Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

June is the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart

Readings for the Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week: Ch 18:7 The Order of the Psalmody- Ch 22 The Sleeping Arrangements of the Monks

He brought them to their desired haven.

HEART OF JESUS, OUR PEACE AND OUR RECONCILIATION,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

MARY, HOUSE OF GOLD,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

They were filled with great awe and said to one another,

"Who then is this whom even the wind and sea obey?"

(Mark 4:41)

And as seen in today's photo, even the clouds obey Our Lord. It is He who created heaven and earth. We too, then, should be filled with great awe.

Welcome to the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time, in the middle of the month of June dedicated to the Sacred Heart, in these weeks leading up to the 10th National Eucharistic Congress scheduled for next month in Indianapolis, Indiana, the Hoosier State. It's hot here folks, making it very difficult to sleep. However, we had a bit of relief last night, Still, summer has arrived with force. 

How did you do last week? Take another look at last week's reflection. Have you taken inventory? Were there changes that needed to be made so you could rest both soul and body so as to better love and serve God, your neighbor and yourself? If not, we can take another look this week. We worry, we become anxious, we are overwhelmed. If this weren't so, why would Jesus, in today's Gospel (Mt 6:24-34), bother to tell us not to worry or be anxious? Things come; things go. However, we worry about tomorrow. So, Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow. Sufficient for a day is its own evil. No kidding. Jesus helps us grow in faith. Our Lord beckons us to trust Him. No matter what. Please, Lord, help us to grow in faith, in trust. We are not in this alone. We anchor ourselves in the Rock, Jesus. Blessed Clelia Merloni (1861-1930) encourages us: "In your trials, don't give up turning to God with filial trust. If you call upon Jesus with faith and trust, I assure you, your prayer will be heard by Him. Remember Jesus is sensitive to our ills and has compassion on all our suffering." And His mother will help too. After all, never was it known, that anyone who fled to her protection, or sought her intercession, was left unaided (The Memorare). May we be inspired, may we grow in trust and in faith. O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me. I believe, help my unbelief.

Keep going, faithful readers. We remain united in faith and prayer.

I will not mistrust Him, Meg, although I shall feel myself weakening and on the verge of being overcome with fear. I shall remember how St. Peter at a blast of wind began to sink because of his lack of faith, and I shall do as he did: call upon Christ and pray to Him for help. And then I trust He shall place His holy hand on me and in the stormy seas hold me up from drowning.

(Saint Thomas More, 1478-1535, in a letter to his daughter Meg, while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London)

In God's will there is great peace.

(Saint Josephine Bakhita, 1869-1947)

By the Mass and Communion, I must become more and more like Christ.

(Blessed Marcel Callo, 1921-1945)

The Holy Face is my life. He is my strength ...

If we wish to adore the real face of Jesus ... we can find it in the divine Eucharist, where the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ and the Face of Our Lord is hidden under the white veil of Host.

(Saint Gaetano Catanose, 1879-1963)

The rest of this week's voices come from Madeliene Delbrel, The Little Monk: Wisdom from a Little Friend of Big Faith (Crossroad, 2005). Little monk; little friend; delightful little book; from the little chapter "Humility."

To shine is not the same thing as to enlighten.

(On a day of great eloquence)

The center of the monastery is God's place: don't put yourself in the wrong chair.

(When the little monk had been pontificating)

When certain people question your character, don't respond by doubting theirs.

(When some awfully correct folks told the little monk why he was wrong)

And one last voice from the little chapter "Greatness," which is about humility in any case.

To call oneself "humble" rarely means that one is humble; the truly humble know that they are but novices in matters of humility.

(When the little monk had been self-effacing all around)

SAINT JOSEPH CAFASSO,

SAINT JOHN BOSCO,

SAINT ETHELDREDA,

SAINT THOMAS GARNET,

SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST,

SAINT WILLIAM OF VERCELLI,

SAINT JOSEMARIA ESCRIVA,

SAINT LUAN,

BLESSED MARY JOSEPHINE CATANEA,

SAINT JOHN SOUTHWORTH,

OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR,

BLESSED NYKYTA BUDKA,

BLESSED VASYL VELYCHKOVSKY,

SAINT CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA, BISHOP, DOCTOR,

SAINT LADISLAUS, 

SAINT IRENAEUS, BISHOP, MARTYR, DOCTOR,

SAINT VINCENTIA GEROSA,

SAINTS PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: I captured this glorious sight last Thursday morning. They rejoiced when they were calmed.

© Gertrude Feick 2024