The Feast of St John Neumann.

"Everyone who has given up home,
brothers, or sisters, father or mother, wife or children or property for my sake will receive many times as much and inherit everlasting life." (Matthew 19: 29 Communion Antiphon).

Tuesday 5th January 2021, in the Season of Christmas is the feast of a great missionary priest, Bishop, Church planter, pioneer in the Catholic Schools system in USA. His name is St John Neumann (1811 - 1860). Born in Bohemia. Became Bishop of Philadelphia. Became a Redemptorist priest. Worn out by his labors, John died at the age of 49.

Did you notice the extraordinary promise in our key Scripture for today?
"Everyone who has given up home,
brothers, or sisters, father or mother, wife or children or property for my sake will receive many times as much and inherit everlasting life."

The Church is great because the Church has legions of women and men who have given up home,
brothers, or sisters, father or mother, wife or children or property to serve Jesus and to be salt of the earth and the light of the nations. This was true at the beginning of the Church. It remains true today.
Although these missionaries are enjoying their promised reward here in form of the peace of Christ and certainty of everlasting life, they rejoice every day because of their beautiful allotted portion and their inheritance: to serve the King.

Do you perhaps wonder how you can participate in the missionary work of the Church? Consider these ways:
#1. Pray for the success of the missions. St Therese of the Child Jesus (the Little Flower) is the patron saint of missionaries. She never left her convent for one day. She gained this status by her prayers and sacrifices.
#2. Missionaries do many things from education to health care, etc. Contribute financially to mission work.
#3. Offering up your trials and disappointments are great way of contributing to mission work.

The Lord Jesus is inviting us to bring the good news to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to captives. (Cf Luke 4: 17). What is your response?

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