Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot
Intention: For God’s blessings on the delegates and the work of this week’s SFNO Mission Assembly, that the Holy Spirit will guide this gathering as it helps to envision and shape the future of our District.
Today’s Gospel | Matthew 10:34-11:1
Jesus said to his Apostles: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s enemies will be those of his household.
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple – amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”
When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.
From the Meditation on Saint Benedict | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
Are you careful to keep your students away from whatever might corrupt their morals, especially bad company, and do you inspire them with a horror of such companions? Are you so vigilant over their conduct that you prevent them from doing the least thing wrong when they are in your presence? Do you show them how to avoid all occasions of evil when they are no longer under your supervision? Learn from Saint Benedict how to bring up properly the children whom you have to guide. Act so as to obtain from him by your prayers the grace of guiding them well.
Prayer
Eternal Father, we are your children, yet we often do not realize what this means. We often refuse to accept your word, choosing instead to live selfishly. Forgive us for placing so many things ahead of you and pretending that we do not know who you are and who you made us to be. May we turn away from our sinfulness and welcome you into our hearts, always aware of your presence in one another and seeking only to do your will. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.