Friday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Intention: For all persons who struggle with unemployment and economic hardship, that they receive the help and support that they need for themselves and their families.
Today’s Gospel | Mark 10:1-12
Jesus came into the district of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds gathered around him and, as was his custom, he again taught them. The Pharisees approached him and asked, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” They were testing him. He said to them in reply, “What did Moses command you?” They replied, “Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her.” But Jesus told them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this. He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
From the Eighth Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
Saint James says, If someone says that he has the faith and that he does not have the works, of what use to him is his faith; can it save him? What would it benefit you, then, to teach your disciples the truths of the faith if you do not teach them to practice good works? For faith that is not accompanied by works is dead.
It will not, then, be enough for you to have instructed your disciples about the mysteries and the truths of our holy religion if you have not helped them learn the chief Christian virtues and if you have not taken an altogether special care to help them put these virtues into practice, as well as all the good of which they are capable at their age. For no matter how much faith they may have or how lively it may be, if they do not commit themselves to practice good works, their faith will be of no use to them.
Prayer
Eternal Father, we pray today for the wisdom to understand that, as your children, we are called to holiness. We have a call to love, to forgive, to show mercy, to offer hope, to share joy, to bring peace, to make room. Lord, take the very least in us and make the very most of us. Help us when life challenges us to grow and to sacrifice our comfort so that we might find the strength and integrity that you have placed within us. Inspire us to higher and better places. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.