St Barnabas, Apostle: Thursday 11th June, 2020 June 11, 2020
Reflection on the WORD
Witness to the Gospels: In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds His apostles that as they will be given the spiritual power of the Spirit to perform the miracles, they are to servethe Gospel with total dedication and detachment from the lures of the secular world of materialism and glory. God must be glorified at all times.
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9 Days Novena Prayers to Sacred Heart of Jesus starts from Thursday 11th June 2020, leading to Solemnity of Sacred Heart on Friday 19th June 2020.
SACRED HEART OF JESUS NOVENA PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, the needs of your people open your heart in love to each of us. You care for us when we are lost, sympathise with us in lonliness and comfort us in mourning; you are closest to us when we are at our weakest. You love us most when we love ourselves least; you forgive us most when we forgive ourselves least; you call us to spread your love in whatever way we can.
Lord Jesus, your heart is moved with compassion when we are suffering, when we need your help, and when we pray for each other. I ask you to listen to my prayer during this novena, and grant what I ask (make your own request silently). If what I ask is not for my own good or the good of others, grant me always what is best, that I may build up your Kingdom of love in our world. Amen.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
Matthew 10:7-13
Jesus said to his apostles: ‘As you go, proclaim that the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those suffering from virulent skin-diseases, drive out devils. You received without charge, give without charge. Provide yourselves with no gold or silver, not even with coppers for your purses, with no haversack for the journey or spare tunic or footwear or a staff, for the labourer deserves his keep.
‘Whatever town or village you go into, seek out someone worthy and stay with him until you leave. As you enter his house, salute it, and if the house deserves it, may your peace come upon it; if it does not, may your peace come back to you.’
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- Jesus proclaimed that the Kingdom of God is close at hand and called us to conversion and to be watchful and be ready.
- To belong to this “Kingdom” we are all challenged to live the Gospel Values of Christ. We need to love more fully, forgive more willingly and bear one another’s burdens more generously.
- Moreover, we are also challenged to oppose to the injustices, oppression, poverty and all forms of violations of human dignity in our society. Have we been living in the “Kingdom” of God?