The Feast of St Faustina Kowalska | Thursday 5 October 2023

Today is Thursday 5 October, the feast of St Faustina Kowalska, in the 26th week of Ordinary time.

The Community of Taizé sing “the Kingdom of God is justice and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Come, Lord, and open in us the gates of your kingdom.”

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 10:1-12

After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!” And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the labourer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.” But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, “Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.” I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.

Today remember St Faustina, who is one of those who has done the most to celebrate God’s mercy. That mercy is as fathomless as the deep blue ocean. As we pray together today, let’s take a moment to dip our toes in the water of God’s mercy, to see just how deep it goes…

The Kingdom of God is the great sign of God’s mercy. It has not been placed out of our reach where we cannot touch it, but right before our eyes if we are only prepared to look. Where do you see the kingdom coming into being in your life?

The disciples are sent out to preach the kingdom. Where they receive a welcome, they are to eat what is set before them, cure the sick and say, ‘The Kingdom of God has come near to you.’ What active role does Jesus have in mind for you as he builds his Kingdom?

As we come to the end of our prayer together, let’s speak to Jesus about the Kingdom he promises. Let’s savour his promise and commit ourselves to fulfilling it by living in the justice, peace and joy of the Holy Spirit…

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.