Second Friday of Ordinary Time

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.

Jesus appointed the Twelve to preach and drive out demons. In a similar manner, Jesus calls us to preach his gospel message and help his children, including ourselves, to drive out the sins that possess our lives. We are not asked to be perfect, none of Jesus’ Apostles were, but what we are asked to be is passionate about bearing God into the world through our thoughts, words, and works. So like the Apostles, we have to answer the summons of our Lord and to come to him through prayer, the sacraments, and our good works. Some of us will be asked to be rocks for our friends, family, and Church, just as Simon was in his life. Others will be called to love unconditionally like John. Or perhaps we will be asked to be like the other devoted Apostles, such as Matthew or James. No matter what our calling is, we should remember that God will always give us the graces we need to do His Will. Hopefully, we will answer Jesus’ call with hearts full of faith, hope, and love and never betray him.

What is Jesus calling us to do? Have we cultivated a passion for preaching the truths of the gospel, not only through our speech, but also our deeds? How can we answer God's summons more faithfully?

O Lord, let our lives proclaim your gospel all the days of our lives.

Amen.

Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist

So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.

St. John the Apostle was the only disciple to stay with Jesus throughout his Passion and he is the first one to arrive at the tomb after the Resurrection. He runs there after Mary Magdalene tells the disciples that Jesus has been take from the tomb. However, when he arrives he does not go in, but allows Peter to go in first. His love for the Lord is made plain by the simple act of running, while his humility is shown by his deference to Peter.

How do we express our love for God and humility towards His Church? What are the things we run for in our lives? Are they leading us toward God or away from him?

O Lord, give us the faithfulness of St. John so that we might run to you with feet grounded in humility.

Amen.