Reading 1
Is 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8
When Hezekiah was mortally ill,
the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, came and said to him:
"Thus says the LORD: Put your house in order,
for you are about to die; you shall not recover."
Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord:
"O LORD, remember how faithfully and wholeheartedly
I conducted myself in your presence,
doing what was pleasing to you!"
And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: "Go, tell Hezekiah:
Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David:
I have heard your prayer and seen your tears.
I will heal you: in three days you shall go up to the Lord's temple;
I will add fifteen years to your life.
I will rescue you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria;
I will be a shield to this city."
Isaiah then ordered a poultice of figs to be taken
and applied to the boil, that he might recover.
Then Hezekiah asked,
"What is the sign that I shall go up to the temple of the LORD?"
Isaiah answered:
"This will be the sign for you from the LORD
that he will do what he has promised:
See, I will make the shadow cast by the sun
on the stairway to the terrace of Ahaz
go back the ten steps it has advanced."
So the sun came back the ten steps it had advanced.
Gospel
Mt 12:1-8
Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath.
His disciples were hungry
and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.
When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him,
"See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath."
He said to the them, "Have you not read what David did
when he and his companions were hungry,
how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering,
which neither he nor his companions
but only the priests could lawfully eat?
Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath
the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath
and are innocent?
I say to you, something greater than the temple is here.
If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
you would not have condemned these innocent men.
For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath."
Meditation: Isaiah 38:1-6,21-22,7-8
“The sun came back the ten steps it had advanced.” (Isaiah 38:8)
Hezekiah, king of Judah, was desperate. Sennacherib, the Assyrian king, had declared war on all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them. Now he was heading toward Jerusalem, the capital and Hezekiah’s home. And to make matters even worse, Hezekiah was facing a mortal illness. He turned to God in fervent prayer, and the Lord sent Isaiah with a message: Hezekiah would be healed, and the Lord would rescue the city.
Could this word be true? Hezekiah humbly asked for a sign. And what a sign he received: God actually changed the course of the sun!
God was not offended by Hezekiah’s request. On the contrary, he was happy to oblige. He wanted to show Hezekiah—and all the people of Jerusalem—his love and faithfulness.
Throughout Scripture, God has spoken through dramatic signs. Gideon saw the morning dew only dampen the ground and not a fleece blanket he laid on the ground (Judges 6:39-40). Balaam heard God’s message to him through a talking donkey (Numbers 22). And Noah saw a rainbow in the sky as proof of God’s covenant love (Genesis 9:11-17).
God is still sending us signs today. He can be very creative in these signs as he tries to get our attention. Maybe you feel a strong tugging in your heart urging you to call an old friend. You may have a dream that stays with you long after you have woken up. Perhaps you are awakened in the middle of the night and are prompted to pray for someone. Even rays of sunshine breaking through clouds can be his way of reminding you that he is with you.
So stay alert today. Know that God will be trying to get in touch with you as the day unfolds. Know that he will be sending you signs today. Some may be obvious, and others may be subtle. He may offer you guidance, or he may simply encourage you. All you need are open eyes, open ears, and an open heart. God will take care of the rest.
“Holy Spirit, I don’t want to miss your signs today. Help me to stay alert so that I can hear and see your work in my life.”
15 July 2010
15 July 2010, Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, bishop and doctor of the Church
Reading 1
Is 26:7-9, 12, 16-19
The way of the just is smooth;
the path of the just you make level.
Yes, for your way and your judgments, O LORD,
we look to you;
Your name and your title
are the desire of our souls.
My soul yearns for you in the night,
yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you;
When your judgment dawns upon the earth,
the world's inhabitants learn justice.
O LORD, you mete out peace to us,
for it is you who have accomplished all we have done.
O LORD, oppressed by your punishment,
we cried out in anguish under your chastising.
As a woman about to give birth
writhes and cries out in her pains,
so were we in your presence, O LORD.
We conceived and writhed in pain,
giving birth to wind;
Salvation we have not achieved for the earth,
the inhabitants of the world cannot bring it forth.
But your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise;
awake and sing, you who lie in the dust.
For your dew is a dew of light,
and the land of shades gives birth.
Gospel
Mt 11:28-30
Jesus said:
"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 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened.” (Matthew 11:28)
One of the characters in the film The Mission is a Spanish slave-trader, Mendoza, who lives in South America. Mendoza is known as a hard man with a fiery temper, and in one fit of rage, he ends up killing his own brother. Overcome with grief, he confesses his sin to a Jesuit missionary priest and then performs a penance of his own choosing: He will follow the missionaries through the jungle, dragging a heavy net filled with his armor. Mendoza eventually collapses, and one of the priests cuts his bundle loose. But Mendoza reties it and trudges on. Finally, an Indian spots him. Instead of killing him, however, he cuts the man’s bundle again and throws it over a cliff. Freed of his burden, Mendoza is also freed from guilt.
In a similar way, Jesus wants to free us from our burdens. When he says, “I will give you rest”(Matthew 11:28), he’s not telling us to abandon our responsibilities or ignore God’s commandments. He just wants to rid us of the oppressive weight of guilt and self-condemnation that we can place on our shoulders. He wants us to get rid of the idea that we can atone for our own sins, that heroic acts of penance and self-punishment can convince God to forgive us.
Never forget that Jesus has done all the heavy lifting! He has already atoned for all of your sins—past, present, and future. And because of his cross, he has set you free from all condemnation. Your efforts, well-intentioned though they may be, can never accomplish what Jesus did for you on the cross. As Isaiah wrote, “Salvation we have not achieved for the earth, the inhabitants of the world cannot bring it forth” (Isaiah 26:18).
So rejoice in your salvation! Take Jesus’ words to heart and come to him so that you can find rest and refreshment. Get rid of the yoke of your sins and take up his “yoke” of trust and surrender. God never intended for you to be trapped in guilt or anxiety. He wants to shower you with his freedom, his love, and his joy!
“All praise and glory to you, Lord Jesus! You are my Redeemer and my Friend. I happily place my sins and failings in your hands for you to deal with. Come, Holy Spirit, and let me know your freedom and joy!”
Is 26:7-9, 12, 16-19
The way of the just is smooth;
the path of the just you make level.
Yes, for your way and your judgments, O LORD,
we look to you;
Your name and your title
are the desire of our souls.
My soul yearns for you in the night,
yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you;
When your judgment dawns upon the earth,
the world's inhabitants learn justice.
O LORD, you mete out peace to us,
for it is you who have accomplished all we have done.
O LORD, oppressed by your punishment,
we cried out in anguish under your chastising.
As a woman about to give birth
writhes and cries out in her pains,
so were we in your presence, O LORD.
We conceived and writhed in pain,
giving birth to wind;
Salvation we have not achieved for the earth,
the inhabitants of the world cannot bring it forth.
But your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise;
awake and sing, you who lie in the dust.
For your dew is a dew of light,
and the land of shades gives birth.
Gospel
Mt 11:28-30
Jesus said:
"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 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened.” (Matthew 11:28)
One of the characters in the film The Mission is a Spanish slave-trader, Mendoza, who lives in South America. Mendoza is known as a hard man with a fiery temper, and in one fit of rage, he ends up killing his own brother. Overcome with grief, he confesses his sin to a Jesuit missionary priest and then performs a penance of his own choosing: He will follow the missionaries through the jungle, dragging a heavy net filled with his armor. Mendoza eventually collapses, and one of the priests cuts his bundle loose. But Mendoza reties it and trudges on. Finally, an Indian spots him. Instead of killing him, however, he cuts the man’s bundle again and throws it over a cliff. Freed of his burden, Mendoza is also freed from guilt.
In a similar way, Jesus wants to free us from our burdens. When he says, “I will give you rest”(Matthew 11:28), he’s not telling us to abandon our responsibilities or ignore God’s commandments. He just wants to rid us of the oppressive weight of guilt and self-condemnation that we can place on our shoulders. He wants us to get rid of the idea that we can atone for our own sins, that heroic acts of penance and self-punishment can convince God to forgive us.
Never forget that Jesus has done all the heavy lifting! He has already atoned for all of your sins—past, present, and future. And because of his cross, he has set you free from all condemnation. Your efforts, well-intentioned though they may be, can never accomplish what Jesus did for you on the cross. As Isaiah wrote, “Salvation we have not achieved for the earth, the inhabitants of the world cannot bring it forth” (Isaiah 26:18).
So rejoice in your salvation! Take Jesus’ words to heart and come to him so that you can find rest and refreshment. Get rid of the yoke of your sins and take up his “yoke” of trust and surrender. God never intended for you to be trapped in guilt or anxiety. He wants to shower you with his freedom, his love, and his joy!
“All praise and glory to you, Lord Jesus! You are my Redeemer and my Friend. I happily place my sins and failings in your hands for you to deal with. Come, Holy Spirit, and let me know your freedom and joy!”
14 July 2010
14 July 2010, Memorial of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin
Reading 1
Is 10:5-7, 13b-16
Thus says the LORD:
Woe to Assyria! My rod in anger,
my staff in wrath.
Against an impious nation I send him,
and against a people under my wrath I order him
To seize plunder, carry off loot,
and tread them down like the mud of the streets.
But this is not what he intends,
nor does he have this in mind;
Rather, it is in his heart to destroy,
to make an end of nations not a few.
For he says:
"By my own power I have done it,
and by my wisdom, for I am shrewd.
I have moved the boundaries of peoples,
their treasures I have pillaged,
and, like a giant, I have put down the enthroned.
My hand has seized like a nest
the riches of nations;
As one takes eggs left alone,
so I took in all the earth;
No one fluttered a wing,
or opened a mouth, or chirped!"
Will the axe boast against him who hews with it?
Will the saw exalt itself above him who wields it?
As if a rod could sway him who lifts it,
or a staff him who is not wood!
Therefore the Lord, the LORD of hosts,
will send among his fat ones leanness,
And instead of his glory there will be kindling
like the kindling of fire.
Gospel
Mt 11:25-27
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 the childlike.
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."
Meditation: Matthew 11:25-27
“No one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” (Matthew 11:27)
When we were children, many of us imagined God as a stern judge, sitting at his desk wearing pinch-nose glasses and watching our every move. Every time we did something wrong, he would open the Book of Life to the page with our name on it and make a check mark in the naughty column. We knew that one day we would have to stand before the Judge and explain all those check marks.
So has your concept of God matured? Or are you stuck in a grade-school rut? Do you still see God as a distant, unapproachable Creator? As a heavenly policeman just waiting for you to break his laws? As a perfectionist who condemns you for every minor misdoing?
One way many of us deal with these misconceptions is by putting aside any thoughts of God the Father and focusing our attention on Jesus instead. After all, he’s much easier to relate to because he became a man. He showed himself to be a kind, caring person who gave his all for us. We feel we can open our hearts to him and not be afraid of his judgments, even if we are not perfect. But still, somewhere in the back of our minds is this image of the Father—an image that is just plain contrary to the way Jesus revealed God to be.
Remember: Jesus came to earth so that he could reconcile us with the Father. It was God himself—our compassionate, patient, merciful Father—who sent Jesus to us in the first place. Everything Jesus ever said or did was meant to reveal the Father-heart of God so that we would not fear him but run to him. It’s amazing, and sometimes hard to grasp, but it is still true: God wants to have a relationship with us. And the best part is that we don’t have to go looking for him. He has already chosen us and reached out to us. All we have to do is open our hearts to receive him.
“Father, show yourself to me even more today. Help me to know you and to love you so that I can feel your presence in my life more deeply.”
Is 10:5-7, 13b-16
Thus says the LORD:
Woe to Assyria! My rod in anger,
my staff in wrath.
Against an impious nation I send him,
and against a people under my wrath I order him
To seize plunder, carry off loot,
and tread them down like the mud of the streets.
But this is not what he intends,
nor does he have this in mind;
Rather, it is in his heart to destroy,
to make an end of nations not a few.
For he says:
"By my own power I have done it,
and by my wisdom, for I am shrewd.
I have moved the boundaries of peoples,
their treasures I have pillaged,
and, like a giant, I have put down the enthroned.
My hand has seized like a nest
the riches of nations;
As one takes eggs left alone,
so I took in all the earth;
No one fluttered a wing,
or opened a mouth, or chirped!"
Will the axe boast against him who hews with it?
Will the saw exalt itself above him who wields it?
As if a rod could sway him who lifts it,
or a staff him who is not wood!
Therefore the Lord, the LORD of hosts,
will send among his fat ones leanness,
And instead of his glory there will be kindling
like the kindling of fire.
Gospel
Mt 11:25-27
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 the childlike.
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."
Meditation: Matthew 11:25-27
“No one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” (Matthew 11:27)
When we were children, many of us imagined God as a stern judge, sitting at his desk wearing pinch-nose glasses and watching our every move. Every time we did something wrong, he would open the Book of Life to the page with our name on it and make a check mark in the naughty column. We knew that one day we would have to stand before the Judge and explain all those check marks.
So has your concept of God matured? Or are you stuck in a grade-school rut? Do you still see God as a distant, unapproachable Creator? As a heavenly policeman just waiting for you to break his laws? As a perfectionist who condemns you for every minor misdoing?
One way many of us deal with these misconceptions is by putting aside any thoughts of God the Father and focusing our attention on Jesus instead. After all, he’s much easier to relate to because he became a man. He showed himself to be a kind, caring person who gave his all for us. We feel we can open our hearts to him and not be afraid of his judgments, even if we are not perfect. But still, somewhere in the back of our minds is this image of the Father—an image that is just plain contrary to the way Jesus revealed God to be.
Remember: Jesus came to earth so that he could reconcile us with the Father. It was God himself—our compassionate, patient, merciful Father—who sent Jesus to us in the first place. Everything Jesus ever said or did was meant to reveal the Father-heart of God so that we would not fear him but run to him. It’s amazing, and sometimes hard to grasp, but it is still true: God wants to have a relationship with us. And the best part is that we don’t have to go looking for him. He has already chosen us and reached out to us. All we have to do is open our hearts to receive him.
“Father, show yourself to me even more today. Help me to know you and to love you so that I can feel your presence in my life more deeply.”
13 July 2010
13 July 2010, Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Is 7:1-9
In the days of Ahaz, king of Judah, son of Jotham, son of Uzziah,
Rezin, king of Aram,
and Pekah, king of Israel, son of Remaliah,
went up to attack Jerusalem,
but they were not able to conquer it.
When word came to the house of David that Aram
was encamped in Ephraim,
the heart of the king and the heart of the people trembled,
as the trees of the forest tremble in the wind.
Then the LORD said to Isaiah: Go out to meet Ahaz,
you and your son Shear-jashub,
at the end of the conduit of the upper pool,
on the highway of the fuller's field, and say to him:
Take care you remain tranquil and do not fear;
let not your courage fail
before these two stumps of smoldering brands
the blazing anger of Rezin and the Arameans,
and of the son Remaliah,
because of the mischief that
Aram, Ephraim and the son of Remaliah,
plots against you, saying,
"Let us go up and tear Judah asunder, make it our own by force,
and appoint the son of Tabeel king there."
Thus says the LORD:
This shall not stand, it shall not be!
Damascus is the capital of Aram,
and Rezin is the head of Damascus;
Samaria is the capital of Ephraim,
and Remaliah's son the head of Samaria.
But within sixty years and five,
Ephraim shall be crushed, no longer a nation.
Unless your faith is firm
you shall not be firm!
Gospel
Mt 11:20-24
Jesus began to reproach the towns
where most of his mighty deeds had been done,
since they had not repented.
"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty deeds done in your midst
had been done in Tyre and Sidon,
they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes.
But I tell you, it will be more tolerable
for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
And as for you, Capernaum:
Will you be exalted to heaven?
You will go down to the nether world.
For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom,
it would have remained until this day.
But I tell you, it will be more tolerable
for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."
Meditation: Isaiah 7:1-9
“Unless your faith is firm, you shall not be firm!” (Isaiah 7:9)
Judah’s King Ahaz had reason to be afraid. Assyria was threatening every country in the Middle East. The northern kingdoms of Israel and Syria invited Judah to join them in a military alliance, but Ahaz refused. He preferred to become a vassal of Assyria. So Israel and Syria besieged Jerusalem, intending to replace Ahaz with a non-Davidic ruler willing to join them. In the face of this threat, Ahaz and his people found their hearts trembling like leaves in the wind.
So God sent Isaiah to reassure King Ahaz: “Remain tranquil and do not fear” (Isaiah 7:4). Trust in the Lord to deliver you. If you have trouble trusting him, ask for a sign. But Ahaz chose to rely on Assyria rather than on the Lord. And in that choice, he showed that he preferred the security of a power he could see and feel over faith in an invisible God. Unable to follow Isaiah’s urging to stand firm, he gave in to his fears and asked a pagan king to protect him instead.
What makes me “tremble” today? Perhaps I am perplexed about how to resolve a complicated situation. Perhaps I’m aware of my own inadequacies in the face of a challenge. Perhaps I feel I’ve messed up so badly that it can’t be fixed.
These are good starting points, actually. It’s good to tremble every now and then. It’s one way to be reminded of your limitations and your need for God. But for heaven’s sake, don’t stay there! Move forward! When you find yourself lacking in wisdom, lean into God’s wisdom, and you’ll find strength you never knew you had. When you know you can’t do something, take a calming breath, and rejoice in the God who can do everything. When you are faced with your failures, thank the Lord that he is faithful to forgive and swift to cleanse your conscience.
Don’t be like Ahaz! Stand firm in your faith that only God’s plan will win out. And it’s a good plan, too, far better than anything you can devise. So “remain tranquil and do not fear” (Isaiah 7:4).
“Father, I surrender every situation to you today. I believe that you have a good plan for me and I know you will help me to stand firm in you.”
Is 7:1-9
In the days of Ahaz, king of Judah, son of Jotham, son of Uzziah,
Rezin, king of Aram,
and Pekah, king of Israel, son of Remaliah,
went up to attack Jerusalem,
but they were not able to conquer it.
When word came to the house of David that Aram
was encamped in Ephraim,
the heart of the king and the heart of the people trembled,
as the trees of the forest tremble in the wind.
Then the LORD said to Isaiah: Go out to meet Ahaz,
you and your son Shear-jashub,
at the end of the conduit of the upper pool,
on the highway of the fuller's field, and say to him:
Take care you remain tranquil and do not fear;
let not your courage fail
before these two stumps of smoldering brands
the blazing anger of Rezin and the Arameans,
and of the son Remaliah,
because of the mischief that
Aram, Ephraim and the son of Remaliah,
plots against you, saying,
"Let us go up and tear Judah asunder, make it our own by force,
and appoint the son of Tabeel king there."
Thus says the LORD:
This shall not stand, it shall not be!
Damascus is the capital of Aram,
and Rezin is the head of Damascus;
Samaria is the capital of Ephraim,
and Remaliah's son the head of Samaria.
But within sixty years and five,
Ephraim shall be crushed, no longer a nation.
Unless your faith is firm
you shall not be firm!
Gospel
Mt 11:20-24
Jesus began to reproach the towns
where most of his mighty deeds had been done,
since they had not repented.
"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty deeds done in your midst
had been done in Tyre and Sidon,
they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes.
But I tell you, it will be more tolerable
for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
And as for you, Capernaum:
Will you be exalted to heaven?
You will go down to the nether world.
For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom,
it would have remained until this day.
But I tell you, it will be more tolerable
for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."
Meditation: Isaiah 7:1-9
“Unless your faith is firm, you shall not be firm!” (Isaiah 7:9)
Judah’s King Ahaz had reason to be afraid. Assyria was threatening every country in the Middle East. The northern kingdoms of Israel and Syria invited Judah to join them in a military alliance, but Ahaz refused. He preferred to become a vassal of Assyria. So Israel and Syria besieged Jerusalem, intending to replace Ahaz with a non-Davidic ruler willing to join them. In the face of this threat, Ahaz and his people found their hearts trembling like leaves in the wind.
So God sent Isaiah to reassure King Ahaz: “Remain tranquil and do not fear” (Isaiah 7:4). Trust in the Lord to deliver you. If you have trouble trusting him, ask for a sign. But Ahaz chose to rely on Assyria rather than on the Lord. And in that choice, he showed that he preferred the security of a power he could see and feel over faith in an invisible God. Unable to follow Isaiah’s urging to stand firm, he gave in to his fears and asked a pagan king to protect him instead.
What makes me “tremble” today? Perhaps I am perplexed about how to resolve a complicated situation. Perhaps I’m aware of my own inadequacies in the face of a challenge. Perhaps I feel I’ve messed up so badly that it can’t be fixed.
These are good starting points, actually. It’s good to tremble every now and then. It’s one way to be reminded of your limitations and your need for God. But for heaven’s sake, don’t stay there! Move forward! When you find yourself lacking in wisdom, lean into God’s wisdom, and you’ll find strength you never knew you had. When you know you can’t do something, take a calming breath, and rejoice in the God who can do everything. When you are faced with your failures, thank the Lord that he is faithful to forgive and swift to cleanse your conscience.
Don’t be like Ahaz! Stand firm in your faith that only God’s plan will win out. And it’s a good plan, too, far better than anything you can devise. So “remain tranquil and do not fear” (Isaiah 7:4).
“Father, I surrender every situation to you today. I believe that you have a good plan for me and I know you will help me to stand firm in you.”
12 July 2010
12 July 2010, Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Is 1:10-17
Hear the word of the LORD,
princes of Sodom!
Listen to the instruction of our God,
people of Gomorrah!
What care I for the number of your sacrifices?
says the LORD.
I have had enough of whole-burnt rams
and fat of fatlings;
In the blood of calves, lambs and goats
I find no pleasure.
When you come in to visit me,
who asks these things of you?
Trample my courts no more!
Bring no more worthless offerings;
your incense is loathsome to me.
New moon and sabbath, calling of assemblies,
octaves with wickedness: these I cannot bear.
Your new moons and festivals I detest;
they weigh me down, I tire of the load.
When you spread out your hands,
I close my eyes to you;
Though you pray the more,
I will not listen.
Your hands are full of blood!
Wash yourselves clean!
Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;
cease doing evil; learn to do good.
Make justice your aim: redress the wronged,
hear the orphan's plea, defend the widow.
Gospel
Mt 10:34-11:1
Jesus said to his Apostles:
"Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth.
I have come to bring not peace but the sword.
For I have come to set
a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
and one's enemies will be those of his household.
"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,
and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
and whoever does not take up his cross
and follow after me is not worthy of me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
"Whoever receives you receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet
will receive a prophet's reward,
and whoever receives a righteous man
because he is righteous
will receive a righteous man's reward.
And whoever gives only a cup of cold water
to one of these little ones to drink
because he is a disciple–
amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward."
When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples,
he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.
Meditation: Isaiah 1:10-17
“Hear the word of the Lord!” (Isaiah 1:10)
What an auspicious opening for the Book of Isaiah! This fellow was convinced that his message came from God and that it was a word for all the people of Jerusalem to hear. What was the source of his confidence? Isaiah had a terrifying vision of the all-holy God, a vision that filled him with dread over his own sins and the sins of the people. Intertwined with that dread, however, was the assurance of God’s own mercy for him—and an invitation to go and speak God’s words of warning, judgment, and hope to the people.
This dramatic vision gave Isaiah a deep awareness of human sinfulness—both his own and that of the people. “Woe is me!” he cried. “I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5). It was a conviction that shaped his whole prophetic ministry. Like every other prophet of the Lord, he spoke to the political situations of his day, but—again like every other prophet—he did so by calling the people to repentance. “Act with justice and compassion!” he cried. “Put aside idolatry, greed, and corruption! Care for the poor and needy!”
Isaiah never gave up hope. In some of the Old Testament’s most memorable passages, he spoke of a time when God’s peace and justice would rule Israel. He spoke with great confidence about a coming king, who would be called “Wonder-Counselor,” “Prince of Peace,” and “Immanuel” (Isaiah 9:5; 7:14). Many commentators see these as references to the righteous King Hezekiah, but with the eyes of faith, we can see them also as descriptions of Jesus, who is the fulfillment of every prophet’s words.
Isaiah’s ministry spanned more than half a century, roughly 749 to 687 b.c., and it encompassed a number of upheavals for the people. Yet through them all, messages like today’s passage ring out clearly, both for the people of ancient Jerusalem and for us today. When all is said and done, it’s a simple message from a loving God: “Cease doing evil; learn to do good. Make justice your aim” (Isaiah 1:16-17).
“Lord God, lead me in the path of your holiness. Teach me how to live a life pleasing to you in every way.”
Is 1:10-17
Hear the word of the LORD,
princes of Sodom!
Listen to the instruction of our God,
people of Gomorrah!
What care I for the number of your sacrifices?
says the LORD.
I have had enough of whole-burnt rams
and fat of fatlings;
In the blood of calves, lambs and goats
I find no pleasure.
When you come in to visit me,
who asks these things of you?
Trample my courts no more!
Bring no more worthless offerings;
your incense is loathsome to me.
New moon and sabbath, calling of assemblies,
octaves with wickedness: these I cannot bear.
Your new moons and festivals I detest;
they weigh me down, I tire of the load.
When you spread out your hands,
I close my eyes to you;
Though you pray the more,
I will not listen.
Your hands are full of blood!
Wash yourselves clean!
Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;
cease doing evil; learn to do good.
Make justice your aim: redress the wronged,
hear the orphan's plea, defend the widow.
Gospel
Mt 10:34-11:1
Jesus said to his Apostles:
"Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth.
I have come to bring not peace but the sword.
For I have come to set
a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
and one's enemies will be those of his household.
"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,
and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
and whoever does not take up his cross
and follow after me is not worthy of me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
"Whoever receives you receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet
will receive a prophet's reward,
and whoever receives a righteous man
because he is righteous
will receive a righteous man's reward.
And whoever gives only a cup of cold water
to one of these little ones to drink
because he is a disciple–
amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward."
When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples,
he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.
Meditation: Isaiah 1:10-17
“Hear the word of the Lord!” (Isaiah 1:10)
What an auspicious opening for the Book of Isaiah! This fellow was convinced that his message came from God and that it was a word for all the people of Jerusalem to hear. What was the source of his confidence? Isaiah had a terrifying vision of the all-holy God, a vision that filled him with dread over his own sins and the sins of the people. Intertwined with that dread, however, was the assurance of God’s own mercy for him—and an invitation to go and speak God’s words of warning, judgment, and hope to the people.
This dramatic vision gave Isaiah a deep awareness of human sinfulness—both his own and that of the people. “Woe is me!” he cried. “I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5). It was a conviction that shaped his whole prophetic ministry. Like every other prophet of the Lord, he spoke to the political situations of his day, but—again like every other prophet—he did so by calling the people to repentance. “Act with justice and compassion!” he cried. “Put aside idolatry, greed, and corruption! Care for the poor and needy!”
Isaiah never gave up hope. In some of the Old Testament’s most memorable passages, he spoke of a time when God’s peace and justice would rule Israel. He spoke with great confidence about a coming king, who would be called “Wonder-Counselor,” “Prince of Peace,” and “Immanuel” (Isaiah 9:5; 7:14). Many commentators see these as references to the righteous King Hezekiah, but with the eyes of faith, we can see them also as descriptions of Jesus, who is the fulfillment of every prophet’s words.
Isaiah’s ministry spanned more than half a century, roughly 749 to 687 b.c., and it encompassed a number of upheavals for the people. Yet through them all, messages like today’s passage ring out clearly, both for the people of ancient Jerusalem and for us today. When all is said and done, it’s a simple message from a loving God: “Cease doing evil; learn to do good. Make justice your aim” (Isaiah 1:16-17).
“Lord God, lead me in the path of your holiness. Teach me how to live a life pleasing to you in every way.”
10 July 2010
11 July 2010, Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Dt 30:10-14
Moses said to the people:
"If only you would heed the voice of the LORD, your God,
and keep his commandments and statutes
that are written in this book of the law,
when you return to the LORD, your God,
with all your heart and all your soul.
"For this command that I enjoin on you today
is not too mysterious and remote for you.
It is not up in the sky, that you should say,
'Who will go up in the sky to get it for us
and tell us of it, that we may carry it out?'
Nor is it across the sea, that you should say,
'Who will cross the sea to get it for us
and tell us of it, that we may carry it out?'
No, it is something very near to you,
already in your mouths and in your hearts;
you have only to carry it out."
Reading 2
Col1:15-20
Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.
For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things he himself might be preeminent.
For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile all things for him,
making peace by the blood of his cross
through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.
Gospel
Lk 10:25-37
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said,
"Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law?
How do you read it?"
He said in reply,
You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your being,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind,
and your neighbor as yourself."
He replied to him, "You have answered correctly;
do this and you will live."
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus,
"And who is my neighbor?"
Jesus replied,
"A man fell victim to robbers
as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho.
They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.
A priest happened to be going down that road,
but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
Likewise a Levite came to the place,
and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him
was moved with compassion at the sight.
He approached the victim,
poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them.
Then he lifted him up on his own animal,
took him to an inn, and cared for him.
The next day he took out two silver coins
and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction,
'Take care of him.
If you spend more than what I have given you,
I shall repay you on my way back.'
Which of these three, in your opinion,
was neighbor to the robbers' victim?"
He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy."
Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Meditation: Luke 10:25-37
Who is my neighbor? (Luke 10:29)
In his questioning and counter-questioning with Jesus, this lawyer revealed a deep sensitivity to the word of the Lord. Unlike most of the other experts in Judaism—who were among Jesus’ most bitter opponents—this one got to the heart of the entire plan of God with two simple commands: Love God, and love your neighbor.
In his answer, the lawyer demonstrated what Moses told the Israelites centuries earlier: “The word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart” (Deuteronomy 30:14). He showed that the way of God is written, almost genetically, within the impulses of our human nature, and for this he won Jesus’ approval.
Brothers and sisters, the gospel isn’t hard to understand. It’s not a complex set of theological formulas. We don’t need years of education to get to its core. God has written it on our hearts, and in the depths of our conscience, we all know the truth.
But there is more to this passage than a conversation between two religious leaders. Jesus not only told the lawyer that he was on the right track, he also said: “Do this and you will live” (Luke 10:28). Evidently, it’s not enough for us to understand the truth. Our understanding should lead us to doing the truth as well. So in the end, the gospel is just as demanding as it is simple.
Whenever we hear God’s word proclaimed at Mass, Jesus tells us: “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37). He asks us to embrace the simplicity of his message and to silence the inner voices that try to make excuses and protest that Jesus is asking too much. Moses was right: The word is not far from us at all. The Holy Spirit—the love and power of God—is always with us to teach us and to empower us.
“Thank you, Jesus, for writing your words on my heart. By the power of your Spirit, give me the courage and humility to go and do the works of your gospel. Jesus, make me more like you.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions for Individual Reflection or Group Discussion
(Isaiah 66:10-14; Psalm 66:1-7,16,20; Galatians 6:14-18; Luke 10:1-12,17-20)
1. In the first reading, Moses tells the people the command they are to fulfill is already “something very near to you, already in your mouths and in your hearts; you have only to carry it out.” Jesus summarizes this command for us in the Gospel reading: love God and love your neighbors. How would you characterize how you are fulfilling this command? What small step may God be asking you to take to better love Him and your neighbors?
2. The responsorial psalm is a cry for help by the psalmist who is “afflicted and in pain.” Why is he able to respond to this affliction and pain with these words: “I will praise the name of the Lord in song, and I will glorify him with thanksgiving”?
3. In second reading from the letter to the Colossians, St. Paul’s ancient hymn says that in Christ all things are reconciled. What areas of your life may still require a deeper reconciliation with God or with your neighbor?
4. In the Gospel reading, in response to the man who wanted “to justify” himself, Jesus tells the beautiful story of the Good Samaritan. Which of the characters in the parable do you relate to the most? Why?
5. The Good Samaritan is often taken as a model of Jesus’ care for each of us. With this in mind, how do you relate the care to the man who was victimized with how Jesus has cared for you?
6. In the meditation, we hear these words: “Evidently, it’s not enough for us to understand the truth. Our understanding should lead us to doing the truth as well.” If you are in a group, pray for one another for the grace and power to live out the truths of the Gospel, especially to love God and our neighbors. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as a starting point.
Dt 30:10-14
Moses said to the people:
"If only you would heed the voice of the LORD, your God,
and keep his commandments and statutes
that are written in this book of the law,
when you return to the LORD, your God,
with all your heart and all your soul.
"For this command that I enjoin on you today
is not too mysterious and remote for you.
It is not up in the sky, that you should say,
'Who will go up in the sky to get it for us
and tell us of it, that we may carry it out?'
Nor is it across the sea, that you should say,
'Who will cross the sea to get it for us
and tell us of it, that we may carry it out?'
No, it is something very near to you,
already in your mouths and in your hearts;
you have only to carry it out."
Reading 2
Col1:15-20
Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.
For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things he himself might be preeminent.
For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile all things for him,
making peace by the blood of his cross
through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.
Gospel
Lk 10:25-37
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said,
"Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law?
How do you read it?"
He said in reply,
You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your being,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind,
and your neighbor as yourself."
He replied to him, "You have answered correctly;
do this and you will live."
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus,
"And who is my neighbor?"
Jesus replied,
"A man fell victim to robbers
as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho.
They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.
A priest happened to be going down that road,
but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
Likewise a Levite came to the place,
and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him
was moved with compassion at the sight.
He approached the victim,
poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them.
Then he lifted him up on his own animal,
took him to an inn, and cared for him.
The next day he took out two silver coins
and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction,
'Take care of him.
If you spend more than what I have given you,
I shall repay you on my way back.'
Which of these three, in your opinion,
was neighbor to the robbers' victim?"
He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy."
Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Meditation: Luke 10:25-37
Who is my neighbor? (Luke 10:29)
In his questioning and counter-questioning with Jesus, this lawyer revealed a deep sensitivity to the word of the Lord. Unlike most of the other experts in Judaism—who were among Jesus’ most bitter opponents—this one got to the heart of the entire plan of God with two simple commands: Love God, and love your neighbor.
In his answer, the lawyer demonstrated what Moses told the Israelites centuries earlier: “The word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart” (Deuteronomy 30:14). He showed that the way of God is written, almost genetically, within the impulses of our human nature, and for this he won Jesus’ approval.
Brothers and sisters, the gospel isn’t hard to understand. It’s not a complex set of theological formulas. We don’t need years of education to get to its core. God has written it on our hearts, and in the depths of our conscience, we all know the truth.
But there is more to this passage than a conversation between two religious leaders. Jesus not only told the lawyer that he was on the right track, he also said: “Do this and you will live” (Luke 10:28). Evidently, it’s not enough for us to understand the truth. Our understanding should lead us to doing the truth as well. So in the end, the gospel is just as demanding as it is simple.
Whenever we hear God’s word proclaimed at Mass, Jesus tells us: “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37). He asks us to embrace the simplicity of his message and to silence the inner voices that try to make excuses and protest that Jesus is asking too much. Moses was right: The word is not far from us at all. The Holy Spirit—the love and power of God—is always with us to teach us and to empower us.
“Thank you, Jesus, for writing your words on my heart. By the power of your Spirit, give me the courage and humility to go and do the works of your gospel. Jesus, make me more like you.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions for Individual Reflection or Group Discussion
(Isaiah 66:10-14; Psalm 66:1-7,16,20; Galatians 6:14-18; Luke 10:1-12,17-20)
1. In the first reading, Moses tells the people the command they are to fulfill is already “something very near to you, already in your mouths and in your hearts; you have only to carry it out.” Jesus summarizes this command for us in the Gospel reading: love God and love your neighbors. How would you characterize how you are fulfilling this command? What small step may God be asking you to take to better love Him and your neighbors?
2. The responsorial psalm is a cry for help by the psalmist who is “afflicted and in pain.” Why is he able to respond to this affliction and pain with these words: “I will praise the name of the Lord in song, and I will glorify him with thanksgiving”?
3. In second reading from the letter to the Colossians, St. Paul’s ancient hymn says that in Christ all things are reconciled. What areas of your life may still require a deeper reconciliation with God or with your neighbor?
4. In the Gospel reading, in response to the man who wanted “to justify” himself, Jesus tells the beautiful story of the Good Samaritan. Which of the characters in the parable do you relate to the most? Why?
5. The Good Samaritan is often taken as a model of Jesus’ care for each of us. With this in mind, how do you relate the care to the man who was victimized with how Jesus has cared for you?
6. In the meditation, we hear these words: “Evidently, it’s not enough for us to understand the truth. Our understanding should lead us to doing the truth as well.” If you are in a group, pray for one another for the grace and power to live out the truths of the Gospel, especially to love God and our neighbors. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as a starting point.
10 July 2010, Saturday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Is 6:1-8
In the year King Uzziah died,
I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne,
with the train of his garment filling the temple.
Seraphim were stationed above; each of them had six wings:
with two they veiled their faces,
with two they veiled their feet,
and with two they hovered aloft.
They cried one to the other,
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts!
All the earth is filled with his glory!"
At the sound of that cry, the frame of the door shook
and the house was filled with smoke.
Then I said, "Woe is me, I am doomed!
For I am a man of unclean lips,
living among a people of unclean lips;
yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"
Then one of the seraphim flew to me,
holding an ember that he had taken with tongs from the altar.
He touched my mouth with it and said,
"See, now that this has touched your lips,
your wickedness is removed, your sin purged."
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
"Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?"
"Here I am," I said; "send me!"
Gospel
Mt 10:24-33
Jesus said to his Apostles:
"No disciple is above his teacher,
no slave above his master.
It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher,
for the slave that he become like his master.
If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul,
how much more those of his household!
"Therefore do not be afraid of them.
Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light;
what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul;
rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy
both soul and body in Gehenna.
Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin?
Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge.
Even all the hairs of your head are counted.
So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Everyone who acknowledges me before others
I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.
But whoever denies me before others,
I will deny before my heavenly Father."
Meditation: Matthew 10:24-33
Do not be afraid. (Matthew 10:31)
It’s natural to be afraid of the unknown, and for many of us evangelizing is a great, vast unknown. So many what-ifs come up in our minds that we just want to run away and hide. But as we work on developing a relationship with the Holy Spirit, we find that fear gradually fades away and is replaced by a calm confidence.
Getting to know the Spirit is vital to evangelization. Why? Because only the Spirit can put us in touch with the love that casts out fear and lightens burdens. And whenever this happens, we are freed up to care for the people around us. We begin to trust that God won’t give us anything we can’t handle and that he won’t give us opportunities to witness that are beyond our ability. And even if we do face situations in which we are challenged beyond what we think we can do, the Spirit will comfort and strengthen us with the promise that with God all things are possible. So even if we misspeak or misstep, God is there to correct us gently and to comfort us, teach us, and even bless our misguided efforts.
So how can we allow the Spirit to make us into more effective evangelists? Practice, practice, practice. Start slowly, but be willing to take a few risks when you think you feel the Spirit nudging your conscience. Try introducing yourself to someone after Mass and saying something positive. Just one small step of faith can do wonders in helping overcome an initial awkwardness. Then your friendliness can set the stage for a more personal sharing of your faith.
Remain as simple and personal with people as you know God is with you. You don’t have to get into doctrinal debates or controversies. All you have to do is share from your heart, confident that the One who has counted every hair on your head is standing next to you. Remember: Evangelism is all about introducing people to a person—Jesus. And that’s something the Holy Spirit is an expert at. So invite him in, and watch as your fears dissipate, and the gospel shines from your heart.
“Jesus, give me the courage I need to share your good news with the people around me. Holy Spirit, come teach me, and encourage me to be your ambassador!”
Is 6:1-8
In the year King Uzziah died,
I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne,
with the train of his garment filling the temple.
Seraphim were stationed above; each of them had six wings:
with two they veiled their faces,
with two they veiled their feet,
and with two they hovered aloft.
They cried one to the other,
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts!
All the earth is filled with his glory!"
At the sound of that cry, the frame of the door shook
and the house was filled with smoke.
Then I said, "Woe is me, I am doomed!
For I am a man of unclean lips,
living among a people of unclean lips;
yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"
Then one of the seraphim flew to me,
holding an ember that he had taken with tongs from the altar.
He touched my mouth with it and said,
"See, now that this has touched your lips,
your wickedness is removed, your sin purged."
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
"Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?"
"Here I am," I said; "send me!"
Gospel
Mt 10:24-33
Jesus said to his Apostles:
"No disciple is above his teacher,
no slave above his master.
It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher,
for the slave that he become like his master.
If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul,
how much more those of his household!
"Therefore do not be afraid of them.
Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light;
what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul;
rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy
both soul and body in Gehenna.
Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin?
Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge.
Even all the hairs of your head are counted.
So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Everyone who acknowledges me before others
I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.
But whoever denies me before others,
I will deny before my heavenly Father."
Meditation: Matthew 10:24-33
Do not be afraid. (Matthew 10:31)
It’s natural to be afraid of the unknown, and for many of us evangelizing is a great, vast unknown. So many what-ifs come up in our minds that we just want to run away and hide. But as we work on developing a relationship with the Holy Spirit, we find that fear gradually fades away and is replaced by a calm confidence.
Getting to know the Spirit is vital to evangelization. Why? Because only the Spirit can put us in touch with the love that casts out fear and lightens burdens. And whenever this happens, we are freed up to care for the people around us. We begin to trust that God won’t give us anything we can’t handle and that he won’t give us opportunities to witness that are beyond our ability. And even if we do face situations in which we are challenged beyond what we think we can do, the Spirit will comfort and strengthen us with the promise that with God all things are possible. So even if we misspeak or misstep, God is there to correct us gently and to comfort us, teach us, and even bless our misguided efforts.
So how can we allow the Spirit to make us into more effective evangelists? Practice, practice, practice. Start slowly, but be willing to take a few risks when you think you feel the Spirit nudging your conscience. Try introducing yourself to someone after Mass and saying something positive. Just one small step of faith can do wonders in helping overcome an initial awkwardness. Then your friendliness can set the stage for a more personal sharing of your faith.
Remain as simple and personal with people as you know God is with you. You don’t have to get into doctrinal debates or controversies. All you have to do is share from your heart, confident that the One who has counted every hair on your head is standing next to you. Remember: Evangelism is all about introducing people to a person—Jesus. And that’s something the Holy Spirit is an expert at. So invite him in, and watch as your fears dissipate, and the gospel shines from your heart.
“Jesus, give me the courage I need to share your good news with the people around me. Holy Spirit, come teach me, and encourage me to be your ambassador!”
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