The First Ripple. The Twenty-Ninth Wednesday of Ordinary Time; or, the Memorial of Saint John of Capistrano, Priest.* Lessons from the primary feria, according to the ordinary form of the Roman Rite: • Romans 6: 12-18. • Psalm 124: 1-8. • Luke 12: 39-48. If a Mass for the memorial is taken, lessons from the feria as above, or from the proper: • II Corinthians 5: 14-20. • Psalm 16: 1-2, 5, 7-8, 11. • Luke 9: 57-62. …or, any lessons from the common of Pastors for Missionaries, or the common of Holy Men & Women for Religious. The Third Class Feast of Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop & Confessor.** Lessons from the common "Sacerdótes tui…" for a Confessor Bishop, according to the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite: • Hebrews 7: 23-27. • Psalm 131: 16-17. • Matthew 24: 42-47. FatherVenditti.com

7:42 AM 10/23/2019 — No surprises in our Lord’s familiar warning to be vigilant regarding our final judgment, as it’s a warning He gives many times in the Holy Gospels. What is more important, I think, is the instruction hidden between the lines of Peter’s question to Him and His response.      Peter wants to know if this teaching applies only to the apostles, or to everyone. Our Lord, as He is fond of doing, answers with a parable of sorts, the long and short of it being that it applies to everyone without exception. Each of us will be judged according to our deeds and the graces we have received, which is the meaning of our Lord’s last sentence in this lesson: those who have received more grace will be required to do more with it.      But by answering the question with the parable contrasting two possible behaviors of a servant during his master’s absence is the understanding of how our use of the graces given to us can effect the lives of others. Think about how many lives can be effected, for good or for ill, by our use or misuse of the graces given to us by God. The most obvious examples of this are our families, which depend on us for very concrete things; but, what about those we work with, those we are acquainted with, even those we pass along the way in some chance encounter? To what extent can a kind word—or an unkind word—effect someone in ways of which we are not aware? To what extent can our example, good or bad, have an impact on someone else, especially with regard to that person’s relationship to the Church or the Faith? Saint Josemaría Escrivá said it best: Among those around you, apostolic soul, you are the stone fallen into the lake. With your word and example produce a first ripple … and it will produce another … and then another, and another … each time wider. Now do you understand the greatness of your mission? (The Way, 831). * Born in Italy, Capistrano (1386-1456) was a lawyer before becoming a Franciscan. He preached in Eastern Europe bringing about great revivals of the faith. He led a section of the Christian army at the Battle of Belgrade to defend Europe from the Turks. ** Cf. tomorrow's homily regarding Anthony Mary Claret.