1ST READING
We
live in a world with much violence, inequality, injustice and many
other unappealing realities. Is this what we want for ourselves or for
our children? One of the staple foods of the spiritual life is the
promise that suffering will eventually come to an end and in this sense
Judaeo-Christianity is no different. However, none of the promises of
future peace make any sense without seeking their application now by
trying to live a moral life. How can one expect such a promise of
eternal bliss without committing to it by choice when we have an
opportunity?
Isaiah 2:1-5
1 This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 In
days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as
the highest mountain and raised above the hills. All nations shall
stream toward it; 3 many
peoples shall come and say: “Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain, to
the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and
we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the
Lord from Jerusalem. 4 He
shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They
shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning
hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall
they train for war again. 5 O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
P S A L M
Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R: Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
1 I rejoiced because they said to me, “We will go up to the house of the Lord.” 2 And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem. (R) 3 Jerusalem, built as a city with compact unity. 4 To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord. (R) According to the decree for
Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. 5 In it are set up judgment seats, seats for the house of David. (R) 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May those who love you prosper! 7 May peace be within your walls, prosperity in your buildings. (R) 8 Because of my relatives and friends I will say, “Peace be within you!” 9 Because of the house of the Lord, our God, I will pray for your good. (R)
GOSPEL
By
this time, the English-speaking portions of the Catholic Church will
probably have become used to the third typical translation of the Roman
Missal. One of the changes is the Gospel text recited before receiving
Holy Communion. The inclusion of the phrase “under my roof” is an idiom
that indicates the faith of the centurion which does not require the
actual presence of Jesus for the miracle to occur. The mere spoken words
of Jesus are sufficient for him. This profession of faith in the
authority of Jesus’ words should be the focus of our reflection as well.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Come and save us, Lord our God; let your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
Matthew 8:5-11
5 When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, 6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” 7 He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” 8 The
centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under
my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.
9 For
I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me.
And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he
comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When
Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen,
I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I
say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline
with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of
heaven.”
think: One of the staple foods of the spiritual life is the promise that suffering will eventually come to an end.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
____________________________________
God’s special verse/thought for me today_
_____________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Ezekiel 21-24
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