DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

MONDAY OF  THE 27th WEEK IN ORDINARY  OF THE YEAR (A)

MYSTERY OF THE DAY: Joyful 

CELEBRATION OF THE DAY: St. John Leonardi,  Priest

(1541-1609). Born in Tuscani (Italy). He studied pharmacy after which he became a priest. He devoted himself to teaching catechism to children. He founded the Order of the Regular Clerks of the Mother of God and suffered many tribulations. Later on, he founded in Rome what became the Institute "De Propaganda Fide" for the propagation of the faith and the formation of missionaries.

TABLE OF THE WORD: Jonah 1:1-17.2:1.10; Luke 10:25-37.

THEME:  Who is your neighbour?

THE WORD

 "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 10:25)

INSPIRATION

Love is the most outstanding attribute of all virtues. That is why Christ in His teachings rated the virtue of love as the highest of all when He said:  "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13). 

And in another place He gave us a new commandment which is the summary of the decalogue (cf. Exodus 20:1ff.); that "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you." (John 13:34). As the summary of the decalogue, it therefore implies love of Gpd and our neighbours which the readings of today pointed at. 

In the light of this,  that today's Table of the Word brings to our consciousness the need to be our neighbour's keepers as Evangelist Luke gave account of a certain lawyer who questioned our Lord about the criterion on how to inherit the kingdom of God. In response, that our Lord asked what is written in the law and he cited part of the decalogue. 

Our Lord on the other hand then gave him the summary of the law he quoted by telling him the story of the good Samaritan (cf. Luke 10:25-37). 

Beloved in Christ, in our day-to-day living how much do we love God? Many willnsay: "I love Him with my whole heart. Above all, we know it all that without loving one a other, we cannot in any way claim to have love God. Therefore, let our thoughts, words and actions revolve around the love of God through our neighbours which today's gospel pericope made allusion to. We earnestly pray through the intercession of St. John Leonardi our thoughts, Word and actions be driven by love of one another. 

Peace be with you!

PRAYER

O God, giver of all good things, who through the Priest Saint John Leonardi caused the Gospel to be announced to the nations, grant, through his intercession, that the true faith may always and everywhere prosper. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

+ May the Lord in His infinite mercy bless and keep us, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

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