Reading 1
Gn 44:18-21, 23b-29; 45:1-5
Judah approached Joseph and said: “I beg you, my lord,
let your servant speak earnestly to my lord,
and do not become angry with your servant,
for you are the equal of Pharaoh.
My lord asked your servants, ‘Have you a father, or another brother?’
So we said to my lord, ‘We have an aged father,
and a young brother, the child of his old age.
This one’s full brother is dead,
and since he is the only one by that mother who is left,
his father dotes on him.’
Then you told your servants,
‘Bring him down to me that my eyes may look on him.
Unless your youngest brother comes back with you,
you shall not come into my presence again.’
When we returned to your servant our father,
we reported to him the words of my lord.
“Later, our father told us to come back and buy some food for the family.
So we reminded him, ‘We cannot go down there;
only if our youngest brother is with us can we go,
for we may not see the man if our youngest brother is not with us.’
Then your servant our father said to us,
‘As you know, my wife bore me two sons.
One of them, however, disappeared, and I had to conclude
that he must have been torn to pieces by wild beasts;
I have not seen him since.
If you now take this one away from me, too,
and some disaster befalls him,
you will send my white head down to the nether world in grief.’“
Joseph could no longer control himself
in the presence of all his attendants,
so he cried out, “Have everyone withdraw from me!”
Thus no one else was about when he made himself known to his brothers.
But his sobs were so loud that the Egyptians heard him,
and so the news reached Pharaoh’s palace.
“I am Joseph,” he said to his brothers.
“Is my father still in good health?”
But his brothers could give him no answer,
so dumbfounded were they at him.
“Come closer to me,” he told his brothers.
When they had done so, he said:
“I am your brother Joseph, whom you once sold into Egypt.
But now do not be distressed,
and do not reproach yourselves for having sold me here.
It was really for the sake of saving lives
that God sent me here ahead of you.”
105:16-17, 18-19, 20-21
Responsorial PsalmR. (5a)
Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
or:
R. Alleluia.
When the LORD called down a famine on the land
and ruined the crop that sustained them,
He sent a man before them,
Joseph, sold as a slave.
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
or:
R. Alleluia.
They had weighed him down with fetters,
and he was bound with chains,
Till his prediction came to pass
and the word of the LORD proved him true.
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The king sent and released him,
the ruler of the peoples set him free.
He made him lord of his house
and ruler of all his possessions.
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel
Mt 10:7-15
Jesus said to his Apostles:
“As you go, make this proclamation:
‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Cure the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse the lepers, drive out demons.
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.
Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts;
no sack for the journey, or a second tunic,
or sandals, or walking stick.
The laborer deserves his keep.
Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it,
and stay there until you leave.
As you enter a house, wish it peace.
If the house is worthy,
let your peace come upon it;
if not, let your peace return to you.
Whoever will not receive you or listen to your wordsC
go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet.
Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable
for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment
than for that town.”
Meditation: Genesis 44:18-21,23-29; 45:1-5
“Come closer to me… . I am your brother Joseph.” (Genesis 45:4)
Rejected by his brothers and sold into slavery in Egypt, Joseph rose to a high position in Egypt, where he eventually became a “savior” to the rest of his family. Joseph’s brothers tried their best to get rid of him, only to realize later that he was the one who rescued them from death. Joseph’s generous treatment of his brothers—to the point of saving them—foreshadows the way Jesus, our Brother, treats all of us.
If Jesus is like Joseph, it makes sense that there are ways that we act like Joseph’s brothers. Don’t we all try to “get rid of” Jesus at times? We hit points where we just want to do what we want to do, and we push Jesus aside so that we can do it. We shut him out of our lives, hoping to silence his voice and ignore the claim that he has on our lives.
And how does Jesus respond to such treatment? Like Joseph, he would be justified in being hurt, angry, or even vengeful. But he isn’t! Again like Joseph, he extends a hand of forgiveness and friendship once more, asking us to come closer to him.
Nowhere do we experience this mercy of God more powerfully than in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. As we confess our sins and failings to our Brother, he forgives us and restores us to life. It must have been so freeing in that moment when Joseph’s brothers realized that he had forgiven them and was willing to embrace them as his brothers once more. In a similar way, Jesus wants us to confess our own sins so that we can hear his invitation to “come closer” and embrace him. In Confession, the past doesn’t really matter all that much—just as it didn’t to Joseph. All that matters is this present moment of grace, this moment when we can come to Jesus.
So what are you waiting for? Don’t be held captive a moment longer by guilt or shame. Be reconciled with your Brother Jesus today, so that you can come to him.
“Jesus, I stand in awe of your mercy. As Joseph forgave his brothers, I know that you will forgive me. Thank you for being my brother and for inviting me to come closer to your heart.”
06 July 2011
06 July 2011, Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 385
Reading 1
Responsorial Psalm
Gospel
July 6, 2011
Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week
in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Gn 41:55-57; 42:5-7a, 17-24a
When hunger came to be felt throughout the land of Egypt
and the people cried to Pharaoh for bread,
Pharaoh directed all the Egyptians to go to Joseph
and do whatever he told them.
When the famine had spread throughout the land,
Joseph opened all the cities that had grain
and rationed it to the Egyptians,
since the famine had gripped the land of Egypt.
In fact, all the world came to Joseph to obtain rations of grain,
for famine had gripped the whole world.
The sons of Israel were among those
who came to procure rations.
It was Joseph, as governor of the country,
who dispensed the rations to all the people.
When Joseph’s brothers came and knelt down before him
with their faces to the ground,
he recognized them as soon as he saw them.
But Joseph concealed his own identity from them
and spoke sternly to them.
With that, he locked them up in the guardhouse for three days.
On the third day Joseph said to his brothers:
“Do this, and you shall live; for I am a God-fearing man.
If you have been honest,
only one of your brothers need be confined in this prison,
while the rest of you may go
and take home provisions for your starving families.
But you must come back to me with your youngest brother.
Your words will thus be verified, and you will not die.”
To this they agreed.
To one another, however, they said:
“Alas, we are being punished because of our brother.
We saw the anguish of his heart when he pleaded with us,
yet we paid no heed;
that is why this anguish has now come upon us.”
Reuben broke in,
“Did I not tell you not to do wrong to the boy?
But you would not listen!
Now comes the reckoning for his blood.”
The brothers did not know, of course,
that Joseph understood what they said,
since he spoke with them through an interpreter.
But turning away from them, he wept.
33:2-3, 10-11, 18-19
Responsorial PsalmR. (22)
Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
Sing to him a new song;
pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
The LORD brings to nought the plans of nations;
he foils the designs of peoples.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Gospel
Mt 10:1-7
Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out
and to cure every disease and every illness.
The names of the Twelve Apostles are these:
first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew;
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Philip and Bartholomew,
Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;
James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus;
Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot
who betrayed Jesus.
Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,
“Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”
Meditation: Matthew 10:1-7
“Do not go into pagan territory.” (Matthew 10:5)
It shouldn’t surprise us that Jesus told his apostles to go on their first preaching assignment only to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:5-6). Although Jesus came for all humankind, he held a deep love for Israel—for his own people—because they were God’s chosen ones. He knew that every event in Israel’s history led up to his coming, and he wanted to fulfill all God’s promises to them.
But Jesus likely had another reason for restricting the apostles to their own people at first. What better way to learn the basics of evangelization than to start with their brothers and sisters in faith? They had grown up with the same rituals and traditions, so they knew where to start. It was probably a good thing that they didn’t have to deal right away with the complexities of pagan religions and philosophies. They could concentrate on the basics of getting out the gospel.
The apostles had to start somewhere, and so do we. And the best place to begin is at our own doorstep, within our families and communities—with the people we already know. As Paul reminds us, God wants us to do good to everyone—“ especially to those who belong to the family of the faith” (Galatians 6:10). The mission to those in our midst is just as important as missionary work thousands of miles away. And in some ways, it’s even more important. If we don’t bring the gospel into our homes, who will? If our neighbor doesn’t discover Christ in us, where will he or she find him?
In a sense, it’s easier to talk to strangers about the gospel because your family and friends know you well enough to see your own shortcomings. But don’t let that discourage you. You may not have the most persuasive words. You may not give the most consistent witness, either. But you don’t need to be perfect. You just have to show yourself as a fellow traveler who has found a much better road map to follow. And that’s something anyone can do. So today, look for the openings the Spirit will give, and simply share what’s in your heart.
“Jesus, help me to see the opportunities for evangelization that are right in front of me. Give me the grace I need to share your love with those closest to me.”
Reading 1
Responsorial Psalm
Gospel
July 6, 2011
Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week
in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Gn 41:55-57; 42:5-7a, 17-24a
When hunger came to be felt throughout the land of Egypt
and the people cried to Pharaoh for bread,
Pharaoh directed all the Egyptians to go to Joseph
and do whatever he told them.
When the famine had spread throughout the land,
Joseph opened all the cities that had grain
and rationed it to the Egyptians,
since the famine had gripped the land of Egypt.
In fact, all the world came to Joseph to obtain rations of grain,
for famine had gripped the whole world.
The sons of Israel were among those
who came to procure rations.
It was Joseph, as governor of the country,
who dispensed the rations to all the people.
When Joseph’s brothers came and knelt down before him
with their faces to the ground,
he recognized them as soon as he saw them.
But Joseph concealed his own identity from them
and spoke sternly to them.
With that, he locked them up in the guardhouse for three days.
On the third day Joseph said to his brothers:
“Do this, and you shall live; for I am a God-fearing man.
If you have been honest,
only one of your brothers need be confined in this prison,
while the rest of you may go
and take home provisions for your starving families.
But you must come back to me with your youngest brother.
Your words will thus be verified, and you will not die.”
To this they agreed.
To one another, however, they said:
“Alas, we are being punished because of our brother.
We saw the anguish of his heart when he pleaded with us,
yet we paid no heed;
that is why this anguish has now come upon us.”
Reuben broke in,
“Did I not tell you not to do wrong to the boy?
But you would not listen!
Now comes the reckoning for his blood.”
The brothers did not know, of course,
that Joseph understood what they said,
since he spoke with them through an interpreter.
But turning away from them, he wept.
33:2-3, 10-11, 18-19
Responsorial PsalmR. (22)
Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
Sing to him a new song;
pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
The LORD brings to nought the plans of nations;
he foils the designs of peoples.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Gospel
Mt 10:1-7
Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out
and to cure every disease and every illness.
The names of the Twelve Apostles are these:
first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew;
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Philip and Bartholomew,
Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;
James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus;
Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot
who betrayed Jesus.
Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,
“Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”
Meditation: Matthew 10:1-7
“Do not go into pagan territory.” (Matthew 10:5)
It shouldn’t surprise us that Jesus told his apostles to go on their first preaching assignment only to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:5-6). Although Jesus came for all humankind, he held a deep love for Israel—for his own people—because they were God’s chosen ones. He knew that every event in Israel’s history led up to his coming, and he wanted to fulfill all God’s promises to them.
But Jesus likely had another reason for restricting the apostles to their own people at first. What better way to learn the basics of evangelization than to start with their brothers and sisters in faith? They had grown up with the same rituals and traditions, so they knew where to start. It was probably a good thing that they didn’t have to deal right away with the complexities of pagan religions and philosophies. They could concentrate on the basics of getting out the gospel.
The apostles had to start somewhere, and so do we. And the best place to begin is at our own doorstep, within our families and communities—with the people we already know. As Paul reminds us, God wants us to do good to everyone—“ especially to those who belong to the family of the faith” (Galatians 6:10). The mission to those in our midst is just as important as missionary work thousands of miles away. And in some ways, it’s even more important. If we don’t bring the gospel into our homes, who will? If our neighbor doesn’t discover Christ in us, where will he or she find him?
In a sense, it’s easier to talk to strangers about the gospel because your family and friends know you well enough to see your own shortcomings. But don’t let that discourage you. You may not have the most persuasive words. You may not give the most consistent witness, either. But you don’t need to be perfect. You just have to show yourself as a fellow traveler who has found a much better road map to follow. And that’s something anyone can do. So today, look for the openings the Spirit will give, and simply share what’s in your heart.
“Jesus, help me to see the opportunities for evangelization that are right in front of me. Give me the grace I need to share your love with those closest to me.”
05 July 2011
05 July 2011, Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Gn 32:23-33
In the course of the night, Jacob arose, took his two wives,
with the two maidservants and his eleven children,
and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
After he had taken them across the stream
and had brought over all his possessions,
Jacob was left there alone.
Then some man wrestled with him until the break of dawn.
When the man saw that he could not prevail over him,
he struck Jacob’s hip at its socket,
so that the hip socket was wrenched as they wrestled.
The man then said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
But Jacob said, “I will not let you go until you bless me.”
The man asked, “What is your name?”
He answered, “Jacob.”
Then the man said,
“You shall no longer be spoken of as Jacob, but as Israel,
because you have contended with divine and human beings
and have prevailed.”
Jacob then asked him, “Do tell me your name, please.”
He answered, “Why should you want to know my name?”
With that, he bade him farewell.
Jacob named the place Peniel,
“Because I have seen God face to face,” he said,
“yet my life has been spared.”
At sunrise, as he left Penuel,
Jacob limped along because of his hip.
That is why, to this day, the children of Israel do not eat
the sciatic muscle that is on the hip socket,
inasmuch as Jacob’s hip socket was struck at the sciatic muscle.
17:1b, 2-3, 6-7ab, 8b and 15
Responsorial PsalmR. (15a)
In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
Hear, O LORD, a just suit;
attend to my outcry;
hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.
R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
From you let my judgment come;
your eyes behold what is right.
Though you test my heart, searching it in the night,
though you try me with fire, you shall find no malice in me.
R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word.
Show your wondrous mercies,
O savior of those who flee from their foes.
R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
I in justice shall behold your face;
on waking, I shall be content in your presence.
R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
Gospel
Mt 9:32-38
A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus,
and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke.
The crowds were amazed and said,
“Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
But the Pharisees said,
“He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”
Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.”
Meditation: Genesis 32:23-33
“I will not let you go until you bless me.” (Genesis 32:27)
Jacob was on his way home after a long absence. During his stay with his uncle, he had married two women, fathered eleven children, and acquired a hefty amount of livestock. However, as he headed for home, he couldn’t help remembering that he was fleeing his elder brother Esau, whom he had cheated out of his father’s blessing. So when he hears that Esau is on his way to meet him, Jacob is nervous.
Jacob strategizes, doing everything he can to protect his household and pacify his brother. He divides his retinue in half and ferries his family to a safe place. He sends several groups of flocks as gifts for his brother. He begs God’s protection. But despite all his plans, he still feels afraid and unprepared for this reunion.
Everything changes, however, in the stillness of the night before the brothers meet. Jacob encounters a stranger who engages him in a wrestling match. As the contest wears on, Jacob realizes this is no ordinary man but an angel, and demands a blessing from him. For all his troubles, he receives a permanent wound and a new name.
But Jacob was blessed as well. His reunion with Esau was far more successful than he had hoped for. All was forgiven; Esau hadn’t come to seek revenge after all!
Wounded by his wrestling match, Jacob bore a constant reminder of his encounter with God. He learned that God’s blessing is not something to be bartered or stolen, like a birthright. Rather, it comes to those who are willing to wrestle with God, pitting their ways against his and letting him stretch and challenge them. Jacob knew he needed God’s blessing before he met Esau, and he was willing to fight for it, not just trick his way into it. He had become needy enough, and his need humbled him and made him determined.
Are you troubled over a difficult situation? It’s fine to come up with plans, but don’t forget to seek God’s heart about the matter as well. Wrestle with him over the problem if you have to. Give voice to whatever grievance you may have. Tell him what’s in your heart. Let God stretch and reshape you. In the end, you’ll find a greater blessing than you ever imagined.
Gn 32:23-33
In the course of the night, Jacob arose, took his two wives,
with the two maidservants and his eleven children,
and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
After he had taken them across the stream
and had brought over all his possessions,
Jacob was left there alone.
Then some man wrestled with him until the break of dawn.
When the man saw that he could not prevail over him,
he struck Jacob’s hip at its socket,
so that the hip socket was wrenched as they wrestled.
The man then said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
But Jacob said, “I will not let you go until you bless me.”
The man asked, “What is your name?”
He answered, “Jacob.”
Then the man said,
“You shall no longer be spoken of as Jacob, but as Israel,
because you have contended with divine and human beings
and have prevailed.”
Jacob then asked him, “Do tell me your name, please.”
He answered, “Why should you want to know my name?”
With that, he bade him farewell.
Jacob named the place Peniel,
“Because I have seen God face to face,” he said,
“yet my life has been spared.”
At sunrise, as he left Penuel,
Jacob limped along because of his hip.
That is why, to this day, the children of Israel do not eat
the sciatic muscle that is on the hip socket,
inasmuch as Jacob’s hip socket was struck at the sciatic muscle.
17:1b, 2-3, 6-7ab, 8b and 15
Responsorial PsalmR. (15a)
In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
Hear, O LORD, a just suit;
attend to my outcry;
hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.
R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
From you let my judgment come;
your eyes behold what is right.
Though you test my heart, searching it in the night,
though you try me with fire, you shall find no malice in me.
R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word.
Show your wondrous mercies,
O savior of those who flee from their foes.
R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
I in justice shall behold your face;
on waking, I shall be content in your presence.
R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
Gospel
Mt 9:32-38
A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus,
and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke.
The crowds were amazed and said,
“Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
But the Pharisees said,
“He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”
Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.”
Meditation: Genesis 32:23-33
“I will not let you go until you bless me.” (Genesis 32:27)
Jacob was on his way home after a long absence. During his stay with his uncle, he had married two women, fathered eleven children, and acquired a hefty amount of livestock. However, as he headed for home, he couldn’t help remembering that he was fleeing his elder brother Esau, whom he had cheated out of his father’s blessing. So when he hears that Esau is on his way to meet him, Jacob is nervous.
Jacob strategizes, doing everything he can to protect his household and pacify his brother. He divides his retinue in half and ferries his family to a safe place. He sends several groups of flocks as gifts for his brother. He begs God’s protection. But despite all his plans, he still feels afraid and unprepared for this reunion.
Everything changes, however, in the stillness of the night before the brothers meet. Jacob encounters a stranger who engages him in a wrestling match. As the contest wears on, Jacob realizes this is no ordinary man but an angel, and demands a blessing from him. For all his troubles, he receives a permanent wound and a new name.
But Jacob was blessed as well. His reunion with Esau was far more successful than he had hoped for. All was forgiven; Esau hadn’t come to seek revenge after all!
Wounded by his wrestling match, Jacob bore a constant reminder of his encounter with God. He learned that God’s blessing is not something to be bartered or stolen, like a birthright. Rather, it comes to those who are willing to wrestle with God, pitting their ways against his and letting him stretch and challenge them. Jacob knew he needed God’s blessing before he met Esau, and he was willing to fight for it, not just trick his way into it. He had become needy enough, and his need humbled him and made him determined.
Are you troubled over a difficult situation? It’s fine to come up with plans, but don’t forget to seek God’s heart about the matter as well. Wrestle with him over the problem if you have to. Give voice to whatever grievance you may have. Tell him what’s in your heart. Let God stretch and reshape you. In the end, you’ll find a greater blessing than you ever imagined.
04 July 2011
04 July 2011, Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Gn 28:10-22a
Jacob departed from Beer-sheba and proceeded toward Haran.
When he came upon a certain shrine, as the sun had already set,
he stopped there for the night.
Taking one of the stones at the shrine, he put it under his head
and lay down to sleep at that spot.
Then he had a dream: a stairway rested on the ground,
with its top reaching to the heavens;
and God’s messengers were going up and down on it.
And there was the LORD standing beside him and saying:
“I, the LORD, am the God of your forefather Abraham
and the God of Isaac;
the land on which you are lying
I will give to you and your descendants.
These shall be as plentiful as the dust of the earth,
and through them you shall spread out east and west, north and south.
In you and your descendants
all the nations of the earth shall find blessing.
Know that I am with you;
I will protect you wherever you go,
and bring you back to this land.
I will never leave you until I have done what I promised you.”
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he exclaimed,
“Truly, the LORD is in this spot, although I did not know it!”
In solemn wonder he cried out: “How awesome is this shrine!
This is nothing else but an abode of God,
and that is the gateway to heaven!”
Early the next morning Jacob took the stone
that he had put under his head,
set it up as a memorial stone, and poured oil on top of it.
He called the site Bethel,
whereas the former name of the town had been Luz.
Jacob then made this vow: “If God remains with me,
to protect me on this journey I am making
and to give me enough bread to eat and clothing to wear,
and I come back safe to my father’s house, the LORD shall be my God.
This stone that I have set up as a memorial stone shall be God’s abode.”
91:1-2, 3-4, 14-15ab
Responsorial PsalmR. (see 2b)
In you, my God, I place my trust.
You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
Say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
R. In you, my God, I place my trust.
For he will rescue you from the snare of the fowler,
from the destroying pestilence.
With his pinions he will cover you,
and under his wings you shall take refuge.
R. In you, my God, I place my trust.
Because he clings to me, I will deliver him;
I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in distress.
R. In you, my God, I place my trust.
Gospel
Mt 9:18-26
While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward,
knelt down before him, and said,
“My daughter has just died.
But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.”
Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples.
A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him
and touched the tassel on his cloak.
She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.”
Jesus turned around and saw her, and said,
“Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.”
And from that hour the woman was cured.
When Jesus arrived at the official’s house
and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion,
he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.”
And they ridiculed him.
When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand,
and the little girl arose.
And news of this spread throughout all that land.
Meditation: Matthew 9:18-26
“News of this spread throughout all that land.” (Matthew 9:26)
“Jesus, why do you eat with sinners and tax collectors?” “Jesus, why don’t your disciples fast like we do?” “Jesus, bring my daughter back from the dead.” “Oh, if only I touch Jesus’ cloak, I’ll be healed.”
Pharisees challenged him. John’s disciples wanted clarification. A woman wanted to be healed. A father wanted his daughter back. Mourners ridiculed him. Noise. Crowds. Questions. Commotion. How did Jesus keep his focus and his peace amidst all the chaos?
One thing is certain: He didn’t use a top-secret strategy that only he and the Father knew about. And neither did he have it easy because he was the Son of God. No, Jesus kept his peace the same way that we all can: He rested “in the shelter of the Most High” (Psalm 91:1). He made sure that he spent time with the Father. He stepped back from the pleas and pressure, put everything aside, and listened. He asked questions, sought wisdom, and made it his business to learn his Father’s thoughts and desires.
You can do this, too. You can read Scripture, asking God to show you his heart in the written word. You can ask him questions, and expect the Spirit to put answers in your mind and heart. In prayer, you can be sure to spend time sitting quietly with him. Silence all the worries, fears, and to-do lists. Set aside your prayer requests and intercessory lists for a time and just listen. Or we can settle down under the shelter of his wings and let him shield you from everything for just ten minutes, and you’ll begin to see a change.
God makes some bold promises in today’s psalm: “Whoever clings to me I will deliver; whoever knows my name I will set on high. All who call upon me I will answer… . I will deliver them and give them honor” (Psalm 91:14-15). These promises are for you. They guarantee that you can walk peacefully through the most chaotic of situations. It takes some practice, and we won’t always get it right. But the more time we spend with our Father, the more successful we will be.
“Father, I want to dwell in your shelter today. Refresh me, and help me to walk through my day in peace. Help me to stay focused on the business you have for me.”
Gn 28:10-22a
Jacob departed from Beer-sheba and proceeded toward Haran.
When he came upon a certain shrine, as the sun had already set,
he stopped there for the night.
Taking one of the stones at the shrine, he put it under his head
and lay down to sleep at that spot.
Then he had a dream: a stairway rested on the ground,
with its top reaching to the heavens;
and God’s messengers were going up and down on it.
And there was the LORD standing beside him and saying:
“I, the LORD, am the God of your forefather Abraham
and the God of Isaac;
the land on which you are lying
I will give to you and your descendants.
These shall be as plentiful as the dust of the earth,
and through them you shall spread out east and west, north and south.
In you and your descendants
all the nations of the earth shall find blessing.
Know that I am with you;
I will protect you wherever you go,
and bring you back to this land.
I will never leave you until I have done what I promised you.”
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he exclaimed,
“Truly, the LORD is in this spot, although I did not know it!”
In solemn wonder he cried out: “How awesome is this shrine!
This is nothing else but an abode of God,
and that is the gateway to heaven!”
Early the next morning Jacob took the stone
that he had put under his head,
set it up as a memorial stone, and poured oil on top of it.
He called the site Bethel,
whereas the former name of the town had been Luz.
Jacob then made this vow: “If God remains with me,
to protect me on this journey I am making
and to give me enough bread to eat and clothing to wear,
and I come back safe to my father’s house, the LORD shall be my God.
This stone that I have set up as a memorial stone shall be God’s abode.”
91:1-2, 3-4, 14-15ab
Responsorial PsalmR. (see 2b)
In you, my God, I place my trust.
You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
Say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
R. In you, my God, I place my trust.
For he will rescue you from the snare of the fowler,
from the destroying pestilence.
With his pinions he will cover you,
and under his wings you shall take refuge.
R. In you, my God, I place my trust.
Because he clings to me, I will deliver him;
I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in distress.
R. In you, my God, I place my trust.
Gospel
Mt 9:18-26
While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward,
knelt down before him, and said,
“My daughter has just died.
But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.”
Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples.
A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him
and touched the tassel on his cloak.
She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.”
Jesus turned around and saw her, and said,
“Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.”
And from that hour the woman was cured.
When Jesus arrived at the official’s house
and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion,
he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.”
And they ridiculed him.
When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand,
and the little girl arose.
And news of this spread throughout all that land.
Meditation: Matthew 9:18-26
“News of this spread throughout all that land.” (Matthew 9:26)
“Jesus, why do you eat with sinners and tax collectors?” “Jesus, why don’t your disciples fast like we do?” “Jesus, bring my daughter back from the dead.” “Oh, if only I touch Jesus’ cloak, I’ll be healed.”
Pharisees challenged him. John’s disciples wanted clarification. A woman wanted to be healed. A father wanted his daughter back. Mourners ridiculed him. Noise. Crowds. Questions. Commotion. How did Jesus keep his focus and his peace amidst all the chaos?
One thing is certain: He didn’t use a top-secret strategy that only he and the Father knew about. And neither did he have it easy because he was the Son of God. No, Jesus kept his peace the same way that we all can: He rested “in the shelter of the Most High” (Psalm 91:1). He made sure that he spent time with the Father. He stepped back from the pleas and pressure, put everything aside, and listened. He asked questions, sought wisdom, and made it his business to learn his Father’s thoughts and desires.
You can do this, too. You can read Scripture, asking God to show you his heart in the written word. You can ask him questions, and expect the Spirit to put answers in your mind and heart. In prayer, you can be sure to spend time sitting quietly with him. Silence all the worries, fears, and to-do lists. Set aside your prayer requests and intercessory lists for a time and just listen. Or we can settle down under the shelter of his wings and let him shield you from everything for just ten minutes, and you’ll begin to see a change.
God makes some bold promises in today’s psalm: “Whoever clings to me I will deliver; whoever knows my name I will set on high. All who call upon me I will answer… . I will deliver them and give them honor” (Psalm 91:14-15). These promises are for you. They guarantee that you can walk peacefully through the most chaotic of situations. It takes some practice, and we won’t always get it right. But the more time we spend with our Father, the more successful we will be.
“Father, I want to dwell in your shelter today. Refresh me, and help me to walk through my day in peace. Help me to stay focused on the business you have for me.”
03 July 2011
03 Jul 2011, Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Zec 9:9-10
Thus says the LORD:
Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion,
shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king shall come to you;
a just savior is he,
meek, and riding on an ass,
on a colt, the foal of an ass.
He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim,
and the horse from Jerusalem;
the warrior’s bow shall be banished,
and he shall proclaim peace to the nations.
His dominion shall be from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Ps 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14
Responsorial PsalmR. (cf. 1)
I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
Alleluia.
I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is faithful in all his words
and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Reading II
Rom 8:9, 11-13
Brothers and sisters:
You are not in the flesh;
on the contrary, you are in the spirit,
if only the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
the one who raised Christ from the dead
will give life to your mortal bodies also,
through his Spirit that dwells in you.
Consequently, brothers and sisters,
we are not debtors to the flesh,
to live according to the flesh.
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die,
but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body,
you will live.
Gospel
Mt 11:25-30
At that time Jesus exclaimed:
“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to little ones.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
Meditation: Romans 8:9,11-13
Meditation: Romans 8:9,11-13
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“If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13)
What images come to your mind when you hear the word “holiness”? Do you think of Mother Teresa’s radiant face as she fed the poor and comforted the dying? Or the serenity and composure that seem to mark every portrait of the Virgin Mary that was ever painted? Does conjuring up these images only make you more frustrated, as you see your own failings? Well, don’t worry. Paul teaches us today that holiness does not just settle on special people automatically. It is the result of our cooperation with grace—a cooperation that can be costly.
In today’s second reading, Paul admonishes us to do away with those things in our lives that are opposed to the Lord and his way of life. They could be specific “deeds of the body,” like lying, stealing, or impurity. But, they could also be attitudes of the mind that separate us from the Lord: prejudice, resentments, judgments, and arrogance. Paul promises that as we put these things to death—as we turn away from them and fight their influence in our lives—we will become holy. We can even become saints!
But there’s a catch. Paul urges us to do all this “by the Spirit.” His own experience had taught him that human effort alone could not bring about the holiness he sought. He needed the help that only God could give—and so do we.
So get into the habit of turning to the Holy Spirit during the course of your day. Ask him for his divine power to help you say “no” to sin and “yes” to Christ. Start paying attention to his promptings. He’s always speaking; we just need to learn how to listen—to our consciences, to the Scriptures, to our loved ones, and even to the thoughts that pop into our heads. The Spirit is on your side. He wants to make you holy!
“Come, Holy Spirit, into my heart. Transform my thoughts, intentions, and actions by your grace.”
Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion
(Zechariah 9:9-10; Psalm 145:1-2,8-11,13-14; Romans 8:9,11-13; Matthew 11:25-30)
1. In the first reading, we see the contrast between the Savior who is “meek” and his powerful impact on bringing “peace to the nations.” Can you share an example from your own life where you succeeded by meekness instead of power?
2. In the first reading, the Lord also tells us to “Rejoice heartily” and to “shout for joy.” In the responsorial psalm, the psalmist tells us to praise, extol, and bless the Lord. What are some things the Lord has done in your life that would cause you to do this?
3. In the responsorial psalm, we also read of the Lord who is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness”. With whom might the Lord be asking you to respond in this matter this week?
4. In the letter to the Romans, St. Paul asks us to “put to death the deeds of the body.” You can do this because, “You are not in the flesh; on the contrary you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you” (Romans 8:9). In your life, what “deeds of the body” do you need “to put to death”? How do you think the Lord wants you to do it?
5. In the Gospel, Jesus says that when it comes to revelation, his Father has “hidden these things from the wise and learned,” but he has “revealed them to little ones.” What do you think this means? What specifically can you do this week to open yourself to hear from the Lord in prayer, through Scriptures, or at Mass?
6. Jesus also says in the Gospel that he will make our heavenly Father known to us. In light of the following words of Jesus, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9), what do you think the Father is like?
7. The meditation encourages us to “get into the habit of turning to the Holy Spirit during the course of your day. Ask him for his divine power to help you say ‘no’ to sin and ‘yes’ to Christ.” How often do you do this? What steps can you take to make this a regular part of your day?
8. Take some time now to pray for a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit and ask Him to transform you more and more into the likeness of Jesus. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.
Zec 9:9-10
Thus says the LORD:
Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion,
shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king shall come to you;
a just savior is he,
meek, and riding on an ass,
on a colt, the foal of an ass.
He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim,
and the horse from Jerusalem;
the warrior’s bow shall be banished,
and he shall proclaim peace to the nations.
His dominion shall be from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Ps 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14
Responsorial PsalmR. (cf. 1)
I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
Alleluia.
I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is faithful in all his words
and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Reading II
Rom 8:9, 11-13
Brothers and sisters:
You are not in the flesh;
on the contrary, you are in the spirit,
if only the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
the one who raised Christ from the dead
will give life to your mortal bodies also,
through his Spirit that dwells in you.
Consequently, brothers and sisters,
we are not debtors to the flesh,
to live according to the flesh.
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die,
but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body,
you will live.
Gospel
Mt 11:25-30
At that time Jesus exclaimed:
“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to little ones.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
Meditation: Romans 8:9,11-13
Meditation: Romans 8:9,11-13
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“If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13)
What images come to your mind when you hear the word “holiness”? Do you think of Mother Teresa’s radiant face as she fed the poor and comforted the dying? Or the serenity and composure that seem to mark every portrait of the Virgin Mary that was ever painted? Does conjuring up these images only make you more frustrated, as you see your own failings? Well, don’t worry. Paul teaches us today that holiness does not just settle on special people automatically. It is the result of our cooperation with grace—a cooperation that can be costly.
In today’s second reading, Paul admonishes us to do away with those things in our lives that are opposed to the Lord and his way of life. They could be specific “deeds of the body,” like lying, stealing, or impurity. But, they could also be attitudes of the mind that separate us from the Lord: prejudice, resentments, judgments, and arrogance. Paul promises that as we put these things to death—as we turn away from them and fight their influence in our lives—we will become holy. We can even become saints!
But there’s a catch. Paul urges us to do all this “by the Spirit.” His own experience had taught him that human effort alone could not bring about the holiness he sought. He needed the help that only God could give—and so do we.
So get into the habit of turning to the Holy Spirit during the course of your day. Ask him for his divine power to help you say “no” to sin and “yes” to Christ. Start paying attention to his promptings. He’s always speaking; we just need to learn how to listen—to our consciences, to the Scriptures, to our loved ones, and even to the thoughts that pop into our heads. The Spirit is on your side. He wants to make you holy!
“Come, Holy Spirit, into my heart. Transform my thoughts, intentions, and actions by your grace.”
Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion
(Zechariah 9:9-10; Psalm 145:1-2,8-11,13-14; Romans 8:9,11-13; Matthew 11:25-30)
1. In the first reading, we see the contrast between the Savior who is “meek” and his powerful impact on bringing “peace to the nations.” Can you share an example from your own life where you succeeded by meekness instead of power?
2. In the first reading, the Lord also tells us to “Rejoice heartily” and to “shout for joy.” In the responsorial psalm, the psalmist tells us to praise, extol, and bless the Lord. What are some things the Lord has done in your life that would cause you to do this?
3. In the responsorial psalm, we also read of the Lord who is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness”. With whom might the Lord be asking you to respond in this matter this week?
4. In the letter to the Romans, St. Paul asks us to “put to death the deeds of the body.” You can do this because, “You are not in the flesh; on the contrary you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you” (Romans 8:9). In your life, what “deeds of the body” do you need “to put to death”? How do you think the Lord wants you to do it?
5. In the Gospel, Jesus says that when it comes to revelation, his Father has “hidden these things from the wise and learned,” but he has “revealed them to little ones.” What do you think this means? What specifically can you do this week to open yourself to hear from the Lord in prayer, through Scriptures, or at Mass?
6. Jesus also says in the Gospel that he will make our heavenly Father known to us. In light of the following words of Jesus, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9), what do you think the Father is like?
7. The meditation encourages us to “get into the habit of turning to the Holy Spirit during the course of your day. Ask him for his divine power to help you say ‘no’ to sin and ‘yes’ to Christ.” How often do you do this? What steps can you take to make this a regular part of your day?
8. Take some time now to pray for a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit and ask Him to transform you more and more into the likeness of Jesus. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.
02 July 2011
02 Jul 2011, Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of The Blessed Virgin Mary
Reading 1
Gn 27:1-5, 15-29
When Isaac was so old that his eyesight had failed him,
he called his older son Esau and said to him, “Son!”
“Yes father!” he replied.
Isaac then said, “As you can see, I am so old
that I may now die at any time.
Take your gear, therefore–your quiver and bow–
and go out into the country to hunt some game for me.
With your catch prepare an appetizing dish for me, such as I like,
and bring it to me to eat,
so that I may give you my special blessing before I die.”
Rebekah had been listening
while Isaac was speaking to his son Esau.
So, when Esau went out into the country
to hunt some game for his father,
Rebekah [then] took the best clothes of her older son Esau
that she had in the house,
and gave them to her younger son Jacob to wear;
and with the skins of the kids she covered up his hands
and the hairless parts of his neck.
Then she handed her son Jacob the appetizing dish
and the bread she had prepared.
Bringing them to his father, Jacob said, “Father!”
“Yes?” replied Isaac. “Which of my sons are you?”
Jacob answered his father: “I am Esau, your first-born.
I did as you told me.
Please sit up and eat some of my game,
so that you may give me your special blessing.”
But Isaac asked, “How did you succeed so quickly, son?”
He answered,
“The LORD, your God, let things turn out well with me.”
Isaac then said to Jacob,
“Come closer, son, that I may feel you,
to learn whether you really are my son Esau or not.”
So Jacob moved up closer to his father.
When Isaac felt him, he said,
“Although the voice is Jacob’s, the hands are Esau’s.”
(He failed to identify him because his hands were hairy,
like those of his brother Esau;
so in the end he gave him his blessing.)
Again he asked Jacob, “Are you really my son Esau?”
“Certainly,” Jacob replied.
Then Isaac said, “Serve me your game, son, that I may eat of it
and then give you my blessing.”
Jacob served it to him, and Isaac ate;
he brought him wine, and he drank.
Finally his father Isaac said to Jacob,
“Come closer, son, and kiss me.”
As Jacob went up and kissed him,
Isaac smelled the fragrance of his clothes.
With that, he blessed him saying,
“Ah, the fragrance of my son
is like the fragrance of a field
that the LORD has blessed!
“May God give to you
of the dew of the heavens
And of the fertility of the earth
abundance of grain and wine.
“Let peoples serve you,
and nations pay you homage;
Be master of your brothers,
and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be those who curse you,
and blessed be those who bless you.”
135:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6
Responsorial PsalmR. (3a)
Praise the Lord for the Lord is good!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise the name of the LORD;
Praise, you servants of the LORD
Who stand in the house of the LORD,
in the courts of the house of our God.
R. Praise the Lord for the Lord is good!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
sing praise to his name, which we love;
For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself,
Israel for his own possession.
R. Praise the Lord for the Lord is good!
or:
R. Alleluia.
For I know that the LORD is great;
our LORD is greater than all gods.
All that the LORD wills he does
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and in all the deeps.
R. Praise the Lord for the Lord is good!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel
Lk 2:41-51
Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
and when he was twelve years old,
they went up according to festival custom.
After they had completed its days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,
but his parents did not know it.
Thinking that he was in the caravan,
they journeyed for a day
and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
but not finding him,
they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions,
and all who heard him were astounded
at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him,
they were astonished,
and his mother said to him,
“Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
And he said to them,
“Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
But they did not understand what he said to them.
He went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them;
and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
Meditation: Luke 2:41-51
His mother kept all these things in her heart. (Luke 2:51)
Historians tell us that mothers in the ancient Near East had close, protective relationships with their young sons. Perhaps this is one reason why it’s Mary and not Joseph who speaks up when the anxious parents finally spot the “lost” Jesus in the Temple.
But unlike Rebekah, in today’s first reading, Mary is not controlling or manipulative. Her reproach to Jesus is surprisingly mild, given the circumstances. And consider how she handles his hard-to-take response. Here is this young man asking a very confronting question (“Why were you looking for me?”) followed by another, even more enigmatic observation (“Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”). And all in a very public setting, with Temple teachers looking on.
What parent or grandparent among us wouldn’t explode in a similar situation? Young man, you’re grounded! And for the next two weeks, we’ll be reviewing the commandment, “Honor your father and your mother.” But Luke records no such retort—no scolding, punishing, or venting. Only silence, followed by the prayerful pondering that is Mary’s trademark response to things she can’t yet understand (Luke 1:29; 2:19,51).
Mary’s unexpected reaction invites us who are parents to do some pondering of our own. Our kids aren’t Jesus, for sure. And when they do things that go against our expectations, they’re not necessarily answering the pull of a higher call, as Jesus was. Children need parental correction if they are to become the men and women God is calling them to be. But sometimes, for the same reason, they also need space.
Whatever pain and confusion Mary felt as Jesus followed his Father’s plan, she gave him space— all the way from the Temple to the cross. Even before God answered her prayer for insight, her heart was big enough to embrace the mystery.
If you’re facing some mysteries and challenges in your family right now, take a cue from Mary. Step back. Ponder. Pray. Ask God for wisdom. Raising godly children is hard work indeed. But you don’t have to do it all alone!
“Mary, mother of us all, please watch over my family and all families today, especially those families that are struggling.”
Gn 27:1-5, 15-29
When Isaac was so old that his eyesight had failed him,
he called his older son Esau and said to him, “Son!”
“Yes father!” he replied.
Isaac then said, “As you can see, I am so old
that I may now die at any time.
Take your gear, therefore–your quiver and bow–
and go out into the country to hunt some game for me.
With your catch prepare an appetizing dish for me, such as I like,
and bring it to me to eat,
so that I may give you my special blessing before I die.”
Rebekah had been listening
while Isaac was speaking to his son Esau.
So, when Esau went out into the country
to hunt some game for his father,
Rebekah [then] took the best clothes of her older son Esau
that she had in the house,
and gave them to her younger son Jacob to wear;
and with the skins of the kids she covered up his hands
and the hairless parts of his neck.
Then she handed her son Jacob the appetizing dish
and the bread she had prepared.
Bringing them to his father, Jacob said, “Father!”
“Yes?” replied Isaac. “Which of my sons are you?”
Jacob answered his father: “I am Esau, your first-born.
I did as you told me.
Please sit up and eat some of my game,
so that you may give me your special blessing.”
But Isaac asked, “How did you succeed so quickly, son?”
He answered,
“The LORD, your God, let things turn out well with me.”
Isaac then said to Jacob,
“Come closer, son, that I may feel you,
to learn whether you really are my son Esau or not.”
So Jacob moved up closer to his father.
When Isaac felt him, he said,
“Although the voice is Jacob’s, the hands are Esau’s.”
(He failed to identify him because his hands were hairy,
like those of his brother Esau;
so in the end he gave him his blessing.)
Again he asked Jacob, “Are you really my son Esau?”
“Certainly,” Jacob replied.
Then Isaac said, “Serve me your game, son, that I may eat of it
and then give you my blessing.”
Jacob served it to him, and Isaac ate;
he brought him wine, and he drank.
Finally his father Isaac said to Jacob,
“Come closer, son, and kiss me.”
As Jacob went up and kissed him,
Isaac smelled the fragrance of his clothes.
With that, he blessed him saying,
“Ah, the fragrance of my son
is like the fragrance of a field
that the LORD has blessed!
“May God give to you
of the dew of the heavens
And of the fertility of the earth
abundance of grain and wine.
“Let peoples serve you,
and nations pay you homage;
Be master of your brothers,
and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be those who curse you,
and blessed be those who bless you.”
135:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6
Responsorial PsalmR. (3a)
Praise the Lord for the Lord is good!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise the name of the LORD;
Praise, you servants of the LORD
Who stand in the house of the LORD,
in the courts of the house of our God.
R. Praise the Lord for the Lord is good!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
sing praise to his name, which we love;
For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself,
Israel for his own possession.
R. Praise the Lord for the Lord is good!
or:
R. Alleluia.
For I know that the LORD is great;
our LORD is greater than all gods.
All that the LORD wills he does
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and in all the deeps.
R. Praise the Lord for the Lord is good!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel
Lk 2:41-51
Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
and when he was twelve years old,
they went up according to festival custom.
After they had completed its days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,
but his parents did not know it.
Thinking that he was in the caravan,
they journeyed for a day
and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
but not finding him,
they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions,
and all who heard him were astounded
at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him,
they were astonished,
and his mother said to him,
“Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
And he said to them,
“Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
But they did not understand what he said to them.
He went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them;
and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
Meditation: Luke 2:41-51
His mother kept all these things in her heart. (Luke 2:51)
Historians tell us that mothers in the ancient Near East had close, protective relationships with their young sons. Perhaps this is one reason why it’s Mary and not Joseph who speaks up when the anxious parents finally spot the “lost” Jesus in the Temple.
But unlike Rebekah, in today’s first reading, Mary is not controlling or manipulative. Her reproach to Jesus is surprisingly mild, given the circumstances. And consider how she handles his hard-to-take response. Here is this young man asking a very confronting question (“Why were you looking for me?”) followed by another, even more enigmatic observation (“Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”). And all in a very public setting, with Temple teachers looking on.
What parent or grandparent among us wouldn’t explode in a similar situation? Young man, you’re grounded! And for the next two weeks, we’ll be reviewing the commandment, “Honor your father and your mother.” But Luke records no such retort—no scolding, punishing, or venting. Only silence, followed by the prayerful pondering that is Mary’s trademark response to things she can’t yet understand (Luke 1:29; 2:19,51).
Mary’s unexpected reaction invites us who are parents to do some pondering of our own. Our kids aren’t Jesus, for sure. And when they do things that go against our expectations, they’re not necessarily answering the pull of a higher call, as Jesus was. Children need parental correction if they are to become the men and women God is calling them to be. But sometimes, for the same reason, they also need space.
Whatever pain and confusion Mary felt as Jesus followed his Father’s plan, she gave him space— all the way from the Temple to the cross. Even before God answered her prayer for insight, her heart was big enough to embrace the mystery.
If you’re facing some mysteries and challenges in your family right now, take a cue from Mary. Step back. Ponder. Pray. Ask God for wisdom. Raising godly children is hard work indeed. But you don’t have to do it all alone!
“Mary, mother of us all, please watch over my family and all families today, especially those families that are struggling.”
01 July 2011
01 Jul 2011, Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Reading 1
Dt 7:6-11
Moses said to the people:
"You are a people sacred to the LORD, your God;
he has chosen you from all the nations on the face of the earth
to be a people peculiarly his own.
It was not because you are the largest of all nations
that the LORD set his heart on you and chose you,
for you are really the smallest of all nations.
It was because the LORD loved you
and because of his fidelity to the oath he had sworn your fathers,
that he brought you out with his strong hand
from the place of slavery,
and ransomed you from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.
Understand, then, that the LORD, your God, is God indeed,
the faithful God who keeps his merciful covenant
down to the thousandth generation
toward those who love him and keep his commandments,
but who repays with destruction a person who hates him;
he does not dally with such a one,
but makes them personally pay for it.
You shall therefore carefully observe the commandments,
the statutes and the decrees that I enjoin on you today."
103:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 10
Responsorial PsalmR. (cf. 17)
The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
Reading II
1 Jn 4:7-16
Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.
This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,
that he has given us of his Spirit.
Moreover, we have seen and testify
that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God.
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.
God is love, and whoever remains in love
remains in God and God in him.
Gospel
Mt 11:25-30
At that time Jesus exclaimed:
"I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to little ones.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.
"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."
Meditation: Matthew 11:25-30
The Sacred Heart of Jesus
The Sacred Heart is an abyss of love to meet our every need. (St. Margaret Mary Alacoque)
Have you ever wondered where some of our feast days come from? Many focus on the central events in the life of the Lord: Christmas, Easter, the Transfiguration, and Pentecost. Some focus on a particular doctrine of our faith—like Trinity Sunday and the Triumph of the Cross. And then there are days like today, which celebrate some aspect of Jesus and who he is. Like Divine Mercy Sunday, the feast of the Sacred Heart is God’s way of reminding us that the way to him is always open. It’s God’s way of inviting us to come to Jesus and experience his love.
Devotion to the Sacred Heart goes back as early as the eleventh century. By the sixteenth century, the image of Jesus’ heart, pierced by a lance and surrounded by a crown of thorns, was gaining in popularity, largely due to its promotion by the Franciscan and Jesuit orders. But the most dramatic source of the devotion came from a humble Visitation Sister in France—St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647–1690). In a series of visions, Jesus asked Margaret Mary to help establish a special feast day devoted to his heart. In 1856, Pope Pius IX established this day—the Friday after the feast of Corpus Christi—as a feast for the universal church.
Today’s feast is an invitation as much as it is a commemoration. Jesus is inviting us to enter into his heart. He is inviting us to lose ourselves in his love and discover the power of that love to heal our hurts, enliven our hopes, and protect us from fear. He is inviting us to discover all over again how strong his love is for us. Nothing can ever quench it—not even our sin or unworthiness! So take up the invitation today. Fix your eyes on Jesus’ heart. Let his love flow over you and lift you up to heaven.
“Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like yours!”
Dt 7:6-11
Moses said to the people:
"You are a people sacred to the LORD, your God;
he has chosen you from all the nations on the face of the earth
to be a people peculiarly his own.
It was not because you are the largest of all nations
that the LORD set his heart on you and chose you,
for you are really the smallest of all nations.
It was because the LORD loved you
and because of his fidelity to the oath he had sworn your fathers,
that he brought you out with his strong hand
from the place of slavery,
and ransomed you from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.
Understand, then, that the LORD, your God, is God indeed,
the faithful God who keeps his merciful covenant
down to the thousandth generation
toward those who love him and keep his commandments,
but who repays with destruction a person who hates him;
he does not dally with such a one,
but makes them personally pay for it.
You shall therefore carefully observe the commandments,
the statutes and the decrees that I enjoin on you today."
103:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 10
Responsorial PsalmR. (cf. 17)
The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
Reading II
1 Jn 4:7-16
Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.
This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,
that he has given us of his Spirit.
Moreover, we have seen and testify
that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God.
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.
God is love, and whoever remains in love
remains in God and God in him.
Gospel
Mt 11:25-30
At that time Jesus exclaimed:
"I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to little ones.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.
"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."
Meditation: Matthew 11:25-30
The Sacred Heart of Jesus
The Sacred Heart is an abyss of love to meet our every need. (St. Margaret Mary Alacoque)
Have you ever wondered where some of our feast days come from? Many focus on the central events in the life of the Lord: Christmas, Easter, the Transfiguration, and Pentecost. Some focus on a particular doctrine of our faith—like Trinity Sunday and the Triumph of the Cross. And then there are days like today, which celebrate some aspect of Jesus and who he is. Like Divine Mercy Sunday, the feast of the Sacred Heart is God’s way of reminding us that the way to him is always open. It’s God’s way of inviting us to come to Jesus and experience his love.
Devotion to the Sacred Heart goes back as early as the eleventh century. By the sixteenth century, the image of Jesus’ heart, pierced by a lance and surrounded by a crown of thorns, was gaining in popularity, largely due to its promotion by the Franciscan and Jesuit orders. But the most dramatic source of the devotion came from a humble Visitation Sister in France—St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647–1690). In a series of visions, Jesus asked Margaret Mary to help establish a special feast day devoted to his heart. In 1856, Pope Pius IX established this day—the Friday after the feast of Corpus Christi—as a feast for the universal church.
Today’s feast is an invitation as much as it is a commemoration. Jesus is inviting us to enter into his heart. He is inviting us to lose ourselves in his love and discover the power of that love to heal our hurts, enliven our hopes, and protect us from fear. He is inviting us to discover all over again how strong his love is for us. Nothing can ever quench it—not even our sin or unworthiness! So take up the invitation today. Fix your eyes on Jesus’ heart. Let his love flow over you and lift you up to heaven.
“Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like yours!”
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