” Jesus said to them, “Are you not misled because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? When they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are like the angels in heaven. As for the dead being raised, have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God told him, I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not God of the dead but of the living. You are greatly misled.”
From the Fifteenth Meditation for the Time of Retreat | St. John Baptist de La Salle
The spread of God’s glory, then, by preaching the Gospel made up all the consolation of this great Apostle. This must also be yours, to make God and his Son, Jesus Christ, known to the flock confided to you. Oh, what glory for you to have this resemblance to that chosen vessel of election! With joy, then, say as he does that the greatest cause of your joy in this life is to proclaim the Gospel free of charge, without having it cost anything to those who hear it. It is indeed a great glory for you to instruct your disciples about the truths of the Gospel solely for the love of God. This thought made the Teacher of the Nations always find consolation and, according to the testimony he has given, filled him with overflowing joy in the midst of his afflictions. You too must consider it a great personal reward, this consolation that you feel at the bottom of your heart, that the children whom you instruct behave well, know their religion thoroughly, and live a life of piety. Thank God with all your heart for all these kinds of rewards that he gives you in advance in this life.
Prayer
Eternal Father, in our lives there are many times when we hear your voice but do not understand what we hear. There also are times when we are far from you and cannot hear. Jesus came to open our minds and to bring us closer to you, that we might hear and know you better. Fill us with the grace to accept this gift and to be its instruments to others, so that your holy presence will touch all of our hearts. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
St. John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts forever.