The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, July 6, 2005
Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Maria Goretti, virgin and martyr

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Genesis 41:55-57, 42:5-7, 17-24
Psalm 33:2-3,10-11
Matthew 10:1-7

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand"

Everywhere a Christian goes, every act a Christian does, tells the world something about Christianity. Jesus exhorts us to go to the lost sheep of the Lord and to let them know that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. That is Jesus himself, who loves all of us, is near to the heart of every believer.

When we act as Christ instructed, we are carrying within ourselves the Kingdom of Heaven. We convey this most precious gift of God to each and every person we encounter with love.

So, first and foremost, remember that you are a harbinger of the Kingdom of Heaven, a Kingdom that is built first in this world by love, acceptance, understanding, charity, mercy, forgiveness, forbearance, temperance, and all the virtues bestowed upon us by God our ever-loving Father. But that same Kingdom is built above, too. Every time we speak with love and offer of ourselves, the rejoicing in the kingdom resounds throughout the universe. The citizens of that kingdom dance, just as David danced before the Lord.

It is very important to remember that, as C.S. Lewis pointed out, "Joy is the serious business of heaven."

- JuandelaCruz (1993)