St. Anthony Mary Claret, bishop

 ＂The sole reason why society is perishing is because,

it has refused to hear the word of the Church, which is the Word of God. ＂

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Romans 7:18-25a

 

I know, that

What is right, does not abide in me, I mean, in my flesh. I can want to do what is right, but I am unable to do it.

In fact, I do not do the good I want, but the evil I hate. Therefore, if I do what I do not want to do,

I am not the one striving toward evil, but sin, which is in me.

 

I discover, then, this reality: though I wish to do what is right, the evil within me asserts itself first.

My inmost self, agrees and rejoices with the law of God, but I notice in my body, another law, challenging the law of the spirit,

and delivering me, as a slave to the law of sin, written in my members.

Alas, for me! Who will free me from this being, which is only death? Let us give thanks to God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord!

 

Ps 119:66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94

Lord, teach me your statutes.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Luke 12:54-59

 Jesus said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, 'A shower is coming'; and so it happens.

And when the wind blows from the south, you say, 'It will be hot'; and so it is.

You superficial people! You understand the signs of the earth and the sky, but you don't understand the present times.

And why do you not judge for yourselves what is fit?

 

When you go with your accuser before the court, try to settle the case on the way,

lest he drag you before the judge, and the judge deliver you to the jailer,

and the jailer throw you into prison. I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"The virtue which the apostolic ministry needs most of all is love."

Saint Antony Mary Claret, priest, missionary, archbishop and founder, possessed an incredible zeal for Christ.

His quantity of publications was prodigious, his writings were read widely, and his preaching and example had a powerful effect, too.

He saw that fundamental to a fruitful ministry was prayer, virtue, good catechesis and useful reading material to teach good doctrine.

However, above all, he believed that "the virtue which the apostolic ministry needs most of all is love."

If the missionary does not have love, "all his natural talents will prove useless."

 

Saint Antony Mary Claret saw that his mission lay in helping people to repent and return to the Lord.

He wanted them to be able to read the signs of the times, to recognize that "this is the favorable time, this is the day of salvation" (2 Cor 6:2).

This is Christ's criticism of the crowd in today's Gospel. They can see signs of change in the weather,

but they are not alert to spiritual signs calling for a change in their lives.

They have not heeded Christ's call to repent and believe the Good News (Mk 1:15).

Saint Antony Mary Claret, help us to heed Christ's call.