Year of Saint Joseph
Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"
Month of May Dedicated to Our Lady and a “Marathon” of Prayer to End the Pandemic
Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 2:23-29
Mass: Acts 1:15-17, 20-26; Resp Ps 113l Jn 15:9-17
Blessed be the name of the Lord both now and forever.
JESUS, LOVER OF US,
HAVE MERCY ON US.
As we celebrate Saint Matthias, we are also in the midst of Chapter 2 of the Holy Rule, "Qualities of the Abbot". The role of the Abbot, as Saint Benedict writes, is "a difficult and demanding burden" (RB 2:31). It is fitting and right then to think about leadership or any positions of responsibility that we have, or may be given. The first thing to keep in mind and heart is what Jesus tells us in today's Gospel: It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, that will remain ... (Jn 15:16). And something else is this from Universalis that comes up every year for the feast: "When we attain some high or responsible position, we may be tempted to congratulate ourselves on being the best candidate for the job. We would do well to remember that we have got there because of the people we have met and the things we have found ourselves doing, and, more fundamentally, because of the gifts and talents that God has given us. These things are essentially random: like Matthias, we have been chosen by lot" ("About Today", May 14, 2021). So in roles both big and small, may we bear fruit that will last and turn to Saint Paul who declared: By God's grace I am what I am (1 Cor 15:10) and He who boasts should make his boast in the Lord (2 Cor 10:17)/(Rule of Saint Benedict 4:31-32).
Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name give the glory because of your faithfulness and love. Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Our God is in heaven; whatever God wills is done.
(Ps 115:1-2)
SAINT MATTHIAS,
SAINT JOSEPH,
MARY, MOTHER OF MERCY,
PRAY FOR US.
Today's photo: Praise the name of the Lord.
© Gertrude Feick 2021
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