15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) - 14 July
14th July 2024
“Remember that the Christian life is one of action; not of speech and daydreams. Let there be few words and many deeds, and let them be done well.” - St Vincent Pallotti
A reflection on today's readings by the Venerable Archbishop Fulton J Sheen:
"If our passionate quest of God’s cause makes us disliked by men, we cannot say we were not warned by Him Who was hated first. ‘If the world hate you, know ye that it has hated Me before you. If you had been of the world, the world would love its own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you….If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you … that the word may be fulfilled which was written in their law: They hated Me without cause’ (John 15-20, 25). Apostles of Christ, then, will never be popular. Their end is crucifixion.
"And yet we must thirst for justice and be on fire for the kingdom of God. And why? Because everything that is good diffuses itself. The sun is good, and it diffuses itself in light and heat; the flower is good, and it diffuses itself in perfume; the animal is good, and it diffuses itself in the generation of its kind; man is good, and he diffuses himself in the communication of thought. A Christian is good, and must therefore diffuse his Christianity, throw sparks from the flame of His love, enkindle fires in the inflammable hearts of men and speak of his Lover because He is Love, for ‘out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh’ (Matthew 12:34).
"Strong love makes strong actions, and the measure of our zeal in bringing souls to the feet of Christ is the measure of our love of Him.
"Converting souls to Christ, then, is based not on the pride of propaganda, but on a desire for perfection. An apostle desires to bring men and women to Our Lord, not for the same reason a businessman wishes to increase his trade.
"The businessman advertises to increase his profits; the Christian propagandises to increase the happiness of others. He wants to bring souls to Our Lord for the same reason he wants to see the sun shine, the flowers bloom, and lambs grow into sheep – because it is their perfection and therefore their happiness.
"If a pencil is made for writing, we do not want to see it used for digging; if a bird is made for flying, we do not want to see it change places with the mole; if a soul is made for the fullness of life, we do not want to see it clips its wings and wallow in hatred, half-truths, and marred loveliness. We want to see it united with its perfection, which is the life and truth and love and beauty of God.
"That is why a Christian soul is apostolic – it loves perfection, wholeness, completeness, happiness: God. And therefore it wants everyone to be Godlike and Godward."
(The Cries of Jesus from the Cross)
Evangelisation
905 Lay people also fulfill their prophetic mission by evangelisation, "that is, the proclamation of Christ by word and the testimony of life." For lay people, "this evangelisation . . . acquires a specific property and peculiar efficacy because it is accomplished in the ordinary circumstances of the world." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Edition)
Each day we are given an opportunity to be witnesses for Christ, to bring more souls to Him. In our words and actions, by the way in which we live, we can give a great witness to His tremendous love and mercy. Let us be a shining example to the world. Let Christ be visible in every word we utter, in every gesture and deed we do. Let our entire life be a prayer of praise to God, so all who see us will desire to know the Christ we love, serve, and proclaim.
Food for Thought
Our life should be distinguished by virtue, being inwardly as one appears outwardly, for He Who sees the heart is God, Whom we should always reverence. We should walk in His Presence as pure as the Angels.
Every day renew your dedication to God, arousing fervent devotion in your heart as if it were the first day of your turning back to God. Pray to Him, saying: “Help me, Lord Jesus, to persevere in my good resolutions and in Your holy service till death. Help me to begin this day well, for up to now I have done nothing.”
As our intention is, so will our progress be, and we have need of great diligence if we want to advance. For if those whose purpose is to do good often fall short of it, what shall the person do who seldom, if ever, makes such a resolution?
Let us then make up our minds to do the best we can; even so our good intention may be hindered in various ways, such as the omission of a good exercise for a slight reason. It is seldom that such willful omission can be recovered without spiritual loss.
The resolution of devout persons depends more on the grace of God than on their own wisdom. For human beings propose, but God disposes.
(Imitation of Christ, Thomas à Kempis)
Prayer for Evangelisation
Eternal Father, we ask you, through Your Son Jesus Christ, and the intercession of Mary Immaculate, Star of the New Evangelisation, to pour forth Your Holy Spirit upon
the whole world. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, renew and transform us, and make fruitful the work of evangelisation. Root us deeply in the heart of Your Son so that we may radiate Him more fully, sharing with others the Good News of salvation in Christ, Who alone is the fulfillment of all human desiring.
Transform our parishes. Make of them shining lights, beacons of hope that reach those who are far from You, drawing them back to Your fold. Consecrate us in Your truth and accomplish Your plans in us according to Your holy will. Amen. 💐💖🙏