ST MARIA GORETTI, 1890-1902, Virgin and Martyr<\/p>\n
ST MONINNE, one of Ireland\u2019s early women saints<\/p>\n
Anyone who endures a sciatica nerve pain in the leg knows the discomfort it causes. Sciatica originates in the lower back and travels down the leg.\u00a0 Jewish religion forbids the Jewish people to consume the sciatic nerve.<\/p>\n
The explanation for this is proclaimed in the reading at Mass today (Gen 32: 23-33). The reading commemorates Jacob\u2019s victory over an angel after they wrestled all night. The angel dislodged Jacob\u2019s sciatic nerve. At the end of the fight, the angel struck a nerve in Jacob’s leg. The blow caused a dislocated hip, leaving Jacob to limp. Due to this incident, \u2018Therefore the Israelites do not eat the displaced nerve (gid ha-nasheh) on the hip joint to this very day.\u2019 (Gen 32:33). In his wrestle with God, Jacob remained firm in his dialogue with God. God changed Jacob\u2019s name. His new name was Israel, which expresses a new mission for Jacob.\u00a0 God blessed Jacob and then Jacob \u2018called the place \u201cPenuel\u201d, saying \u2018I have seen God face to face and survived.\u2019 This new mission meant that Jacob led a new life from the past. In addition, he had a noticeable limp because of the struggle with God.<\/p>\n
Just like Jacob, God calls each one of us daily in a new way, sometimes inviting us to change our lives in serving God and the Church. Jacob\u2019s story gives us new strength. One thing we can be sure in our relationship with God is that he promised to be with us always until the end of time. We place our trust in his Providence in all of life\u2019s changes.<\/p>\n
Jacob pleaded with God in prayer for a blessing. He persevered in his prayer. Psalm 16 is also a plea for help and the assembly responds to the steadfastness and the conviction of the psalmist saying, \u2018Lord, in my justice, I shall see your face.\u2019<\/p>\n
The Gospel (Mt 9: 32-38) describes Jesus ministry through the towns and villages. What did Jesus spend his days doing? He was \u2018teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness.\u2019 As Jesus travelled around he saw the crowds of people and he felt sorry for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. He turned to his disciples and he explained to them about the lack of labourers to serve the rich harvest. This call of Jesus to ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers into the harvest is a key text used in vocation ministry today.<\/p>\n
The Christian vocation is a key theme of the Grow in Love<\/em>\/ I nGr\u00e1 D\u00e9<\/em> programme particularly in the Fifth and Sixth class religious education programmes. Resources include IT resources, Scripture, prayer, the lives of Christian heroes, which can be accessed on the Grow in Love<\/em> website and the Grow in Love\/ I nGr\u00e1 D\u00e9<\/em> Children\u2019s textbook and e-book. Access at:<\/p>\n