Tuesday - July 11, 2017
“The devil may try to use the hurts of life, and sometimes our own mistakes to make you feel it is impossible that Jesus really loves you, is really cleaving to you. This is a danger for all of us, and so sad, because it is completely the opposite of what Jesus is really wanting, waiting to tell you…he loves you always, even when you don’t feel worthy.”
– Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
TODAY'S READINGS
July 11, 2017
Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot
Lectionary: 384
Reading 1GN 32:23-33
In the course of the night, Jacob arose, took his two wives,with the two maidservants and his eleven children,
and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
After he had taken them across the stream
and had brought over all his possessions,
Jacob was left there alone.
Then some man wrestled with him until the break of dawn.
When the man saw that he could not prevail over him,
he struck Jacob's hip at its socket,
so that the hip socket was wrenched as they wrestled.
The man then said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak."
But Jacob said, "I will not let you go until you bless me."
The man asked, "What is your name?"
He answered, "Jacob."
Then the man said,
"You shall no longer be spoken of as Jacob, but as Israel,
because you have contended with divine and human beings
and have prevailed."
Jacob then asked him, "Do tell me your name, please."
He answered, "Why should you want to know my name?"
With that, he bade him farewell.
Jacob named the place Peniel,
"Because I have seen God face to face," he said,
"yet my life has been spared."
At sunrise, as he left Penuel,
Jacob limped along because of his hip.
That is why, to this day, the children of Israel do not eat
the sciatic muscle that is on the hip socket,
inasmuch as Jacob's hip socket was struck at the sciatic muscle.
Responsorial PsalmPS 17:1B, 2-3, 6-7AB, 8B AND 15
R. (15a) In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.Hear, O LORD, a just suit;
attend to my outcry;
hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.
R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
From you let my judgment come;
your eyes behold what is right.
Though you test my heart, searching it in the night,
though you try me with fire, you shall find no malice in me.
R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word.
Show your wondrous mercies,
O savior of those who flee from their foes.
R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
I in justice shall behold your face;
on waking, I shall be content in your presence.
R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
AlleluiaJN 10:14
R. Alleluia, alleluia.I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;
I know my sheep, and mine know me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMT 9:32-38
A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus,and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke.
The crowds were amazed and said,
"Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel."
But the Pharisees said,
"He drives out demons by the prince of demons."
Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest."
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What's Discouraging You?
When someone treats us unfairly or unkindly, how much control do we hand over to that person? If we react instead of choosing how to act, if our anger lingers, if we feel discouraged, if we wallow in "poor me" self-pity, or if we stop what we're doing, we've given away too much. Why let others control us like that? Why allow them to motivate us into unhappiness?
Jesus was motivated, not by harassment but by the needs of the people. The awareness of what he could do for them stirred him to continue his tour of the towns and villages despite false accusations that damaged his reputation.
When we serve God, we don't have time for the nonsense that people toss at us in their attacks. It's only God's opinion of us that matters anyway. By staying focused on Jesus and following him wherever he leads us, we can enjoy what we're doing for his kingdom.
No one has the right to steal our joy! So why give it up?
Jesus had good reason to feel discouraged, because the crowds were so large and the needs were so huge and there were so many towns still unvisited; he was just one person with so much to do. Have you ever worked on a project or ministry that overwhelmed you? How do you think Jesus felt? The scripture says he felt pity for those who needed what he could give.
He could have felt frustrated. Or he could have worried that no one else would ever be able do the work as well as he did. Instead, he told his disciples to pray for more helpers. Then he told them that they were the helpers for whom they had prayed!
This Gospel reading is often quoted to remind people to pray for an increase of vocations. Well guess what. We are the helpers we're praying for! Some of us are gifted and called to become priests or to join religious orders, but not all of us. Yet, we are all definitely called to help Jesus with the harvest. The laity can go where the clergy cannot -- into homes and workplaces and the neighbors' barbecue parties -- so that Jesus can serve the needs of more and more people.
Our vocation is to be Jesus' hands and feet, voice and heart. This usually triggers persecution from those who fail to understand us, but are we going to let that control our moods?
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God Bless You.....
The mother of Jesus promised St. Dominic that, “one day through the rosary & the scapular I shall save the world!”
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