St. Junipero Serra Read:  Am 2:6-10, 13-16    Mt 8:18-22     (Pss I)

DAILY PRAYER

“Another, a disciple, said to him, ‘Lord, let me go and bury my father first.’  But Jesus told him, ‘Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.’”  (Mt. 8:21-22)

Such a strong admonition from Jesus strikes us hard in our modern sensibilities.  His imperative: “Let the dead bury their dead…”  You, follow me.  This order came from the mouth of the Lord Himself!  In obeying Christ’s call, he demands of us the same extraordinary moral fortitude and quality — just as He modeled for His followers by accepting and acting upon the Holy Will of His Heavenly Father. “Not My will, but Yours be done.” (Lk. 22:42) 

Many of us regress in the Christian life, often for trivial matters.   We turn our backs on Christ and are unfaithful for our advantage, pleasure, comfort, vanity, weakness, or a myriad of other excuses. 

Our “faithfulness” is often dependent on the situation or moment.  We might forgo the Commandment to keep the Sabbath holy by attending and fully participating in Holy Mass each Sunday because of Mass times and/or visitors or some other inconvenience.  Is this fidelity?

“Whoever disowns me before men I will disown before my Father in heaven.”  (Mt. 10:32)

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 19:9  “The ordinances of the LORD are true.  They are more precious than gold.”

St. Junipero Serra, d. 1784; from Petra, Majorca, Spain, O.F.M.; arrived in the “New World”— New Spain in 1750; established nine of the California missions; baptized more than 6,000 native Indians; recognized as one of the great builders of the state of California; “Exemplary model of the selfless evangelizer.” — John Paul II.

OUR PRAYER CONTINUES