Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church
Intention: That all citizens will learn how to come together to end the fear and mistrust that debilitate the spirit of our nation.
Today’s Gospel | Luke 17:20-25
Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus said in reply, “The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.”
Then he said to his disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. There will be those who will say to you, ‘Look, there he is,’ or ‘Look, here he is.’ Do not go off, do not run in pursuit. For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.”
From the Meditation on Saint Leo | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
When we are called to an apostolic work, if we do not know how to join zeal to action, all we do for our neighbor will have little effect. In your work you ought to devote your effort to oppose the interior and exterior enemies that would prevent the progress of your disciples in piety, mainly, their wayward companions and their own evil inclinations. There is no means you must fail to use to prevent your students from being corrupted by either one of these enemies.
Is this what you try especially to do to procure the good of their souls? Often reflect that it is for this purpose that God has commissioned you.
Prayer
Eternal Father, forgiveness does not always come easily for us. It can be hard for us to let go of our anger or to trust someone’s apology, to believe that forgiveness is an act of strength and not a sign of weakness. It takes faith to be forgiving. Lord, help our lack of faith. Teach us to live our hopes rather than our fears and to reach out to others as brothers and sisters. In this healing may we find paths to salvation. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.