Daily Readings, Ho̔milíes, and Prayers - 04월/07日/2022ياش

Peace and All Good!

Today is a 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐉𝐞𝐚𝐧-𝐁𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐝𝐞 𝐋𝐚 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞, 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭, 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐅𝐒𝐂

He is the founder of the De La Salle Brothers, formally known as the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (Latin: Fratres Scholarum Christianarum; French: Frères des Écoles Chrétiennes; Italian: Fratelli delle Scuole Cristiane; abbreviated FSC) a Catholic religious teaching congregation, founded in France (1651–1719), and now based in Rome, Italy. La Salle dedicated much of his life to the education of poor children in France; in doing so, he started many lasting educational practices.

In the name of the Father, ✠
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit,
𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗻.

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲'𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 is from the letter of Saint Paul to 𝐏𝖍𝖎𝖑𝖊𝖒𝖔𝖓

𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. 1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved and our co-worker, 2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church at your house. 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴. 4 I give thanks to my God always, remembering you in my prayers, 5 as I hear of the love and the faith you have in the Lord Jesus and for all the holy ones, 6 so that your partnership in the faith may become effective in recognizing every good there is in us that leads to Christ.

𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗺𝘂𝘀. 7 For I have experienced much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the holy ones have been refreshed by you, brother. 8 Therefore, although I have the full right in Christ to order you to do what is proper, 9 I rather urge you out of love, being as I am, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus. 10 I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment, 11 who was once useless to you but is now useful to [both] you and me. 12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. 13 I should have liked to retain him for myself, so that he might serve me on your behalf in my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary. 15 Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, beloved especially to me, but even more so to you, as a man and in the Lord. 17 So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me. 18 And if he has done you any injustice or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, write this in my own hand: I will pay. May I not tell you that you owe me your very self. 20 Yes, brother, may I profit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

21 With trust in your compliance I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 At the same time prepare a guest room for me, for I hope to be granted to you through your prayers.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀. 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as well as Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers. 25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: With trust in your compliance I write to you.

It is funny how Saint Paul knew Philemon would say yes, and even if he didn't say yes he already has the responsibility of taking chare of Onesimus of Byzantium.

The other day, March 5th, I've read about an article explaining the purpose of Saint Joseph to the passion of Christ, since Mary is co-redemptrix. But among the explanation that the writer gave, it was the example of Joseph that gave him part in the Passion of Christ. Saint Thomas wrote that "thus it did not befit His dignity that He should be taught by any man" nor "by the medium of angels". In his explanation, Saint Thomas explained that since He is in full communion, being one divine with God, Jesus cannot be the one to inspire the minds and teach others what He himself lacks.

This is evident with the story of the "Finding of Jesus in the Temple," where at the age of 12 (where 13 is the age of manhood for Jewish tradition), Jesus amazed the synagogue rabbis with His knowledge. It was at this image that Mary was also greatly troubled for losing Jesus. More so could we imagine Joseph whom God had entrusted His Son to. It wasn't even Joseph's son, and he had lost Him.

Now Jesus knows what to do, what His ministry is, what He shall do with it. He even said to His parents, "Do you not know that I should be in my Father's House?" but He still humbled himself and followed His parents. He then grew to be a great person. We could imagine as a child, Jesus knows how to craft the most perfect sculpture. But with the greatest humility of humbling himself to the human flesh, he can't. He still is weak and does not have the strength to work with saw blades and heavy hammers. Jesus being with Saint Joseph, and us having a father-figure in the weakness of our flesh makes us feel like it is alright. I am sure Saint Joseph made him feel alright too.

Now slaves like Onesimus found a father figure in Saint Paul. Though little is known about their relationship, Paul said he had fathered Onesimus while incarcerated. I remember Don Bosco being a father figure to children, especially the children whom were into child labour because child labour was prevalent at his time.

Saint Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, who was: «Moved by the plight of the poor who seemed so 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 either in this world or the next, he determined to put his own talents and advanced education at the service of the children 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘶𝘱.» (Wikipedia). The teachers, guardians, parents, uncles, grandparents; men, women, or anyone that is a parental figure to us went on a difficult task of raising us and forming us to be loving persons as well.

But I cannot speak for all childhoods. I also would like to acknowledge those maltreated by their own parents, guardians, relatives. You are not what your past is, and we live in the gift of the present now. In a way, the people whom inflicted hurt on us had impacted our lives which I hope is for the better. With all of that, I want to say thank you. And I do encourage everyone to say thank you as well.

This is a scandal in the moral justice of receiving what others owe. But since God is merciful, why not do the loving thing?

𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫: In a special way, let us remember our teachers with Love as they stood by with us as our second parents. Though not all are as perfect as the teacher Jesus Christ, we remember them in a special way as they too made an impact in our lives. 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲.

Protect and Preserve our teachers, Lord.
Infuse them with wisdom,
increase their patience,
decrease their pride and obstinacy, sloth and sluggishness,
but overflow within them the love and joy, the fire to effort in one's work.

Help us to strive for Truth, Justice, and Love.
Teach us Your example, O Divine Teacher.
You are the source of all Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, and Counsel.

And as we students live,
help us to be humble like You had been while You were on earth.
decrease their pride and obstinacy, sloth and sluggishness,
but overflow within them the love and joy, the fire to effort in one's work.

Because we believe, we hope, and we surrender, knowing our labours bear wonderful fruits of salvation. Amen.

In the name of the Father, ✠
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit,
𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗻.

℟. Thanks be to God!