Thursday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Intention: For a greater respect for human life, particularly for the unborn and for those living with disabilities, so that we will open our hearts to the sacredness of all life in all of its expressions.
Today’s Gospel | Luke 11:47-54
The Lord said: “Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets whom your fathers killed. Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building. Therefore, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute’ in order that this generation might be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who died between the altar and the temple building. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood! Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.” When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.
From the Ninth Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
You must not doubt that it is a great gift of God, this grace he has given you to be entrusted with the instruction of children, to announce the Gospel to them and to bring them up in the spirit of religion. But in calling you to this holy ministry, God demands that you fulfill it with ardent zeal for their salvation, because this is the work of God, and he curses the one who does his work carelessly.
Let it be clear, then, in all your conduct toward the children who are entrusted to you, that you regard yourselves 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.
Prayer
Eternal Father, you taught that we always should take care not to put other things ahead of our relationship with you and with one another. And so we pray that, with your grace, we will live uncluttered, humble, and generous lives. When we are tempted to treat as gods material possessions, personal pleasure, or social ambition, help us to return our lives to your simple gifts of trust in you, hope for a peaceful and just world, and love for all of your creation. We ask this of you, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.