July 10, Friday Weekday

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.--Psalm 37:39

Mass readings: Genesis 46:1-7,28-30 / Matthew 10:16-23

Speech of the Spirit

A woman I knew got embroiled in a religious cult which disrupted her family and threatened the stability of her marriage. No reasoning could disentangle her from that affiliation until an old gentleman just spoke to her from his heart. He wasn't a theologian or even much of a conversationalist, just a simple believer, and whatever he said clicked. The young woman returned to the Catholic Church where she's remained in good standing ever since.

In today's Gospel, Jesus tells His followers, ''Do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you'' (Mt 10:19-20). Faith -- not fancy words -- moves mountains!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, silence me when words are counter-productive and speak through me when they're needed.