Monday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Intention: For a spirit of freedom in our nation that is both confident and humble, both adventurous and wise, both demanding and compassionate, both distinctive and inclusive.
Today’s Gospel | Matthew 8:18-22
When Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other shore. A scribe approached and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” But Jesus answered him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.”
From the Third Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
Because you are obliged to help your disciples save themselves, you must engage them to unite all their actions to those of Jesus Christ, our Lord, so that their actions, made holy by his merits and by his consecration, are able to be pleasing to God and a means of salvation for them. This is how you must teach them to benefit from the death of Jesus Christ, our Lord, and to make the advantages and merits of his death effective in them.
Prayer
Eternal Father, your Son knew that doing your will would not be easy for us. In our world, your ways are often misunderstood or rejected. Send us your Spirit to teach us how to be his body on earth. Make of us a people willing to build your Kingdom, giving ourselves completely to doing your will. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.