Saturday of the Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Saint: Saint Fergal (c.700-784)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 48:1-9 The Daily Manual Labor

Mass: Dn 7:15-27; Resp Ps (Dn 3); Lk 21:34-36

Praise and exalt Him above all forever.

VIRGIN MOST VENERABLE,

PRAY FOR US.

I always look forward to reading from Chapter 48 of the Rule of Saint Benedict, the one addressing the daily manual labor. Our holy father Benedict begins in this way: "Idleness is the enemy of the soul. Therefore, the brothers should have specified periods for manual labor as well as for prayerful reading" (RB 48:1). Having time for this and for that, especially the essentials in our way of life like prayer, manual labor, and spiritual reading, is a key to a well-balanced life. Not too much of this or that can help us from overdoing it, as Saint Benedict writes later, "all things are to be done with moderation on account of the fainthearted" (RB 48:9). It is a privilege and blessing to live in this way, whatever our circumstances, while taking into account various gifts, strengths, and weaknesses in each one of us. It is important to keep in mind how Saint Benedict begins his chapter on the proper amount of drink, as he quotes from Saint Paul, everyone has his own gift from God, one this and another that (1 Cor 7:7/RB 40:1). This also helps us heed Jesus' words in today's Gospel: "Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life" (Lk 21:34. As Jesus continues then, be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man (Lk 21:36).

Saint Augustine, in a sermon in today's Office of Readings, speaks to us too.

Let us sing alleluia here on earth, while we still live in anxiety, so that we may sing it one day in heaven in full security ...

let us sing now, not to enjoy a life of leisure, but in order to lighten our labors. You should sing as wayfarers do-sing, but continue your journey. Do not be lazy, but sing to make your journey more enjoyable. Sing, but keep going. What do I mean by keep going? Keep on making progress. This progress, however, must be in virtue; for there are some, the Apostle warns, whose only progress is in vice. If you make progress, you will be continuing your journey, but be sure that your progress is in virtue, true faith and right living. Sing then, but keep going.

And the Blessed Virgin Mary will help us. 

Knowing in advance the course and the outcome of all miseries, she soothes our fear, she awakens our faith, she strengthens our hope, she dispels our lack of confidence, she bolsters our timidness.

(Bernard of Clairvaux in Mary, Most Holy: Meditating with the Early Cistercians)

SAINT FERGAL,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: There is much beauty to be found in this clay pot. The red berries of Thanksgiving Day share space with these leaves.

© Gertrude Feick 2021