WEDNESDAY OF THE FOURTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME JULY 6, 2022 OPTIONAL MEMORIAL ST MARIA GORETTI

MASS READINGS

A reading of the holy Gospel according to MT 10:1-7

Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”

REFLECTION

“As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”

Our Lord said, "Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand."

God speaks to us through the Word.. We are the disciples He is talking to in this Gospel.

May we not waste our time here on earth living in and of the world but living the Word.

Pray to get closer to God . Spend time with Him in silence. May we not harden our hearts, be blind to the Bible or deaf to His voice. May the Holy Spirit open up the floodgates of love.

Today the optional memorial is in celebration of the life of Saint Maria Goretti. She suffered death at the hands of nineteen year old Alessandro Serenelli. He attempted to rape her and she fought for her purity. "No, it is a sin" she cried. She was stabbed fourteen times.

On her deathbed she forgave her attacker just as Jesus forgave from His Cross. She said, "I forgive Alessandro Serenelli and I want him with me in heaven forever." She lived and died in love.

He was sentenced to 30 years in prison, but was rebellious and not at all repentant of his crime. Six years later, Maria appeared to Alessandro in a dream while he was in prison. She handed him 14 white lilies, the symbol of purity, and one lily for each time he stabbed her. As a result of this dream, he had a profound conversion. He became a lay capuchin.

"Seek always the face of God"

(Psalm 105)

God Bless You.