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Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin, Doctor

October 1st, 2010

“[Jesus] said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’”
Lk 10:2

Pope Benedict has named this year from June 19th 2009 to June 19th 2010 as ‘A Year for Priests.’ It will be a special time for prayer for ordained priests and those preparing for the priesthood. It is also a time of prayer where we dwell on the words of Jesus ‘Ask the Lord to send labourers into his harvest.’ The call to priesthood is a special call; it is a call to allow the love of God to grow in one’s heart, so that this love may be given to the people of God. through service. In our world today, there are many who receive such a call, but like the ones in yesterday’s gospel passage, they put other interests first. People are hungering for love, the love of God which is above all other loves; a love which heals, relieves suffering, brings peace and harmony. People who can give this service are few compared with the needs of the world in the 21st century. Let us dwell on the words of Jesus where he reminds us that the needs of the world are numerous, but there are few ready to give service, and in reflecting on this, let us pray for priests, particularly those we know, and for others who might receive the call to priesthood.

Prayer


Prayer : Lord, inspire people to give a generous response to your call to serve the needs of the world. Grant them the desire and the courage to leave all and follow you.

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Just a Thought

The Eucharist

The manner in which we celebrate Eucharist and the reverence we give to it speak greatly of the sort of people we are. The following is a lovely story from the early Church which I came across recently: it might help us to understand what it means to be a member of the Church:

Cyprian of Cathage, wrote to his friend, Donatus: “It’s a bad world, Donatus, in which we live. But right in the middle of it I have discovered a quiet and holy group of people. They are people who have found a happiness that is a thousand times more joyful than all the pleasures of our sinful lives. These people are despised and persecuted, but it doesn’t matter to them. They are Christians, Donatus, and I am one of them.”

St. Luke, in the Acts of the Apostles, describes how those people, the early Christians, bore witness to Christ and celebrated the Eucharist – i.e. the Mass; “The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions;… There was not a needy person among them…. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes…”

The Eucharist has consequences for the way we should live our lives. St. Augustine tells us that the Lord gave us these gifts of his Body and Blood so that we, too, might become these very things – i.e. his Body and Blood for the life of the world.

During the celebration of the Last Supper Jesus said, “I have given you an example, that you also should do what I have done to you.” Through us Christ is made present to our world. Our sharing in the Eucharist bonds us together with our brothers and sisters who have also been immersed into the life of Christ through the waters of Baptism.

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