Memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin
Intention: For greater compassion and tolerance among all people, especially in places where histories of fear and misunderstanding divide us.
Today’s Gospel | Matthew 16:24-28
Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay each according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”
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, there are times when doing the challenges of life can tempt us to be selfish and cynical. In those times, may we answer with a persistent faith. Help us to never lose heart and to keep returning ourselves to you, for in you light always dispels darkness and life always overcomes death. Teach us how to follow you and walk in your path of truth and redemption. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.