Good morning good people,
May the Lord give you peace in the Holy Spirit.
It is 3rd October 2025.
The readings are from Baruch 1:15-22; and the Gospel from Luke 10:13-16. It is the first Friday of the Month dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
St. Teresa of Ávila prompts us: “God has no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes with which He looks with compassion on this world.”
The first reading is a prayer written in Babylon by Baruch and sent by the exiles to the priests of Jerusalem to be prayed by them. It is a confession of guilt and failure for not observing the Covenant and a statement of repentance pleading for forgiveness.
It is our sin—both personal and communal—that prevents us from being truly involved in our missionary endeavours. Sin is not merely a hurdle; it is a blockade of the soul that longs to translate the love of God into daily living. As the first reading reminds us, our refusal to listen to the voice of the Lord hardens our hearts, silences our efforts, and opens the door to the painful consequences of disobedience.
Yet, God never withdraws His presence when we become cold, arrogant, proud, or selfish. The prayer of Baruch echoes the anguish of Israel, who recognized their sinful living in the light of God’s Word. Their lament becomes our own prayer of repentance. The Psalmist intercedes on our behalf: “Rescue us, O Lord, for the glory of your name.” (Ps. 78:9).
In the Gospel, we see how even miracles and healings could not move hearts closed to Jesus. To reject His Word is to reject God Himself. Mission flows only from the fertile soil of God’s Word—without it, there is no mission.
A missionary who worked tirelessly and got no adequate response from the people whom he served decided to quit the mission. One day, an old man approached him and said, “You may think we don’t hear your words, but your presence keeps us from forgetting God.” That simple remark renewed his strength, and over time, his faithful witness bore unexpected fruit.
The message is clear: even when our words seem rejected, the faithful witness of our lives speaks volumes. God’s Word does not return empty.
May the Lord enlighten our minds and strengthen our hearts to become true missionaries of His Word.
Have a blessed day.