Feast of Saints Rufina and Secunda

Good morning. In reading today’s Gospel it occurred to me that in many ways things haven’t drastically changed from the days when Jesus was walking about. I was struck personally by today’s Gospel. It strikes me that even as the world changes, it remains the same and the message of the Gospels still remains quite relevant. The images of sheep and the harvest remind me of our children and our preparation for their living out on their own.  As I contemplate the idea of the sheep and consider the idea of the harvest I’m reminded of our children and thoughts of their journeying forth into the world on their own, and consider our call to prepare them adequately for responding to God's call in their lives. 

"At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest." The thought of our children being out on their own, fending for themselves can at times be frightening. I’m certain much like us our children find themselves “troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.” Yet, if we have done our job as parents, most will venture forth albeit hesitantly at times with the confidence and certainty given to them by their parents. Most will have the direction provided by years of prudent instruction by their parents. We need not worry ourselves, yes things will from time to time occur unexpectedly, but all will go well for the most part as they have been prepared for this for quite some time. 

It can be a very frightening world. There are many wolves out there waiting to prey upon our young sheep.  We send our children out into the world with nothing but what we have taught them, with the understanding and wisdom we have modeled for them. This is our job; this is what it has been about all these years. We have the mission of teaching our children to pray and to discover their vocation as children of God (CC 2226).  They will be tempted and challenged. As Kathy Schiffer reminds us, should they find themselves lost we are there to guide them home. Yet, if we have done our job well our children will come home telling us of their good fortune, what good they have done in the world. They will, like our two saints for today face the world’s challenges boldly and respond to God’s call in their lives. The harvest remains plentiful, the potential for building God’s Kingdom is abundant and if we have done our job well we then have provided the laborers for the harvest. Make a great day! 

Today we recall the good lives, gifts, and works of Saints Rufina and Secunda.