Monday, August 04, 2014

 

Tuesday 18th Week in Ordinary Time

August 5, 2014
Tuesday 18th Week in Ordinary Time
[Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major]  

Jer 30: 1-2, 12-15, 18-22 / Ps 102:16-18, 19-21, 29 and 22-23 / Mt 14: 22-36

Reading: Jer 30: 1-2, 12-15, 18-22    
This is another word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh: Yahweh, God of Israel says, "Write in a book all that I have communicated to you, Yahweh says, "Your wound is incurable, your injury is grievous. There is no one to plead your cause. There is a remedy for an ulcer but no healing for you! All your lovers have forgotten you; they care nothing for you. For I struck you as an enemy does, with a cruel punishment, because of your great guilt and the wickedness of your sin. Why cry out now that you are hurt? Is there no cure for your pain? Because of your great crime and grievous sin I have done this to you. Yahweh says, "I will restore my people into Jacob's tents and have pity on his dwellings. The city will be rebuilt over its ruins and the palace restored on its proper place. From them will come songs of praise and the sound of merrymaking. I will multiply them and they shall not be few. I will bestow honor on them and they shall not be despised. Their children will be as before and their community will be established before me. I will ask their oppressors to account. Their leader will be one of themselves, their ruler shall emerge from their midst. I will bring him close to me for who would dare to approach me? You shall be my people and I shall be your God."

Gospel   Matthew 14: 22-36
Immediately Jesus obliged his disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the crowd away. And having sent the people away, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. At nightfall, he was there alone. Meanwhile, the boat was very far from land, dangerously rocked by the waves for the wind was against it.  At daybreak, Jesus came to them walking on the lake. When they saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, thinking that it was a ghost. And they cried out in fear. But at once Jesus said to them, "Courage!  Don't be afraid. It's me!" Peter answered, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you walking on the water." Jesus said to him, "Come." And Peter got out of the boat, walking on the water to go to Jesus. But, in face of the strong wind, he was afraid and began to sink. So he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately stretched out his hand and took hold of him, saying, "Man of little faith, why did you doubt?" As they got into the boat, the wind dropped. Then those in the boat bowed down before Jesus saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God!" They came ashore at Gennesareth. The local people recognized Jesus and spread the news throughout the region. So they brought all the sick to him, begging him to let them touch just the fringe of his cloak. All who touched it became perfectly well.

Reflection
     "Truly, you are the Son of God!"
     The Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. proclaimed Mary as Mother of God.  What this dogma means is that even if Jesus was conceived as an ordinary fetus like any other human being in the womb of a woman, the fact is He is the Son of God.  Mary thus conceived in her womb God Himself. Imagine to have God growing as a fetus inside you.  What an honor it must have been for Mary! That is why she exclaimed in the Magnificat that all generations shall call her blessed, she who was a mere mortal like all of us. Her honor is our honor if we allow Jesus, the Word of God, to grow in our hearts.  When a Christian accepts God's teachings and says Amen to them, he also conceives God within himself, though not physically as Mary did.  For this we Christians revere Mary and highly esteem her for being the Mother of God and also because of how she lived a life of love and service. Let us recall how she, who was already conceiving Jesus, traveled to the hill country of Judea to take care of her cousin Elizabeth who was six months pregnant Mary's being helpful was the reason Jesus performed his first miracle in the wedding at Cana. And when Jesus was already preaching, Mary followed Jesus wherever he went and listened to his teachings. Knowing Mary, she must have taken care of the needs of Jesus and his apostles, but remained in the background.  For sure all the disciples of Jesus revered and loved her with a special love.
     Let Mary be an example of how we are to love Jesus and follow in his footsteps.    

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 teen who attempted suicide, unable to bear harassment and injustice, the family to have a fresh start
... for personal intentions:
     * thanksgiving intentions of Vanessa
     * safe stay of Anyaugo children, for love, peace, unity and progress within the family
     * 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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