Friday of the Fourteenth Week in
Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 387
Lectionary: 387
Israel set out with all that was his.
When he arrived at Beer-sheba,
he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
There God, speaking to Israel in a vision by night, called,
"Jacob! Jacob!"
He answered, "Here I am."
Then he said: "I am God, the God of your father.
Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt,
for there I will make you a great nation.
Not only will I go down to Egypt with you;
I will also bring you back here, after Joseph has closed your eyes."
So Jacob departed from Beer-sheba,
and the sons of Israel
put their father and their wives and children
on the wagons that Pharaoh had sent for his transport.
They took with them their livestock
and the possessions they had acquired in the land of Canaan.
Thus Jacob and all his descendants migrated to Egypt.
His sons and his grandsons, his daughters and his granddaughtersB
all his descendants—he took with him to Egypt.
Israel had sent Judah ahead to Joseph,
so that he might meet him in Goshen.
On his arrival in the region of Goshen,
Joseph hitched the horses to his chariot
and rode to meet his father Israel in Goshen.
As soon as Joseph saw him, he flung himself on his neck
and wept a long time in his arms.
And Israel said to Joseph, "At last I can die,
now that I have seen for myself that Joseph is still alive."
When he arrived at Beer-sheba,
he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
There God, speaking to Israel in a vision by night, called,
"Jacob! Jacob!"
He answered, "Here I am."
Then he said: "I am God, the God of your father.
Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt,
for there I will make you a great nation.
Not only will I go down to Egypt with you;
I will also bring you back here, after Joseph has closed your eyes."
So Jacob departed from Beer-sheba,
and the sons of Israel
put their father and their wives and children
on the wagons that Pharaoh had sent for his transport.
They took with them their livestock
and the possessions they had acquired in the land of Canaan.
Thus Jacob and all his descendants migrated to Egypt.
His sons and his grandsons, his daughters and his granddaughtersB
all his descendants—he took with him to Egypt.
Israel had sent Judah ahead to Joseph,
so that he might meet him in Goshen.
On his arrival in the region of Goshen,
Joseph hitched the horses to his chariot
and rode to meet his father Israel in Goshen.
As soon as Joseph saw him, he flung himself on his neck
and wept a long time in his arms.
And Israel said to Joseph, "At last I can die,
now that I have seen for myself that Joseph is still alive."
Responsorial
PsalmPS 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28,
39-40
R.(39a) The
salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Trust in the LORD and do good,
that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will grant you your heart's requests.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
The LORD watches over the lives of the wholehearted;
their inheritance lasts forever.
They are not put to shame in an evil time;
in days of famine they have plenty.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Turn from evil and do good,
that you may abide forever;
For the LORD loves what is right,
and forsakes not his faithful ones.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
The salvation of the just is from the LORD;
he is their refuge in time of distress.
And the LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Trust in the LORD and do good,
that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will grant you your heart's requests.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
The LORD watches over the lives of the wholehearted;
their inheritance lasts forever.
They are not put to shame in an evil time;
in days of famine they have plenty.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Turn from evil and do good,
that you may abide forever;
For the LORD loves what is right,
and forsakes not his faithful ones.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
The salvation of the just is from the LORD;
he is their refuge in time of distress.
And the LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
AlleluiaJN 16:13A, 14:26D
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
When the Spirit of truth comes,
he will guide you to all truth
and remind you of all I told you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
When the Spirit of truth comes,
he will guide you to all truth
and remind you of all I told you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMT 10:16-23
Jesus said to his Apostles:
"Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves;
so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.
But beware of men,
for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved.
When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.
Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel
before the Son of Man comes."
"Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves;
so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.
But beware of men,
for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved.
When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.
Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel
before the Son of Man comes."
Meditation: Sheep
in the midst of wolves - wise and innocent
What
does Jesus mean when he says his disciples must be sheep in the midst
of wolves (Matthew 10:16)? The prophet Isaiah foretold a time
when wolves and lambs will dwell in peace (Isaiah 11:6 and
65:25). This Old Testament prophecy certainly refers to the second coming of
Christ when all will be united under the Lordship of Jesus after he has put
down his enemies and established the reign of God over the heavens and the
earth (Ephesians 1:10 and Revelation 11:15). In the meantime, the disciples
must expect opposition and persecution from those who oppose the Gospel and the
coming of God's kingdom.
The
readiness to serve and face hardship for Christ and his kingdom
Jesus never hesitated to tell his disciples what they might expect if they chose to follow him. Here Jesus says to his disciples: This is my task for you at its grimmest and worst - do you accept it? This is not the world's way of recruitment for service and toil with promise of honor and reward. After the British defeat at Dunkirk (June 1940), Churchill offered his country blood, toil, sweat, and tears.
Jesus never hesitated to tell his disciples what they might expect if they chose to follow him. Here Jesus says to his disciples: This is my task for you at its grimmest and worst - do you accept it? This is not the world's way of recruitment for service and toil with promise of honor and reward. After the British defeat at Dunkirk (June 1940), Churchill offered his country blood, toil, sweat, and tears.
This
is not the message we prefer to hear when the Lord Jesus commissions us in his
service for the advancement of God's kingdom and the battle against Satan's
kingdom of darkness and death. Nonetheless, our privilege is to follow in the
footsteps of the Lord and Master who willingly laid down his life for us in
order to bring us victory over Satan, sin, and death. Are you willing to accept
hardship and suffering in serving the Lord Jesus Christ?
"Lord
Jesus, help me to patiently and joyfully accept the hardships, adversities, and
persecution which come my way in serving you and your kingdom of love,
truth,and goodness. Strengthen my faith and give me courage that I may not
shrink back from doing your will."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: The Spirit of your heavenly Father
speaks through you in every age, by Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD)
"To
be sure, we heard in that reading, 'But when they deliver you up, do not be
anxious how or what you are to speak... for it is not you who are speaking but
the Spirit of your Father who speaks through you.' And he says in another
place: 'Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the world' (Matthew
28:20). Does this mean that the people who heard those words of the Lord would
be here until the end of the world? The Lord was referring, rather, not only to
those about to depart from this life but also to the others, including us and
those who would come after us in this life. He saw everyone in his single body,
and the words he spoke, 'I am with you even to the end of the world,' were
heard by them and by us too. And if we did not hear them then in our knowledge,
we heard them in his foreknowledge. Therefore, safe as sheep among the wolves,
let us keep the commandments of him who directs us. And let us be 'innocent as
doves but cautious as snakes' (Matthew 10:16). Innocent as doves that we
may not harm anyone; cautious as snakes that we may be careful of letting
anyone harm us." (excerpt from the Sermon 44a.2)
FRIDAY, JULY 12, MATTHEW 10:16-23
Weekday
(Genesis 46:1-7, 28-30; Psalm 37)
Weekday
(Genesis 46:1-7, 28-30; Psalm 37)
KEY VERSE: "Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves" (v. 16).
TO KNOW: When Jesus sent his twelve apostles to proclaim God's reign, he warned them that they would suffer persecution. His followers would be like innocent sheep among ravenous wolves. While they must be unblemished in their personal conduct, they also must be shrewd in their dealings with those who opposed them. Although the apostles would be arrested and mistreated by both religious and political leaders, they should not be concerned about how they would defend themselves. The Spirit of God would enable them to be faithful witnesses (Greek: martus, by analogy, a martyr). The apostles would face hostility and betrayal even from their own families, but they must not lose confidence. Those who persevered to the end would be saved.
TO LOVE: Do I have the courage to profess my faith despite opposition from others?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to live a life of courageous faithfulness.
www.togetherwithgodsword.com
Friday 12 July 2019
Day of Penance
Genesis 46:1-7, 28-30. Psalm 36(37):3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40. Matthew 10:16-23.
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord – Psalm 36(37):3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40
‘What you are to say will be given to you … the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you.’
Genesis 46:1-7, 28-30. Psalm 36(37):3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40. Matthew 10:16-23.
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord – Psalm 36(37):3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40
‘What you are to say will be given to you … the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you.’
Jesus warns his apostles to expect suffering and betrayal at the
hand of his opponents. But he empowers them with words of encouragement: ‘Do
not worry about how to speak or what to say.’ In the same way we can take heart
in the presence of the Spirit living within us. As we attend to this presence,
let us ask for the grace that we be directed in all our decisions.
We are also encouraged to ‘be wise as serpents and innocent as
doves’. Let us consider this an invitation to sift and discern the spirits at
work in our personal lives, in our relationships, in our families and
workplaces. Where am I being led personally and interpersonally, Lord? Give me
the grace to notice your active presence in the communities to which I belong,
and the ability to respond to your invitations.
Saints John Jones and John Wall
Saint of the Day for July 12
(c.1530 – 1598; 1620 – 1679)
 |
| Forty Martyrs of England and Wales commissioned by the General Postulation of the Society of Jesus | Daphne Pollen |
Saints John Jones and John Wall’s story
These two friars were martyred in England in the 16th and 17th
centuries for refusing to deny their faith.
John Jones was Welsh. He was ordained a diocesan priest and was
twice imprisoned for administering the sacraments before
leaving England in 1590. He joined the Franciscans at the age of 60 and
returned to England three years later while Queen Elizabeth I was at the height
of her power. John ministered to Catholics in the English countryside until his
imprisonment in 1596. He was condemned to be hanged, drawn, and quartered. John
was executed on July 12, 1598.
John Wall was born in England but was educated at the English
College of Douai, Belgium. Ordained in Rome in 1648, he entered the Franciscans
in Douai several years later. In 1656 he returned to work secretly in England.
In 1678, Titus Oates worked many English people into a frenzy
over an alleged papal plot to murder the king and restore Catholicism in that
country. In that year Catholics were legally excluded from Parliament, a law
which was not repealed until 1829. John Wall was arrested and imprisoned in
1678, and was executed the following year.
John Jones and John Wall were canonized in 1970.
Reflection
Every martyr knows how to save his/her life and yet refuses to
do so. A public repudiation of the faith would save any of them. But some
things are more precious than life itself. These martyrs prove that their
20th-century countryman, C. S. Lewis, was correct in saying that courage is not
simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point,
that is, at the point of highest reality.
Lectio Divina: Matthew 10:16-23
Lectio Divina
Friday, July 12, 2019
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Father,
through the obedience of Jesus,
Your servant and Your Son,
You raised a fallen world.
Free us from sin
and bring us the joy that lasts for ever.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
through the obedience of Jesus,
Your servant and Your Son,
You raised a fallen world.
Free us from sin
and bring us the joy that lasts for ever.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 10:16-23
Jesus said to his Apostles: “Behold, I am sending you like sheep
in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But
beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their
synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a
witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about
how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment
what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your
Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the
father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to
death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the
end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen,
I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man
comes.”
3) Reflection
• To the community of His disciples, called and gathered
together around Him and invested with His same authority as collaborators,
Jesus entrusts them with directives in view of their future mission.
• Matthew 10:16-19: Danger and trust in God. Jesus introduces
this part of His discourse with two metaphors: sheep in the midst of wolves;
prudent as serpents, simple as doves. The first one serves to show the
difficult and dangerous context to which the disciples are sent. On the one
hand, the dangerous situation is made evident; on the other, the
expression “I send you” expresses protection. Also regarding the astuteness of
the serpent and the simplicity of the dove Jesus seems to put together two
attitudes: trust in God, and prolonged and attentive reflection on the way in
which we should relate with others.
Jesus, then, following this, gives an order that seems at first
sight filled with mistrust: “Beware of men...”, but, in reality, it means to be
attentive to possible persecutions, hostility, and denouncement. The expression
“will deliver you” does not only refer to the accusation in the tribunal, but
above all, it has a theological value: the disciples who are following Jesus
can experience the same experience of the Master of “being delivered into the
hands of men” (17:22). The disciples must be strong and resist in order “to
give witness.” The fact of being delivered to the tribunal should become a
witness for the Jews and for the pagans. It bears the possibility of being able
to draw them to the person and the cause of Jesus and, therefore, to the
knowledge of the Gospel. This positive implication is important as a result of
witnessing, characterized by credible and fascinating faith.
• Matthew 10:20: the divine help. So that all this may take
place in the mission-witness of the disciples it is essential to have the help
that comes from God. That is to say, we should not trust our own security and
resources, but the disciples, in critical, dangerous, and aggressive
situations, found help and solidarity in God for their lives. The Spirit
of the Father is also promised for their mission (v.20). He is the one who acts
in them when they are committed to their mission of evangelization and of
witnessing. The Spirit will speak through them.
• Matthew 10:21-22: Threat-consolation. Once again the
announcement of threat is repeated in the expression “will be delivered”:
Brother will betray brother, a father against his son, the sons against the
parents. It is a question of a true and great disorder in social relationships,
the breaking up of the family. Persons who are bound by the most intimate
family relationships – such as parents, children, brothers and sisters – will
fall in the misfortune of mutually hating and eliminating one another. In what
sense does such a division of the family have to do with witness on behalf of
Jesus? Such breaking up of the family relationships could be caused by the
diverse attitudes that are taken within the family, regarding Jesus. The
expression “you will be hated” seems to indicate the theme of the hostile
rejection on the part of the contemporaries and of those He sent. This phrasing
can also apply to the larger community, using the sense of the word “brother”
as we have done earlier. The community of Israel will find one against another
as those following the Good News will be persecuted and rejected by those
remaining in the old law. The strong sense of Jesus’ words find a
comparison in another part of the New Testament: “Blessed are you if you are
insulted for the sake of Christ’s name, because the Spirit of glory, the Spirit
of God, rests upon you. No one of you should suffer as a murderer or thief or
evil doer or as a spy. But if one suffers as a Christian, do not blush, because
of this name, rather give glory to God.” The promise of consolation follows the
threat (v.3). The greatest consolation for the disciples will be that of “being
saved,” of being able to live the experience of the Savior, that is to say, to
participate in His victories.
4) Personal questions
• What do these pronouncements of Jesus teach us today for
understanding the mission of the Christian?
• Do you know how to trust in divine help when you experience conflicts, persecutions and trials?
• In what ways have you been persecuted? Was it for standing with Jesus or was I in the wrong? Did I find strength at any of these times, or did I fold?
• Has the Spirit spoken through you to others?
• Do you know how to trust in divine help when you experience conflicts, persecutions and trials?
• In what ways have you been persecuted? Was it for standing with Jesus or was I in the wrong? Did I find strength at any of these times, or did I fold?
• Has the Spirit spoken through you to others?
For further study
In all the day-to-day interactions with others, in business, the
market, in school, and in community and family, it is often difficult to
discern whether persecutions that day were for His name or our own views and
wants, and whether the Spirit did the talking or our own pride did. St Ignatius
of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, wrote the Spiritual Exercises to
help one discern the action of the Spirit in one’s Life. The theologian Hans
Urs von Balthasar points out that the Exercises direct one to choosing God’s
choice in life, a self-abandonment to God, which is ultimately what today’s
Gospel says to do. There are many books on St Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises,
besides his original work, which explain what and how. Take time to read one or
more and perhaps practice them.
5) Concluding Prayer
Give me back the joy of Your salvation,
sustain in me a generous spirit.
Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will speak out Your praise. (Ps 51:12,15)
sustain in me a generous spirit.
Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will speak out Your praise. (Ps 51:12,15)
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét