Moved with pity

Jesus traveled through the land bearing the good news of God's love and His redemption. Each time He met a new group of people His heart was moved with pity for them. He was moved because they were so lost, so directionless, so terrified, and so alone.

As followers of Jesus, we travel through the world today (and the world has become a lot smaller through the internet) and circumstances have not changed. Every day we encounter people who are lost, lonely, confused, or directionless. Worse than this, many of these lost souls believe that they know the way and understand the path--they think they have all of the answers. They are hard to speak to and difficult to influence.  Many may even be members of our own family!

Nevertheless, continuing the mission of Jesus, we need to bring the good news to the lost souls of today. It can be as simple as a smile or a word or a helping hand. The distorted desire we meet in the street needs to see the light of the Desire of Ages. Then heart speaks to heart and the lost ones can be drawn to Jesus Christ.

That is what we are called to do as Catholic Christians. We light the lamp and place it on a stand and welcome any who wander into the circle. Difficult though it may be when fighting the battle for hearts and minds, be moved to pity and prayer by the illogic and sometimes sheer ill-will you hear emerging. When you see a lost soul, one so wrapped up in himself or his ideas, pray for that person regardless of how you may feel about him. These are the substantive steps that can be used to lead each person to the triumph of the Father and the love of Jesus Christ, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

O Heavenly Father, help us to grow close to Your Son to learn from Him all those virtues that embody Your love and truth; Make us ambassadors of peace on earth.   Amen.

Day 6 of our novena to St. Peregrine for Darlene and all others who have cancer now or have ever had it, so that it does not return.  Pray that those suffering from cancer carry their crosses with the dignity (and help) of Christ for the sake of His sorrowful Passion.

My rosary intentions today are for my brother Bill, who is retiring mainly due to health concerns, but also because he’s earned the rest!  I pray for his family, as well.  I tried to find a humorous photo for his retirement, but decided to use one that shows the dignity of hard work and passing a work ethic on to your children, as Bill has done.  St. Joseph, pray for Bill.

Blessed are You, Lord God of all creation, for through Your goodness You have given us the gift of labor and fruitful productivity that Your people may thrive and grow.

You invite us to be co-workers with You in the world, to join the fruit of the earth with the work of our hands that we may create something new for the good of others. We thank You and bless You for the dignity of work, which has called forth from us unknown skills and talents.

Yet You call us also to come to You, we who labor and are heavy-burdened, for work without rest is enslavement and a forgetfulness of our dependence upon You alone.

So look with favor now upon Your faithful servant, Bill, who has labored long days in Your vineyard and now enters a new way of using the time and talents You have given him.

Bless him with eyes to see the places where he is most needed, with ears to listen to others with the luxury of time, with hands that create for the simple joy of creating, and with a heart lifted from the burden of toil.

Remove any fear of feeling useless or unwanted, protect him from boredom and despair, and free him from all anxiety.

May he know that his worth and dignity are not measured by what he does but by who he is in Your eyes, Your precious child and our beloved brother.

And when each day is ended, may he find delight in knowing that God who has begun the good work in him will bring it to completion in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.