Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Intention: For all who have been entrusted with the responsibilities of leadership and governance, that they always will work for peace and justice for all people.
Today’s Gospel | Matthew 13:47-53
Jesus said to the disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”
“Do you understand all these things?” They answered, “Yes.” And he replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.” When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there.
From the Fourth Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
Consider Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd of the Gospel, who seeks the lost sheep, puts it on his shoulders, and carries it back to restore it to the fold. Because you are taking his place, consider that you are obliged to do the same thing. Ask him for the grace needed to procure the conversion of hearts. You must, then, be very devoted to prayer to succeed in your ministry. You must constantly represent the needs of your disciples to Jesus Christ, explaining to him the difficulties that you have experienced in guiding them. Jesus Christ, seeing that you regard him as the one who can do everything in your work, whereas you are an instrument that must be moved only by him, will not fail to grant you what you ask of him.
Prayer
Eternal Father, Jesus came to us as your gift of life that restores own own lives. As we seek to lift ourselves and our world out of the depths of our sinfulness, we pray for a faith that is determined and resilient. In the face of confusion or despair, may the radiance of your love scatter the darkness in our hearts and lead us into your light. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.