Are our hearts burning within us?

Welcome to my blog.

For our daily spiritual nourishment, the Catholic Church, under the Spirit’s inspiration, gives us readings from the Scriptures. You will find them here along with a prayerful reflection upon them.

The Spirit who inspired the author, will also inspire us if we read his Word with an open and humble heart.

May God bless you as your read.

Thursday 9 July 2020

Are our hearts burning within us?

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 Ps 47: 10-11

Your merciful love, O God,

we have received in the midst of your temple.

Your praise, O God, like your name,

reaches the ends of the earth;

your right hand is filled with saving justice.

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Prayer

Father in heaven, who through the abject humiliation

of your Son on the Cross,

have saved a world bent on self-destruction,

fill with holy joy all those

you have liberated from the yoke of sin

and grant them everlasting happiness

in your Kingdom.

We make our prayer through your Son,

Christ Jesus our Lord.

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First reading

Hosea 11:1-4, 8e-9 ·

My heart is overwhelmed.

Thus says the Lord:

When Israel was a child I loved him,

out of Egypt I called my son.

The more I called them,

the farther they went from me,

Sacrificing to the Baals

and burning incense to idols.

Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,

who took them in my arms;

I drew them with human cords,

with bands of love;

I fostered them like one

who raises an infant to his cheeks;

Yet, though I stooped to feed my child,

they did not know that I was their healer.

My heart is overwhelmed,

my pity is stirred.

I will not give vent to my blazing anger,

I will not destroy Ephraim again;

For I am God and not man,

the Holy One present among you;

I will not let the flames consume you.

THE WORD OF THE LORD

Prayerful reflection

“I am God and not man”. Human beings do not think like God, nor act like God. Looking at God as they look at themselves, human beings misunderstand God. They consider he thinks and acts like they do. He doesn’t. We can learn to think like God. Some do. We call them saints. Thy are the ones who study Jesus, get to know him and grow in friendship with him. They will come to think like God and then act like God. Mary is the model for all who want to think and act like God. She is the perfect disciple and listened and pondered what she heard.

In today’s reading we see how Israel has been blessed by God in an almost unbelievable way an yet has constantly spurned the God who created them and loved them. But God does not act as we would do and throw them off and choose more reliable people. The more they rebel and reject him, the more he shows love to them. His love is everlasting.

Forgiving love is a special characteristic of God and of those who think like God. He may punish out of love, out never out of anger. His punishment is loving and remedial.

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Psalm

Psalm 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16

Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.

O shepherd of Israel, hearken.

From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.

Rouse your power.

Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved

Once again, O Lord of hosts,

look down from heaven, and see:

Take care of this vine,

and protect what your right hand has planted,

the son of man whom you yourself made strong.

Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved

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Mark 1:15

Alleluia, alleluia.

The Kingdom of God is at hand:

repent and believe in the Gospel.

Alleluia, alleluia.

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Gospel

Matthew 10:7-15

Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.

Jesus said to his Apostles: “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The labourer deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words – go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.” THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD

Prayerful reflection

Matthew divides his Gospel into five sermons of Jesus and five periods of activity. This is the second sermon and it is on the mission of the Church. The Twelve as the Founding Fathers of the Church represent all the members of the Church. This sermon applies to each member of the Church as much as it did to the Twelve.

It is the mission of every member of the Church to proclaim the Gospel. That is the privilege and responsibility of us all. Every member of the Church should be on fire to proclaim the Good News of Jesus. It is to be done by word and deed.

By deed we are to reach out in love to all in need and indeed to everyone. It is to be both spiritual and corporal service. This is of the essence of the Church community. In this the Church reflects Jesus.

We are not to rely on human resources but on God alone. The proclamation of the Gospel is not to be a money-making enterprise. ‘You have freely received, then freely give’. We are not to have gold and silver. If people in their generosity and gratitude give money, it is for the poor. It is not for the missionary to live in luxury.

By word we are to proclaim that God’s Kingdom is close – that God calls each person to a  close and intimate relationship in love.  Where Jesus is, there is the Kingdom. The Kingdom is our loving relationship with Jesus in which he is our King.

The Christian greeting is peace. We are the ambassadors of peace. We offer the peace of Christ, a peace the world cannot give. Our message is the experience of Jesus that we have.

We need to pray in order to rely on the Lord and we need to take every opportunity to share the joy and love of Jesus with those outside the faith. It is not that we are superior. We are all beggars before God, but finding Jesus we have found joy and wealth. Preaching the Gospel is telling other beggars where they too can find happiness and wealth.

Are you on fire to bring others to experience Jesus?

Ps 33: 9

Taste and see that the Lord is good;

blessed the man who seeks refuge in him.

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Prayer

Grant, we pray, O Lord,

that, having been nourished by your Word,

we may gain the prize of salvation

and never cease to praise you.

Through Christ our Lord.