Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Intention: That our Lasallian schools will always be places where the sinfulness of exclusion and marginalization is overcome by the justice of acceptance and respect.
Today’s Gospel | Mark 4:26-34
Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the Kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.”
He said, “To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.
From the Meditation on Saint Thomas Aquinas | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
In all his studies and all his writings, Saint Thomas had no other purpose than the glory of God and the building of the Church. Because of this he merited to have Jesus Christ give him this praise: Thomas, you have written well of me; what reward do you wish me to give to you for the great good you have done for the Church? But this saint had worked with such great disinterestedness for the good of the faithful, especially those who have to teach others, that he made no other reply than this, that he wanted no other recompense than God.
Your profession commits you to teach children the science of salvation, and you are bound to do this with total disinterestedness. Do you do this with the sole view of procuring the glory of God and your neighbor’s salvation? Declare to God that you will never have any other intention than that.
Prayer
Eternal Father, the many seductions and illusions of life can distract us from you. Rather than seeking your Kingdom and its righteousness, we seek after only our own concerns. Strengthen our faith and our awareness of your presence and ways, so that we may choose to walk in your wisdom. Help us to lift up ourselves and each other, to fill our world with your compassion, justice, and truth. We ask this of who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.