Saturday after Epiphany
Intention: That during this National Migration Week, we may strive to be the face and hands of God’s compassion and justice for all migrants; refugees; and displaced, enslaved, and exploited persons.
Today’s Gospel | John 3: 22-30
After this, Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent some time with them baptizing. John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there, and people came to be baptized, for John had not yet been imprisoned. Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew about ceremonial washings. So they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him.” John answered and said, “No one can receive anything except what has been given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said
From the Seventh Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
You must, then, regard your work, which has been entrusted to you by pastors and by fathers and mothers, as one of the most important and necessary services in the Church.
This means that you are called to lay the foundation for the building of the Church when you instruct children in the mystery of the most Holy Trinity and the mysteries accomplished by Jesus Christ when he was on earth.
For, according to Saint Paul, without faith it is impossible to please God and consequently be saved and enter the homeland of heaven, because faith is the foundation of the hope that we have. The knowledge, then, that each must have of the faith, the instruction that must be given concerning the faith to those who are ignorant of it, is one of the most important things in our religion.
How much, then, must you consider it an honor that the Church has assigned you to such a holy and exalted work, to be chosen to procure for children the knowledge of our religion and of the Christian spirit.
Pray God that he will make you fit to fulfill such a ministry in a manner worthy of him.
Prayer
Eternal Father, you sent your Son to be your Word to all people. Help us to be worthy and faithful instruments of the Gospel, proclaiming your will and salvation as both a call to discipleship and a comfort to the downtrodden. May our lives give glory, honor, and praise to you, and always serve our brothers and sisters, especially those who are most in need. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.