Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Intention: For God’s blessing on this week’s District Chapter, that the inspirations of the Holy Spirit may guide the Brother delegates in all of their deliberations and decisions.
Today’s Gospel | Matthew 12:46-50
While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
From the Second Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
To bring the children whom you instruct to take on the Christian spirit, you must teach them the practical truths of faith in Jesus Christ and the maxims of the holy Gospel with at least as much care as you teach the truths that are purely theoretical.
It is true that a number of doctrines are absolutely necessary for us to know in order to be saved, but what would it serve to know them if we did not take the trouble to practice the good to which we are bound?
Faith, Saint James says, without good works is dead. Saint Paul also says, If I knew all the mysteries and had full knowledge and all the faith such that I move mountains from one place to another but have not charity (that is, sanctifying grace), I am nothing.
Prayer
Eternal Father, Jesus called us to share in your life, to play our part in your plan for the world’s salvation. Help us to do what we can where we are: the home we live in, the neighborhood we belong to, the school or job that we share with friends and colleagues. May each of these be the focus of our prayer and of the good that we do each day, so that our faith might come alive and that your will might be done through us. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.