Today's 1st reading with reflection

1st READING

 

At the beginning of his Pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI reminded us all of the paramount importance of charity (love) and that this is the distinguishing mark of a Christian. To be loving, we do not have to be wealthy, beautiful or smart. It is within our reach. It is a daily choice to seek the good of others and to serve them generously and joyfully.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:9-11

9 Brothers and sisters: On the subject of fraternal charity you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. 10 Indeed, you do this for all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Nevertheless we urge you, brothers and sisters, to progress

even more, 11 and to aspire to live a tranquil life, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalms 98:1, 7-8, 9

R: The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.

1 Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; his right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm. (R) 7 Let the sea and what fills it resound, the world and those who dwell in it; 8 let the rivers clap their hands, the mountains shout with them for joy.(R) 9 Before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to rule the earth; he will rule the world with justice and the peoples with equity. (R)

SABBATH

          GOING ABOUT OUR BUSINESS

St. Paul reminds the Thessalonians to live faithfully and quietly, not seeking to stir up trouble in their city. The Christians would have been a very small minority in these cities of the Roman Empire and, generally speaking, religions other than the Roman ones were not encouraged. Indeed, people were often persecuted and killed if they refused to follow the Roman gods. St. Paul knows all about persecution and while prudence will not stop him from proclaiming and living the Gospel, there is no point of stirring up persecution for the sake of it. We celebrate today the Feast of St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine. The Church has much to thank Monica for her tireless intercession, at least in part, for arguably the greatest mind that Christianity has seen. Augustine is the most quoted of all the saints in the Catechism of the Catholic Church by a long way. Monica is the epitome of what Paul encourages the Thessalonians to do when he tells them to go about their business quietly. She was faithful to her role as mother of Augustine in the best way possible, never giving up on her wayward son until he repents and is baptized. Even then I am sure she continued to pray for him. This is what we need in the Church today — men and women who will remain faithful to their calling even through trials and difficulties that can last for decades. Augustine was about 34 when he finally settled into his Christian calling. We will never be able to measure the power and efficacy of prayer in an empirical manner, but in faith we know that the Lord hears the cry of the poor and He will always give answer to our needs. Again, we do not know the form His answer will take or its timing, but we can be sure that He does answer in His own way and time. We only have to learn to trust Him. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL   Reflection Question: Am I committed to praying unceasingly for those things the Lord puts in my heart?   Holy Spirit, inspire me to be more faithful in praying for the needs of the Church and my own spiritual life.   St. Decuman, pray for us.