Bible Diary

Daily Reading

Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest

LECTIONARY
451

FIRST READING

PRV 30:5-9

Every word of God is tested;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Add nothing to his words,
lest he reprove you, and you will be exposed as a deceiver.

Two things I ask of you,
deny them not to me before I die:
Put falsehood and lying far from me,
give me neither poverty nor riches;
provide me only with the food I need;
Lest, being full, I deny you,
saying, "Who is the LORD?"
Or, being in want, I steal,
and profane the name of my God.

PSALM

PS 119:29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163

Response: Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.

Remove from me the way of falsehood,
and favor me with your law.

The law of your mouth is to me more precious
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Your word, O LORD, endures forever;
it is firm as the heavens.

From every evil way I withhold my feet,
that I may keep your words.

Through your precepts I gain discernment;
therefore I hate every false way.

Falsehood I hate and abhor;
your law I love.

GOSPEL

LK 9:1-6

Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick.
He said to them, "Take nothing for the journey,
neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money,
and let no one take a second tunic.
Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.
And as for those who do not welcome you,
when you leave that town,
shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them."
Then they set out and went from village to village
proclaiming the Good News and curing diseases everywhere.

Daily Reflection

Take nothing for the journey...

The authority Luke speaks of is the authority of relationship. Jesus gave his apostles the authority, to “cure diseases… proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” He sent them off with “...nothing for the journey.” Jesus says nothing about expectations or results. In fact, he says, “...as for those who don’t welcome you, shake the dust from your feet.” He does not say to stick around, or be persistent. He says to keep going, to keep moving, and stay faithful to the mission. Stay faithful to Him, to what we have together.

Jesus’ ‘commission’ is not about success or failure. It is about relationship and the journey itself. It is about living the relationship with Jesus. It is about seizing the freedom to ‘go’ despite uncertainties. It is about freedom from success or failure, people, places, and fear.

Padre Pio, whom the Church remembers today, is one of the most loved and invoked saints of our time, best known for bearing the stigmata. Unable to move out of his residence because of ill health, he still ‘travelled’ far: he was given the gift of bilocation, and people came from all over the globe to meet him! He radiated the love of Christ through his words of comfort and advice, remaining faithful to his mission till the end.