Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Intention: That we may nurture a culture of vocation that invites and inspires all Lasallians to discern how to live their lives as their best and truest selves.
Today’s Gospel | Mark 1:40-45
A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.
He said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”
The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.
From the First Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
It is characteristic of the providence of God and of his vigilance over human conduct to substitute for fathers and mothers people who have enough knowledge and zeal to bring children to the knowledge of God and of his mysteries. According to the grace of Jesus Christ that God has given to them, they are like good architects, who give all possible care and attention to lay the foundation of religion and Christian piety in the hearts of these children, a great number of whom would otherwise be abandoned.
You, then, whom God has called to this ministry, work according to the grace that has been given to you to instruct by teaching and to exhort by encouraging those who are entrusted to your care, guiding them with attention and vigilance in order to fulfill toward them the principal duty of fathers and mothers toward their children.
Prayer
Eternal Father, your Son came to teach us how to know you. The words that he gave us help us to do those things that keep us in your ways. We pray that you will bless us with an understanding of those words, so that we will stay faithful to their letter but especially to their spirit. May we always be awake to the lessons of life as they reveal your heart to us. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.