July 18, Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord. — Psalm 15:1

Mass Readings: Genesis 18:1-10 / Colossians 1:24-28 / Luke 10:38-42 

Offer It Up 

When I was growing up in the 1950s, the notion of “offering it up” was in the air. That idea — expressed by Paul in today’s second reading that “in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church” — prompted me then to take whatever little suffering I might have to God and ask that it benefit some other soul in the Mystical Body. 

Several years ago, I reappropriated that Catholic practice. The last time I had particularly bad back pain, for example, I offered it up for a poor soul in purgatory. Not only did that act have benefits in the spiritual realm, I hoped, but the pain acquired some positive value. Offering it up was almost as good as aspirin. 

Prayer: Jesus, I offer you my sufferings today for the relief of some other soul.