August 27, 2018 Monday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time-B ST. MONICA

2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12

Psalm 96

Matthew 23:13-22

…and the love of every one of you for one another grows ever greater.  2 Thes. 1:3

Lord, your servant Paul so loved his friends in Thessalonica.  He heaped compliments on them for their patient and enduring faith.  Their love for each other was an expression of their faith in you.  It is especially impressive given that they were undergoing persecution for their faith.  In tough times there is a temptation for us to just look out “for number 1”.  Lord, it is good for people to stick together and support each other.  May my family and parish be a faith community like the Thessalonians.  Help us to live your dual commandment of loving you with everything we’ve got and to love each other as we love ourselves.   Let there be no competition, envy, jealousy or pride among your people that distracts us from our journey to you.  Show us the perseverance of St. Monica in her sacrifice and prayer for her husband and her son Augustine.  Dear Jesus, make us worthy of your kingdom.  With your grace we will endure the trials of the cross. St. Monica, pray for us Amen.