Reflection for Wednesday September 23 Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest: Luke 9:1-6

Gospel: Luke 9:1-6

Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. 

Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.” Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.

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Reflection:

Do we depend on ourselves or on God?

These are two basic questions that we face every day. What does it mean to depend on ourselves? It means relying on our own strength, abilities, and understanding, sometimes to the point that we leave little or no room for God in our hearts.

But what does it mean to depend on God?

Depending on God does not mean that we simply relax and wait for His blessings to come to our doorstep, like a mail carrier delivering mail to our mailbox. Trusting in God does not mean becoming passive or refusing to do our part. Rather, it means doing everything within our power to obtain what we need and to accomplish what we are called to do, while humbly surrendering the results to God.

We work, but we trust. We strive, but we surrender. We do our part, but we recognize that everything ultimately depends on God's grace.

When Jesus told the Apostles to take nothing for their missionary journey (Luke 9:3), was He telling them to take nothing because everything they needed would simply fall from heaven into their laps? Of course not! Jesus was telling them to faithfully carry out the mission entrusted to them and not to be consumed by worry, because He would use people of faith to provide for their needs.

This is also how we are called to live and share our faith. We do not have to be paralyzed by fear or worry. Instead, we are called to move forward with faith, courage, and perseverance. As we faithfully fulfill our Baptismal mission, we can trust that Jesus will provide what we need according to His wisdom and loving will.

Our mission is to help spread the Good News of our salvation—not merely through our words, but also through the way we live, love, forgive, serve, and care for one another. God does not ask us to accomplish everything by ourselves. He asks us to offer what we have, to use the gifts He has given us, and to trust Him with what we cannot control.

There may be moments when we feel that our efforts are not enough. There may be times when our prayers seem unanswered, our work seems fruitless, or the road ahead seems uncertain. During those moments, let us remember that our responsibility is to remain faithful. The results belong to God.

Let us therefore place our hands in His hands. Let us work faithfully without losing heart, serve without seeking recognition, and trust without demanding that God follow our timetable. When we surrender our plans to Him, we allow His grace to lead us where our own strength cannot take us.

Are we truly depending on God, or are we still trying to control everything through our own strength? And today, what part of our life are we being invited to surrender to God while continuing to faithfully do our part?—Marino J. Dasmarinas