Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Intention: For God’s blessing on our Lasallian educators, students, and families as they prepare for a new school year.
Today’s Gospel | Matthew 19: 3-12
Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.” They said to him, “Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?” He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery.” His disciples said to him, “If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” He answered, “Not all can accept this word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”
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.
Prayer
Eternal Father, Jesus taught us to see and to accept your truth, both the comforting assurances and the hard challenges. Lead us away from wanting life to be free of sacrifice and detached from the struggles of others. Help us to realize that it is through these realities that you come to us each day. Open our eyes and hearts so that we can learn from life who you are calling us to be and what you are calling us to do. Help us to walk through all of our days with faith, hope, and love. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.