Saturday of the First Week of Advent
Today’s Gospel: Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5A, 6-8
Have you ever looked at a group of people and felt your heart moved? Perhaps this is a shadow of what Jesus felt when he looked out at the crowds in today’s Gospel.
You have a choice when your heart’s moved like that: you can have a moment and move on, or you can take action. Jesus advocates action. He sends out the Twelve and gives them the authority over unclean spirits and to cure every disease and illness.
And then we read this, “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”
My heart is moved by that because I have received so very much without cost. I’ve experienced the love and seen the action of others on my behalf—for no reason except…well, I don’t really know. I can only conclude that these people must somehow know Jesus, must have been responding to that call.
Would that I have the courage to respond to that call, too.
Ponder:
Sometimes, in the daily grind, it’s easy to think that what I do isn’t important and that it doesn’t matter. Today, how can you carve some moments to spend with God in a special way? How can you open your heart to his call to you?
Pray:
Lord, my heart is often moved, but it’s hard to take action. I have so much else to do! Grant me the grace to know when you would have me act and what you would have me do. Amen.
Copyright 2015 Sarah Reinhard
Sarah Reinhard writes at SnoringScholar.com in the midst of rural farm life with little ones underfoot. She is the editor of the best-selling devotional Word by Word: Slowing Down with the Hail Mary, as well as the author of a number of books including A Catholic Mother’s Companion to Pregnancy: Walking with Mary from Conception to Baptism, the first in the CatholicMom.com books, and Catholic Family Fun: A Guide for the Adventurous, Overwhelmed, Creative, or Clueless.
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