Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Weekly Intention: In thanksgiving for God’s blessing and guidance of our District of San Francisco New Orleans as we mark its first anniversary.
Today’s Gospel | Matthew 9: 1-8
After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”– he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.
From the Tenth Meditation for the Time of Retreat | St. John Baptist de La Salle
Your zeal for the children you instruct would not go very far and would not have much of a result or success if it were limited only to words. To make it effective, your example must support your instructions, and this is one of the main signs of your zeal.
Prayer
Eternal Father, we face many struggles in life and often rely on our faith in you to overcome them. But there are times when we believe more in our thoughts and words about you than we believe in you. Grace us with the desire to be humble channels of your presence, so that we will cooperate with your saving power and not be obstacles to it. Help us to put your love into action through the work of our hands and the steadfastness 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.