Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Intention: For a compassionate and courageous spirit of freedom in our nation and in our hearts.
Today’s Gospel | Matthew 9:32-38
A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”
Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”
From the Thirteenth Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
This is what Saint Paul brings to your attention when he says that those who have been put in charge of others must render an account of them to God. He does not say that they will render an account of their own souls but of the souls of those for whom they are responsible. It is over those souls that they must watch, because they are obliged to render an account to God for them.
The basic reason for this is that when they carry out well the service of guides and leaders of the souls entrusted to them, they fulfill at the same time their own duties before God. God will fill them with so much grace that they will be made holy while they are contributing as far as they are able to the salvation of others.
Prayer
Eternal Father, it is true that your Son has called all of us to follow him, not just to follow to where he leads, but to walk as he walks. Our journey lies in serving as he served, teaching as he taught, and loving as he loved. Grant that we might be worthy of being disciples and ambassadors of Christ, caring well for all those that you have entrusted to us. Open our eyes and hearts to the faces of need that are around us and move us to show the compassion and attention that will open their eyes and hearts to you. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.