Thursday, August 03, 2006
Memorial, St. John Marie Vianney, priest
August 4, 2006
Memorial, St. John Marie Vianney, priest
Friday 17th Week in Ordinary Time - Yr II
JEREMIAH 26:1-9
In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of
Judah, this message came from the LORD: Thus says the LORD: Stand in
the court of the house of the LORD and speak to the people of all the
cities of Judah who come to worship in the house of the LORD; whatever
I command you, tell them, and omit nothing. Perhaps they will listen
and turn back, each from his evil way, so that I may repent of the evil
I have planned to inflict upon them for their evil deeds. Say to them:
Thus says the LORD: If you disobey me, not living according to the law
I placed before you and not listening to the words of my servants the
prophets, whom I send you constantly though you do not obey them, I
will treat this house like Shiloh, and make this the city to which all
the nations of the earth shall refer when cursing another. Now the
priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these
words in the house of the LORD. When Jeremiah finished speaking all
that the LORD bade him speak to all the people, the priests and
prophets laid hold of him, crying, "You must be put to death! Why do
you prophesy in the name of the LORD: 'This house shall be like
Shiloh,' and 'This city shall be desolate and deserted'?" And all the
people gathered about Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
MATTHEW 13:54-58
Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their
synagogue. They were astonished and said, "Where did this man get such
wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter's son? Is not his
mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are
not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?" And they
took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without
honor except in his native place and in his own house." And he did not
work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.
REFLECTION
Did you know that the "crab mentality" has been around for a long, long
time? When one crab tries to climb out of the container it's in, the
other crabs reach out their claws and pull it down. Today's Gospel
presents a very clear example of the crab mentality.
Jesus was becoming a sensation in Palestine. A terrific preacher, a
startling miracle worker. His reputation was spreading all over the
country. So much so that he couldn't even get time to rest, could never
find quiet and peace. People, wherever he went, were always after him.
They wanted to hear him preach; they wanted him to cure their sick. And
now he returns to Nazareth for his first visit since he had left the
town to take up his public ministry. Surely the townspeople would get
out the red carpet to welcome him; they'd put the best wine on the
table; they'd get the local band to spice up the occasion. Hometown boy
makes good, hometown boy makes a name for himself.
Jesus goes to their synagogue, teaches them there. Now they themselves
actually hear his words. They're amazed at his wisdom. Then they begin
to wonder, "Who is this genius? He can't fool us. He's no genius; he's
Jesus of Nazareth. We know his mother and father, he's nothing but one
of the village carpenters here." They couldn't accept him. St. Luke in
his description of this event says the people even tried to kill him!
If only they did not have the crab mentality, how much they could have
learned from him! But they had shut their minds to him. Jesus could
have given sight to their blind, hearing to their deaf, he could have
cured their illnesses, maybe even raised their dead to life. Matthew
says he didn't work many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Why should they put faith in a man who was no better than any of them?
Can you rejoice in the good fortune and accomplishments of others? On
one occasion Jesus said to his disciples, "If you love one another, the
pagans about you will know that you are my disciples." Loving one
another means that we take delight when another person succeeds, even
when his success is in an area in which we have failed. Let us not be
crabs.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- for the continued and complete healing of Ding Vidanes
- Birthday: Ernesto Neil S. Tolosa
- In Memoriam (+): Feliciano T. Lao (1914-1984)
- In Memoriam (+): Angel Pe
- In Memoriam (+): Engracia Hollman
- Birthday Thanksgiving of Shariya Moira YV M. Magallanes on her 6th
birthday
- Thanksgiving for Richie & Joain Magallanes' 7th Anniversary
- for the repose of the soul of Josephine Passe
- for the success of the upcoming CFC-CLP in Al-Khobar
- 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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