“Now is not the time to muse or fret over the happenings of life but rather to be conformed entirely to the will of God, striving to prepare [...] for that happy death which of all the things of life is our principal concern." –Saint Junípero Serra
Today is Thursday of the Twenty-first Week of Ordinary Time and Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. We are praying for the faculty, staff, and families of Catholic Central High School in Steubenville, OH
Gospel: Matthew 24:42-51
Saint of the Day: Saint Junípero Serra
Saint Junípero Serra was born in Spain in 1713. He worked in the fields as a child and became interested in the Franciscans, as he loved learning from them at the local friary. He particularly enjoyed learning Gregorian chant. At age 16 he entered the novitiate and continued his studies, eventually being ordained to the priesthood seven years later. Fr. Serra was an academically excellent teacher, but even more so shone his love for his students and care for their spiritual life. However, despite the prestigious teaching prospects in Spain for him, Fr. Serra desired missionary work, and in 1749 arrived in the New World. After traveling on foot to Mexico City to stay with Franciscans there, he learned the native languages and customs of the people whom he would serve. Fr. Serra worked beside and befriended many native peoples and founded numerous missions where he taught and converted many through his courageous love and unfailing faith. He also defended them against the many abuses from the Spanish military.
Reflection: Blessed the servant who is faithful. The Gospel today talks about the end times. Each of us will have our own. The Lord is right here, and we do not know the day or the hour. But the blessing comes from faithfulness. Imagine, if after all that you did in this life, after all of your work, your toil, your sacrifices, you finished the race and went to see Our Lord, and His words were simply, “Well done, my faithful servant, enter into My kingdom.” This is what we need to strive for. We were created by God, Who is love itself, to be in perfect union with Him in eternity. There is nothing more important than this. We easily can justify that our work, our scores, our salary, our accomplishments are most important. In schools, we communicate this with our students, placing precedence on test scores, aptitude, skill attainment, starting positions on whatever sports team, 1st chair in the orchestra. These are good. We are there to help students discover their talents and uncover the good they can do, but eternity, sanctity, union with God is the ultimate goal of our work. Not just in our schools. Salvation in Jesus Christ is the ultimate goal of marriage, of family life, of ministry with whomever the Lord entrusts into your care each and every day. We need to spend more time storing up these treasures in our hearts. Not to the detriment of all else, but to allow all things to be directed to union with God.
Marian prayer for the day: The Depths of the Love of Your Heart – St. Therese
Virgin full of grace, I know that at Nazareth you lived modestly, without requesting anything more.
Neither ecstasies, nor miracles, nor other extraordinary deeds enhanced your life, O Queen of the elect.
The number of the lowly, “the little ones,” is very great on earth.
They can raise their eyes to you without any fear.
You are the incomparable Mother who walks with them along the common way to guide them to heaven.
Beloved Mother, in this harsh exile, I want to live always with you and follow you every day.
I am enraptured by the contemplation of you and I discover the depths of the love of your heart.
All my fears vanish under your motherly gaze, which teaches me to weep and to rejoice!
Amen.
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