Respect Life Month
In other years: Saint Hedwig (c.1174-1243); Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690); Saint Margaret d'Youville (c.1537-1584); Saint Richard Gwyn (c.1537-1584); Saint Gall (-646/650)
Readings of the Day
Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 13:1-11 The Celebration of Lauds on Ordinary Days
Mass: Ex 17:8-13; Resp Ps 121; 2 Time 3:14-4:2; Lk 18:1-8
My help is from the Lord.
MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,
MARY, QUEEN OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY,
SAINT JOSEPH, DEFENDER OF LIFE,
SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,
PRAY FOR US.
Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed ...
be persistent whether it is convenient of inconvenient.
(2 Tim 3:14; 4:2)
Reflecting on the scene proclaimed in today's first reading, it was probably not convenient for Aaron and Hur to find a suitable rock for Moses to sit on, then support Moses's hands, one on one side and one on the other. Nevertheless, this needed to be done so that Moses's hands remained steady till sunset (Ex 17:12). It may not be convenient for us to open the Bible in the midst of our busy days either. Still, we have to keep at it, even if it is for a brief look, for as Saint Timothy writes, "all Scripture is inspired by God and useful" (2 Tim 3:16). No matter what, faithful readers, we must be persistent in our life of prayer and do what is needed so that we are competent and equipped for every good work (see 2 Tim 3:17). It is no wonder that Saint Benedict tells us that every time we begin a good work, we must pray to God most earnestly to bring it to perfection (see Rule of Saint Benedict, Prologue 4). Keep calling on the name of the Lord throughout the day; He will turn His ear to you and hear your words (Ps 17). O God, come to my assistance, O Lord, make haste to help me. Will the Son of Man find faith on earth? (see Lk 18:8). United in faith and prayer, we must do what is needed, whether it is convenient or not, and keep our faith alive. I believe, help my unbelief. Mary, Queen of prayer, pray for us.
Why the Lord should ask us to pray, when He knows what we need before we ask Him may perplex us if we do not realize that our Lord and God does not want to know what we want (for He cannot fail to know it) but wants us rather to exercise our desire through our prayers, so that we might be able to receive what He is preparing for us. His gift is great indeed, but our capacity is too small and limited to receive it ...
The deeper our faith, the stronger our hope, the greater our desire, the larger will be our capacity to receive that gift, which is very great indeed ...
In this faith, hope and love we pray always with unwearied desire ... the more fervent the desire, the more worthy will be its fruit. When the Apostle tells us: Pray without ceasing, he means this: Desire unceasingly that life of happiness which is nothing if not eternal, and ask it of Him who alone is able to give it.
(From a letter to Proba by Saint Augustine, bishop, in Office of Readings, Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time)
SAINT HEDWIG,
SAINT MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE,
SAINT MARGARET D'YOUVILLE,
SAINT RICHARD GWYN,
SAINT GALL,
PRAY FOR US.
Today's photo: White roses for a Sunday are always nice. He will guard your life.
© Gertrude Feick 2022
