Thursday, June 29, 2006
Friday 12th Week in Ordinary Time
June 30, 2006
Friday 12th Week in Ordinary Time - Yr II
2 KINGS 25:1-12
In the tenth month of the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign, on the tenth
day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and his whole army
advanced against Jerusalem, encamped around it, and built siege walls
on every side. The siege of the city continued until the eleventh year
of Zedekiah. On the ninth day of the fourth month, when famine had
gripped the city, and the people had no more bread, the city walls were
breached. Then the king and all the soldiers left the city by night
through the gate between the two walls that was near the king's garden.
Since the Chaldeans had the city surrounded, they went in the direction
of the Arabah. But the Chaldean army pursued the king and overtook him
in the desert near Jericho, abandoned by his whole army. The king was
therefore arrested and brought to Riblah to the king of Babylon, who
pronounced sentence on him. He had Zedekiah's sons slain before his
eyes. Then he blinded Zedekiah, bound him with fetters, and had him
brought to Babylon. On the seventh day of the fifth month (this was in
the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon), Nebuzaradan,
captain of the bodyguard, came to Jerusalem as the representative of
the king of Babylon. He burned the house of the LORD, the palace of the
king, and all the houses of Jerusalem; every large building was
destroyed by fire. Then the Chaldean troops who were with the captain
of the guard tore down the walls that surrounded Jerusalem. Then
Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, led into exile the last of the
people remaining in the city, and those who had deserted to the king of
Babylon, and the last of the artisans. But some of the country's poor,
Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, left behind as vinedressers and
farmers.
MATTHEW 8:1-4
When Jesus came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And
then a leper approached, did him homage, and said, "Lord, if you wish,
you can make me clean." He stretched out his hand, touched him, and
said, "I will do it. Be made clean." His leprosy was cleansed
immediately. Then Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one, but go
show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses prescribed;
that will be proof for them."
REFLECTION
The new law, which Jesus has just promulgated in the Sermon on the
Mount, is far more demanding than the old law. The reason for this is
that the new law expresses the demands of love, and love is far more
demanding.
Today's Gospel passage shows Jesus living out the demands of love,
living the new law. According to Jewish law a leper was unclean, an
outcast. Jewish law absolutely banned any sort of physical contact
between lepers and those who were free of this dread disease. It was
easy for a healthy person to obey such laws.
The leper who stands before Jesus in today's Gospel has violated the
law. In such a situation any devout Jew would be expected to condemn
the leper and to put distance between the leper and himself. Jesus
neither steps back from the man nor condemns him. The leper asks Jesus
for a cure. Jesus, reaching out his hand to touch the leper says, "...
be cured." Urged by his love and compassion, on two counts Jesus
violates the law.
In the mind of the leper what was the greater gift that Jesus gave him,
the warmth of his presence and his touch or the cure? How long has it
been since this poor man has felt the warmth of a human touch? In
Jesus' mind, certainly, the leper's need to experience human warmth, a
human touch, was far more demanding than the prohibition of the Jewish
law, which forbade a healthy person to touch a leper. Love demanded
that Jesus do what the law forbade. He did what love demanded. He
touched the leper.
Does love play any significant role in the way we live our faith?
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
- for the continued recovery of Aida.
- for the speedy recovery of Cadio.
- for the continued and complete recovery of Ding Vidanes.
- for the speedy recovery of Ben de Jesus.
- for the eternal repose of the soul of Hermelinda Dizon. Eternal
rest grant unto her and may perpetual light shine upon her. May she
and all the souls of the dearly departed rest in peace.
- for the eternal repose of the soul of Nelia Acosta. Eternal rest
grant unto her and may perpetual light shine upon her. May she and
all the souls of the dearly departed rest in peace.
- for the speedy and full recovery of the Mom of Gay.
- for the personal intentions of RR.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Wedding Anniversary: Rolly & Susan Cheng
- In Memoriam (+): Mary Elizabeth L. Yu (Oct 30, 1935 - Jun 29, 1999)
- In Memoriam (+): Vicky Choa
- for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our
prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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