Compassionate and Sensitive Sentinel
Remembering John Maria Vianney: 4th August 2016
Ezek 3: 17-21; Mt 9:35 - 10:1
Today we celebrate the feast of St. John Maria Vianney, the patron of priests. The Word brings out an essential quality of a priest, a pastor or a person chosen to lead God's flock: to be compassionate and sensitive sentinels. That is what priests are meant to be. Let us pray for all priests that they may be inspired by Vianney and carry out their task as true sentinels.
We are invited also to remind ourselves of our own task to be sentries to our friends and neighbours and for those in need. At times the Lord makes us so and urges us to play that role.When we do and because of our intervention someone changes over, we would be blessed. When someone plays that role for us and invites us to change, we better change our ways or we would be the losers. Refraining from the age old question: am I my brother's keeper...let us be aware of our responsibility towards each other and take it seriously. May John Mary Vianney inspire us in this regard.