Wednesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Intention: For all who live in the darkness of poverty, violence, abuse, or neglect, that they may know the comfort of our solidarity and assistance, and the restoration of their security and dignity.
Today’s Gospel | Matthew 23:27-32
Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets; now fill up what your ancestors measured out!”
From the Fourth Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
Jesus Christ, speaking to his apostles, told them that he gave an example to them that they might do as he himself had done. He also wanted his disciples to accompany him at all the conversions he brought about, so that seeing how he acted, they could, in all they would have to do to win souls to God, be guided and formed by his conduct.
This is also what you must do, since Jesus Christ has chosen you among so many others to be his cooperators in the salvation of souls. In reading the Gospel you must study the manner and the means that he used to lead his disciples to practice the truths of the Gospel.
Sometimes he proposed as a happiness everything that the world holds in hor-ror, like poverty, injuries, insults, slander, and every kind of persecution for the sake of justice, even telling his disciples that they ought to be glad and rejoice when such things happen to them.
At other times he inspired horror for the sins into which people ordinarily fall, or at other times he proposed virtues to practice, such as gentleness, humility, and the like.
He also made them understand that unless their justice surpassed that of the scribes and Pharisees (who bothered themselves about externals only), they would not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Prayer
Eternal Father, we pray today for the grace of self-discipline. Help us to learn the value of self-control and of disciplining our minds and our hearts. Grant us the wisdom and the willpower to make good choices and to be our best and truest selves both inside and out. Above all, help us to use this strength to serve others, especially those most in need, and to build your Kingdom here on earth. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.