Monday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Intention: That the darkness of stigma, exclusion, and marginalization might be dispelled by the light of understanding, acceptance, and respect for the dignity of every person.
Today’s Gospel | Luke 7:1-10
When Jesus had finished all his words to the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave. They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, “He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us.”
And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed. For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him and, turning, said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” When the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.
From the Ninth Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
Let it be clear, then, in all your conduct toward the children who are entrusted to you, that you regard ourselves as the ministers of God, carrying out your ministry with love and a sincere and true zeal, accepting with much patience the difficulties you have to suffer, willing to be despised by men and to be persecuted, even to give your life for Jesus in the fulfillment of your ministry.
The zeal that ought to inspire you is meant to give you these dispositions, so that you recognize that it is God who has called you, who has destined you for this work, and who has sent you to labor in his vineyard. Do this, then, with all the affection of your heart, working entirely for him.
Prayer
Eternal Father, to live well, we must learn to do your will. There are days when this is not easy, when our lives are a puzzle that we do not know how to put together. Help us in those moments to be still and watch for the signs of your presence. Thank you for leading us to the right paths, especially those that we might not recognize on our own, and for guiding us through the ups and downs of trying to be good persons. May we strive to be channels of your grace to each other, pointing with care and zeal the way to your heart. We ask this of who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.