Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Intention: For the children and young people of our world, that those entrusted with their care will be channels of God’s compassion, wisdom, and steadfast love.
Today’s Gospel | Luke 18:35-43
As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!” Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.
From the Fourth Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
Be convinced of what Saint Paul says, that you plant and water the seed, but it is God through Jesus Christ who makes it grow1 and brings your work to fulfillment. So when it happens that you encounter some difficulty in the guidance of your disciples, when there are some who do not profit from your instructions and you observe a certain spirit of immorality in them, turn to God with confidence. Very insistently ask Jesus Christ to make his Spirit come alive in you, for he has chosen you to do his work.
Consider Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd of the Gospel, who seeks the lost sheep, puts it on his shoulders, and carries it back to restore it to the fold. Because you are taking his place, consider that you are obliged to do the same thing. Ask him for the grace needed to procure the conversion of hearts.
You must, then, be very devoted to prayer to succeed in your ministry. You must constantly represent the needs of your disciples to Jesus Christ, explaining to him the difficulties that you have experienced in guiding them. Jesus Christ, seeing that you regard him as the one who can do everything in your work, whereas you are an instrument that must be moved only by him, will not fail to grant you what you ask of him.
Prayer
Eternal Father, you are the source of all seeing and understanding. We can miss many things because we see only what we want to see. Bless us with new eyes to see all things through the eyes of faith. Heal the blindness that we choose to live with out of stubbornness and free us to clearly see you with us each day. Help us to accompany those entrusted to our care, so that together we will walk on the path that you have prepared for us. We make this prayer through Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.