Year of Saint Joseph
Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"
In other years: Saint Willibrord (658-739)
Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 31:1-12 Qualifications of the Monastery Cellarer
Mass: 1 Kgs 17:10-16; Resp Ps 146; Hb 9:24-28; Mk 12:38-44
Praise the Lord, my soul!
BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
(Gospel versicle, Mass)
Pep talks and encouragement continue in this last month of the liturgical year. First, we have the widow in our first reading who listened to the Prophet Elijah and did as he instructed. She gave the little she had. And as the Lord God said, "The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the oil run dry ... she was able to eat for a year, and [Elijah] and her son as well; the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry" (1 Kgs 17:14-16). We have another widow in our Gospel, who gave in her poverty, she contributed all she had, her whole livelihood (Mk 12:44). All is gift therefore we give as gift. Pope Saint John Paul II called this "the law of the gift", that is, "your being increases in the measure that you give it away." Dig deep and give all that you have back to God. Give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in turn be measured out to you (Lk 6:38). However, this means carrying our cross. In this Saint Vincenza Gerosa (d. 1847) encourages us: "He who has not learned what the crucifix means knows nothing, and he who knows his crucifix has nothing to learn." Keep going, with all the joys and pains that come with it. The reward will be great in heaven. We are united in faith and prayer.
SAINT WILLIBRORD,
SAINT JOSEPH,
PRAY FOR US.
Today's photo: The Pacific, at Fort Bragg.
© Gertrude Feick 2021
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