Sunday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Intention: That all persons who serve as educators, formators, caretakers, and mentors of the young might inspire in them the virtues of integrity, compassion, good faith, and justice.
Today’s Gospel | Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
At that time, John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us. Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'”
From the Thirteenth Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
Jesus Christ, having been appointed by God to be your judge, will say to you, as the owner said to his manager, Give me an account of your administration. He will then look into the very depths of your heart to examine whether you have been faithful managers of the wealth he has entrusted to you and the talents he has given you to work in his service. The good or the bad use you have made of these gifts will then become clear, for the Lord, who judges you, will unveil what is most hidden and most secret in the depths of your heart.
If you want to prevent the account that you must give from becoming heavier with the passage of time, make one every day to yourself. Examine before God how you are conducting your work and whether you are failing in any of your duties.
Come to see clearly who you are. Find fault accurately and unsparingly, so that when Jesus Christ comes to judge you, you will be able to face his judgment without being afraid. For when he comes, he will find nothing to condemn in you, because you will have anticipated his judgment, regarding not only your own person but also the talents and the graces you have received from God to fulfill well the service that he assigned to you.
Prayer
Eternal Father, your Son calls us to love one another as you love us. It is up to us to be channels of your peace and healing through the compassion and mercy that we have for all, especially those who are most in need. Send us your spirit to make our eyes open to see, our hands ready to serve, and our hearts ready to love. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.