and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!
If you remove from your midst oppression,
false accusation and malicious speech;
If you bestow your bread on the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted;
Then light shall rise for you in darkness,
and the gloom shall become for you like midday;
Then the LORD will guide you always
and give you plenty even on the parched land.
He will renew your strength
and you shall be like a watered garden
like a spring whose water never fails.
REFLECTION
St. Peter Claver was a priest dedicated to serving the slaves brought into the New World. He was moved by the injustice and ill treatment of the unfortunate people brought into Cartagena, Columbia on ships.
Father Claver was so moved by their plight. He would find a way to get onto the slave ships. He would bring medicine and food to care for the sick and any injured as soon as they arrived. Father Peter begged for food to bring to the starving slaves and found interpreters who could help him teach the people about Jesus. His concern was to save souls. 300,000 slaves were baptized Catholics by St. Peter Claver.
Claver was known as the "slave of slaves." He spent 38 years ministering to them even after they were sold.
Thus says the LORD:
This is the fasting that I wish:
releasing those bound unjustly
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking every yoke;
Sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own.
St. Peter Claver, SJ gave hope and showed mercy to those "bound unjustly." Let us pray for all priests to have the virtue of zeal for saving souls. Let us pray our PAPA Prayer for Priests.
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