The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/070919.cfm)
reminds me that I
should do my part to build God’s kingdom.
In
movies, the end credits take a while to be finished. And when you read it, you
realize that making a movie is a very complicated process. It takes a lot of
work. A lot of money. And a lot of people to get it done. And with great
movies, people are just so happy and proud that they are part of the team that
worked on that movie. Not just the director or lead actors, people are proud to
contribute as well. This is what we should be aiming for with God’s kingdom.
We
should be proud and contribute to build God’s kingdom.
In
the gospel, we see that Jesus tirelessly worked for God’s kingdom. He
proclaimed the gospel and healed the sick everywhere he can. He worked
tirelessly and did many things. However, he cannot do it alone. He also
said in the gospel that the laborers are few. God needs workers for his
kingdom. not because he is powerless, but because people generally need human
interaction to feel God’s love. God needs us to help him in building his
kingdom on earth. God needs warm bodies to reach out to others, to make others
feel His love for them. We cannot just think that God is powerful and will send
someone to help. Maybe we are that someone God is sending to help others.
God
needs workers for his kingdom.
As
Jesus sent his disciples on a mission, he too is sending us. Life on earth
should not just be about us. It should not be just about what we want to do or
to happen. We should not forget who gave us life in the first place. We should
not forget who loved us first, who saved us, and who continues to bless us.
As
we are blessed, as we are filled with God’s love, we are also called to pass
it to others. We are blessed not for us to keep it, but bless others
as well. We experience God not just for us to treasure the moment, but share him
with others. We have a relationship with God not just for ourselves, but for
others to have the same relationship as well.
It
is easy to just focus on oneself, on the people you love, on what you want. But
God reminds us that we should also be workers for him. No matter where we are
and what we do, we are called to be workers for God’s kingdom.
Am
I doing my share to build God’s kingdom on earth? How? In what way am I
building God’s kingdom on earth? Am I living in a way pleasing to God and
consistent with his gospel values? How can I build his kingdom in my life - my
school, work, business, and family?
May
we be willing to do our part and build God's kingdom here on earth, in whatever
way we can.
Father
God,
Thank
you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another
opportunity to feel your love. Thank you for all the blessings. Thank you for
the reminder of what you want and need me to do. Sorry for the times I just
focus in myself. Sorry for making up excuses and justifications for not working
for you. Sorry for being selfish and hard headed. Lord, help me be a willing
worker for your kingdom. Help me be like Jesus and the disciples who tirelessly
worked for you. May I be willing to step out of my comfort zone and do things
for your kingdom. As I do my best, I ask that you bless my actions and bless my
efforts so people can get to know you and get to feel you. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
July 9 2019
Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 384
Lectionary: 384
Reading
1 GN 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.
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
Psalm PS
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.
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.
Alleluia JN
10:14
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;
I know my sheep, and mine know me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;
I know my sheep, and mine know me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MT
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."
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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