We are expecting, hopefully, around 1500 people to attend the mission on the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. One of the concerns that has come-up with regard to the number of those attending is how will we feed and house these people. Some may be traveling some distance from their homes and will not be able to return home in the evening after the mission ends for that day. This concern began to weigh heavily on my heart. Lisa and I spoke about it and we decided to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament together for this particular intention.
This past Friday morning, August 3rd, the Gospel reading at mass was from the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 13. In this Gospel passage, Jesus is in the village where he grew up. When he taught in the Synagogue, the people were amazed at his teaching and were perplexed because they knew Him only as the carpenter's son as well as Mary's son. They did not welcome Him, they took offense at Him. The passage concludes: "...A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house. And He did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith." Matt 13: 57-58
Have you ever heard a homily and thought that the priest was speaking directly to you?
Well, that is what happened to me at this mass. Father Randy spoke of Jesus' life and ministry. He said that when Jesus performed miracles, it was usually for those that had faith in Him. Father Randy gave the another example of Jesus performing a miracle for a person that had great faith in Him. It is from the Gospel of Matthew. A woman that was bleeding for 12 years yearned just to touch the cloak of Jesus so that she could be healed. When she touched the cloak and was healed, Jesus turned to her and said: "...Take heart daughter; your faith has made you well." Matt 9: 22
After mass, I sat and reflected on Father Randy's words and received great comfort from them. Lisa and I had already decided to pray. St. Padre Pio, one of my favorite saints was known for saying: "Pray, hope and don't worry."
Mother Teresa was a soul of prayer and had great trust in our Lord. This is a quote taken from her that can be found in Mother Teresa, Essential Writings:
We depend solely on Divine Providence. Christ has said that we are more important in his eyes then than the flowers, the grass, and the birds. He is concerned for those we help.
We care for thousands of people in India and elsewhere, and up to now we have always had something to give. We have never been forced to dismiss anyone because of lack of space or food. God has always been present with his love and concern." -HJ, 124
This past Sunday, August 5th, the first reading was from the book of Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15,
and the Gospel of John 6:24-35. Both readings were about being fed and nourished both physically and spiritually from God. In the reading from Exodus, the people were fed on quail in the evening and bread in the morning. They were fed and their physical need for food was met.
In the Gospel, the people search for Jesus for nourishment. Jesus tells them that they should not "...work for food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life which the son of man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal." The people want to accomplish this work and so they ask Jesus how this is to be done. Jesus responds: "...This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent." The people then asked him for a sign so that they may see and believe. The people then refer to their ancestors that were fed by God in the desert. And, Jesus says: "Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." The people are hungry for this bread and desire it greatly and they ask Jesus to: "...give us this bread always." And, Jesus responds: "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst."
Both spiritual and material food are from God. We will need to pray and to pray with faith. And we will trust. We will focus on the work for the mission, the spiritual work, and God will fill our needs - and it will be all from Him - physically, and, more importantly, spiritually.
It would be an enormous gift for those that feel called to please join us in praying for this intention.
Efficacious Novena To The Sacred Heart Of Jesus
(This novena prayer was recited every day by Padre Pio for all those who asked his prayers) |
 I. O my Jesus, You have said, ‘Truly I say to you, ask and it will be given you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.’ Behold, I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of...Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be to the Father... Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you. II. O my Jesus, You have said, ‘Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, He will give it to you.’ Behold, in Your name, I ask the Father for the grace of... Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be to the Father... Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you. III. O my Jesus, You have said, ‘Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.’ Encouraged by Your infallible words, I now ask for the grace of... Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be to the Father... Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you. O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us poor sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of You, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate heart of Mary, Your tender mother and ours.
Hail, Holy Queen... St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us
Most Holy, Most Bountiful, Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us...
And, we will LET THE WORK BE His
and God will provide.
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