One Minute Reflection – 7 July – “Month of the Precious Blood” – Tuesday of the Fourteenth week in Ordinary Time, Readings: Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13, Psalm 115:3-10, Matthew 9:32-38 and the Memorial of Blessed Pope Benedict XI OP (1240-1303)
“The harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few, therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.” … Matthew 9:37-38
REFLECTION – “One day I was pondering over what I could do to save souls; a phrase from the Gospel showed me a clear light – Jesus said to His disciples, pointing to the fields of ripe corn, “Look up and see the fields ripe for harvest” (Jn 4:35) and a little later, “The harvest is abundant but the labourers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out labourers.” How mysterious it is! Is not Jesus all-powerful? Do not creatures belong to Him who made them? Why then does Jesus say: “Pray the master of the harvest to send out labourers … ?” Why? …
Ah! Jesus has so incomprehensible a love for us, that He wants us to have a share with Him in the salvation of souls. He wants to do nothing without us. The creator of the universe waits for the prayer of a poor little soul, to save other souls redeemed like itself, at the price of all His blood.
Our vocation, yours and mine, is not to go harvesting in the fields of ripe corn, Jesus does not say to us; “Lower your eyes, look at the fields, and go and reap them,” our mission is still loftier. Here are Jesus’ words: “Lift up your eyes and see….” See how in my Heaven there are places empty, it is for you to fill them! … each one of you is my Moses praying on the mountain (Ex 17:8f), ask Me for labourers and I shall send them, I await only a prayer, a sigh from your heart!” … St Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873-1897) Doctor of the Church
PRAYER – True Light of the world, Lord Jesus Christ, as You enlighten all men for their salvation, give us grace, we pray, to herald Your coming, by preparing Your ways of justice and of peace. We lift our hearts and eyes in prayer and beg of You that we may always offer You the souls of those in need of You. And may the prayers of Bl Pope Benedict XI, who fulfilled his role as Your labourer, strengthen us on our journey. Who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.
AnaStpaul 