The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, July 11, 2001
The Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Benedict
Complete story: http://www.christdesert.org/public_texts/martyrology/
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Gen.41:55-57;42:5-7a
Psalm 33:2-3,10-11,18-19
Matthew 10:1-7
Full text: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm
A Reflection on Today's Scripture:
In today's Gospel we hear the names of the Apostles who were called
by Jesus and sent to announce the coming of the reign of God. On
commissioning them Jesus gave them very specific instructions;
namely, not to go into any pagan territory, but instead to go after
the lost sheep of the house of Israel - their friends, family and
acquaintances - people they knew and who knew them and the heritage
they shared.
In examining their mission we can see how "relatively" easy it would
have been to be missionary of the Word to those totally unfamiliar
with Jesus and the gospel He preached. By comparison, spreading the
Good News to those they lived with, worked with and knew to some
degree, was more difficult. They had to be authentic. It wasn't
enough for them to speak holy words, they had to live holy lives.The
same applies to us who would be missionaries of the Word. We must
first go after those in our "house" who are lost.
As difficult and sometimes impossible as it seems, that is what each
one of us is called to do. By virtue of our baptism God who called
and commissioned us, will also give us every grace required. Let us,
then, through the strengthening effects of daily prayer and frequent
meditation on the Word of God, learn as the Apostles did, to extend
the kingdom of God in our own "house" first and then to the whole
world.
Shine on the world like bright stars;
you are offering it the word of life. (Philippians 2:15-16)
- Donna Raye Nelson, ocds
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