Date in the Ordine: Memorial of St. Leo on Friday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time
Scripture Text: Romans 15:14-21
I myself am convinced about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to admonish one another. But I have written to you rather boldly in some respects to remind you, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in performing the priestly service of the Gospel of God, so that the offering up of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast in what pertains to God. For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to lead the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum I have finished preaching the Gospel of Christ. Thus I aspire to proclaim the Gospel not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on another's foundation, but as it is written: Those who have never been told of him shall see, and those who have never heard of him shall understand.
Breaking the text open – background and summary:
The first reading for today comes from Paul’s Letter to the Romans. As we read, that the Gospel was brought to us by someone. And we recognize that there are still those who have never heard of Christ or who have never encountered Christ. Will we be like Paul? Will we go out of our way, pray to the Spirit for guidance and grace, and bring Christ to others?
Meditating on the text with personal questions:
With whom do I share Christ? With whom am I being called to share Christ?
Praying:
LORD, Holy Spirit, fill our minds and hearts with the divine and transformative love. Stir within us the desire to share that which we know, the Good News, so that others may come to know Christ, to love Christ, and to serve Christ. Amen.
Comments