Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi, religious
St. Francis of Assisi, I love the prayer he composed, "Lord make me an instrument of your peace...."Funny thing. Some people doubt that St. Francis wrote that prayer because they can't find it in his writings. They forget that we, Catholics, are known for passing down traditions by word. Why must it be written down for them to believe that he wrote it. Read more about St. Francis.
Lectionary: 458
Reading from the book of Job
Jb 19:21-27
We continue in the book of Job. At this point, Job has been struck by Satan and his family destroyed. He is speaking to his friends.
Pity me, pity me, O you my friends,
for the hand of God has struck me!
Why do you hound me as though you were divine,
and insatiably prey upon me?
Job's friends came to comfort him but ended up torturing him because they blamed his condition on Job's sins. Of which, Job could recall none. This is a common attitude amongst some people and you'll find it frequently amongst Protestants. They claim that all men sin all the time. But it isn't so. Catholic doctrine teaches us to free ourselves of sin. It isn't easy. But the saints, such as St. Francis, achieved it in this life. Which means we can do it also.
Oh, would that my words were written down!
Would that they were inscribed in a record:
That with an iron chisel and with lead
they were cut in the rock forever!
That did happen and many people have come to the Faith by reading the words of Job. It is especially good for those who struggle to understand that suffering is not always a punishment for sin. But a cleansing of the sin in the flesh in preparation for a greater reality.
Romans 8:17
King James Version (KJV)
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Because suffering in the flesh rids us of sin:
1 Peter 4:1
King James Version (KJV)
1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
But as for me, I know that my Vindicator lives,
and that he will at last stand forth upon the dust;
By faith, Job knows that God will justify him in the end.
Whom I myself shall see:
my own eyes, not another's, shall behold him,
And from my flesh I shall see God;
my inmost being is consumed with longing.
And so, he longs for the day he shall see God. As we all should:
Philippians 1:21-23
King James Version (KJV)
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Responsorial Psalm Ps 27:7-8a, 8b-9abc, 13-14
Response. (13) I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.Hear, O LORD, the sound of my call;
have pity on me, and answer me.
Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
Your presence, O LORD, I seek.
Hide not your face from me;
do not in anger repel your servant.
You are my helper: cast me not off.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
This is a veiled saying. Seeing the good things of the Lord in the land of the living does not necessarily mean THIS land in this life. It can also mean "heaven".
Matthew 22:32
King James Version (KJV)
32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
It can, also mean this life, and that is illustrated by the Saints. Many of whom have received the "good things". Just as Our Lord gave the Apostles authority over diseases and demons. These graces and more have been given to the canonized Saints. The miracles they performed have been recorded in many writings.
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke
Lk 10:1-12
Continuing in the Gospel of St. Luke, we see Christ appointing 72 disciples.Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples
whom he sent ahead of him in pairs
to every town and place he intended to visit.
From the company of those who followed Jesus, He selected 72 to precede Him, sort of like scouts, preparing the people for His coming. We are all called to do this, if you think about it. Everywhere we go, we should be preparing the road for Christ to enter.
He said to them,
"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.
I believe our prayer for vocations is based upon this command. Funny thing, or perhaps sad, there are too many people who want children to have vocations. But not their own. They won't instill vocations in their own children. I think this is some sort of instinctive desire to have grandchildren. They never think about the fact that if their children become Priests or Nuns, they will have thousands upon thousands of spiritual grandchildren.
1 Corinthians 4:15
King James Version (KJV)
15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
This is a sure saying. Those who carry the Gospel message can be assured that the message will not be well received most of the time.
Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;
and greet no one along the way.
Mendicants. Jesus Christ established the first order of beggars, St. Francis also did that many centuries later.
Into whatever house you enter, first say,
'Peace to this household.'
If a peaceful person lives there,
your peace will rest on him;
but if not, it will return to you.
This is awesome, but I don't know what it means exactly. I take it as a command to pray for the welfare of all whom we meet.
Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you,
for the laborer deserves his payment.
Do not move about from one house to another.
Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,
eat what is set before you,
Stay in the same house-Jesus didn't want them to jump from one house to another in the town because, in my opinion, that would offend some unnecessarily.
The laborer deserves his pay-Although we receive freely and give freely of the Gospel, we do not turn down the grace of God offered to us by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit working in others.
cure the sick in it and say to them,
'The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.'
Let them know that the Kingdom of God has arrived and cure the sick as a sign that this is true.
Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you,
go out into the streets and say,
'The dust of your town that clings to our feet,
even that we shake off against you.'
But if they do not receive you in a certain town, don't be downhearted. Don't even think about it, shake it off and continue on your way.
Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand.
I tell you,
it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day
than for that town."
You have done your duty towards that town. If they do not repent, it will for them as it was for Sodom:
Genesis 19:23-25
King James Version (KJV)
23 The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.24 Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lordout of heaven;25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.
Sincerely,
De Maria
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