Tuesday 14 November 2023

Today is Tuesday 14 November, the feast of Saint Joseph Pignatelli SJ, in the 32nd week of Ordinary time.

The community of Taizé sing: Seigneur, tu gardes mon âme. ‘Lord, you watch over my soul. You know my heart. Lead me on the road to eternity.’

Seigneur, tu gardes mon âme;
Ô Dieu, tu connais mon coeur.
Conduis-moi sur le chemin d'éternité,
Conduis-moi sur le chemin d'éternité.

Today’s reading is from the book of Wisdom.


Wisdom 2:23-3:9

For God created us for incorruption,
and made us in the image of his own eternity,
but through the devil’s envy death entered the world,
and those who belong to his company experience it.
But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,
and no torment will ever touch them.
In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died,
and their departure was thought to be a disaster,
and their going from us to be their destruction;
but they are at peace.
For though in the sight of others they were punished,
their hope is full of immortality.
Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good,
because God tested them and found them worthy of himself;
like gold in the furnace he tried them,
and like a sacrificial burnt-offering he accepted them.
In the time of their visitation they will shine forth,
and will run like sparks through the stubble.
They will govern nations and rule over peoples,
and the Lord will reign over them for ever.
Those who trust in him will understand truth,
and the faithful will abide with him in love,
because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones,
and he watches over his elect.

Today, the book of Wisdom says that testing is something that God does. Christian tradition often speaks of testing as a part of the spiritual landscape. For what purpose do you think?

Consider some of these reasons. I might be in a testing time because I’ve neglected my spiritual practice. It’s a wake-up call, an invitation.


If I’m tested, I’m reminded how much I need God’s help to keep going. It’s a spur to ask for help.

In testing times I experience my own weakness. I become more humble.

Testing can also mean purifying. It works a transformation. God can use a challenging time to help me grow in character, in trust, in hope.

Listen again and notice the characteristics of a ‘righteous person’ – one who has been tested by fire!

In the challenge of testing times, St Ignatius says, we need patience and perseverance. Ask God for these now, or for the next time you need them . . .

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.