MEMORIAL OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI - 2021

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I give you a new commandment:
love one another just as I have loved you,
says the Lord. JN 13:34

JONAH 1:1-2:1,11 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Many of us who identify ourselves as Your followers resemble Jonah. When we find the call to holiness too difficult, the labor in the vineyard too arduous, the mission field fraught with obstacles we think we are unable to overcome, we run in the opposite direction. When we do, we soon discover like Jonah, that we are restless and joyless. Jonah knew the reason for his troubles that dogged his footsteps and yet he made futile attempts to escape.

No matter what our vocation in life is we are called to be missionaries. Like Jonah, we may ignore it, bury it, run away from it, but the nagging voice of conscience will not let us rest. The Good News is not to be kept to ourselves but is to be shared with the whole world beginning with those nearest and dearest to us.

You never tire of urging and cajoling us to remain in Your love and do whatever You ask us to, if we are faithful, You are even more faithful. If we listen and obey, You will bless us and those we love far more than we can ever hope for or imagine. May we never tire of doing all that You command. 

LUKE 10:25-37 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Today's parable, the Good Samaritan, teaches us how to live in a world that is often cold, heartless, indifferent to the pain of others, and where most people are selfish and self-absorbed. The lawyer in the Gospel passage taken from Luke resembles those who look for plausible excuses not to do what is right, true, and good. The world despises the qualities that are upheld by God - simplicity, humility, and a childlike spirit. The values of the world are contrary to the ways of God. 

Who is my neighbor? is a great question for us to reflect and ponder on and the answer will most probably make us squirm uncomfortably. Our neighbor is the one who we often and perhaps deliberately overlook or ignore in our own homes, in our neighborhood, or in our place of work.  

Like the Samaritan traveler we too will meet people in our pilgrim journey from this life the to next, how many will we notice who need help, how many of us will be so moved by compassion that we are willing to stop even though it messes up our schedule and our plans and offer aid? How many of us will go the extra mile and pay all the expenses with no hope of reward or recognition?

Today we are reminded to care for one another and do all we can to lighten the burden of those who journey with us.