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.
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.”
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 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
Psalm145:2-3, 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.
Alleluia See2 TM 1:10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMT 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.
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.
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.
For the readings of
the Optional Memorial of Saint Maria Goretti, please go here.
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.
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?
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.
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?
"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."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: Daughter, your faith has made you well,
by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD)
"So
what did Messiah do? He did not let her go unnoticed but led her into the
center of attention and made her visible. He had many reasons for doing this.
Some might imagine that 'he did this merely for love of glory - otherwise why
would he not allow her to remain concealed?' But what are they proposing who
might say this? That he should keep her silent, that he should ignore her need,
and thereby pass up miracles too numerous to mention, all because he is in love
with glory? What an unholy thought, inspired by the most unholy one of
all."
"What then is his intention in bringing her forward? First, Jesus puts an end to her fear. He does not want her to remain trapped in dread. He gives no cause for her conscience to be harmed, as if she had stolen the gift. Second, he corrects her assumption that she has no right to be seen. Third, he makes her faith an exhibit to all. He encourages the others to emulate her faith. Fourth, his subduing the fountains of her hemorrhage was another sign of his knowledge of all things. And finally, do you remember the ruler of the synagogue? He was at the point of despair, of utter ruin. Jesus is indirectly admonishing him by what he says to the woman." (excerpt from the THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 31.2)
"What then is his intention in bringing her forward? First, Jesus puts an end to her fear. He does not want her to remain trapped in dread. He gives no cause for her conscience to be harmed, as if she had stolen the gift. Second, he corrects her assumption that she has no right to be seen. Third, he makes her faith an exhibit to all. He encourages the others to emulate her faith. Fourth, his subduing the fountains of her hemorrhage was another sign of his knowledge of all things. And finally, do you remember the ruler of the synagogue? He was at the point of despair, of utter ruin. Jesus is indirectly admonishing him by what he says to the woman." (excerpt from the THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 31.2)
MONDAY, JULY 6, MATTHEW 9:18-26
Weekday
(Hosea 2:16, 17b-18, 21-22; Psalm 145)
Weekday
(Hosea 2:16, 17b-18, 21-22; Psalm 145)
KEY VERSE: "Courage daughter! Your faith has saved you" (v. 22).
TO KNOW: Matthew narrates the story of Jesus’ healing of 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 sewn on Jesus’ outer garment. These tassels (Hebrew, tzi-tzit) were meant remind the Jews to be faithful to God's law (Nm 15:37-41). Because of the woman’s physical condition, she 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), and raised her to life. The older woman had suffered for twelve years received new life in Jesus' healing. The twelve year old girl was now capable of generating life. Her resuscitation was a sign of the new life that Jesus would offer in his resurrection.
TO LOVE: In what ways do I need Jesus' healing touch today?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, heal me of anything that defiles me.
Optional Memorial of Saint Maria Goretti, virgin and martyr
Maria Goretti was a beautiful, pious farm girl. In 1902, at age twelve, Maria was attacked by Alessandro Serenelli, a 19 year-old farm-hand. He tried to rape the girl who fought back, crying out that it was a sin and that he would go to Hell. He tried to choke her into submission, then stabbed her fourteen times. She survived in a hospital for two days, forgave her attacker, asked God's forgiveness of him, and died holding a crucifix and medal of Our Lady. While in prison for his crime, Allessandro had a vision of Maria, dressed in white, gathering lilies. This vision led to Alessandro's conversion, and he later testified at her cause for beatification. She was canonized in 1950 by Pope Pius XII. The ceremony was attended by 250,000 including her mother, the only time a parent witnessed her child's canonization.
Monday 6 July 2020
St Maria Goretti
Hosea 2:16-18, 21-22. The Lord is kind and merciful – Psalm
144(145):2-9. Matthew 9:18-26.
There’s great power in forgiveness
Maria Goretti, a 20th century Italian saint, was a young girl
when she was violently stabbed in her home. While the attack was shocking, so
too was Maria’s astonishing decision to forgive the man on her death bed.
The memory of this young girl lived on through those who
cherished her, grieved her untimely death and especially reverenced her
decision to forgive a seemingly unforgiveable act.
There’s a great power in forgiveness. The word ‘give’ lives
within. To forgive is a gift. Jesus gives life and makes the broken whole. It
is through healing of sins and illness, each inseparable from the other in this
world of the Gospels, that we see Jesus intimately connected to others.
Forgiven, we live again. Who is asking our forgiveness?
Saint of the Day for July 6
Saint Maria Goretti
(October 16, 1890 – July 6, 1902)
 |
| Stained glass window of Saint Maria Goretti | Reinhard Müller |
Saint Maria Goretti’s Story
One of the largest crowds ever assembled for a
canonization—250,000—symbolized the reaction of millions touched by the simple
story of Maria Goretti. She was the daughter of a poor Italian tenant farmer,
had no chance to go to school, never learned to read or write. When Maria made
her First Communion not long before her death at age 12, she was one of the
larger and somewhat backward members of the class.
On a hot afternoon in July, Maria was sitting at the top of the
stairs of her house, mending a shirt. She was not quite 12 years old, but
physically mature. A cart stopped outside, and a neighbor, 18-year-old
Alessandro, ran up the stairs. He seized her and pulled her into a bedroom. She
struggled and tried to call for help. “No, God does not wish it,” she cried
out. “It is a sin. You would go to hell for it.” Alessandro began striking at
her blindly with a long dagger.
Maria was taken to a hospital. Her last hours were marked by the
usual simple compassion of the good—concern about where her mother would sleep,
forgiveness of her murderer (she had been in fear of him, but did not say
anything lest she cause trouble to his family), and her devout welcoming of
Viaticum, her last Holy Communion. She died about 24 hours after the attack.
Alessandro was sentenced to 30 years in prison. For a long time
he was unrepentant and surly. One night he had a dream or vision of Maria
gathering flowers and offering them to him. His life changed. When he was
released after 27 years, his first act was to beg the forgiveness of Maria’s mother.
Devotion to the young martyr grew, miracles were worked, and in
less than half a century she was canonized. At her beatification in 1947, her
82-year-old mother, two sisters, and her brother appeared with Pope Pius XII on
the balcony of St. Peter’s. Three years later, at Maria’s canonization, a
66-year-old Alessandro Serenelli knelt among the quarter-million people and
cried tears of joy.
Reflection
Maria may have had trouble with catechism, but she had no
trouble with faith. God’s will was holiness, decency, respect for one’s body,
absolute obedience, total trust. In a complex world, her faith was simple: It
is a privilege to be loved by God, and to love him—at any cost.
Saint Maria Goretti is the Patron Saint of:
Catholic Youth
Girls
Teenagers
Girls
Teenagers
Lectio Divina: Matthew 9:18-26
Lectio Divina
Monday, July 6, 2020
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, 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.
3) Reflection
• Today’s Gospel leads us to meditate on two miracles of
Jesus. The first one was in favor of a woman considered unclean because
of an irregular hemorrhage which had lasted for more than twelve years;
the second one in favor 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 people, excluded from participation in the community.
Whoever touched them became unclean, and therefore, would not be able to
participate in the community and 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,
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 on life.
• Matthew 9:18-19: The death of the little girl. When Jesus was
still speaking, 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 so that
“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 little girl’s father. 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 hemorrhage, and the resurrection of the little girl. The Gospel of Mark
presents both of these episodes, but with many details: the official was called
Jairus, 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 version of Mark’s lively narration.
• 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 an irregular hemorrhage got close to Jesus seeking to be
cured. Twelve years with a hemorrhage! 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 up
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 exactly the contrary! This was a sign of great courage!
It was 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 in controlling 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 utterance, 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 proves
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
of 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 believe that nothing is impossible for God (Gen 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 attach any importance to the people’s laughter . He waits for everyone
to get out of the house. Then He enters, takes the little girl by the
hand, and she gets up. 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, what are the categories of people who feel excluded
from participating in the Christian community? What are the factors which cause
the exclusion of so many people 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?
• Have I suffered ridicule from others in society for having Faith? If not, why not? Trusting in God goes against many modern beliefs. Should I expect this reaction?
• “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?
• Have I suffered ridicule from others in society for having Faith? If not, why not? Trusting in God goes against many modern beliefs. Should I expect this reaction?
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)
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét