St Alberto Hurtado SJ | Tuesday 18 August 2020

Today is Tuesday the 18 August, the feast of St Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga SJ, in the 20th week of Ordinary Time.

Maximillian sings, “Learning to Love Like You”. As you enter into prayer today, begin by recognising God’s gaze of love upon you… draw to mind the ways in which Christ has loved us…

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 19:23-30

Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.’ Then Peter said in reply, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.

Today is the feast day of St Alberto Hurtado, a Jesuit from Chile who worked tirelessly to bring justice to the poor. (He died in 1952 and was canonised in 2005.) Padre Hurtado wrote: “He who gives himself grows…sacrificing what is mine, forgetting myself, I acquire more value, I am a more fulfilled human being.”

Over these last few months, we have been reminded all too clearly of who the least are in our society: the hungry, the sick, the elderly, refugees, those experiencing discrimination because of race, those who are forgotten and ignored… Have you noticed people like this? Perhaps you are one of them. What does Jesus have to say to people who live on the margins? 

As you listen to the reading again, notice if a word or a phrase stands out for you.

How might Jesus be inviting you to respond to those who are in need in our world?  

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.