Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Intention: In thanksgiving for all Lasallian educators, whose faith and zeal for their ministry continues to make their schools places of salvation for all, especially those most in need.
Today’s Gospel | Matthew 5:13-16
Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”
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, your Son taught us not to confuse things that come from the world for those things that come to the world from you. And so we pray, help us to remember that it is not who we command but who we serve that makes us strong; not what we gain but what we give that make us rich; not what we know but what we value that makes us wise; not what we say but what we do that makes us real. Create in us wise and humble hearts. This we ask of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.