Wednesday of the Tenth Week of Ordinary Time

Memorial of St Barnabas, Apostle 

Be the Voice of God 

In Matthew 5:17-19 Jesus says, “whoever keeps these commandments and teaches them will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Law-abiding Catholics are second-rate; if we do not go beyond law-observance to minister by giving expression to our faith, hope and love in physical, human words and actions, we “fall short” as Christians. But if we keep ourselves aware that we were consecrated priests at Baptism and surrender to letting Jesus himself act “with us, in us and through us” in all we do (the WIT prayer) we open ourselves to the mystical experience of union with him, and we see his promise fulfilled: “I chose you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.”(See John 15:16.) 

Sometimes this is easy to do. At other times, just the idea of giving physical expression to our faith and love feels like dying. That is when we pray, “Thy will be done!”  

Decision: Don’t be a coward. Let Christ speak through you.

— Fr. David M. Knight

View today’s Mass readings, Lectionary #580 and 361, on the USCCB website here

Fr. David M. Knight (1931-2021) was a priest of the Diocese of Memphis in Tennessee, a prolific writer, and a highly sought after confessor, spiritual director, and retreat master. He authored more than 40 books and hundreds of articles that focus primarily on lay spirituality and life-long spiritual growth.