Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest
Reading 1: Proverbs 30:5-9
Every word of God is tested;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Add nothing to his words,
lest he reprove you, and you will be exposed as a deceiver.
Two things I ask of you,
deny them not to me before I die:
Put falsehood and lying far from me,
give me neither poverty nor riches;
provide me only with the food I need;
Lest, being full, I deny you,
saying, « Who is the LORD? »
Or, being in want, I steal,
and profane the name of my God.
Responsorial Psalm 119:29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163
R. (105) Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
Remove from me the way of falsehood,
and favor me with your law.
R. Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
The law of your mouth is to me more precious
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
R. Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
Your word, O LORD, endures forever;
it is firm as the heavens.
R. Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
From every evil way I withhold my feet,
that I may keep your words.
R. Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
Through your precepts I gain discernment;
therefore I hate every false way.
R. Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
Falsehood I hate and abhor;
your law I love.
R. Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
Alleluia: Mark 1:15
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Kingdom of God is at hand;
repent and believe in the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 9:1-6
Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick.
He said to them, « Take nothing for the journey,
neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money,
and let no one take a second tunic.
Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.
And as for those who do not welcome you,
when you leave that town,
shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them. »
Then they set out and went from village to village
proclaiming the Good News and curing diseases everywhere.
Meditation
Brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ,
Let us give thanks to God for the gift of a new day. In today’s Gospel, Jesus gathers the Twelve and entrusts them with a mission: proclaim the Kingdom of God and heal the sick. For this purpose, He gives them power and authority and asks them not to take more than what is necessary for the journey. The disciples then set out and do what their Master has commanded them. The main message that this Word brings to us today is a wake-up call: through our baptism, Christ has called us, equipped us, and given us a mission. What have we done with it?
Our awakening must take place on two levels. First, we must realize that we do not live for ourselves. Sometimes we become so focused on our own needs that we forget that our faith is not meant only for ourselves. Being a Christian also means being sent to others: in our families, in our communities, among the sick, the poor, the discouraged, and all those who need a brotherly presence. It is sad to see a Christian who does nothing to help those around them, either spiritually or materially. Yet the Word of God says: “He gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases.” Jesus gives His disciples a power and authority that sets free, lifts up, heals, comforts, reconciles, and restores.
We can therefore ask ourselves: What have we done with the gifts, responsibilities, influence, and opportunities that God has entrusted to us? Perhaps we have words that can encourage someone, knowledge that can help, resources that we can share, or simply time that we can give to someone who is suffering.
The second level of our awakening is to understand that we do not need more than what we currently have to begin fulfilling the mission Christ has entrusted to us. We often hear people say: “I am not ready,” “I don’t have enough resources,” “I don’t have enough knowledge,” “I am not the right person.” But what resources did the disciples Jesus sent have, apart from those they had received from Him? They did not go because they had every guarantee. They went because Jesus sent them. Likewise, the Lord asks us today to go with what we have, start where we are, love with what we possess, and trust Him with the rest.
To bring about the Kingdom of God means allowing someone, through our presence and actions, to experience the love, mercy, and dignity that God gives them. Healing another person does not necessarily mean performing extraordinary things. It can begin very simply: a comforting word, forgiveness granted, listening to someone, visiting a sick person, encouraging someone who is discouraged, or offering a service with love.
The question, therefore, is not only: “Are we living our faith?” It is also: “Does our life allow the Kingdom of God to reach those around us?”
Let Us Pray
Three times Holy Father, we give You thanks for the gifts and graces You grant us each day. You have called us and sent us to be witnesses of Your love. Forgive us when we keep for ourselves what You have entrusted to us and when fear or lack of confidence prevents us from acting. Give us an available and generous heart. Teach us to put our gifts at the service of our brothers and sisters. Make us instruments of peace, comfort, healing, and hope. May our lives contribute to making Your Kingdom known and helping it grow around us Amen.
Intercession
Let us pray for those who have been entrusted with responsibilities and special gifts, that they may use them in the service of others.
Let us also pray for the sick, those who are alone, the poor, and all those who need a word of comfort and a gesture of love. May they receive from the Christians around them the support that enables them to experience the love of God.
Virgin Mary, intercede for them and for us!
Spiritual Exercise
Today, let us take time to identify the particular “power” that God has given us. Then, let us identify someone around us who needs healing through the use of this gift and do something concrete for that person.
BEBISSI Stéphanie
Community of the Disciples of the Living Christ
