I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.--Psalm 30:2
Mass readings: Isaiah 65:17-21 / John 4:43-54
Not long ago I attended the funeral of one of our parishioners. She was a person I had seen often at Mass, praying fervently. I thought of her as just another pious woman, the likes of whom keep our churches occupied. The eulogy told me that she had spent herself in being an advocate for the poor of our city and had been a sign of the love of Christ to many disadvantaged people. While I, and no doubt many others, imagined her to be ''just another parishioner,'' in reality she was a prophet in our midst.
God sends these people to me to awaken my conscience to the true meaning of love and service of the poor. What kind of honor do I offer them? Or are they, like Jesus, despised and rejected?
Prayer: Lord, remind me to honor Your prophets in my parish.