Thursday of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
Intention: That those entrusted with the care of the children and young people of our world be to them channels of God’s wisdom, compassion, fidelity, and love.
Today’s Gospel | Luke 19:41-44
As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”
From the Second Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
God has had the goodness to remedy so great a misfortune by the establishment of the Christian Schools, where the teaching is offered free of charge and entirely for the glory of God, where the children are kept all day, learn to read, to write, and their religion, and are always kept busy, so that when their parents want them to go to work, they are prepared for employment.
Thank God, who has had the goodness to employ you to procure such an important advantage for children. Be faithful and exact to do this without any payment, so that you can say with Saint Paul, the source of my consolation is to announce the Gospel free of charge, without having it cost anything to those who hear me.
Prayer
Eternal Father, as we move through each of our days, it is not hard to see the problems of our world. Faced with the fears and suffering of so many, we know in our hearts that we must do something. Through the guidance of your Spirit, that we might find the wisdom to understand and the courage to act. Make of us a people who seek always to be faithful builders of your Kingdom. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.