Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 383
Lectionary: 383
Thus says the LORD:
I will allure her;
I will lead her into the desert
and speak to her heart.
She shall respond there as in the days of her youth,
when she came up from the land of Egypt.
On that day, says the LORD,
She shall call me “My husband,”
and never again “My baal.”
I will espouse you to me forever:
I will espouse you in right and in justice,
in love and in mercy;
I will espouse you in fidelity,
and you shall know the LORD.
I will allure her;
I will lead her into the desert
and speak to her heart.
She shall respond there as in the days of her youth,
when she came up from the land of Egypt.
On that day, says the LORD,
She shall call me “My husband,”
and never again “My baal.”
I will espouse you to me forever:
I will espouse you in right and in justice,
in love and in mercy;
I will espouse you in fidelity,
and you shall know the LORD.
Responsorial Psalm PS 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. (8a) The Lord is gracious and merciful.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
Generation after generation praises your works
and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
and tell of your wondrous works.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds
and declare your greatness.
They publish the fame of your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your justice.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
Generation after generation praises your works
and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
and tell of your wondrous works.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds
and declare your greatness.
They publish the fame of your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your justice.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
Gospel MT
9:18-26
While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward,
knelt down before him, and said,
“My daughter has just died.
But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.”
Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples.
A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him
and touched the tassel on his cloak.
She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.”
Jesus turned around and saw her, and said,
“Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.”
And from that hour the woman was cured.
When Jesus arrived at the official’s house
and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion,
he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.”
And they ridiculed him.
When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand,
and the little girl arose.
And news of this spread throughout all that land.
knelt down before him, and said,
“My daughter has just died.
But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.”
Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples.
A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him
and touched the tassel on his cloak.
She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.”
Jesus turned around and saw her, and said,
“Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.”
And from that hour the woman was cured.
When Jesus arrived at the official’s house
and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion,
he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.”
And they ridiculed him.
When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand,
and the little girl arose.
And news of this spread throughout all that land.
Meditation: "Take heart, your faith has made you well"
Do you take your troubles to the Lord with expectant faith and
confidence in his help? People in desperate or helpless circumstances were not
disappointed when they sought Jesus out. What drew them to Jesus? Was it hope
for a miracle or a word of comfort in their affliction? What did the elderly
woman who had suffered greatly for twelve years expect Jesus to do for her? And
what did a grieving father expect Jesus to do about his lost beloved daughter?
Words of hope directed to God
Jesus gave hope where there seemed to be no human cause for it because his hope was directed to God. He spoke words of hope to the woman (Take heart, daughter!) to ignite the spark of faith in her (your faith has made you well!). And he also gave divine hope to a father who had just lost a beloved child.
Jesus gave hope where there seemed to be no human cause for it because his hope was directed to God. He spoke words of hope to the woman (Take heart, daughter!) to ignite the spark of faith in her (your faith has made you well!). And he also gave divine hope to a father who had just lost a beloved child.
It took considerable courage and risk for the ruler of a
synagogue to openly go to Jesus and to invite the scorn of his neighbors and
kin. Even the hired mourners laughed at him in scorn. Their
grief was devoid of any hope. Nonetheless, Jesus took the girl by the hand and
delivered her from the grasp of death. In both instances we see Jesus' personal
concern for the needs of others and his readiness to heal and restore life.
The infinite love of God
In Jesus we see the infinite love of God extending to each and every individual as he gives freely and wholly of himself to each person he meets. Do you approach the Lord with confident expectation that he will hear your request and act?
In Jesus we see the infinite love of God extending to each and every individual as he gives freely and wholly of himself to each person he meets. Do you approach the Lord with confident expectation that he will hear your request and act?
"Lord Jesus, you love each of us individually with a unique
and personal love. Touch my life with your saving power, heal and restore me to
fullness of life. Help me to give wholly of myself in loving service to
others."
 Faith is All-Powerful. |
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July 7, 2014. Monday
of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
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Matthew 9:18-26
While Jesus was speaking, an official came
forward, knelt down before him, and said, "My daughter has just died.
But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live." Jesus rose and
followed him, and so did his disciples. A woman suffering hemorrhages for
twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said
to herself, "If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured."
Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, "Courage, daughter! Your
faith has saved you." And from that hour the woman was cured. When Jesus
arrived at the official´s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who
were making a commotion, he said, "Go away! The girl is not dead but
sleeping." And they ridiculed him. When the crowd was put out, he came
and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. And news of this spread
throughout all that land.
Introductory Prayer: Jesus, you are my savior and redeemer;
I believe that you want to hear from me. I approach you in confidence and
offer this prayer for those who are afraid to draw near to you.
Petition: Grant me, Jesus, a deeper faith in your power to heal me
and my loved ones.
1. Awaiting Our Move: We note that the official´s faith
moves Jesus to action. Remarkable! The Son of God accommodates a mere
creature, due to a show of faith. So often we see problems around us and
expect God to solve them without any effort on our part. God knows our
problems better than we do (cf. Matthew 6:8). Yet, he sometimes doesn´t act
until he sees an act of faith on our part. The official showed such faith. It
was extraordinary, after all, for him to approach Jesus in front of other
people and ask point-blank for a miracle. Do I have such confidence when I approach
Jesus in prayer? Is my faith strong enough to ask him for something
extraordinary?
2. Touching Moment: The woman suffering hemorrhages had
great faith in Jesus, too. In her case, she didn´t express it in words.
Rather, she expressed it in a deed, by discreetly touching Jesus´ cloak. That
kind of faith speaks volumes. It helps if our words are joined with actions.
Petitions don´t always suffice. We have to act, to move, to leave our comfort
zone, in order to approach Jesus. Prayer is good; prayer plus action gives
God even more fertile ground to work with. How can I complement my prayer
life? Can I help my pastor with a special project, for instance?
3. Mourning Has Broken: In Our Lord´s time it was not uncommon
to have professional mourners show up when someone died. Jesus´ comment that
the official´s daughter was merely sleeping brought ridicule on him. Who
needs mourners if the young lady is alive? We can be like professional
mourners at times, resigned to the evil and death around us. We might throw
up our hands and think we can hope for nothing better. We might even be
tempted, like the mourners, to ignore Our Lord´s reassuring presence. We
might think: "What! Me, be a saint?" Or: "Me, called to the
priesthood or consecrated life?" Or: "Do you really expect us to
handle another child right now?" Luckily for us, Christ is undeterred.
He comes to bring us life, to lead us out of sin, to make us more generous.
In a word, he comes to call us to holiness. Do I resist such a call?
Conversation with Christ: The official and the suffering woman
show an admirable faith. I want to have that same kind of faith, Lord.
Sometimes I feel paralyzed by my problems, so much so that I find it hard to
approach you confidently. Increase my faith and sense of hope. Let me live as
if I really believe that you rule the world.
Resolution: I will offer up a sacrifice (or a
visit to the Blessed Sacrament or an act of charity) for a special intention.
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MONDAY, JULY 7, MATTHEW 9:18-26
(Hosea 2:16,17b -18, 21-22; Psalm 145)
(Hosea 2:16,17b -18, 21-22; Psalm 145)
KEY VERSE: "Courage daughter! Your faith has saved you" (v 22).
READING: Matthew narrates the story of Jesus healing a woman with a hemorrhage alongside the episode of raising a young girl to life. In the first story, a bereaved synagogue official ("Jairus" in Mk 5:22, Lk 8:41) pleaded with Jesus to bring his dead daughter back to life. On the way to the official's house, Jesus was met by a woman who had suffered hemorrhages for "twelve years," as many years as Jairus' daughter had lived. The woman believed that she would be healed if she could touch the fringe (Hebrew, tzi-tzit) that was sewn on the corners of Jesus' outer garment. These tassels were meant as a reminder to Jews to be faithful to God's law (Nm 15:37-41). Because of her physical condition, the woman should not have touched Jesus as she was considered "unclean" according to the law (Lev 15:19). Jesus was impressed by the woman's courage and faith, and he restored her to full health. Arriving at the official's house, Jesus took the dead child's hand (touching a dead person also make him unclean, Nm 19:11). Her resuscitation was a sign of the new life that Jesus would offer in his resurrection. The older woman was at the point of death after twelve years of suffering and received new life in Jesus' healing. The twelve year old girl was now capable of generating life.
REFLECTING: In what ways do I need Jesus' healing touch today?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, heal me of all that defiles me.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
You’re Not Alone
In times of intense loss and grief, we take our place with Mary as
she embraces all our grief in her own as she is silently holding in her arms
the stark presence of our suffering God in the lifeless body of her Son.
The Lord is kind and merciful
‘Courage my daughter, your faith has restored you to health.’The stories in today’s gospel recount the miracles of saving the life of the official’s daughter and the healing of the woman who touched Jesus’ cloak. Both stories display the deep faith of those concerned. We are reminded of the many times we hear of people who have near death-experiences and others who recover from illnesses defying doctor’s expectations. Indeed these stories often seem to be repeated in the 21st century. There are many things in life we cannot understand and we are led to ponder the current debate on euthanasia and the importance of palliative care. There is always a reason to ponder again the value of prayer. Let us pray for wisdom among our leaders in dealing with matters of medical ethics.
July
7
Blessed Emmanuel Ruiz and Companions
(1804-1860)
Blessed Emmanuel Ruiz and Companions
(1804-1860)
Not much is known of the early life of Emmanuel Ruiz, but details
of his heroic death in defense of the faith have come down to us.
Born of humble
parents in Santander, Spain, he became a Franciscan priest and served as a
missionary in Damascus. This was at a time when anti-Christian riots shook
Syria and thousands lost their lives in just a short time.
Among
these were Emmanuel, superior of the Franciscan convent, seven other friars and
three laymen. When a menacing crowd came looking for the men, they refused to
renounce their faith and become Muslims. The men were subjected to horrible
tortures before their martyrdom.
Emmanuel,
his brother Franciscans and the three Maronite laymen were beatified in 1926 by
Pope Pius XI.
LECTIO DIVINA:
MATTHEW 9,18-26
Lectio:
Monday, July 7, 2014
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 9,18-26
While Jesus was speaking to them, suddenly one of the officials
came up, who bowed low in front of him and said, 'My daughter has just died,
but come and lay your hand on her and her life will be saved.' Jesus rose and,
with his disciples, followed him.
Then suddenly from behind him came a woman, who had been suffering from a haemorrhage for twelve years, and she touched the fringe of his cloak, for she was thinking, 'If only I can touch his cloak I shall be saved.' Jesus turned round and saw her; and he said to her, 'Courage, my daughter, your faith has saved you.' And from that moment the woman was saved.
When Jesus reached the official's house and saw the flute-players, with the crowd making a commotion, he said, 'Get out of here; the little girl is not dead; she is asleep.' And they ridiculed him. But when the people had been turned out he went inside and took her by the hand; and she stood up. And the news of this spread all round the countryside.
Then suddenly from behind him came a woman, who had been suffering from a haemorrhage for twelve years, and she touched the fringe of his cloak, for she was thinking, 'If only I can touch his cloak I shall be saved.' Jesus turned round and saw her; and he said to her, 'Courage, my daughter, your faith has saved you.' And from that moment the woman was saved.
When Jesus reached the official's house and saw the flute-players, with the crowd making a commotion, he said, 'Get out of here; the little girl is not dead; she is asleep.' And they ridiculed him. But when the people had been turned out he went inside and took her by the hand; and she stood up. And the news of this spread all round the countryside.
3) Reflection
• Today’s Gospel takes us to meditate on two miracles of
Jesus. The first one was in favour of a woman considered unclean because
of an irregular haemorrhage which had been lasting for more than twelve
years. The second one in favour of a girl who had just died.
According to the mentality of that time, the person who touched blood or a
corpse or dead body was considered unclean and whoever touched that person
became unclean. Blood and death were factors of exclusion! This is
why those two women were marginalized persons, excluded from the participation
in the community. Whoever touched them became unclean, and therefore,
would not be able to participate in the community, and therefore, could not
relate with God. In order to be admitted to participate fully in the
community, it was necessary to go through the rite of purification, prescribed
by the norms of the law. Now, when curing the impurity of the woman, through
faith, Jesus opens a new path toward God which does not depend anymore on the
rites of purification, controlled by the priests. In resurrecting the girl,
Jesus conquers the power of death and opens a new horizon to life.
• Matthew 9, 18-19: The death of the little girl. When Jesus was still speaking, behold an official of the place came to intercede for his daughter who has just died. He asks Jesus to go to impose his hands on her and, “she will live”. The official thinks that Jesus has the power to make his daughter rise from the dead. This is a sign of much faith in Jesus on the part of the father of the little girl. Jesus rises and goes with him, taking only his disciples. This is the starting point of both episodes which follow: the cure of the woman who had been suffering for the past twelve years from a haemorrhage, and the resurrection of the little girl. The Gospel of Mark presents both of these episodes, but with many details: the official was called Jarius and he was the president of the Synagogue. The little girl was not dead as yet, and she was twelve years old, etc. (Mk 5, 21-43). Matthew gives a briefer narration of the very lively one of Mark.
• Matthew 9, 20-21: The situation of the woman. While they were on the way to the official’s house, a woman who had been suffering for twelve years because of a irregular haemorrhage got close to Jesus seeking to be cured. Twelve years with a haemorrhage! This is why she was marginalized, excluded, because as we have said, at that time blood rendered the person impure. Mark says that the woman had spent all she had with doctors, but instead of improving her situation had become worse (Mk 5, 25-26) But she had heard some speak about Jesus (Mk 5, 27). This is why a new hope sprang in her. She told herself: “If I can just touch his clothes, I shall be saved”. The catechism of that time said: “If I touch his clothes I will remain impure”. The woman thinks exatly the contrary! This was a sign of great courage! A sign also that women were not in agreement with everything that the religious authority taught. The teaching of the Pharisees and of the Scribes did not succeed to control the thinking of the people. Thank God! The woman got close to Jesus from behind, she touched the end of his cloak and she was cured.
• Matthew 9, 22. The word of Jesus which enlightens. Jesus turns and seeing the woman declares: “Courage, my daughter your faith has saved you”. A brief phrase, but which makes us see three very important points: (1) In saying “my daughter”, Jesus accepts the woman in the new community which has formed around him. She was no longer excluded. (2) What she expected and believed takes place in fact. She was cured. This proofs that the catechism of the religious authority was not correct and that in Jesus was opened a new path which gave people the possibility of obtaining the purity which the law demanded and also to enter into contact with God. (3) Jesus recognizes that without the faith of this woman, He would not have been able to work the miracle. The cure was not a magic rite, but an act of faith.
• Matthew 9, 23-24: In the house of the official. After that Jesus goes to the house of the official. Seeing the agitation of those who were mourning because of the death of the little girl, he asks everybody to get out from the room. And he says: “The little girl is not dead, she is sleeping!” People laugh, because they know how to distinguish when a person sleeps or when she is dead. Death was for them a barrier that nobody could go beyond. It is the laughter of Abraham and of Sarah, that is, of those who do not succeed to believe that nothing is impossible for God (Gn 17, 17; 18, 12-14; Lk 1, 27). The words of Jesus still have a very deep significance. The situation of the communities at the time of Matthew seemed to be in a situation of death. Even though they heard said, “It is not death, you are asleep! Wake up!”
• Matthew 9, 25-26: The resurrection of the little girl. Jesus does not give any importance to the laughter of the people. He waits for everyone to get out of the house. Then he enters, takes the little girl by the hand and she gets us. Mark keeps the words of Jesus: “Talita kúmi!” which mean: “Little girl, I tell you to get up!” (Mk 5,41). The news spread throughout that region. The people believed that Jesus is the Lord of life who overcomes death.
• Matthew 9, 18-19: The death of the little girl. When Jesus was still speaking, behold an official of the place came to intercede for his daughter who has just died. He asks Jesus to go to impose his hands on her and, “she will live”. The official thinks that Jesus has the power to make his daughter rise from the dead. This is a sign of much faith in Jesus on the part of the father of the little girl. Jesus rises and goes with him, taking only his disciples. This is the starting point of both episodes which follow: the cure of the woman who had been suffering for the past twelve years from a haemorrhage, and the resurrection of the little girl. The Gospel of Mark presents both of these episodes, but with many details: the official was called Jarius and he was the president of the Synagogue. The little girl was not dead as yet, and she was twelve years old, etc. (Mk 5, 21-43). Matthew gives a briefer narration of the very lively one of Mark.
• Matthew 9, 20-21: The situation of the woman. While they were on the way to the official’s house, a woman who had been suffering for twelve years because of a irregular haemorrhage got close to Jesus seeking to be cured. Twelve years with a haemorrhage! This is why she was marginalized, excluded, because as we have said, at that time blood rendered the person impure. Mark says that the woman had spent all she had with doctors, but instead of improving her situation had become worse (Mk 5, 25-26) But she had heard some speak about Jesus (Mk 5, 27). This is why a new hope sprang in her. She told herself: “If I can just touch his clothes, I shall be saved”. The catechism of that time said: “If I touch his clothes I will remain impure”. The woman thinks exatly the contrary! This was a sign of great courage! A sign also that women were not in agreement with everything that the religious authority taught. The teaching of the Pharisees and of the Scribes did not succeed to control the thinking of the people. Thank God! The woman got close to Jesus from behind, she touched the end of his cloak and she was cured.
• Matthew 9, 22. The word of Jesus which enlightens. Jesus turns and seeing the woman declares: “Courage, my daughter your faith has saved you”. A brief phrase, but which makes us see three very important points: (1) In saying “my daughter”, Jesus accepts the woman in the new community which has formed around him. She was no longer excluded. (2) What she expected and believed takes place in fact. She was cured. This proofs that the catechism of the religious authority was not correct and that in Jesus was opened a new path which gave people the possibility of obtaining the purity which the law demanded and also to enter into contact with God. (3) Jesus recognizes that without the faith of this woman, He would not have been able to work the miracle. The cure was not a magic rite, but an act of faith.
• Matthew 9, 23-24: In the house of the official. After that Jesus goes to the house of the official. Seeing the agitation of those who were mourning because of the death of the little girl, he asks everybody to get out from the room. And he says: “The little girl is not dead, she is sleeping!” People laugh, because they know how to distinguish when a person sleeps or when she is dead. Death was for them a barrier that nobody could go beyond. It is the laughter of Abraham and of Sarah, that is, of those who do not succeed to believe that nothing is impossible for God (Gn 17, 17; 18, 12-14; Lk 1, 27). The words of Jesus still have a very deep significance. The situation of the communities at the time of Matthew seemed to be in a situation of death. Even though they heard said, “It is not death, you are asleep! Wake up!”
• Matthew 9, 25-26: The resurrection of the little girl. Jesus does not give any importance to the laughter of the people. He waits for everyone to get out of the house. Then he enters, takes the little girl by the hand and she gets us. Mark keeps the words of Jesus: “Talita kúmi!” which mean: “Little girl, I tell you to get up!” (Mk 5,41). The news spread throughout that region. The people believed that Jesus is the Lord of life who overcomes death.
4) Personal questions
• Today, which are the categories of persons who feel excluded
from participating in the Christian community? Which are the factors which
cause the exclusion of so many persons and render life difficult for them in
the family and in society?
• “The little girl is not dead. She sleeps!” “She is not dead! You are sleeping! Wake up! This is the message of today’s Gospel. What does it tell me? Am I one of those who laugh?
• “The little girl is not dead. She sleeps!” “She is not dead! You are sleeping! Wake up! This is the message of today’s Gospel. What does it tell me? Am I one of those who laugh?
5) Concluding Prayer
I shall praise you to the heights, God my King,
I shall bless your name for ever and ever.
Day after day I shall bless you,
I shall praise your name for ever and ever. (Ps 145,1-2)
I shall bless your name for ever and ever.
Day after day I shall bless you,
I shall praise your name for ever and ever. (Ps 145,1-2)
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