Marist Association Daily Prayer

Let us always remember that

we are in the holy presence of God

May God continue to live in our hearts

In the name of the Father,

Son and Holy Spirit

Amen

CLICK HERE TO BEGIN
  • Intention of the Day
  • Today's Gospel
  • Breaking Open the Word
  • Marist Source
  • Reflection
  • Meditation
  • Call to Action
  • Closing Prayer

Intention of the Day

For a spirit of compassion.
For all Marists connected to Marist180.

For a spirit of compassion.
For all Marists connected to Marist180.

Today's Gospel

He appointed twelve to be his companions

Mark 3:13-19
Read More

Mark 3:13-19

Jesus went up into the hills and summoned those he wanted. So they came to him and he appointed twelve; they were to be his companions and to be sent out to preach, with power to cast out devils. And so he appointed the Twelve: Simon to whom he gave the name Peter, James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom he gave the name Boanerges or ‘Sons of Thunder’; then Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, the man who was to betray him.

Breaking Open The Word

Divine Whim

Taken from: Give Us This Day
Read More

Taken from: Give Us This Day

I have always been intrigued by how God calls people to leadership in the Church. What are God’s criteria? We all share in the sacred vocation to give witness to Jesus Christ as his disciples. Young or old, poor or rich, erudite or unschooled, migrant or citizen, the call is the same.

Yet there are some who, inspired by their faith and moved by the Holy Spirit, embrace a vocation to serve God and their sisters and brothers in full-time ministry. The Church recognizes and affirms that call, but no specific path or lineage for such leaders is prescribed anywhere.

Job descriptions define the expectations for a leader or someone needed for a particular job. When determining background and expertise, we anticipate the type of person we want. Yet, when calling people to faith-based leadership, God is rather whimsical. Some of the most extraordinary witnesses in Christian history came into leadership following the most ordinary—and sometimes peculiar and unexpected—pathways. Persecutors, soldiers, politicians, peasants, restless intellectuals, immigrants, children, sinners, rebels, widows, busy mothers and grandmothers, and so on.

Closer to home, we might wonder: How did my pastor end up being my pastor? What about my bishop or the lay pastoral leaders in my diocese or parish? What about my Catholic school teacher or my catechist?

The underlying answer to these questions is found, at least in part, in today’s Scriptures. David, a young shepherd turned guerrilla leader, became the most memorable king of Israel by God’s curious choice. The apostles, a rather inconspicuous group of men, became pillars of our faith tradition. Jesus called them because he wanted to.

These passages do not call us to blindly trust religious leaders or to look the other way when they abuse their power. Rather, the texts are an invitation to value our Church leaders—imperfect and human as they are—and to consider that God called them because God wants them. Can we trust God’s whimsical wisdom?

Hosffman Ospino

Hosffman Ospino is associate professor of theology and education at Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry.

For a spirit of compassion.
For all Marists connected to Marist180.

Marist Source

Our heart beats in time with the passion of Marcellin ….in the words of Bother Sean Sammon…’living and working in the midst of young people; evangelising primarily through education…and demonstrating a particular concern for poor children and those living at the margins of society’.

GRST#41

For a spirit of compassion.
For all Marists connected to Marist180.

To Ponder

'Jesus went up into the hills '- where do you withdraw to? Be still with God for a few minutes this day.

Click here to start timer
Timer To begin your reflection time, click on the start button. START Or continue to Call to Action

Where has the Spirit drawn you in today's prayer?

Click here to write a response or read reflections from others

Closing Prayer

All Loving God

Cultivate in us a spirituality that flows out of Marian simplicity, humility and modesty.

Release in us wellsprings of refreshment, inspiration and excitement for your work in which we share.

Help us set our gaze on those people and places most in need of Christlife,

Impel us to respond together,

And lead us to be in communion with one another, and with you.

Like Mary, we listen for your invitation,

Like Mary, we set out joyfully and in haste to the hill country of the lives of young people,

Like Mary, we build communities in ways that are Christ-centred.

All Loving God, come and live in our hearts.

 

 Amen