THE MEMORIAL OF ST JOHN BOSCO, PRIEST AND FOUNDER.
THE GOODNEWS:
"Remember the days past when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a great contest of suffering. At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and affliction; at other times you associated yourselves with those so treated. You even joined in the sufferings of those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing that you had a better and lasting possession.
"Therefore, do not throw away your confidence; it will have great recompense. You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised.
"For, after just a brief moment, he who is to come shall come; he shall not delay. But my just one shall live by faith, and if he draws back I take no pleasure in him. We are not among those who draw back and perish, but among those who have faith and will possess life." (Hebrews 10: 32 - 39).
Friday 31 January 2025 in the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St John Bosco (1815 - 1888), Italian Priest and Founder of the Salesian Religious Congregation.
St John Bosco is called the "Apostle of Youth." He was a great educator and father to the young. He founded the Salesian School to educate boys and girls.
St John Bosco is the patron saint of apprentices, young people and Catholic publishers and editors.
Our key Scripture for today is from Hebrews 10: 32 - 39. Specifically, we focus on this injunction:
"Therefore, do not throw away your confidence; it will have great recompense. You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised."
The Christian life is a warfare. A daily battle with the forces of evil. In this battle like real life battles, there are mountain-top moments and there may be plenty of valleys. How can you fight to win?
#1. Your confidence of victory comes from the word of God, the never failing promises of God. Have this constantly before you. Forget it and you are doomed.
#2. The soldier of Jesus Christ must be imbued with a hardened spirit of endurance. Nothing worthwhile has ever been achieved without peserverance. The enemy will be coming at you again and again. As one battle ends, he may begin another without pulse.
But your persistence will break the resistance.
#3. Remember that your brethren all over the world are fighting the same battle. I find this a comforting truth. (1 Peter 5: 9; 1 Corinthians 10: 23).
You will emerge from the valley of battles stronger and renewed with deeper conviction in:
#1. The just person lives by faith. Faith in the promise of God which can never fail.
#2. A firm conviction that the gracious and mysterious will of God is the best thing for you always, everywhere and in everything.
#3. Deep knowledge, insights and experiences of God's mighty, sovereign, merciful and Yes, mysterious Providence. This third point (#3) is worth all the scars of the battle.
Armed with this new knowledge, you resolve never again to neglect daily prayer, daily nourishment from the word of God. You commit yourself never to slacken in doing good to your neighbor.
The Jesus Prayer:
"You may have heard of this prayer before: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.” Many know it as The Jesus Prayer. It focuses on the name of Jesus and his mercy.
This simple invocation of faith developed in the tradition of prayer under many forms in East and West. The most usual formulation … is the invocation, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us sinners.” It combines the Christological hymn of Philippians 2:6–11 with the cry of the publican and the blind men begging for light [see Mark 10:46–52; Luke 18:13] (CCC, 2667).
For the Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and prayer intentions click the link below:
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