Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop
Intention: In thanksgiving for all of our departed family and community members and friends, and that the many ways in which they touched our lives will continue to live on in us.
Today’s Gospel | Luke 16:1-8
Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. He summoned him and said, ‘What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.’ The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes.’ He called in his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’ Then to another he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘One hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note; write one for eighty.’ And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.”
From the Sixteenth Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
The holy King David says that he will be filled with gladness when God will grant him the grace to see him and to enjoy the glory of heaven. For the sight of God fills all the powers of a person’s soul in such a way that all consciousness of self is lost, so to speak. The person is entirely present within the divinity and totally penetrated with God. This is the happiness that will be possessed in heaven by those who have procured the salvation of souls, who have done this in a way that has been useful to the good of the Church, who have by their care restored the robe of innocence to a great number of their disciples, who might have lost it through sin, and who have helped preserve the innocence of many others who have never lost it.
This will happen to those who have carried out the role of Guardian Angels for the children whom Providence has entrusted to them and who have had ardent zeal in their work, practiced this zeal continually, and saved a great number of these children.
Prayer
Eternal Father, you have given us our lives so that we will use them to do good. How many times have we abused your trust, choosing to act selfishly without thought for you or for others? Help us to leave our selfishness behind and to make amends with anyone that we have treated dishonestly or unkindly. Help us to be persons of integrity who seek only to make our world a better place. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.