The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, October 19, 2006
Thursday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Sts. John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, priests and martyrs

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ephesians 1:1-10
Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6
Luke 11:47-54

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

We live in a very fast paced world in which many of us pack our daily schedules with activities. Sometimes little time is left for reflection until we are really tired in the evening. In the midst of it all we sometimes might question our own significance. For others who are retired and filling their days with their own or neighbor's doctor visits, they might wonder about their own significance.

The readings of today are very reassuring, but also serve as a warning. In Ephesians we have the awesome statement that "God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world began." (see Ephesians 1:3-4) Could we be any more significant than that? That is how special each of us is to God!

Regarding the warning, in today's gospel, Christ speaks of our responsibility to pass our faith-beliefs on to others, that they might appreciate just how important they are in the eyes of God. We have excellent examples in the lives of our patrons of today: May the martyrs St. John de Brébeuf and St. Isaac Jogues pray for us!

- Joan of Jesus, OCDS
(jmurphy at utica dot edu)