Daily Reflection for Friday, August 20, 2021
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Friday’s readings at this link:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082021.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Ruth 1:1, 3-6, 14-16, 22
Responsorial: Psalms 145:5-10
Gospel:Matthew 22:34-40
Our reflection on Friday’s reading:
[Jesus] said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37
Today is the feast day of Saint Bernard. If St. Bernard lived in our present day, he might be known as a social media influencer! He was prolific in his writings and preaching but what seemed to be his true calling was his ability to lead others. When he decided to become a monk, thirty others showed up at the monastery with him. Because of Bernard’s dynamic presence, the monastery soon overflowed with monks. Bernard was sent as Abbot to form a new monastery at Clairvaux in France. By St. Bernard’s death, 343 monasteries across Europe were spawned that considered Bernard their founder.1
Two weeks ago, a dear friend’s daughter entered the Order of Franciscan Sisters and took her permanent vows. Terri and I attended a wonderful celebration Mass for this beautiful, young woman with an infectious spirit for our Lord. In a brief message to her home parish where she matured in faith, she credited her faith community’s process of perpetual adoration of the blessed sacrament as an important cornerstone in her faith formation. Loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind begins with spending quiet, prayerful, contemplative time with Jesus. I pray that Sister M. Karol Ann Hoefer, OSF will use her infectious smile, joyful countenance, and love of Christ to draw others to Christ. I see in her what I have seen in many of the sisters that have influenced me throughout my years of Christian formation.
As you move through your busy life this coming week, take time to contemplate how you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Pray for those religious that have accepted the call to serve God with mind, body, and spirit that they may draw nearer to Him and in doing so, draw others to Christ as well.
Paul Gunn
1 https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/august-20-saint-bernard-of-clairvaux-abbot-and-doctor-of-the-church/