Saturday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time

Blessed Virgin Mary

Other saints: Saint Laurence O'Toole, Bishop (1128-1180); Saint Dyfrig, Bishop (c. 550); The Beatified Martyrs of the Clifton Diocese; The Reading Martyrs; Saint Joseph Pignatelli (1737-1811); All Carmelite Saints; Bd Serapion, Martyr (1240); Saint Nicholas Tavelik and Companions, Martyrs (1391); Bd John Liccio (1511)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 36 Care of the Sick

Mass: 3 Jn 5-8; Resp Ps 112; Lk 18:1-8

Light shines through the darkness for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just.

JESUS, BRIGHTNESS OF ETERNAL LIGHT,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

One way to support one another and be co-workers in the truth (3 Jn 8), is to look how the sick and their caregivers share in mutual service as laid out in today's chapter of the Holy Rule, "Care of the Sick". "Care of the sick", writes Saint Benedict, "must rank above and before all else, so that they may truly be served as Christ" (RB 36:1). "The sick", however, "on their part", should "bear in mind that they are served out of honor for God," so "let them not by their excessive demands distress those who serve them" (RB 36:4). Even though, "the sick must be patiently borne with, because serving them leads to a greater reward" (RB 36:5), it seems fitting that the sick should also be patient with their caregivers, because caregivers don't always get it right, or just the way the sick would prefer. In the end, both caregivers and the sick, and the healthy too, support one another with love and in humility. May we be faithful in all we do for one another (3 Jn 5) as we set out daily "for the sake of the Name" (3 Jn 7). And remember to "pray always without becoming weary" (Lk 18:1). O God, come to my assistance, O Lord, make haste to help me.

MARY, MOTHER OF GOD,

PRAY FOR US.

© Gertrude Feick 2020