Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest
Intention: For migrants and refugees arriving in the communities this District serves, that they be met with welcome rather than suspicion.
Today’s Gospel | Luke 6:20-26
Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”
From the Second Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
God has had the goodness to remedy so great a misfortune by the establishment of the Christian Schools, where the teaching is offered free of charge and entirely for the glory of God, where the children are kept all day, learn to read, to write, and their religion, and are always kept busy, so that when their parents want them to go to work, they are prepared for employment. Thank God, who has had the goodness to employ you to procure such an important advantage for children.
Prayer
Eternal Father, Saint Peter Claver met the ships and went down into the hold, where no one else would go. Your Son called the poor blessed and did not soften it for the comfortable. Keep us honest about which side of that sentence we usually stand on. Send us toward the people our systems are built to overlook. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.