Monday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time

Labor Day

Saints: Saint Herbert (d. 687); Saint Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Prologue 33-38 

Mass: 1 Cor 5:1-8; Ps 5; Lk 6:6-11 

May your favor, O Lord, be upon us.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

AFFLICTED MOTHER,

PRAY FOR US.

Stretch out your hand.

(Lk 6:10)

In today's Gospel, Jesus tells the man with the withered hand to stretch out his hand. There are all sorts of people who stretch out their hands. And we don't have to go too far to find them as Saint Teresa of Calcutta says: "The fruit of prayer is deepening of faith, and the fruit of faith is love; and the fruit of love is service, in whatever form, even in our family. Love begins at home." Wherever we find ourselves honoring out National Holiday, at home, in community, with friends or relatives, or even enjoying some time alone, we remember this: "What a wonderful thought, that God loves me, and that I can love you, and you can love me, as He loves us. What a wonderful gift of God!" (Saint Teresa of Calcutta). He did so and his hand was restored (Lk 6:10).

On this Labor Day then, "let us celebrate the feast, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1 Cor 5:8)

The true worth and nobility of man lie in his moral qualities, that is, his virtue; that virtue is, moreover, the common inheritance of all people, equally within the reach of high and low, rich and poor; and that virtue, and virtue alone, wherever found, will be followed by the rewards of everlasting happiness.

(Pope Leo XIII, Rerum Novarum Of Revolutionary Change, Encyclical on Capitol and Labor, May 15, 1891, #24)

"If you ever feel distressed during your day, call upon Our Lady, just say this simple prayer: 'Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now." I must admit, this prayer never failed me."

(Saint Teresa of Calcutta)

SAINT TERESA OF CALCUTTA,

SAINT HERBERT,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: And may you give success to the work of our hands.

 

© Gertrude Feick 2022