The Feast of St Alphonsus Rodriguez SJ | Monday 31 October 2022

Today is Monday the 31st of October, the feast of St Alphonsus Rodriguez SJ, in the 31st week of Ordinary time.

Steffany Gretzinger sings, ‘I Love You Lord.’ As you listen, fix your gaze now on Christ, the great Consoler. You might like to reflect on the mutual love that you and the Lord share…


I love You, Lord
And I lift my voice
To worship You
Oh, my soul rejoice
Take joy, my King
In what You hear
May it be a sweet
Sweet sound in Your ear
I love You, Lord
And I lift my voice
To worship You
Oh, my soul rejoice
Take joy, my King
In what You hear
May it be a sweet
Sweet sound in Your ear
May it be a sweet, sweet sound
May it be a sweet, sweet sound
May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear

Today’s reading is from St Paul’s letter to the Philippians.


Phil 2:1-4

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.

This passage begins with the writer inviting you to recognise any encouragement, love, sharing, compassion or sympathy that you have experienced recently. Where have you been on the receiving end of any or all of these in your own life over the last few days?

Then the writer suggests that you in turn might show these same qualities to others. Who, specifically, might benefit from your encouragement, love, sharing, compassion or sympathy at the moment?

It is suggested here that all of these are characteristics of Christ himself. As the passage is read again, consider the portrait of Jesus that they present.

Speak, finally, to Jesus about what this invitation to be more like him in your everyday life means to you.

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.