DAILY- HOMILY

July 7, 2015 TUESDAY, 14th Week in Ordinary Time

Green           

Gn 32:23 – 33 / Mt 9: 32 – 38

Reading: Gn 32:23 – 33

     He took them and sent them across the stream and likewise everything he had. And Jacob was left alone.

  Then a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he could not get the better of Jacob, he struck him in the socket of his hip and dislocated it as he wrestled with him.

     The man said, "Let me go, for day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go until you have given me your blessing." The man then said, "What is your name?" "Jacob" was the reply. He answered, "You will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have been strong-with-God as you have been with men and have prevailed."

     Then Jacob asked him, "What is your name?" He answered, "Why do you ask my name?" And he blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Penuel, saying, "I have seen God face to face and survived." The sun rose as he passed through Penuel, limping because of his hip.

     That is why to this day the Israelites do not eat the sciatic nerve which is in the hip socket because the sciatic nerve in Jacob's hip had been touched.

Gospel: Mt 9:32 - 38

     When they had just left, some people brought to Jesus a man who was dumb because he was possessed by a demon. When the demon was driven out, the dumb man began to speak. The crowds were astonished and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel." (But the Pharisees said, "He drives demons away with the help of the prince of demons.")

     Jesus went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom. And he cured every sickness and disease. When he saw the crowds he was moved with pity, for they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd.

     Then he said to his disciples. "The harvest is abundant but the workers are only few. Ask the master of the harvest to send workers to gather his harvest.

Reflection:

     "Harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Is this a scenario you feel you can relate to?

     In the hustle and bustle of everyday living, it is almost inevitable that we all feel this way sometimes. There is a term for that: "the weight of living." It's a feeling we know well—and one that even our Lord sympathizes with.

     Christ saw the people of his time afflicted by the perils of human life, disease, fatigue, restlessness and confusion. He pitied them, and sought to bring healing to the sick, rest to the tired, and peace to the conflicted. And he continues to do so now, in the small miracles he works in our lives, in his quiet whispering to our hearts during prayer, and in the blessings he brings us through the people we meet. 

     But are we open to him? Do we have trust in him as sheep trust their shepherd? Or are we like the Pharisees, who doubt, question and criticize? Healing and miracles cannot happen without faith. Perhaps it is time we allowed the Lord to do his work in our lives - and help work the miracles, by joining his mission to alleviate the weight of living. After all, the harvest always needs more workers.

     Let us continue to pray for the grace to always seek out the Shepherd. In him, we will find our true peace and real meaning in life. Hopefully, as we go about our daily concerns, we can remain focused on how to better bring about his kingdom here on earth.  He is there to help us. May we allow him to do just that, and in some way do likewise to him and to others.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     BRO. JAIME M. RIVERA, SJ

     MA. RAYZA R. ESCATRON

     ROWELL UMALI

     THELMA N. VELARDE

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!

**************************************************

These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following: 

  +================================================+

   |  The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

   |  distributed free and for personal use only.  

  +================================================+