Monday, July 28, 2014

 

Tuesday 17th Week in Ordinary Time

July 29, 2014
Tuesday 17th Week in Ordinary Time
[Memorial of St. Martha]

Jer 14: 17-22 / Ps 79:8, 9, 11 and 13  / Jn 11: 19-27

Reading: Jer 14: 17-22
This you will say to them: Let my eyes shed tears night and day without ceasing! For with a great wound has the virgin daughter of my people been wounded, a most grievous wound. If I go into the country, I see those slain by the sword. If I enter the city I see the ravages of famine. For the prophet and the priest did not understand what was happening in the land." Have you then rejected Judah forever? Do you abhor Zion? Why have you wounded us and left us with no hope of recovery? We hoped for salvation but received nothing good; we waited for healing, but terror came! Yahweh, we know our wickedness and that of our ancestors, and the times we have sinned against you. For your name's sake do not despise us; do not dishonor the throne of your glory. Remember us. Do not break your covenant with us! Among the worthless idols of the nations, are there any who can bring rain, or make the skies send showers? Only in you, Yahweh our God, do we hope, for it is you who do all this.   
Gospel: John 11: 19-27
Many Jews came to Martha and Mary to offer consolation at their brother's death.
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him while Mary remained sitting in the house. And she said to Jesus, "If you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." Jesus said, "Your brother will rise again." Martha replied, "I know that he will rise in the resurrection, at the last day." But Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection; whoever believes in me, though he die, shall live. Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" Martha then answered, "Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world."

Reflection
     In the first reading, Israel was experiencing a severe drought, so Jeremiah cried out to Yahweh for help on behalf of his people. He was appalled at the great suffering he witnessed and asked God for mercy and forgiveness. 
     There are moments in our lives when we are totally crushed by an event and we have no one else to turn but God. We go down on our knees and beg God for help.  These are humbling experiences but they remind us of our mortality and we realize that only God can save us.  A Christian does not curse God during times of darkness and disasters.  He humbles himself before God and implores his merciful help. 
     This is what Martha and Mary did after the death of Lazarus when Jesus came to see them. They begged for his help and said to him that if he had come earlier, he would have been able to save Lazarus from death. Jesus told them to have faith and declared that he is the resurrection and the life. Martha did not fully understand the words of Jesus though she loved him immensely. Only when Jesus raised up Lazarus from death was she totally astounded. Surely, from that moment on her faith was greatly enhanced. 
     God sometimes answers our prayers with "miracles" to strengthen our faith. But when we are already a bit spiritually mature, he may send us trials which are harder to bear but which require that we firmly believe in His goodness. The martyrs had this faith and they were willing to die for God and for His Son Jesus.

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 families who are in need of healing
... for world peace and reconciliation
... for the repose of the soul -
     * Johnny Ong
     * Milagros Llanes Gomez
... for special intentions - Beny Chua

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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