THE WORD
Eph 2,19-22 / Lk 6,12-16
In those days Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
IN OTHER WORDS
After working for eight years in the formation house, I received a new assignment. However, from time to time I visit the formation house and even have some group sessions with the formandi, especially with the new ones, to help them adapt to life in the community. At the end of one of these sessions, some of them ask me to pray for them so that they would persevere. In response, I tell them that one of the things I have learned in handling formation is to pray for each seminarian and each member of the community under my care. I even make sure to say at least a mass per week for them and for their intentions, since nothing can really be done without God’s help. He is the only one who can truly form hearts and minds, for these to be truly conformed to His desires. It is no wonder then that even Jesus spent time in prayer before choosing twelve of his disciples to be his closest partners in the mission. The grace of God, which one gains through prayers, is the only guarantee that these weak men will be able to live up to their vocation and carry out the task to which they are called. Prayer ripens one’s vocation -- whatever that vocation is. How important for superiors of communities or of organizations and parents to pray for those under their care. We tend to forget this and complain interminably instead. Parents and elders, for example, tend to complain that today’s generation lacks maturity compared to their own generation. Instead of complaining, pray for our youth.
- Fr. Jerry Songcog | Madagascar
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience. The Word in other words 2016
