Jesuit Thought for the Day [Spirituality & Religion]
Mk 6: 7-13
He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.”
So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Creating processes of encounter
As Catholics, we are missioned like the twelve to spread the joy and peace of the Gospel. This ministry of encounter bears fruit when we remain in Jesus and ground ourselves in his love. We must persevere in prayer and ask for the grace to imitate Jesus in each of our relationships, for it is precious to God when we seek to be in relationship with those we disagree with.
Pope Francis in Fratelli Tutti says, “what is important is to create processes of encounter, processes that build a people that can accept differences. Let us arm our children with the weapon of dialogue! Let us teach them to fight the good fight of the culture of encounter!” Therefore, let us retain the peace and recall the mercy that Jesus has obtained for us. If we are mindful of this, it will be easier to love and encounter each other.
Has our peace been replaced with pride? Do we listen to respond or to understand?
—Emmanuel Arenas, SJ, is a Jesuit scholastic of the Midwest Province studying philosophy at Saint Louis University.
Prayer
Let nothing disturb you, nothing frighten you.
All things are passing.
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Nothing is wanting to him who possesses God.
God alone suffices.
—St. Teresa of Avila
He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.”
So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Creating processes of encounter
As Catholics, we are missioned like the twelve to spread the joy and peace of the Gospel. This ministry of encounter bears fruit when we remain in Jesus and ground ourselves in his love. We must persevere in prayer and ask for the grace to imitate Jesus in each of our relationships, for it is precious to God when we seek to be in relationship with those we disagree with.
Pope Francis in Fratelli Tutti says, “what is important is to create processes of encounter, processes that build a people that can accept differences. Let us arm our children with the weapon of dialogue! Let us teach them to fight the good fight of the culture of encounter!” Therefore, let us retain the peace and recall the mercy that Jesus has obtained for us. If we are mindful of this, it will be easier to love and encounter each other.
Has our peace been replaced with pride? Do we listen to respond or to understand?
—Emmanuel Arenas, SJ, is a Jesuit scholastic of the Midwest Province studying philosophy at Saint Louis University.
Prayer
Let nothing disturb you, nothing frighten you.
All things are passing.
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Nothing is wanting to him who possesses God.
God alone suffices.
—St. Teresa of Avila
22-25, F
