PASS IT ON

“He called His disciples and selected twelve of them to be His apostles.” —Luke 6:13

Recently, a bishop was ordained by the Church. He later told people that he cried tears of joy as hands were imposed on him. He spoke of the awe he felt at realizing that the hands laid on his head traced an unbroken chain of succession all the way back to Jesus’ first calling of His apostles.

The Lord renews the face of the Church (see Ps 104:30) through the apostles and their successors, the bishops. The Church is built upon “the foundation of the apostles” (Eph 2:20; Rv 21:14). Jesus works closely through the apostles and their successors, the bishops — so much so that He assures us that if we listen to them, we listen to Him (Lk 10:16). However, if we disregard or ignore the teaching of the magisterium of the Church, we disregard and reject Jesus Himself and God the Father (Lk 10:16).

Do you know the teaching of the Church? Have you ever studied the Catechism of the Catholic Church or the Bible? Take advantage of the grace of this apostolic feast day. Listen to the ones who carry on the teaching ministry of Jesus (Lk 10:16). Decide today to daily read the Bible, the book of the Church. Decide today to study the Catechism. Be built into the apostolic Church and “become a dwelling place for God in the Spirit” (Eph 2:22).

PRAYER: Jesus, thank You for the privilege of hearing You. May I hear You as You wish to be heard: through the teaching and authority of those You have sent.
PROMISE: “You are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God.” –Eph 2:19
PRAISE: St. Jude was also called Thaddeus from the Aramaic for “wise.”