Lk 14:12-14
Give Without Seeking a Reward
12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When
you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your
brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do,
they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
We celebrate the life of St. Charles Borromeo who was the Cardinal Archbishop of Milan in the mid 1500's. The Diocese had not had a bishop for 80 years,so there was a lot of "cleaning up" to do and Charles did his best to rectify the mess. He implemented the reforms of the Council of Trent, and began religious education for children...the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, which still exists today. During the plague of 1576 he used his own resources to provide for the sick and the dying. Despite his small stature and quiet voice, he was a powerful instrument of reform and pastoral ministry, a model for Church leaders even till today, living out the advice of Jesus in the above two verses. He died at the age of 46.
Bro. Rene
Dear God, inspire our Church leaders and all of us with the zeal and sincerity of St. Charles Borromeo, that we might continue his reforms in our day. Amen.
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