Monday of
the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 407/408
Reading
1
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.’”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Responsorial
Psalm
R. (68b) Lord, teach me your statutes.
Remove from me the way of falsehood,
and favor me with your law.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Take not the word of truth from my mouth,
for in your ordinances is my hope.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Let those turn to me who fear you
and acknowledge your decrees.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Let my heart be perfect in your statutes,
that I be not put to shame.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Sinners wait to destroy me,
but I pay heed to your decrees.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
From your ordinances I turn not away,
for you have instructed me.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Remove from me the way of falsehood,
and favor me with your law.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Take not the word of truth from my mouth,
for in your ordinances is my hope.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Let those turn to me who fear you
and acknowledge your decrees.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Let my heart be perfect in your statutes,
that I be not put to shame.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Sinners wait to destroy me,
but I pay heed to your decrees.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
From your ordinances I turn not away,
for you have instructed me.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Rabbi, you are the Son of God;
you are the King of Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Rabbi, you are the Son of God;
you are the King of Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
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.”
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.
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: "Take heart, it is I; have no fear"
Does the
Lord seem distant when trials or adversity come your way? It was at Jesus'
initiative that the disciples sailed across the lake, only to find themselves
in a life-threatening storm (see Mark 6:53-56). Although they were experienced
fishermen, they feared for their lives. While Jesus was not with them in the
boat, he, nonetheless watched for them in prayer. When he perceived their
trouble he came to them on the sea and startled them with his sudden
appearance. Do you look for the Lord's presence when you encounter difficulty
or challenges?
This
dramatic incident on the sea of Galilee revealed Peter's character more fully
than others. Here we see Peter's impulsivity – his tendency to act without
thinking of what he was doing. He often failed and came to grief as a result of
his impulsiveness. In contrast, Jesus always bade his disciples to see how
difficult it was to follow him before they set out on the way he taught them. A
great deal of failure in the Christian life is due to acting on impulse and
emotional fervor without counting the cost. Peter, fortunately in the moment of
his failure clutched at Jesus and held him firmly. Every time Peter fell, he
rose again. His failures only made him love the Lord more deeply and trust him
more intently. The Lord keeps watch over us at all times, and especially in our
moments of temptation and difficulty. Do you rely on the Lord for his strength
and help? Jesus assures us that we have no need of fear if we trust in Him and
in his great love for us. When calamities or trials threaten to overwhelm you,
how do you respond? With faith and hope in God's love, care and presence with
you?
"Lord
Jesus, help me to trust you always and to never doubt your presence and your
power to help me. In my moments of doubt and weakness, may I cling to you as
Peter did. Strengthen my faith that I may walk straight in the path you set
before me, neither veering to the left nor to the right".
MONDAY, AUGUST 3, MATTHEW 14:22-36
Weekday
(Jeremiah 28:1-17; Psalms 119)
Weekday
(Jeremiah 28:1-17; Psalms 119)
KEY VERSE: "O you of little faith, why did you doubt" (v. 31).
TO KNOW: After Jesus revealed himself as the one who nourished his people with the miraculous multiplication of loaves (Mt 14:13-20), he demonstrated that he was victorious over the destructive powers of evil. Jesus had sent his disciples in a boat ahead of him while he went up a hill to pray. When it grew late, a turbulent storm arose on the lake. Jesus saw his disciples struggling against the winds and the waves, making little progress. As the night wore on, Jesus came toward his terrified disciples, walking on the sea, evoking the victory that enabled Israel to cross the sea into the Promised Land (Ps 77:20). Jesus told his disciples to take courage; he was with them ("Emmanuel"). Peter, the leader of the struggling community, tried to come to the Lord, but he was overwhelmed by fear. At Jesus' command, Peter stepped out in faith, but when he took his eyes off Jesus, he began to sink beneath the waves and cried out, "Lord, save me!" (v. 30b). Grasping Peter by the hand Jesus asked, "Why did you doubt?" (v. 31b). Those who lacked faith now declared Jesus to be the "Son of God" (v. 33b). In walking on the water, Jesus shows that his power and authority are greater than anything that threatens to destroy us with doubt and fear.
TO LOVE: What is it that "drowns" me in fear, discouragement or sadness today?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to keep my eyes on you in all the storms of life.
Monday 3 August 2020
St Dominic
Jeremiah 28:1-17. Teach me your laws, O Lord – Psalm
118(119):29, 43, 79-80, 95, 102. Matthew 14:22-36.
Jesus walks on water
Today’s Gospel reminds us that faith is two-way. We have faith
in our God to be with us and protect us, but our God has faith in us too. Jesus
reached out his hand to Peter, having faith that he would come to him. The fact
that Peter’s faith then wavered, is a reminder that even Jesus ‘rock’ wobbled
at times. Peter was the first Pope. Jesus had faith that even though he was
fallible, he was worth believing in. Jesus believed that Peter would get up and
was worth it. Our God has that belief in us too. Along with our faith in our
God, we need to remember that our God has faith in us and so we need to have
faith in ourselves.
Saint Peter Julian Eymard
Saint of the Day for August 3
(February 4, 1811 – August 1, 1868)
Saint Peter Julian Eymard’s Story
Born in La Mure d’Isère in southeastern France, Peter Julian’s
faith journey drew him from being a priest in the Diocese of Grenoble in 1834,
to joining the Marists in 1839, to founding the Congregation of the Blessed
Sacrament in 1856.
In addition to those changes, Peter Julian coped with poverty,
his father’s initial opposition to Peter’s vocation, serious illness, a
Jansenistic overemphasis on sin, and the difficulties of getting diocesan and
later papal approval for his new religious community.
His years as a Marist, including service as a provincial leader,
saw the deepening of his Eucharistic devotion, especially through his preaching
of Forty Hours in many parishes. Inspired at first by the idea of reparation
for indifference to the Eucharist, Peter Julian was eventually attracted to a
more positive spirituality of Christ-centered love. Members of the men’s
community which Peter founded alternated between an active apostolic life and
contemplating Jesus in the Eucharist. He and Marguerite Guillot founded the
women’s Congregation of the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament.
Peter Julian Eymard was beatified in 1925, and canonized in
1962, one day after Vatican II’s first session ended.
Reflection
In every century, sin has been painfully real in the life of the
Church. It is easy to give in to despair, to speak so strongly of human
failings that people may forget the immense and self-sacrificing love of Jesus,
as his death on the cross and his gift of the Eucharist make evident. Peter
Julian knew that the Eucharist was key to helping Catholics live out their
baptism and preach by word and example the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Lectio Divina: Matthew 14:22-36
Lectio Divina
Monday, August 3, 2020
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Father of everlasting goodness,
our origin and guide,
be close to us
and hear the prayers of all who praise You.
Forgive our sins and restore us to life.
Keep us safe in Your love.
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.
our origin and guide,
be close to us
and hear the prayers of all who praise You.
Forgive our sins and restore us to life.
Keep us safe in Your love.
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 14:22-36
At once Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on
ahead to the other side while He sent the crowds away. After sending the crowds
away He went up into the hills by Himself to pray.
When evening came, He was there alone, while the boat, by now some furlongs from land, was hard pressed by rough waves, for there was a head-wind. In the fourth watch of the night He came towards them, walking on the sea, and when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea they were terrified. 'It is a ghost,' they said, and cried out in fear.
But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, 'Courage! It's me! Don't be afraid.'
It was Peter who answered. 'Lord,' he said, 'if it is You, tell me to come to You across the water.' Jesus said, 'Come.' Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but then noticing the wind, he took fright and began to sink. 'Lord,' he cried, 'save me!'
Jesus put out His hand at once and held Him. 'You have so little faith,' He said, 'why did you doubt?' 32 And as they got into the boat the wind dropped. 33 The men in the boat bowed down before Him and said, 'Truly, You are the Son of God.'
Having made the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret. When the local people recognized Him they spread the news through the whole neighborhood and took all that were sick to Him, begging Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all those who touched it were saved.
When evening came, He was there alone, while the boat, by now some furlongs from land, was hard pressed by rough waves, for there was a head-wind. In the fourth watch of the night He came towards them, walking on the sea, and when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea they were terrified. 'It is a ghost,' they said, and cried out in fear.
But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, 'Courage! It's me! Don't be afraid.'
It was Peter who answered. 'Lord,' he said, 'if it is You, tell me to come to You across the water.' Jesus said, 'Come.' Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but then noticing the wind, he took fright and began to sink. 'Lord,' he cried, 'save me!'
Jesus put out His hand at once and held Him. 'You have so little faith,' He said, 'why did you doubt?' 32 And as they got into the boat the wind dropped. 33 The men in the boat bowed down before Him and said, 'Truly, You are the Son of God.'
Having made the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret. When the local people recognized Him they spread the news through the whole neighborhood and took all that were sick to Him, begging Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all those who touched it were saved.
3) Reflection
• The Gospel today describes the difficult and tiresome crossing
of the Sea of Galilee in a fragile boat, pushed by a contrary wind. Between the
discourse of the Parables (Mt 13) and of the Community (Mt 18), there is once
again, the narrative part (Mt 14 to 17). The discourse of the Parables calls
our attention again to the presence of the Kingdom. Now, the narrative part
shows the reactions in favor of and against Jesus provoked by that presence. In
Nazareth, He was not accepted (Mt 13:53-58) and King Herod thought that Jesus
was a sort or reincarnation of John the Baptist, whom he had murdered (Mt
14:1-12). The poor people, though, recognized in Jesus the one who had been
sent by God and they followed Him to the desert, where the multiplication of
the loaves took place (Mt 14:13-21). After the multiplication of the loaves,
Jesus took leave of the crowd and ordered the disciples to cross the lake, as
it is described in today’s Gospel (Mt 14:22-36).
• Matthew 14:22-24: To begin the crossing asked by Jesus. Jesus obliges the Disciples to go into the boat and to go toward the other side of the sea, where the land of the pagans was. He goes up to the mountain to pray. The boat symbolizes the community. It has the mission to direct itself toward the pagans and to announce among them the Good News of the Kingdom also, which was the new way of living in community. But the crossing was very tiring and long. The boat is agitated by the wave, because the wind is contrary. In spite of having rowed the whole night, there is still a great distance left before reaching the land. Much was still lacking in the community in order to be able to cross and go toward the pagans. Jesus did not go with His disciples. They had to learn to face together the difficulties, united and strengthened by faith in Jesus, who had sent them. The contrast is very great: Jesus is in peace together with God, praying on the top of the mountain, and the Disciples are almost lost there below, in the agitated sea.
• The crossing to the other side of the lake symbolizes also the difficult crossing of the community at the end of the first century. They should get out of the closed world of the ancient observance of the law toward the new manner of observing the Law of love, taught by Jesus; they should abandon the knowledge of belonging to the Chosen People, privileged by God among all other peoples, for the certainty that in Christ all peoples would be united into One People before God; they should get out from isolation and intolerance toward the open world of acceptance and of gratitude. Today also, we are going through a difficult crossing toward a new time and a new way of being Church. A difficult crossing, but which is necessary. There are moments in life in which we are attacked by fear. Good will is not lacking, but this is not sufficient. We are like a boat faced with the contrary wind.
• Matthew 14:25-27: Jesus comes close to them but they do not recognize Him. Toward the end of the night, that is, between three and six o’clock in the morning, Jesus goes to meet the Disciples. Walking on the water, He gets close to them, but they do not recognize Him. They cry out in fear, thinking that it is a ghost. Jesus calms them down, saying, “Courage! It is me! Do not be afraid!” The expression “It is me!” is the same one with which God tried to overcome the fear of Moses when He sent him to liberate the people from Egypt (Ex 3:14). For the communities, of today as well as for those of yesterday, it was and it is very important to be always open to novelty: “Courage. It is me! Do not be afraid!”
• Matthew 14:28-31: Enthusiasm and weakness of Peter. Knowing that it is Jesus, Peter asks that he also be able walk on the water. He wants to experience the power which dominates the fury of the sea. This is a power which in the bible belongs only to God (Gen 1:6; Ps 104:6-9). Jesus allows him to participate in this power. But Peter is afraid. He thinks that he will sink and he cries out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus assures him and takes hold of him and reproaches him: “You have so little faith! Why did you doubt?” Peter has more strength than he imagined, but is afraid before the oncoming waves and does not believe in the power of God which dwells within him. The communities do not believe in the force of the Spirit which is within them and which acts through faith. It is the force of the Resurrection (Eph 1:19-20).
• Matthew 14:32-33: Jesus is the Son of God. Before the waves that come toward them, Peter begins to sink in the sea because of lack of faith. After he is saved, he and Jesus, both of them, go into the boat and the wind calms down. The other Disciples, who are in the boat, are astonished and bow before Jesus, recognizing that He is the Son of God: “Truly, You are the Son of God”. Later on, Peter also professes the same faith in Jesus: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” (Mt 16:16). In this way Matthew suggests that it is not only Peter who sustains the faith of the Disciples, but also that the faith of the Disciples sustains Peter’s faith.
• Matthew 14:34-36: They brought all the sick to Him. The episode of the crossing ends with something beautiful: “Having made the crossing they came to Gennesaret. When the local people recognized Him they spread the news through the whole neighborhood and took all who were sick to Him, begging Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all those who touched it were saved”.
• Matthew 14:22-24: To begin the crossing asked by Jesus. Jesus obliges the Disciples to go into the boat and to go toward the other side of the sea, where the land of the pagans was. He goes up to the mountain to pray. The boat symbolizes the community. It has the mission to direct itself toward the pagans and to announce among them the Good News of the Kingdom also, which was the new way of living in community. But the crossing was very tiring and long. The boat is agitated by the wave, because the wind is contrary. In spite of having rowed the whole night, there is still a great distance left before reaching the land. Much was still lacking in the community in order to be able to cross and go toward the pagans. Jesus did not go with His disciples. They had to learn to face together the difficulties, united and strengthened by faith in Jesus, who had sent them. The contrast is very great: Jesus is in peace together with God, praying on the top of the mountain, and the Disciples are almost lost there below, in the agitated sea.
• The crossing to the other side of the lake symbolizes also the difficult crossing of the community at the end of the first century. They should get out of the closed world of the ancient observance of the law toward the new manner of observing the Law of love, taught by Jesus; they should abandon the knowledge of belonging to the Chosen People, privileged by God among all other peoples, for the certainty that in Christ all peoples would be united into One People before God; they should get out from isolation and intolerance toward the open world of acceptance and of gratitude. Today also, we are going through a difficult crossing toward a new time and a new way of being Church. A difficult crossing, but which is necessary. There are moments in life in which we are attacked by fear. Good will is not lacking, but this is not sufficient. We are like a boat faced with the contrary wind.
• Matthew 14:25-27: Jesus comes close to them but they do not recognize Him. Toward the end of the night, that is, between three and six o’clock in the morning, Jesus goes to meet the Disciples. Walking on the water, He gets close to them, but they do not recognize Him. They cry out in fear, thinking that it is a ghost. Jesus calms them down, saying, “Courage! It is me! Do not be afraid!” The expression “It is me!” is the same one with which God tried to overcome the fear of Moses when He sent him to liberate the people from Egypt (Ex 3:14). For the communities, of today as well as for those of yesterday, it was and it is very important to be always open to novelty: “Courage. It is me! Do not be afraid!”
• Matthew 14:28-31: Enthusiasm and weakness of Peter. Knowing that it is Jesus, Peter asks that he also be able walk on the water. He wants to experience the power which dominates the fury of the sea. This is a power which in the bible belongs only to God (Gen 1:6; Ps 104:6-9). Jesus allows him to participate in this power. But Peter is afraid. He thinks that he will sink and he cries out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus assures him and takes hold of him and reproaches him: “You have so little faith! Why did you doubt?” Peter has more strength than he imagined, but is afraid before the oncoming waves and does not believe in the power of God which dwells within him. The communities do not believe in the force of the Spirit which is within them and which acts through faith. It is the force of the Resurrection (Eph 1:19-20).
• Matthew 14:32-33: Jesus is the Son of God. Before the waves that come toward them, Peter begins to sink in the sea because of lack of faith. After he is saved, he and Jesus, both of them, go into the boat and the wind calms down. The other Disciples, who are in the boat, are astonished and bow before Jesus, recognizing that He is the Son of God: “Truly, You are the Son of God”. Later on, Peter also professes the same faith in Jesus: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” (Mt 16:16). In this way Matthew suggests that it is not only Peter who sustains the faith of the Disciples, but also that the faith of the Disciples sustains Peter’s faith.
• Matthew 14:34-36: They brought all the sick to Him. The episode of the crossing ends with something beautiful: “Having made the crossing they came to Gennesaret. When the local people recognized Him they spread the news through the whole neighborhood and took all who were sick to Him, begging Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all those who touched it were saved”.
4) Personal questions
• Has there been a contrary wind in your life? What have you
done to overcome it? Has this happened sometimes in the community? How was it
overcome?
• Which is the crossing which the communities are doing today? From where to where? How does all this help us to recognize today the presence of Jesus in the contrary waves of life?
• Which is the crossing which the communities are doing today? From where to where? How does all this help us to recognize today the presence of Jesus in the contrary waves of life?
5) Concluding Prayer
Keep me far from the way of deceit;
grant me the grace of Your Law.
I have chosen the way of constancy;
I have molded myself to Your judgements. (Ps 119:29-30)
grant me the grace of Your Law.
I have chosen the way of constancy;
I have molded myself to Your judgements. (Ps 119:29-30)
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