Thursday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

Catholic Schools Week

International Day of Human Fraternity

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 7:51-54

Mass: Heb 12:18-19, 21-24; Resp Ps 48; Mk 6:7-13

As your name, O God, so also your praise reaches to the ends of the earth.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND; REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL.

(Gospel versicle, Mass)

In today's Gospel, Jesus summons the Twelve and begins to send them out, two by two. Our Lord instructs them to take nothing for the journey except a walking stick. That's it, nothing else. They could, however, wear sandals. Jesus' instructions are simple and take me to a few places in the Holy Rule where Saint Benedict's instructions are simple too. In Chapter 4, "The Tools for Good Works", Saint Benedict writes: "Your way of acting should be different from the world's way; the love of Christ must come before all else" (RB 4:20-21). In Chapter 72 on "Good Zeal", he writes, "let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ" (RB 72:11). Jesus Christ is the Rock on which we stand firm. If we stand firmly on Him, all shall be well. As Julian of Norwich (1342-1416) wrote, "All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well."

The Christian faithful, having different gifts (cf. Rom 12:6), according to each one's opportunity, ability, charisms and ministry (cf. 1 Cor 3:10), must all cooperate in the Gospel. Hence all alike, those who sow and those who reap (cf. Jn 4:37), those who plant and those who irrigate, must be one (cf. 1 Cor 3:8), so that "in free and orderly fashion cooperating toward the same end," they may spend their forces harmoniously for the building up of the Church.

(Ad Gentus Decree on the Mission Activity of the Church, 28)

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Another look at Olympic National Park, here Lake of the Angels.

© Gertrude Feick 2021