Identity, Community & Action

Opening College Year Prayer Reflection

Scripture:  A Reading from the Gospel of Saint Luke 4:16-21

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned to Nazareth in Galilee where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day as he usually did. He stood up to read, and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

 

The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me.

He sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour.

He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to speak to them, ‘This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.’

 

Reflection:  In this text, we hear that Jesus has a very clear understanding of what he is called to do – and specifically when he is to do it – TODAY!

Two weeks ago, Pope Francis along with hundreds of thousands of young people from all over the world gathered in Panama City for World Youth Day. At the closing Mass, Pope Francis reflected on the passage of scripture that we have just heard stating that like Jesus, we too have been called and that we must act today – not in the future - but today.

Pope Francis said:

“You, dear young people, are not the future. … No, you are the present. You are not the future of God, but you are the now of God. Don’t sit around waiting for the far off future, having nothing to do with the present, as if being young is a waiting room. 

You must dream about and work for the future but you must do it now.

 

Prayer:  Loving God, each day I step further into my future,

As we begin our College Year, may we, like Jesus, be clear about what we are called to do and who we are called to be.

Grant us courage to stand up for what is truth and goodness

Grant us wisdom to discern the difference between what is important and what is not

Grant us the knowledge that you always journey with us and that you will never lead us into anything that you won’t lead us through.

 

Thank you for the gift of education here at St Bede's College.

 

May the way we live our lives be our gift back to you.  Amen.

 

St John Baptist de la Salle.  Pray for us

Live Jesus in our hearts.  Forever

College Mass

 

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