I have always loved this word from the Lord and have been encouraged by it. “He will not break the crushed reed, nor put out the smouldering wick.”
We have hope because our Lord is patient, gentle, merciful and kind. We may be poor in spirit, but through Him our drooping spirit is revived. It is He so gives us strength to love and serve our brethren. Especially the poor!
‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.’ Lk 6:20-21
Let us be One, body, mind and spirit. As we go forth glorifying the Lord by our lives. Amen
Saint Apollinaris, pray for us…
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First reading
Micah 2:1-5 ·
The plotters of evil will not escape
Woe to those who plot evil,
who lie in bed planning mischief!
No sooner is it dawn than they do it – their hands have the strength for it.
Seizing the fields that they covet,
they take over houses as well,
owner and house they confiscate together, taking both man and inheritance.
So the Lord says this:
Now it is I who plot
such mischief against this breed
as your necks will not escape;
nor will you be able to walk proudly, so evil will the time be.
On that day they will make a satire on you, sing a dirge and say,
‘We are stripped of everything;
my people’s portion is measured out and shared, no one will give it back to them, our fields are awarded to our despoiler.’
Therefore you will have no one
to measure out a share in the community of the Lord.
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Gospel
Matthew 12:14-21
He cured them all but warned them not to make him known
The Pharisees went out and began to plot against Jesus, discussing how to destroy him.
Jesus knew this and withdrew from the district. Many followed him and he cured them all, but warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah:
Here is my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved, the favourite of my soul.
I will endow him with my spirit,
and he will proclaim the true faith to the nations.
He will not brawl or shout, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
He will not break the crushed reed, nor put out the smouldering wick till he has led the truth to victory:
in his name the nations will put their hope.
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