1ST READING
No doubt there is a lot of suffering in the world. Suffering will come to all who live, some to a greater extent than others. There is much mystery associated with suffering — why it happens, to whom and so on. What we know is that suffering can be redemptive if we view the experience with faith. Jesus is the prime example of this — His suffering and death is the basis of our salvation. Let us never forget that we always have the choice to treat our suffering as an opportunity to join Jesus in His passion and death.
Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26
19 Thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem, no more will you weep; He will be gracious to you when you cry out, as soon as he hears he will answer you. 20 The Lord will give you the bread you need and the water for which you thirst. No longer will your Teacher hide himself, but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher, 21 while from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears: “This is the way; walk in it,” when you would turn to the right or to the left. 23He will give rain for the seed that you sow in the ground, and the wheat that the soil produces will be rich and abundant. On that day your cattle will graze in spacious meadows; 24 the oxen and the asses that till the ground will eat silage tossed to them with shovel and pitchfork. 25Upon every high mountain and lofty hill there will be streams of running water. On the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall, 26 the light of the moon will be like that of the sun and the light of the sun will be seven times greater like the light of seven days. On the day the Lord binds up the wounds of his people, he will heal the bruises left by his blows.
P S A L M
Psalm 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R: Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.
1 Praise the Lord, for he is good; sing praise to our God, for he is gracious; it is fitting to praise him. 2 The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; the dispersed of Israel he gathers. (R) 3He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 4He tells the number of the stars; he calls each by name.(R) 5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power: to his wisdom there is no limit. 6 The Lord sustains the lowly; the wicked he casts to the ground. (R)
GOSPEL
Today, as in any other time in the history of the Church, there is a need for more men and women to take up the call to become laborers in the vineyard of the Gospel. Yes, there is a need for more priestly and religious vocations, but there is also a need for more of the laity to take up their baptismal calling to minister the Gospel in their homes, places of work, and just generally in the secular sphere of life. The work of the Kingdom of God is the responsibility of all the baptized, not just a few ordained clerics. Let us act upon our baptismal calling today.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
The Lord is our Judge, our Lawgiver, our King; he it is who will save us.
Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5, 6-8
35 Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. 36 At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; 38 so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” 10: 1 Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. 5 Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”
think: Suffering can be redemptive if we view the experience with faith.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
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God’s special verse/thought for me today_
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Ezekiel 41-44
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