by
Father David Daly, LC
Luke 8:1-3
Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and
proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him
were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits
and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had
gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod´s steward Chuza, Susanna, and
many others who provided for them out of their resources.
Introductory Prayer:Lord Jesus, you were open to
everyone seeking to be faithful to Gods will. Thank you for your
great example of love for all men and women, and especially for
your personal love for me. Help me to live this same universal
charity and seek to bring everyone closer to you.
Petition: Jesus, teach me to live universal
charity.
1. Accompanying Him Were the Twelve. In this
rather commonplace phrase from the Gospel, we perceive Jesus
universal charity. He chose his twelve apostles from many different
backgrounds and most of them probably would not have been friends
were it not for Christ. Matthew was a tax collector; Peter, James
and John, fisherman. Judas was more sophisticated than the rest.
Yet, Jesus called them all to be his closest collaborators.
2. Mary, Called Magdalene. Not only did he choose
men to be his close collaborators, but as the Gospel says there
were also women who provided for him out of their resources.
Jesus assigned them different roles, but saved and transformed all
their lives all the same. We think of Mary Magdalene as a close
friend of Christ, but we should also remember that he transformed
her, with the power of Gods grace, by expelling seven demons from
her.
3. The Wife of Herods Steward. Another of the
women following Jesus was Joanna, the wife of Herods steward. It
is amazing to see that the Gospel can take root even in the midst
of the fiefdom of Herod, a man who had absolutely no esteem for our
Lord. Jesus message is capable of inspiring followers in all
societal conditions and groupings. Similarly, we are called to
build the Kingdom at all levels of our secularized world.
Dialogue with Christ: Lord Jesus Christ, you give
us the example of unconditional love for each and every person. You
do not care what our background is or how many sins we have
committed. Your mercy is infinite and everlasting! Thank you for
your love. I beg you to teach me to love without limits.
Resolution: I promise today to practice universal
charity by being kind to someone with whom I do not ordinarily
associate.