Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr
Intention: For teachers, staff, and school leaders preparing to welcome students back, that the work of these first weeks may be marked by patience, attentiveness, and hope.
Today’s Gospel | Matthew 19:3-12
Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.” They said to him, “Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?” He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery.” His disciples said to him, “If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” He answered, “Not all can accept this word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”
From the Third Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
This is what made Saint Paul say very well, speaking of himself, I accomplish what is lacking in the passion of Christ. Is there something lacking, then, in the passion of Christ? Nothing, certainly, on the part of Jesus Christ, but on the part of this holy Apostle, as well as everyone else, what was lacking was the acceptance of his will, the union of his sufferings with those of Jesus Christ as one of his members suffering in him and for him.
Prayer
Eternal Father, Saint Maximilian Kolbe stepped forward and took another man’s place, and in doing so showed us what love costs and what it is worth. Few of us will be asked for that. All of us are asked for something. Give us the clarity to see where our lives are needed and the courage not to look away. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.