Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"

Saints: Saint Lutgardis of Aywieres, Cistercian nun (1182-1246); Saint Richard of Chichester (1197-1253)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 13:1-11 The Celebration of Lauds on Ordinary Days

Mass: 2 Cor 9:6-11; Resp Ps 112; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

His generosity shall endure forever; His horn shall be exalted in glory.

EACH MUST DO AS ALREADY DETERMINED, WITHOUT SADNESS OR COMPULSION, FOR GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER.

(2 Cor 9:7)

I like today's Gospel. It takes me to Ash Wednesday, one of my favorite days in the liturgical year. I remember these words of Jesus from childhood so I always wanted to dress nice on Ash Wednesday. After all, Jesus was saying to not look gloomy or neglect my appearance, even though we were entering a penitential season. In any case, give alms in secret, pray to your Father in secret, and if you are going to fast, don't let it be known to others. God knows the depths of the heart and God your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you (Mt 6:18). 

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven; we pray not that God should do His will, but that we may carry out His will. How could anyone prevent the Lord from doing what He wills? But in our prayer we ask that God's will be done in us, because the devil throws up obstacles to prevent our mind and our conduct from obeying God in all things. So if His will is to be done in us we have need of His will, that is, His help and protection.

(From a treatise on the Lord's Prayer by Saint Cyprian, bishop and martyr, in Office of Readings, Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time, Wednesday)

With prayer and with life, all that is left for us is to have courage, hope, and with this courage and hope to experience strongly the prayer of Jesus and go forward so that our life might give glory to God in the awareness that He prays for me to the Father, that Jesus prays for us.

(Pope Francis, General Audience, June 16, 2021)

SAINT LUTGARDIS OF AYWIERES,

SAINT RICHARD OF CHICHESTER,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Two of "fuschia enjoying the rain." 😊

© Gertrude Feick 2021