Monday, July 10, 2017

Rewarded Faith


The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/071017.cfm) reminds me that faith is powerful, and God rewards us for it. 

The gospel today tells us of two stories of faith and healing and miracles. The first one was the woman with hemorrhage She had great faith in Jesus, that she knew that even a touch on his cloak would save and heal her. Probably this is what most of us Filipinos feel and think, when we touch the image of Christ. We do not say that the image itself has power, same as the woman not saying that the cloak itself has power. It is Jesus, whom the cloak (and image) represents who has power and who we have faith into, that heals us. The woman was also brave, admitting that she was the one who touched Jesus, though she doesn’t know how Jesus would react upon her admitting it. Jesus affirmed her and said that “Daughter…your faith has saved you…be cured..”

The second story is about Jairus daughter. Jesus was on the way to heal her when they were told she was dead. We feel like this a lot of times, when we are told a situation is hopeless and we cannot do anything about it anymore. Jesus is telling us today what He told Jairus. Do not listen to them. “Do not be afraid; just have faith” Simple words. Powerful words. Jesus is asking us, like he asked Jairus, to not mind other people telling us bad things, or making us feel down. Do not let the world bring you down. Do not be afraid of what is happening. Just focus on me. Have faith in me. And as we do so, we will surely be pleasantly surprised like Jairus when the seemingly hopeless situation would be turned around by God’s grace, power, and love.

Jesus appreciates our faith, and rewards us for it.

In both circumstances, Jesus tells us how important faith is. “Daughter, your faith has saved you, go in peace and be cured of your affliction” and “Do not be afraid, just have faith.” These words of Jesus should remind us how important faith is, and inspire us to have faith in Jesus, no matter what the situation may be. This should encourage us to build and strengthen our faith.

May we be inspired and moved into action.


Father God,
Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Thank you for the reminder on how important and powerful faith is. Lord, I am sorry for the times I doubt. Sorry for the times I give in to the temptation and power of the world. Sorry for the times I let the situation bring me down and doubt you. Lord, I pray that you give me faith – faith that would heal, faith that would work miracles, faith that would just focus on you in the midst of all that is happening around me. May you be happy with my faith. Use my faith to bless others. Use me to glorify your name. I will do my best to build my relationship with you as I wait for the day you will tell me “my Child your faith has saved you…” Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,
-g-


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July 10, 2017
Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 383



Reading 1GN 28:10-22A


Jacob departed from Beer-sheba and proceeded toward Haran.
When he came upon a certain shrine, as the sun had already set,
he stopped there for the night.
Taking one of the stones at the shrine, he put it under his head
and lay down to sleep at that spot.
Then he had a dream: a stairway rested on the ground,
with its top reaching to the heavens;
and God's messengers were going up and down on it.
And there was the LORD standing beside him and saying:
"I, the LORD, am the God of your forefather Abraham
and the God of Isaac;
the land on which you are lying
I will give to you and your descendants.
These shall be as plentiful as the dust of the earth,
and through them you shall spread out east and west, north and south.
In you and your descendants
all the nations of the earth shall find blessing.
Know that I am with you;
I will protect you wherever you go,
and bring you back to this land.
I will never leave you until I have done what I promised you."

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he exclaimed,
"Truly, the LORD is in this spot, although I did not know it!"
In solemn wonder he cried out: "How awesome is this shrine!
This is nothing else but an abode of God,
and that is the gateway to heaven!"
Early the next morning Jacob took the stone
that he had put under his head,
set it up as a memorial stone, and poured oil on top of it.
He called the site Bethel,
whereas the former name of the town had been Luz.

Jacob then made this vow: "If God remains with me,
to protect me on this journey I am making
and to give me enough bread to eat and clothing to wear,
and I come back safe to my father's house, the LORD shall be my God.
This stone that I have set up as a memorial stone shall be God's abode."


Responsorial PsalmPS 91:1-2, 3-4, 14-15AB


R. (see 2b) In you, my God, I place my trust.
You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
Say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."
R. In you, my God, I place my trust.
For he will rescue you from the snare of the fowler,
from the destroying pestilence.
With his pinions he will cover you,
and under his wings you shall take refuge. 
R. In you, my God, I place my trust.
Because he clings to me, I will deliver him;
I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in distress. 
R. In you, my God, I place my trust.

AlleluiaSEE 2 TM 1:10

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.

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.

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