“The disciple of Christ must not only keep the faith and live on it, but also profess it, confidently bear witness to it, and spread it” (CCC 1816).
Matthew’s Gospel reading for today is easier said than done. As humans, we fall short and fear takes over. For me, that happens daily. We need to remember that no matter what, God loves us. Let’s think about that love. God knows everything, even the hairs on our heads. If we step back and consider the time of Jesus and the Apostles, He knew before he chose Judas what would happen. Yet Jesus loved Judas through it all, knowing it was all part of His Father’s plan.
When we let fear seep into our hearts and allow it to take root, we begin to form hardness of heart. When truth cannot penetrate our hearts and is habitually rejected, it is because we keep resisting the divine invitation over and over. This action is actually us choosing some kind of selfishness over the love of God or neighbor. But God asks us to take up our cross and follow Him morally and spiritually. Instead, we can pray to stay close to God’s will at all times.
What should our prayer look like? In the desert, the Devil tempted Jesus to distract Him and to get his own way. Are we tempting Jesus by manipulating our prayers or actions to suit us, to accomplish our will, not His?
Today is the feast of St. Benedict the Abbot. He founded 13 monastic communities and was known for his discernment of what comes from man, from God, or from the Devil. St. Benedict created a Rule for all of his communities to guide them in the ways of the Lord. Many of the norms are based on Bible verses. Prayer, loving your neighbor, and seeing others as children of God are just a few. St. Benedict’s Rule provides time for everything, all in right order, not allowing laziness or idle time, with all work offered to the Lord.
I wear a Crucifix with the St. Benedict medal around my neck as protection and guidance in my daily work. What comes to mind are the words of the Our Father. “Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” Let us own up to our fears, place them at Jesus’ feet, and ask Him to walk with us. For we know that the heart of Jesus just wants to be with us. By spending time with Him daily, may He teach how to be His faithful disciples.
“El discípulo de Cristo no debe sólo guardar la fe y vivir de ella sino también profesarla, testimoniarla con firmeza y difundirla” (CIC 1816).
La lectura del Evangelio de Mateo de hoy es más fácil de decir que de hacer. Como seres humanos, fallamos y el miedo nos domina. Para mí, eso sucede a diario. Necesitamos recordar que, pase lo que pase, Dios nos ama. Pensemos en ese amor. Dios lo sabe todo, incluso los cabellos de nuestra cabeza. Si retrocedemos y consideramos la época de Jesús y los apóstoles, Él sabía antes de elegir a Judas lo que sucedería. Sin embargo, Jesús amó a Judas a pesar de todo, sabiendo que todo era parte del plan de su Padre.
Cuando dejamos que el miedo se filtre en nuestros corazones y se arraigue, comienza a endurecer nuestro corazón. Cuando la verdad no puede penetrar en nuestros corazones y es rechazada habitualmente, es porque nos resistimos una y otra vez a la invitación divina. Esta acción es, en realidad, la elección de algún tipo de egoísmo por encima del amor a Dios o al prójimo. Pero Dios nos pide que tomemos nuestra cruz y lo sigamos moral y espiritualmente. En cambio, podemos orar para permanecer cerca de la voluntad de Dios en todo momento.
¿Cómo debería ser nuestra oración? En el desierto, el Diablo tentó a Jesús para distraerlo y salirse con la suya. ¿Estamos tentando a Jesús manipulando nuestras oraciones o acciones para que nos convengan, para cumplir nuestra voluntad, no la suya?
Hoy es la fiesta de San Benito Abad. Fundó 13 comunidades monásticas y fue conocido por su discernimiento de lo que viene del hombre, de Dios o del diablo. San Benito creó una Regla para todas sus comunidades para guiarlas en los caminos del Señor. Muchas de las normas se basan en versículos bíblicos. La oración, amar al prójimo y ver a los demás como hijos de Dios son solo algunas. La Regla de San Benito proporciona tiempo para todo, todo en orden, no permitiendo la pereza ni el tiempo ocioso, y ofreciendo todo el trabajo al Señor.
Llevo un Crucifijo con la medalla de San Benito alrededor de mi cuello como protección y guía en mi trabajo diario. Me vienen a la mente las palabras del Padrenuestro: “Hágase tu voluntad en la tierra como en el cielo”. Reconozcamos nuestros miedos, pongámoslos a los pies de Jesús y pidámosle que camine con nosotros. Porque sabemos que el corazón de Jesús solo quiere estar con nosotros. Que al pasar tiempo con Él a diario, nos enseñe a ser sus fieles discípulos.
Marti Garcia’s passions are her retired life and growing deeper in her Catholic faith. Marti is a Sacristan/EM, facilitates small groups, and assists as a First Communion Catechist for parents. Being a parent educator and writer for 35 years, she recently published a children’s chapter book on Amazon, The Ladybugs. You can find her at her blog: MartiGarcia.org, or thewaterisshallow.com, or her cohost podcast, findingacommonthread.com, which is coming soon.
Feature Image Credit: Doungtepro, pixabay.com/photos/praying-bible-reading-bible-worship-5406270/
The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.
Daily Reading
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading 1 Isaiah 55:10-11 Thus says the LORD:Just as from the heavensthe rain and snow come downand do not return theretill they have watered the earth,making it fertile and fruitful,giving…
Saint of the Day
Saint Veronica
Saint Veronica wiped the face of Jesus Christ with her while He was on the way to Calvary carrying His Cross. According to tradition, the cloth was imprinted with the