Monday, June 11, 2012

Sent Them Off


Sent Them Off

June 12, 2012

Memorial of St. Barnabas, Apostle

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."  Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off.  Acts 12:1-3

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.  Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied."  Matthew 5:3

Piety

Cursillo Leaders' Prayer

Lord, grant that we may understand the necessity for depth in our movement, rather than surface glory.  Convince us of the truth that colourful programs do not constitute success.

My God, give us a spirit of self sacrifice so that we may offer everything for your cause:  our time, our abilities, our health and even our lives if necessary.

Instill in us courage in our initiatives, good judgment in our choice of the right means, and that determination which in spite of failures assures victory.

Move away from us the tiny rivalries, sensitivities, discourtesies, pride, everything which distracts from You, everything which divides or discourages.

Help us to maintain at a high level a meaningful supernatural and mutual charity among ourselves, so that each one will seek by preference the most humble tasks and will rejoice at the good performed by others so that all our spirits united in a common purpose will have one single sprit, Yours Jesus, and that this spirit may let us see Your attractive goodness marked in all our faces, Your warm accents in all our words, and in our lives something superior to the world, something that proclaims Your Living Presence among us.     Amen

St. Paul, Patron of Cursillo - Pray for us.

Our Lady of Guadelupe, Patron of the Americas - Pray for us.

Study

Every now and then, someone needs a helping hand.  Barnabas could have set out alone.  But instead, he went to Turkey to look for Saul to help him.   Our literature and movies today are filled with stories of sidekicks.  The Lone Ranger.  Captain Kirk. Sheriff Andy.  Han Solo.  Frodo.  Johnny Carson.  Fill in the blank after each main man. 

Another thought strikes me in reading the passages from Acts.  In these our extended Great Recession, much focus is on employment and unemployment.  We all have probably polished our resumes awaiting that next great job offer -- and to be prepared just in case something happens in our current position. 

Put yourself in the place of Barnabas and Saul.  They already had careers.  They thought they knew what they would be doing in life.  They thought, that is, until they learned that the Holy Spirit had other plans for them and sent them off to do the work of the Church.

Action

As Cursillo Leaders, we are called to piety, study and action.  While these are individual tasks, we also know that we are called to community with the rest of the church.
 
·         What work has the Holy Spirit set aside for you?
·         How will you discern what that  work is to be?
·         Who will be your companion for the journey?

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