This evening as I sat in queue for the Sacrament of Reconciliation a sister in Christ who walked by asked me to pray for her but she did not stop probably thinking I would just offer prayers for her. So after finishing my recon, I knelt beside her in the pew she was in and prayed for her. Awesome to feel and bring His presence upon her, especially after having been cleansed of my sins! Amen
Archive for July 13, 2024
The Church’s Mission: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Posted: July 13, 2024 by CatholicJules in Sunday ReflectionsTags: Catholicjules.net, Dr Scott Hahn
The Church’s Mission: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings:
Amos 7:12–15
Psalms 85:9–14
Ephesians 1:3–14
Mark 6:7–13
In commissioning the Apostles in today’s Gospel, Jesus gives them, and us, a preview of His Church’s mission after the Resurrection.
His instructions to the Twelve echo those of God to the twelve tribes of Israel on the eve of their exodus from Egypt. The Israelites likewise were sent out with no bread and only one set of clothes, wearing sandals and carrying a staff (see Exodus 12:11; Deuteronomy 8:2–4). Like the Israelites, the Apostles are to rely solely on the providence of God and His grace.
Perhaps, also, Mark wants us to see the Apostles’ mission, the mission of the Church, as that of leading a new exodus—delivering people from their exile from God and bringing them to the promised land, the kingdom of heaven.
Like Amos in today’s First Reading, the Apostles are not “professionals” who earn their bread by prophesying. Like Amos, they are simply men (see Acts 14:15) summoned from their ordinary jobs and sent by God to be shepherds of their brothers and sisters.
Again this week, we hear the theme of rejection: Amos experiences it, and Jesus warns the Apostles that some will not welcome or listen to them. The Church is called not necessarily to be successful but only to be faithful to God’s command.
With authority and power given to her by Jesus, the Church proclaims God’s peace and salvation to those who believe in Him, as we sing in today’s Psalm.
This word of truth, this Gospel of salvation, is addressed to each of us, personally, as Paul proclaims in today’s Epistle. In the mystery of God’s will, we have been chosen from before the foundation of the world—to be His sons and daughters, to live for the praise of His glory.
Let us, then, give thanks for the Church today, and for the spiritual blessings He has bestowed upon us. Let us resolve to further the Church’s mission—to help others hear the call to repentance and welcome Christ into their lives.
Praise the Lord for another prayer opportunity. Brought my daughter for cathechism class and while waiting for her to finish.. A Brother in Christ also waiting for his son, shared that he was going for a scope this coming Tuesday. He suspects a tear in the lining of his stomach likely after swallowing a small bit of bone. He then requested prayer. My wife said surely we will pray. I asked him a few more questions and said let’s pray together now.
As I prayed I sense the Lord wanting to reassure him with the words ” I am never far from you. “
He thanked us and I followed later with a WhatsApp message.
On Today’s Gospel
Posted: July 13, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & ReflectionsTags: Catholicjules.net
Amidst your sorrows and pain, when you are treated unjustly, in sickness, in distress, in the trials of living in this world, does God our Father care?
Yes, yes! YES! A resounding YES. How do we know? Today’s Gospel speaks to our hearts. “Oh but it is just words, lip service if you will.” Nay! I say be cautious with what you say, because this is the living Word of God. It is a love letter, a promise! His love for us is priceless, even if we should fall and die He is there to receive us. Every hair on our head is counted, meaning there is not a miniscule part of us that He has not fashioned intimately and cares for about us. He loves us in spite of our unworthiness. We are so precious and so loved by Him that He gave us His only begotten Son, so that we may live daily in His presence.
How then can we ever disown Him in the presence of others! If we do then while His word says He will disown us too, it is more that by our choice we have chosen to sever ourselves from His tender loving care. We have rejected Him by our unfaithfulness, our disbelief!
Let us His faithful then glorify Him with our praises, thanksgiving and worship. Proclaiming Him as our Lord of lords, King of kings; from the housetops, mountain tops in daylight and in the night. For we live in the light of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’s resurrection. Amen
Saint Henry pray for us…
________
First reading
Isaiah 6:1-8 ·
Isaiah’s lips cleansed with a burning coal
In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord of Hosts seated on a high throne; his train filled the sanctuary; above him stood seraphs, each one with six wings: two to cover its face, two to cover its feet, and two for flying.
And they cried out to one another in this way,
‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts.
His glory fills the whole earth.’
The foundations of the threshold shook with the voice of the one who cried out, and the Temple was filled with smoke. I said:
‘What a wretched state I am in! I am lost,
for I am a man of unclean lips
and I live among a people of unclean lips,
and my eyes have looked at the King, the Lord of Hosts.’
Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding in his hand a live coal which he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. With this he touched my mouth and said:
‘See now, this has touched your lips,
your sin is taken away,
your iniquity is purged.’
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying:
‘Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?’
I answered, ‘Here I am, send me.’
________
Gospel
Matthew 10:24-33
Everything now hidden will be made clear
Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘The disciple is not superior to his teacher, nor the slave to his master. It is enough for the disciple that he should grow to be like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, what will they not say of his household?
‘Do not be afraid of them therefore. For everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops.
‘Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Can you not buy two sparrows for a penny? And yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. So there is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.
‘So if anyone declares himself for me in the presence of men, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father in heaven. But the one who disowns me in the presence of men, I will disown in the presence of my Father in heaven.’
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