Reading 1
Dn 7:9-10, 13-14
As I watched:
Thrones were set up
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was bright as snow,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
his throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.
The court was convened and the books were opened.
As the visions during the night continued, I saw:
One like a Son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
The one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.
Reading 2
2 Pt 1:16-19
Beloved:
We did not follow cleverly devised myths
when we made known to you
the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.
For he received honor and glory from God the Father
when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory,
“This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven
while we were with him on the holy mountain.
Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable.
You will do well to be attentive to it,
as to a lamp shining in a dark place,
until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Gospel
Lk 9:28b-36
Jesus took Peter, John, and James
and went up a mountain to pray.
While he was praying his face changed in appearance
and his clothing became dazzling white.
And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,
who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus
that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep,
but becoming fully awake,
they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus,
“Master, it is good that we are here;
let us make three tents,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
But he did not know what he was saying.
While he was still speaking,
a cloud came and cast a shadow over them,
and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.
They fell silent and did not at that time
tell anyone what they had seen.
Meditation: 2 Peter 1:16-19
The Transfiguration of the Lord
He received honor and glory from God the Father. (2 Peter 1:17)
Suppose you had been around to hear Peter tell the story of Jesus’ transfiguration. Wouldn’t you want all the colorful details that we read in Mark, Luke, and Matthew? Wouldn’t you expect even more inside information—like maybe what Moses looked like or what Elijah said? But here Peter focuses only on the voice from heaven that said: “This is my beloved Son.” What a disappointment!
We have to remember why Peter wrote this letter. He wanted to exhort believers to persevere in their faith, and he knew that simply recounting spectacular events from the past was insufficient. Peter sought to highlight who Jesus is, not necessarily all the wonders he performed. What’s more, the voice that Peter heard didn’t say: “Hey, look at what my Son can do!” No, God simply said that he loved his Son and was pleased with him. In other words, the relationship was more important than the miracles.
Why was God so pleased with his Son? Because Jesus was completely faithful to his mission. He let nothing—not the disciples’ misunderstanding, not the opposition of some Pharisees, not even the occasionally misguided accolades of his simple followers—deter him from proclaiming the gospel. He even knew what lay ahead of him—not just persecution but even death— and still he held firm. He surely had a sense of how much easier his life could be if he were to water down his message. But he couldn’t stand the thought of turning away from his Father or abandoning us.
This kind of devotion moved his Father deeply. And so on the Mount of Transfiguration, he gave Jesus a glimpse of the glory that awaited him—the glory, in fact, that awaits everyone who strives to remain faithful to God.
Today’s feast urges us, then, to hold fast to the Lord and to the calling he has given us. It tells us that there is something more important than spectacular miracles—our relationship with the Lord. Today, may we all hear God say to us: “You are my beloved child. I am glad to call you my own.”
“Lord, show me your glory! Let me hear your voice in my heart today, so that I can become more like you.”
05 August 2010
05 Aug 2010, Thursday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Jer 31:31-34
The days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel
and the house of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers:
the day I took them by the hand
to lead them forth from the land of Egypt;
for they broke my covenant,
and I had to show myself their master, says the LORD.
But this is the covenant that I will make
with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD.
I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts;
I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
No longer will they have need to teach their friends and relatives
how to know the LORD.
All, from least to greatest, shall know me, says the LORD,
for I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more.
Gospel
Mt 16:13-23
Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
and he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Then he strictly ordered his disciples
to tell no one that he was the Christ.
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly
from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
“God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.”
He turned and said to Peter,
“Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
Meditation: Jeremiah 31:31-34
“I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel.” (Jeremiah 31:31)
It’s pretty amazing that God would offer the Israelites a new covenant, considering how poorly they kept the first one. But that’s just the way he is. He loves us too much to leave us to our own devices. What’s more, this new covenant is still in effect today—and for all of us, not just the children of Israel. Looking back at history, we can see that this new covenant found its ultimate fulfillment in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
So what is this new covenant? And how is it better than the first one?
First of all, it is a promise of the forgiveness of our sins. Under the first covenant, blood from sacrificial animals was used to atone for the people’s sinful acts. In the new covenant, it is Jesus’ own blood that has cleansed us. And this cleansing is internal, both forgiving our sinful acts and cleansing our consciences as well (Hebrews 9:11-14).
Secondly, it is God’s promise to write his law on our hearts, not just on tablets of stone. This means that God’s ways and his will can be woven into the very fabric of who we are, affecting our every thought, word, and action. It means that we can be transformed more and more into the image of the Lord!
Finally, the new covenant promises that all of us, from the least to the greatest, can know the Lord—and know him deeply and personally. It means that we can have a relationship with God. We can know the way he thinks and how he feels and not just rely on ancient stories about him.
If we put all this together, we can see that because of this new covenant, we can live a new, Spirit-filled life! Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can find the grace to obey God’s commands. We can discover a new intimacy with the Lord in prayer. And we can find a new courage to reach out to others with the message of the gospel.
So what are you waiting for? Place your faith in God’s promises, and watch as the new covenant unfolds in your life today.
“Jesus, I rejoice in all that you have done for me. Let my joy be contagious today, so that everyone might come to know you as Savior, Lord, and Friend.”
Jer 31:31-34
The days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel
and the house of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers:
the day I took them by the hand
to lead them forth from the land of Egypt;
for they broke my covenant,
and I had to show myself their master, says the LORD.
But this is the covenant that I will make
with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD.
I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts;
I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
No longer will they have need to teach their friends and relatives
how to know the LORD.
All, from least to greatest, shall know me, says the LORD,
for I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more.
Gospel
Mt 16:13-23
Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
and he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Then he strictly ordered his disciples
to tell no one that he was the Christ.
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly
from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
“God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.”
He turned and said to Peter,
“Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
Meditation: Jeremiah 31:31-34
“I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel.” (Jeremiah 31:31)
It’s pretty amazing that God would offer the Israelites a new covenant, considering how poorly they kept the first one. But that’s just the way he is. He loves us too much to leave us to our own devices. What’s more, this new covenant is still in effect today—and for all of us, not just the children of Israel. Looking back at history, we can see that this new covenant found its ultimate fulfillment in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
So what is this new covenant? And how is it better than the first one?
First of all, it is a promise of the forgiveness of our sins. Under the first covenant, blood from sacrificial animals was used to atone for the people’s sinful acts. In the new covenant, it is Jesus’ own blood that has cleansed us. And this cleansing is internal, both forgiving our sinful acts and cleansing our consciences as well (Hebrews 9:11-14).
Secondly, it is God’s promise to write his law on our hearts, not just on tablets of stone. This means that God’s ways and his will can be woven into the very fabric of who we are, affecting our every thought, word, and action. It means that we can be transformed more and more into the image of the Lord!
Finally, the new covenant promises that all of us, from the least to the greatest, can know the Lord—and know him deeply and personally. It means that we can have a relationship with God. We can know the way he thinks and how he feels and not just rely on ancient stories about him.
If we put all this together, we can see that because of this new covenant, we can live a new, Spirit-filled life! Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can find the grace to obey God’s commands. We can discover a new intimacy with the Lord in prayer. And we can find a new courage to reach out to others with the message of the gospel.
So what are you waiting for? Place your faith in God’s promises, and watch as the new covenant unfolds in your life today.
“Jesus, I rejoice in all that you have done for me. Let my joy be contagious today, so that everyone might come to know you as Savior, Lord, and Friend.”
04 August 2010
04 Aug 2010, Memorial of Saint John Vianney, priest
Reading 1
Jer 31:1-7
At that time, says the LORD,
I will be the God of all the tribes of Israel,
and they shall be my people.
Thus says the LORD:
The people that escaped the sword
have found favor in the desert.
As Israel comes forward to be given his rest,
the LORD appears to him from afar:
With age-old love I have loved you;
so I have kept my mercy toward you.
Again I will restore you, and you shall be rebuilt,
O virgin Israel;
Carrying your festive tambourines,
you shall go forth dancing with the merrymakers.
Again you shall plant vineyards
on the mountains of Samaria;
those who plant them shall enjoy the fruits.
Yes, a day will come when the watchmen
will call out on Mount Ephraim:
“Rise up, let us go to Zion,
to the LORD, our God.”
For thus says the LORD:
Shout with joy for Jacob,
exult at the head of the nations;
proclaim your praise and say:
The LORD has delivered his people,
the remnant of Israel.
Gospel
Mt 15: 21-28
At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,
“Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!
My daughter is tormented by a demon.”
But he did not say a word in answer to her.
His disciples came and asked him,
“Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”
He said in reply,
“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.”
He said in reply,
“It is not right to take the food of the children
and throw it to the dogs.”
She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps
that fall from the table of their masters.”
Then Jesus said to her in reply,
“O woman, great is your faith!
Let it be done for you as you wish.”
And her daughter was healed from that hour.
Meditation: Jeremiah 31:1-7
“With age-old love, I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you.” (Jeremiah 31:3)
Jeremiah lived through tumultuous times. He saw empires rise and fall. He saw good and bad kings reign. He saw times when he was deeply revered and times when he was hated and scorned. And through all of it, he labored to bring God’s word to the people. Sadly, very few listened to him.
Imagine how devastating it must have been for Jeremiah to see his beloved Jerusalem overrun by the Babylonian army, the Temple desecrated and burnt to the ground, and so many of his countrymen—friends and enemies alike—taken into exile as captives.
But curiously enough, Jeremiah did not respond with words of despair. He didn’t even affirm God’s judgment on Jerusalem’s sin. Instead, Jeremiah began delivering prophecies of hope and consolation, messages filled with God’s love and compassion for his people’s sufferings. Just at their lowest point, when the people thought God had abandoned them, God proved that his mercy and love are stronger than any darkness—even the darkness of the human heart.
This is the wonder of our God. He never abandons us. His mercy is everlasting, and his compassion is deeper than the ocean. Even when we have brought something upon ourselves through selfishness or irresponsibility, our Father stands by us, offering us not only his wise correction but his healing, his love, and his affirmation. Unfortunately, sometimes we lose sight of this truth and let our sins and failings convince us not to try to turn to God for his help and guidance.
Don’t let that happen! Today’s first reading offers us an excellent opportunity to reach out to the Lord and get a taste of his mercy. So take the time today to immerse yourself in these words of compassion. Let the Lord use them to speak to you right here and right now. Even if you are not facing anything particularly challenging, know that he is with you, ready to fill you with all the love and grace you need for the day ahead.
“Father, your love and mercy reach back into my past and extend forward into my future. Help me to cling to you at all times.”
Jer 31:1-7
At that time, says the LORD,
I will be the God of all the tribes of Israel,
and they shall be my people.
Thus says the LORD:
The people that escaped the sword
have found favor in the desert.
As Israel comes forward to be given his rest,
the LORD appears to him from afar:
With age-old love I have loved you;
so I have kept my mercy toward you.
Again I will restore you, and you shall be rebuilt,
O virgin Israel;
Carrying your festive tambourines,
you shall go forth dancing with the merrymakers.
Again you shall plant vineyards
on the mountains of Samaria;
those who plant them shall enjoy the fruits.
Yes, a day will come when the watchmen
will call out on Mount Ephraim:
“Rise up, let us go to Zion,
to the LORD, our God.”
For thus says the LORD:
Shout with joy for Jacob,
exult at the head of the nations;
proclaim your praise and say:
The LORD has delivered his people,
the remnant of Israel.
Gospel
Mt 15: 21-28
At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,
“Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!
My daughter is tormented by a demon.”
But he did not say a word in answer to her.
His disciples came and asked him,
“Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”
He said in reply,
“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.”
He said in reply,
“It is not right to take the food of the children
and throw it to the dogs.”
She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps
that fall from the table of their masters.”
Then Jesus said to her in reply,
“O woman, great is your faith!
Let it be done for you as you wish.”
And her daughter was healed from that hour.
Meditation: Jeremiah 31:1-7
“With age-old love, I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you.” (Jeremiah 31:3)
Jeremiah lived through tumultuous times. He saw empires rise and fall. He saw good and bad kings reign. He saw times when he was deeply revered and times when he was hated and scorned. And through all of it, he labored to bring God’s word to the people. Sadly, very few listened to him.
Imagine how devastating it must have been for Jeremiah to see his beloved Jerusalem overrun by the Babylonian army, the Temple desecrated and burnt to the ground, and so many of his countrymen—friends and enemies alike—taken into exile as captives.
But curiously enough, Jeremiah did not respond with words of despair. He didn’t even affirm God’s judgment on Jerusalem’s sin. Instead, Jeremiah began delivering prophecies of hope and consolation, messages filled with God’s love and compassion for his people’s sufferings. Just at their lowest point, when the people thought God had abandoned them, God proved that his mercy and love are stronger than any darkness—even the darkness of the human heart.
This is the wonder of our God. He never abandons us. His mercy is everlasting, and his compassion is deeper than the ocean. Even when we have brought something upon ourselves through selfishness or irresponsibility, our Father stands by us, offering us not only his wise correction but his healing, his love, and his affirmation. Unfortunately, sometimes we lose sight of this truth and let our sins and failings convince us not to try to turn to God for his help and guidance.
Don’t let that happen! Today’s first reading offers us an excellent opportunity to reach out to the Lord and get a taste of his mercy. So take the time today to immerse yourself in these words of compassion. Let the Lord use them to speak to you right here and right now. Even if you are not facing anything particularly challenging, know that he is with you, ready to fill you with all the love and grace you need for the day ahead.
“Father, your love and mercy reach back into my past and extend forward into my future. Help me to cling to you at all times.”
03 August 2010
03 Aug 2010, Tuesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Jer 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22
The following message came to Jeremiah from the LORD:
For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel:
Write all the words I have spoken to you in a book.
For thus says the LORD:
Incurable is your wound,
grievous your bruise;
There is none to plead your cause,
no remedy for your running sore,
no healing for you.
All your lovers have forgotten you,
they do not seek you.
I struck you as an enemy would strike,
punished you cruelly;
Why cry out over your wound?
your pain is without relief.
Because of your great guilt,
your numerous sins,
I have done this to you.
Thus says the LORD:
See! I will restore the tents of Jacob,
his dwellings I will pity;
City shall be rebuilt upon hill,
and palace restored as it was.
From them will resound songs of praise,
the laughter of happy men.
I will make them not few, but many;
they will not be tiny, for I will glorify them.
His sons shall be as of old,
his assembly before me shall stand firm;
I will punish all his oppressors.
His leader shall be one of his own,
and his rulers shall come from his kin.
When I summon him, he shall approach me;
how else should one take the deadly risk
of approaching me? says the LORD.
You shall be my people,
and I will be your God.
Gospel
Mt 14:22-36
Jesus made the disciples get into a boat
and precede him to the other side of the sea,
while he dismissed the crowds.
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
When it was evening he was there alone.
Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,
was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them, walking on the sea.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.
“It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter said to him in reply,
“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come.”
Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;
and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him,
and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,
“Truly, you are the Son of God.”
After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret.
When the men of that place recognized him,
they sent word to all the surrounding country.
People brought to him all those who were sick
and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak,
and as many as touched it were healed.
Meditation: Jeremiah 30:1-2,12-15,18-22
“Your wounds I will heal.” (Jeremiah 30:17)
Nebuchadnezzar’s army swarming over Jerusalem, bringing death and devastation. The Temple going up in flames. Thousands of people rounded up and sent on a forced march into exile. The wounds inflicted upon Israel’s heart and soul surely seemed incurable. Is it possible that God had really abandoned his people? Is it possible that he had a change of heart?
Time and again, God spoke to his people through prophets like Jeremiah. And his call was always the same: “Return to the Lord with all your heart! Give up the false idols of the peoples around you!” Over and over again, God called his people back to him, but the distance between them grew as the people moved further away from him. And moving further from him, they had separated themselves from his protection. Now the time had come for them to reap what they had sown. It isn’t that God was punishing them. Rather, they were merely experiencing the consequences of their own actions—and they were devastating consequences indeed!
Yet it is in this dark hour that we see the overwhelming mercy of the Father. Despite what all the people had done against him and his commands, God still promised: “You shall be my people, and I will be your God” (Jeremiah 30:22). Their sins may have brought them to this point, but God’s love would bring them back. They may be bowed down in shame, but God would lift them up and restore all that had been lost.
This is how God treats all of us. We may find ourselves in a place of despair or desolation. Perhaps the things we thought would bring fulfillment only dragged us outside the Father’s grasp. But he continues to pursue us with love. If we take just one step toward him, he runs to us with open arms. All we have to do is decide to take that first step. No matter what you are facing now, no matter what you have done in the past, know that your heavenly Father wants to heal you and forgive you so you can walk with him. He is completely committed to you.
“Father, how wonderful is your love! I place my hope in your mercy, for you are filled with compassion. How glorious you are, and how mighty is your love!”
Jer 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22
The following message came to Jeremiah from the LORD:
For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel:
Write all the words I have spoken to you in a book.
For thus says the LORD:
Incurable is your wound,
grievous your bruise;
There is none to plead your cause,
no remedy for your running sore,
no healing for you.
All your lovers have forgotten you,
they do not seek you.
I struck you as an enemy would strike,
punished you cruelly;
Why cry out over your wound?
your pain is without relief.
Because of your great guilt,
your numerous sins,
I have done this to you.
Thus says the LORD:
See! I will restore the tents of Jacob,
his dwellings I will pity;
City shall be rebuilt upon hill,
and palace restored as it was.
From them will resound songs of praise,
the laughter of happy men.
I will make them not few, but many;
they will not be tiny, for I will glorify them.
His sons shall be as of old,
his assembly before me shall stand firm;
I will punish all his oppressors.
His leader shall be one of his own,
and his rulers shall come from his kin.
When I summon him, he shall approach me;
how else should one take the deadly risk
of approaching me? says the LORD.
You shall be my people,
and I will be your God.
Gospel
Mt 14:22-36
Jesus made the disciples get into a boat
and precede him to the other side of the sea,
while he dismissed the crowds.
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
When it was evening he was there alone.
Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,
was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them, walking on the sea.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.
“It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter said to him in reply,
“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come.”
Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;
and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him,
and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,
“Truly, you are the Son of God.”
After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret.
When the men of that place recognized him,
they sent word to all the surrounding country.
People brought to him all those who were sick
and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak,
and as many as touched it were healed.
Meditation: Jeremiah 30:1-2,12-15,18-22
“Your wounds I will heal.” (Jeremiah 30:17)
Nebuchadnezzar’s army swarming over Jerusalem, bringing death and devastation. The Temple going up in flames. Thousands of people rounded up and sent on a forced march into exile. The wounds inflicted upon Israel’s heart and soul surely seemed incurable. Is it possible that God had really abandoned his people? Is it possible that he had a change of heart?
Time and again, God spoke to his people through prophets like Jeremiah. And his call was always the same: “Return to the Lord with all your heart! Give up the false idols of the peoples around you!” Over and over again, God called his people back to him, but the distance between them grew as the people moved further away from him. And moving further from him, they had separated themselves from his protection. Now the time had come for them to reap what they had sown. It isn’t that God was punishing them. Rather, they were merely experiencing the consequences of their own actions—and they were devastating consequences indeed!
Yet it is in this dark hour that we see the overwhelming mercy of the Father. Despite what all the people had done against him and his commands, God still promised: “You shall be my people, and I will be your God” (Jeremiah 30:22). Their sins may have brought them to this point, but God’s love would bring them back. They may be bowed down in shame, but God would lift them up and restore all that had been lost.
This is how God treats all of us. We may find ourselves in a place of despair or desolation. Perhaps the things we thought would bring fulfillment only dragged us outside the Father’s grasp. But he continues to pursue us with love. If we take just one step toward him, he runs to us with open arms. All we have to do is decide to take that first step. No matter what you are facing now, no matter what you have done in the past, know that your heavenly Father wants to heal you and forgive you so you can walk with him. He is completely committed to you.
“Father, how wonderful is your love! I place my hope in your mercy, for you are filled with compassion. How glorious you are, and how mighty is your love!”
02 August 2010
02 Aug 2010, Monday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Jer 28:1-17
In the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah,
in the fifth month of the fourth year,
the prophet Hananiah, son of Azzur, from Gibeon,
said to me in the house of the LORD
in the presence of the priests and all the people:
“Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:
‘I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.
Within two years I will restore to this place
all the vessels of the temple of the LORD which Nebuchadnezzar,
king of Babylon, took away from this place to Babylon.
And I will bring back to this place Jeconiah,
son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah,
and all the exiles of Judah who went to Babylon,’ says the LORD,
‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’”
The prophet Jeremiah answered the prophet Hananiah
in the presence of the priests and all the people assembled
in the house of the LORD, and said:
Amen! thus may the LORD do!
May he fulfill the things you have prophesied
by bringing the vessels of the house of the LORD
and all the exiles back from Babylon to this place!
But now, listen to what I am about to state in your hearing
and the hearing of all the people.
From of old, the prophets who were before you and me prophesied
war, woe, and pestilence against many lands and mighty kingdoms.
But the prophet who prophesies peace
is recognized as truly sent by the LORD
only when his prophetic prediction is fulfilled.
Thereupon the prophet Hananiah took the yoke
from the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it,
and said in the presence of all the people:
“Thus says the LORD: ‘Even so, within two years
I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon,
from off the neck of all the nations.’”
At that, the prophet Jeremiah went away.
Some time after the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke
from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah,
The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah:
Go tell Hananiah this:
Thus says the LORD:
By breaking a wooden yoke, you forge an iron yoke!
For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:
A yoke of iron I will place on the necks
of all these nations serving Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon,
and they shall serve him; even the beasts of the field I give him.
To the prophet Hananiah the prophet Jeremiah said:
Hear this, Hananiah!
The LORD has not sent you,
and you have raised false confidence in this people.
For this, says the LORD, I will dispatch you from the face of the earth;
this very year you shall die,
because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.
That same year, in the seventh month, Hananiah the prophet died.
Gospel
Mt 14:13-21
When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist,
he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.
The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd,
his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.
When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said,
“This is a deserted place and it is already late;
dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages
and buy food for themselves.”
He said to them, “There is no need for them to go away;
give them some food yourselves.”
But they said to him,
“Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.”
Then he said, “Bring them here to me,”
and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass.
Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing, broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples,
who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied,
and they picked up the fragments left over—
twelve wicker baskets full.
Those who ate were about five thousand men,
not counting women and children.
Meditation: Jeremiah 28:1-17
“By breaking a wooden yoke, you forge an iron yoke.” (Jeremiah 28:13)
To the little boy who is enduring a “time out” or who has lost access to his favorite toy, discipline is not an enjoyable experience. But the boy’s mother knows that she is doing something good for him. She has taken advantage of a teachable moment to help her son learn good manners, respect, or some other vital virtue. Equipped with the blessings of a long-term view, she knows that corrections like these may not be enjoyable but are ultimately very fruitful.
In today’s first reading, the people of Israel are facing a time out of sorts. Many of them are living in exile, and Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, is asserting rule over Jerusalem through a Jewish puppet-king. While the prophet Hananiah promises that all will be restored
to business as usual, Jeremiah sees things differently. This national humiliation will not end peacefully, because the people are undergoing the consequence of years of disobedience to their covenant with the Lord. They were being disciplined by God, and their best response would be to submit to Babylon so that they can learn the humility they need to live as God’s people once again.
What made it so hard for the people to listen to Jeremiah? False prophets like Hananiah, who told the people that God would take away their discomfort quickly and that they had nothing to learn from the experience. Just sit tight, Hananiah said. God will make everything right again. But Jeremiah knew that things could be right only if the people had a change of heart and returned to the Lord. He knew that God would do whatever was necessary—including national humiliation and exile—to teach them.
Have you ever been caught in an untruth and had to work to rebuild someone’s trust again? Or perhaps an act of self-centeredness has hurt someone close to you, and you have to live with the consequences. Don’t think that God is punishing you! No, he is forming you and teaching you a better way. Don’t shy away from these teachable moments. Your heavenly Father is trying to make you more like Christ. And that’s one long-term gain that is well worth any short-term pain!
“Father, I believe your plans for me are good! Help me embrace your discipline and be like your Son, Jesus!”
Jer 28:1-17
In the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah,
in the fifth month of the fourth year,
the prophet Hananiah, son of Azzur, from Gibeon,
said to me in the house of the LORD
in the presence of the priests and all the people:
“Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:
‘I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.
Within two years I will restore to this place
all the vessels of the temple of the LORD which Nebuchadnezzar,
king of Babylon, took away from this place to Babylon.
And I will bring back to this place Jeconiah,
son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah,
and all the exiles of Judah who went to Babylon,’ says the LORD,
‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’”
The prophet Jeremiah answered the prophet Hananiah
in the presence of the priests and all the people assembled
in the house of the LORD, and said:
Amen! thus may the LORD do!
May he fulfill the things you have prophesied
by bringing the vessels of the house of the LORD
and all the exiles back from Babylon to this place!
But now, listen to what I am about to state in your hearing
and the hearing of all the people.
From of old, the prophets who were before you and me prophesied
war, woe, and pestilence against many lands and mighty kingdoms.
But the prophet who prophesies peace
is recognized as truly sent by the LORD
only when his prophetic prediction is fulfilled.
Thereupon the prophet Hananiah took the yoke
from the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it,
and said in the presence of all the people:
“Thus says the LORD: ‘Even so, within two years
I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon,
from off the neck of all the nations.’”
At that, the prophet Jeremiah went away.
Some time after the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke
from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah,
The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah:
Go tell Hananiah this:
Thus says the LORD:
By breaking a wooden yoke, you forge an iron yoke!
For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:
A yoke of iron I will place on the necks
of all these nations serving Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon,
and they shall serve him; even the beasts of the field I give him.
To the prophet Hananiah the prophet Jeremiah said:
Hear this, Hananiah!
The LORD has not sent you,
and you have raised false confidence in this people.
For this, says the LORD, I will dispatch you from the face of the earth;
this very year you shall die,
because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.
That same year, in the seventh month, Hananiah the prophet died.
Gospel
Mt 14:13-21
When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist,
he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.
The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd,
his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.
When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said,
“This is a deserted place and it is already late;
dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages
and buy food for themselves.”
He said to them, “There is no need for them to go away;
give them some food yourselves.”
But they said to him,
“Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.”
Then he said, “Bring them here to me,”
and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass.
Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing, broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples,
who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied,
and they picked up the fragments left over—
twelve wicker baskets full.
Those who ate were about five thousand men,
not counting women and children.
Meditation: Jeremiah 28:1-17
“By breaking a wooden yoke, you forge an iron yoke.” (Jeremiah 28:13)
To the little boy who is enduring a “time out” or who has lost access to his favorite toy, discipline is not an enjoyable experience. But the boy’s mother knows that she is doing something good for him. She has taken advantage of a teachable moment to help her son learn good manners, respect, or some other vital virtue. Equipped with the blessings of a long-term view, she knows that corrections like these may not be enjoyable but are ultimately very fruitful.
In today’s first reading, the people of Israel are facing a time out of sorts. Many of them are living in exile, and Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, is asserting rule over Jerusalem through a Jewish puppet-king. While the prophet Hananiah promises that all will be restored
to business as usual, Jeremiah sees things differently. This national humiliation will not end peacefully, because the people are undergoing the consequence of years of disobedience to their covenant with the Lord. They were being disciplined by God, and their best response would be to submit to Babylon so that they can learn the humility they need to live as God’s people once again.
What made it so hard for the people to listen to Jeremiah? False prophets like Hananiah, who told the people that God would take away their discomfort quickly and that they had nothing to learn from the experience. Just sit tight, Hananiah said. God will make everything right again. But Jeremiah knew that things could be right only if the people had a change of heart and returned to the Lord. He knew that God would do whatever was necessary—including national humiliation and exile—to teach them.
Have you ever been caught in an untruth and had to work to rebuild someone’s trust again? Or perhaps an act of self-centeredness has hurt someone close to you, and you have to live with the consequences. Don’t think that God is punishing you! No, he is forming you and teaching you a better way. Don’t shy away from these teachable moments. Your heavenly Father is trying to make you more like Christ. And that’s one long-term gain that is well worth any short-term pain!
“Father, I believe your plans for me are good! Help me embrace your discipline and be like your Son, Jesus!”
01 August 2010
01 Aug 2010, Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Ecc 1:2; 2:21-23
Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,
vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!
Here is one who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill,
and yet to another who has not labored over it,
he must leave property.
This also is vanity and a great misfortune.
For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart
with which he has labored under the sun?
All his days sorrow and grief are his occupation;
even at night his mind is not at rest.
This also is vanity.
Reading 2
Col 3:1-5, 9-11
Brothers and sisters:
If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.
For you have died,
and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ your life appears,
then you too will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly:
immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire,
and the greed that is idolatry.
Stop lying to one another,
since you have taken off the old self with its practices
and have put on the new self,
which is being renewed, for knowledge,
in the image of its creator.
Here there is not Greek and Jew,
circumcision and uncircumcision,
barbarian, Scythian, slave, free;
but Christ is all and in all.
Gospel
Lk 12:13-21
Someone in the crowd said to Jesus,
“Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”
He replied to him,
“Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”
Then he said to the crowd,
“Take care to guard against all greed,
for though one may be rich,
one’s life does not consist of possessions.”
Then he told them a parable.
“There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.
He asked himself, ‘What shall I do,
for I do not have space to store my harvest?’
And he said, ‘This is what I shall do:
I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones.
There I shall store all my grain and other goods
and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you,
you have so many good things stored up for many years,
rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’
But God said to him,
‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you;
and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’
Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves
but are not rich in what matters to God.”
Meditation: Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11
“Your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3)
Imagine that it is fall and you are preparing flower beds for a spring garden. You buy packets of seeds that display pictures of dahlias, irises, and daffodils. But when you take the seeds out, all you see are very tiny flecks or ugly brown bulbs. They look nothing like the pictures, and you wonder how they will ever grow into those beautiful flowers.
Finally, spring arrives, and your garden is filled with an array of colors and fragrances. Although the lifeless seeds were hidden throughout the fall and winter, a marvelous force was at work transforming them.
In a similar way, we too were buried with Christ when we were baptized into his death and resurrection. Like those seeds, we were planted, hidden with Christ, waiting for the time when we could burst forth with a new and fruitful life.
This is a compelling image, isn’t it? But how long do we have to wait before this new life comes forth? Some of us may feel as if it’s been decades and still nothing has happened.
That’s where the second half of today’s reading comes in. The transformation described above is not magical. To a large extent, it depends on us. It’s up to us to put off our old lives of self-centeredness and sin so that we can be clothed with Jesus’ own love, kindness, compassion, and humility.
Put simply, it’s a matter of choosing to turn to Jesus in prayer and then working to conform our hearts to his, our minds to his, and our characters to his. It’s a matter of facing our everyday decisions in faith and trust in God, asking him to lead us and guide us.
The good news is that Jesus wants to transform us. Far from making it hard, he has already blazed the path ahead of us. Every day, he reaches out to us and pours his love upon us.
“Praise to you, Jesus, for putting my old life to death on the cross. By your Spirit, help me to receive your new life more and more each day.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions for Individual Reflection or Group Discussion
(Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23, Psalm 90:3-6,12-14,17; Colossians 3:1-5,9-11; Luke 12:13-21)
1. In spite of the negative tone in the first reading from Ecclesiastes, there is still an important message the Lord wants to convey to us in how we should live out our daily lives. How would you characterize this message?
2. The responsorial psalm, like the first reading, also appears to speak negatively of our earthly life. Yet the author has an important lesson he wants us to learn from the seemingly insignificance of our life when compared to the life of God. What do you think that lesson is? How does it relate to your life as a Christian?
3. In the letter to the Colossians, St. Paul says that we have been “raised with Christ,” but he also says that we have “died and our life is hidden with Christ.” What does St. Paul say should be happening in our daily lives as a result of being raised with Christ and as a result of having died in Christ? What steps can you take to make these a greater reality in your life?
4. The Gospel reading ends with the following verse after Jesus tells the parable of the rich fool, “Thus will it be for all who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God” (Luke 12:21). What are some of the things we can do that will store up heavenly riches? How does your earthly bank account compare to your heavenly one? What are some ways you can increase your heavenly riches as an individual, and together with others?
5. In the meditation, we hear these words: “The good news is that Jesus wants to transform us.” Yet we know we have a part to play in this transformation. How would you describe the part you need to play? How are you doing and what steps can you take to do even better?
Ecc 1:2; 2:21-23
Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,
vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!
Here is one who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill,
and yet to another who has not labored over it,
he must leave property.
This also is vanity and a great misfortune.
For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart
with which he has labored under the sun?
All his days sorrow and grief are his occupation;
even at night his mind is not at rest.
This also is vanity.
Reading 2
Col 3:1-5, 9-11
Brothers and sisters:
If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.
For you have died,
and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ your life appears,
then you too will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly:
immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire,
and the greed that is idolatry.
Stop lying to one another,
since you have taken off the old self with its practices
and have put on the new self,
which is being renewed, for knowledge,
in the image of its creator.
Here there is not Greek and Jew,
circumcision and uncircumcision,
barbarian, Scythian, slave, free;
but Christ is all and in all.
Gospel
Lk 12:13-21
Someone in the crowd said to Jesus,
“Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”
He replied to him,
“Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”
Then he said to the crowd,
“Take care to guard against all greed,
for though one may be rich,
one’s life does not consist of possessions.”
Then he told them a parable.
“There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.
He asked himself, ‘What shall I do,
for I do not have space to store my harvest?’
And he said, ‘This is what I shall do:
I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones.
There I shall store all my grain and other goods
and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you,
you have so many good things stored up for many years,
rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’
But God said to him,
‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you;
and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’
Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves
but are not rich in what matters to God.”
Meditation: Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11
“Your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3)
Imagine that it is fall and you are preparing flower beds for a spring garden. You buy packets of seeds that display pictures of dahlias, irises, and daffodils. But when you take the seeds out, all you see are very tiny flecks or ugly brown bulbs. They look nothing like the pictures, and you wonder how they will ever grow into those beautiful flowers.
Finally, spring arrives, and your garden is filled with an array of colors and fragrances. Although the lifeless seeds were hidden throughout the fall and winter, a marvelous force was at work transforming them.
In a similar way, we too were buried with Christ when we were baptized into his death and resurrection. Like those seeds, we were planted, hidden with Christ, waiting for the time when we could burst forth with a new and fruitful life.
This is a compelling image, isn’t it? But how long do we have to wait before this new life comes forth? Some of us may feel as if it’s been decades and still nothing has happened.
That’s where the second half of today’s reading comes in. The transformation described above is not magical. To a large extent, it depends on us. It’s up to us to put off our old lives of self-centeredness and sin so that we can be clothed with Jesus’ own love, kindness, compassion, and humility.
Put simply, it’s a matter of choosing to turn to Jesus in prayer and then working to conform our hearts to his, our minds to his, and our characters to his. It’s a matter of facing our everyday decisions in faith and trust in God, asking him to lead us and guide us.
The good news is that Jesus wants to transform us. Far from making it hard, he has already blazed the path ahead of us. Every day, he reaches out to us and pours his love upon us.
“Praise to you, Jesus, for putting my old life to death on the cross. By your Spirit, help me to receive your new life more and more each day.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions for Individual Reflection or Group Discussion
(Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23, Psalm 90:3-6,12-14,17; Colossians 3:1-5,9-11; Luke 12:13-21)
1. In spite of the negative tone in the first reading from Ecclesiastes, there is still an important message the Lord wants to convey to us in how we should live out our daily lives. How would you characterize this message?
2. The responsorial psalm, like the first reading, also appears to speak negatively of our earthly life. Yet the author has an important lesson he wants us to learn from the seemingly insignificance of our life when compared to the life of God. What do you think that lesson is? How does it relate to your life as a Christian?
3. In the letter to the Colossians, St. Paul says that we have been “raised with Christ,” but he also says that we have “died and our life is hidden with Christ.” What does St. Paul say should be happening in our daily lives as a result of being raised with Christ and as a result of having died in Christ? What steps can you take to make these a greater reality in your life?
4. The Gospel reading ends with the following verse after Jesus tells the parable of the rich fool, “Thus will it be for all who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God” (Luke 12:21). What are some of the things we can do that will store up heavenly riches? How does your earthly bank account compare to your heavenly one? What are some ways you can increase your heavenly riches as an individual, and together with others?
5. In the meditation, we hear these words: “The good news is that Jesus wants to transform us.” Yet we know we have a part to play in this transformation. How would you describe the part you need to play? How are you doing and what steps can you take to do even better?
31 July 2010
31 July 2010, Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, priest
Reading 1
Jer 26:11-16, 24
The priests and prophets said to the princes and to all the people,
"This man deserves death;
he has prophesied against this city,
as you have heard with your own ears."
Jeremiah gave this answer to the princes and all the people:
"It was the LORD who sent me to prophesy against this house and city
all that you have heard.
Now, therefore, reform your ways and your deeds;
listen to the voice of the LORD your God,
so that the LORD will repent of the evil with which he threatens you.
As for me, I am in your hands;
do with me what you think good and right.
But mark well: if you put me to death,
it is innocent blood you bring on yourselves,
on this city and its citizens.
For in truth it was the LORD who sent me to you,
to speak all these things for you to hear."
Thereupon the princes and all the people
said to the priests and the prophets,
"This man does not deserve death;
it is in the name of the LORD, our God, that he speaks to us."
So Ahikam, son of Shaphan, protected Jeremiah,
so that he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.
Gospel
Mt 14:1-12
Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus
and said to his servants, "This man is John the Baptist.
He has been raised from the dead;
that is why mighty powers are at work in him."
Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison
on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip,
for John had said to him,
"It is not lawful for you to have her."
Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people,
for they regarded him as a prophet.
But at a birthday celebration for Herod,
the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests
and delighted Herod so much
that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for.
Prompted by her mother, she said,
"Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist."
The king was distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests who were present,
he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison.
His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl,
who took it to her mother.
His disciples came and took away the corpse
and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.
Meditation: Psalm 69:15-16,30-31,33-34
“You who seek God, take heart!” (Psalm 69:33)
These are beautiful words. But when we pair them with today’s readings, we can see how practical—even life-saving—they can be. Let’s imagine how Jeremiah and John the Baptist, today’s main characters, might “take heart” in their very desperate situations.
In Jerusalem’s final days, God gave Jeremiah an unpopular message: Babylon would conquer the city, and the people should surrender rather than resist. Hearing Jeremiah proclaim this demoralizing message, Jerusalem’s leaders tried to silence him permanently. It was only through the intervention of Ahikam that his life was spared. Imagine what his prayer was like as his life hung in the balance:
God, rescue me from the mire; don’t let me sink. Don’t let the floodwaters overwhelm me. Let your saving help protect me, God, that I may praise your name in song. I trust you, Lord. May your words live on in the hearts of those whom I love.
John attracted throngs of people seeking baptism and asking what God expected of them. Ordinary people, tax collectors, soldiers—he told each how to live righteously. When Jesus came on the scene, John encouraged his own disciples to follow Jesus instead. Because John fearlessly criticized Herod’s illegal marriage, Herod had him thrown into prison, leading John to wonder if he had been wrong all along. What do you think his prayer would have sounded like as he sat there, waiting for his execution?
Lord, when I first saw Jesus, I was convinced he was the Messiah. But now I’m not so sure. Did I waste my life chasing after a fantasy? Was all that time in the desert really worth it? I am afflicted and in pain, Lord. Please come and help me. Protect me, that I may glorify your name.
Is there some way that you feel imprisoned today? It doesn’t have to be as dramatic as Jeremiah or John’s situations for you to follow their example. Whatever the situation, seek God and take heart! He is with you, working out his purposes and giving you his strength and comfort.
“I pray to you, Lord, for the time of your favor. God, in your great kindness answer me. Because I seek you, Lord, let me take heart, for I know you hear me.”
Jer 26:11-16, 24
The priests and prophets said to the princes and to all the people,
"This man deserves death;
he has prophesied against this city,
as you have heard with your own ears."
Jeremiah gave this answer to the princes and all the people:
"It was the LORD who sent me to prophesy against this house and city
all that you have heard.
Now, therefore, reform your ways and your deeds;
listen to the voice of the LORD your God,
so that the LORD will repent of the evil with which he threatens you.
As for me, I am in your hands;
do with me what you think good and right.
But mark well: if you put me to death,
it is innocent blood you bring on yourselves,
on this city and its citizens.
For in truth it was the LORD who sent me to you,
to speak all these things for you to hear."
Thereupon the princes and all the people
said to the priests and the prophets,
"This man does not deserve death;
it is in the name of the LORD, our God, that he speaks to us."
So Ahikam, son of Shaphan, protected Jeremiah,
so that he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.
Gospel
Mt 14:1-12
Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus
and said to his servants, "This man is John the Baptist.
He has been raised from the dead;
that is why mighty powers are at work in him."
Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison
on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip,
for John had said to him,
"It is not lawful for you to have her."
Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people,
for they regarded him as a prophet.
But at a birthday celebration for Herod,
the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests
and delighted Herod so much
that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for.
Prompted by her mother, she said,
"Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist."
The king was distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests who were present,
he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison.
His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl,
who took it to her mother.
His disciples came and took away the corpse
and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.
Meditation: Psalm 69:15-16,30-31,33-34
“You who seek God, take heart!” (Psalm 69:33)
These are beautiful words. But when we pair them with today’s readings, we can see how practical—even life-saving—they can be. Let’s imagine how Jeremiah and John the Baptist, today’s main characters, might “take heart” in their very desperate situations.
In Jerusalem’s final days, God gave Jeremiah an unpopular message: Babylon would conquer the city, and the people should surrender rather than resist. Hearing Jeremiah proclaim this demoralizing message, Jerusalem’s leaders tried to silence him permanently. It was only through the intervention of Ahikam that his life was spared. Imagine what his prayer was like as his life hung in the balance:
God, rescue me from the mire; don’t let me sink. Don’t let the floodwaters overwhelm me. Let your saving help protect me, God, that I may praise your name in song. I trust you, Lord. May your words live on in the hearts of those whom I love.
John attracted throngs of people seeking baptism and asking what God expected of them. Ordinary people, tax collectors, soldiers—he told each how to live righteously. When Jesus came on the scene, John encouraged his own disciples to follow Jesus instead. Because John fearlessly criticized Herod’s illegal marriage, Herod had him thrown into prison, leading John to wonder if he had been wrong all along. What do you think his prayer would have sounded like as he sat there, waiting for his execution?
Lord, when I first saw Jesus, I was convinced he was the Messiah. But now I’m not so sure. Did I waste my life chasing after a fantasy? Was all that time in the desert really worth it? I am afflicted and in pain, Lord. Please come and help me. Protect me, that I may glorify your name.
Is there some way that you feel imprisoned today? It doesn’t have to be as dramatic as Jeremiah or John’s situations for you to follow their example. Whatever the situation, seek God and take heart! He is with you, working out his purposes and giving you his strength and comfort.
“I pray to you, Lord, for the time of your favor. God, in your great kindness answer me. Because I seek you, Lord, let me take heart, for I know you hear me.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)