Friday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time. Year II (Pope St Pius X)
Ezek.37.1-14; Ps.106:2-9; Matt.22:34-40
Today’s first reading is one of those famous excerpts from Ezekiel’s Chapter 37. We are all too familiar with the “Valley of dry bones” story. What’s interesting is that God compares the whole house of Israel to dry bones, because they had given up hope, and referred to themselves as good as dead. But see, God wanted to open up their graves, and put His spirit in them. Are there not times we stray from loving God and our neighbours as we should? Are there not times we become so dried up, we can’t even smile or laugh at a joke? Are there not times we wished we were better dead? Life comes when we return to Christ.
Friends, Pope Pius X understood this perfectly. The second of 10 children in a poor Italian family, Giuseppe Sarto became Pius X at age 68. Ever mindful of his humble origin, Pope Pius stated, “I was born poor, I lived poor, I will die poor.” His motto was to “restore all things in Christ,” and he made efforts to do this. He encouraged the reception of the Holy Communion, codified canon law, and revised the use of Gregorian chants at Mass. On the 11th anniversary of his election as pope, Europe was plunged into World War I. Pius was so distraught by the war, he died a few weeks after it began, and was canonized in 1954. He had lived and died restoring all things to Christ. Can we do the same?
God bless your day ahead. St Pius X, pray for us!
About the Author
