One Minute Reflection – 25 November – ‘No mercy is worthless before God.’ 

One Minute Reflection – 25 November – Monday of the Thirty Fourth week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Luke 21:1-4

“… for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.” … Luke 21:4

REFLECTION – “Although the spite of some people does not grow gentle with any kindness, nevertheless the works of mercy are not fruitless and kindness never loses what is offered to the ungrateful.   May no-one, dearly beloved, make themselves strangers to good works.   Let no-one claim, that his poverty scarcely sufficed for himself and could not help another.   What is offered from a little is great and in the scale of divine justice, the quantity of gifts is not measured but the steadfastness of souls.   The “widow” in the Gospel put two coins into the “treasury” and this surpassed the gifts of all the rich.   No mercy is worthless before God.   No compassion is fruitless.   He has given different resources to human beings but He does not ask different affections.” … St Pope Leo the Great (400-461) Father & Doctor of the Church (Sermon 20)

PRAYER – God our Father, You give us a share in the one bread and the one cup and make us one in Christ.   Help us to live as Your children and by our lives to bring Your salvation and joy to all the world.   May the Holy Spirit fill us with all His gifts and virtues so that we may await the coming of Your Son, guided by His Light and may Mary, the blessed Virgin, accompany us, guarding and giving us her prayerful help.   Through Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.