I will walk with a blameless heart. Of mercy and judgment, I will sing; to you, O Lord, I will sing praise. I will persevere in the way of integrity; when will you come to me? (Psalm 101:1b)

When I think I am doing well with my Catholic Faith and personal relation with Jesus, spending time in adoration, and receiving the Eucharist frequently, my walk-through life brings me back to earth. I will show a lack of feeling for the needs of others during those incidental encounters with those others that deserve my attention. Jesus, when traveling from town to town, training his disciples to continue his mission throughout time for all of humanity, comes across a burial procession, a common enough event at that time. But he takes the time, empathizes with the grieving mother for her only son, and brings him back to life. That is an example of his integrity. Something that I lack in my walk-through is the ability to practice a virtuous life constantly: kind in traffic, grateful at a restaurant, empathetic at the grocery store, and patience with a child or student, wherever life takes me.

The first reading about the selection of bishops, deacons, and other positions within the Church also emphasizes integrity. They were testing their practice of integrity by examining their families and acquaintances for the fruits of their virtues. I know that I must continue to receive the sacraments, continue adoration and pray for the graces needed to live each moment with integrity.

I welcomed Christ’s command to the apostles and, like them, proclaimed the gospel and gave witness to it with my life, acting justly, loving tenderly, and walking humbly with God. (From “A Eucharistic Spirituality” Inspired by Saint Peter Julian Eymard, paraphrasing Number 12 in the rule of life for associates)

Prayer:

Christ has no body but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion must look out on the world. Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good. Yours are the hands with which he is to bless us (Prayer attributed to St. Theresa of Avila).