SATURDAY OF THE TWENTY-SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, SEPTEMBER 7, 2024

LANCIANO, ITALY

MASS READINGS:

Gospel

LK 6:1-5

While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath,

his disciples were picking the heads of grain,

rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.

Some Pharisees said,

“Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”

Jesus said to them in reply,

“Have you not read what David did

when he and those who were with him were hungry?

How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering,

which only the priests could lawfully eat,

ate of it, and shared it with his companions?”

Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”

REFLECTION

He went into the house of God, took the bread of offering,

which only the priests could lawfully eat,

ate of it, and shared it with his companions”

Cultivation of a spiritual life is necessary if our goal is to be with God in heaven. We are aiming to God’s glory, not our own. Only God can glorify us through His Cross and Resurrection. Thinking otherwise is absurd and dangerous.

A garden left untended allows overgrowth, weeds, ant hills, burrs to take root and prevents the beautiful plants and flowers to flourish. In my garden, my sins, wrong doings, thoughts, spoken words are exposed to God who sees and knows all, and yet, He sees past my ugly ways and never ceases to offer me His redeeming love.

It is up to me to accept His love with full repentance . It is up to me to do my very best to serve God and others, and in doing so, I hope one day to be walking with God. Divine love responds to tiny human acts of love.

David went into the house of God, took the bread of offering, which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it with his companions. The Lord of the Sabbath nourishes and feeds us. Our souls need the true bread from heaven for the nourishment of our souls and a healthy soul filled with His joy.

The Eucharistic Miracle Pilgrimage of 2024 in Italy took us to Lanciano and Orvieto. We saw and venerated the Bread of Heaven: the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, in Lanciano. We saw the blood of Jesus on the corporal in Orvieto. We walked up the stairs that Jesus walked to where Pontius Pilate passed his judgment. We walked and studied the ways of the great saints: Peter, Paul, Francis of Assisi, Benedict and Scholastica, Padre Pio and soon to be canonized Blessed Carlos Acutis. They all devoted time to cultivate their souls.

The main focus is God. Follow the footsteps of Jesus and these great saints.

Let us grow more and more into His likeness. “We are transfigured into His likeness, from splendor to splendor”. (2 Cor. 3:18)

Have a great day!

God bless you!