Saint Monica is a powerful witness to the essential activity of the Church called intercessory prayer. Sometimes I hear people say, “I guess all we can do now is pray,” as though prayer were simply a last resort that is unlikely to do anything. We are certainly obliged by charity to do everything we reasonably can to contribute to the building up of the Kingdom. We cannot forget, however, that the most important work and change is something only God can achieve. He is swayed by our prayers because it is His own Love and Holy Spirit that is alive and active within us when we pray.
Wednesday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time
One of the serious misunderstandings about the spiritual life is that it might somehow excuse from or substitute for real work. While it is true that the preaching of the Gospel must not be neglected so that other (even charitable) work can be done, the dignity of of the preacher does not excuse him from the mundane and necessary work of the common man. St. Paul made sure he continued working for his keep, lest we draw the conclusion that it is better not to work. Hard work has value not only in that it allows us to provide for ourselves, our family, and the poor, but also because it contributes to true humility. Not everyone has the same capacity for work, so we shouldn’t compare ourselves to others, but we should use our capital of life every day to the best of our ability. Work becomes a problem for our spiritual life when it is motivated by greed or ambition, but when it is motivated by our own needs, the needs of our community, and the needs of the poor, it is our God given duty.
Saint Bartholomew, Apostle
ANDREW OF CAESAREA:
Through this passage it is shown that the angels not only induce the worst plagues but also act as physicians, at one time cutting and at another time applying healing medications. For he who once brought on a plague to those who deserved it, now shows to the saint the beatitude of the church. And fittingly does he call the bride the “wife” of the Lamb. For when Christ was slaughtered as a lamb, he at that time betrothed [the church] with his own blood. For just as when Adam was sleeping, the woman was formed through the taking of the rib, so also the church, formed through the shedding of blood from the side of Christ as he was sleeping voluntarily on the cross through death, was united with him who suffered for us.