Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 06-30-05, Opt. First Holy Martyrs of the Church of Rome

USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 06-30-05 | New American Bible

[Salvation]

June 30, 2005
Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm: Thursday 29

Reading I
Gn 22:1b-19

God put Abraham to the test.
He called to him, "Abraham!"
"Here I am," he replied.
Then God said: "Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love,
and go to the land of Moriah.
There you shall offer him up as a burnt offering
on a height that I will point out to you."
Early the next morning Abraham saddled his donkey,
took with him his son Isaac, and two of his servants as well,
and with the wood that he had cut for the burnt offering,
set out for the place of which God had told him.

On the third day Abraham got sight of the place from afar.
Then he said to his servants: "Both of you stay here with the donkey,
while the boy and I go on over yonder.
We will worship and then come back to you."
Thereupon Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering
and laid it on his son Isaac's shoulders,
while he himself carried the fire and the knife.
As the two walked on together, Isaac spoke to his father Abraham:
"Father!" he said.
"Yes, son," he replied.
Isaac continued, "Here are the fire and the wood,
but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?"
"Son," Abraham answered,
" God himself will provide the sheep for the burnt offering."
Then the two continued going forward.

When they came to the place of which God had told him,
Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it.
Next he tied up his son Isaac,
and put him on top of the wood on the altar.
Then he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son.
But the LORD's messenger called to him from heaven,
"Abraham, Abraham!"
"Here I am," he answered.
"Do not lay your hand on the boy," said the messenger.
"Do not do the least thing to him.
I know now how devoted you are to God,
since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son."
As Abraham looked about,
he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket.
So he went and took the ram
and offered it up as a burnt offering in place of his son.
Abraham named the site Yahweh-yireh;
hence people now say, "On the mountain the LORD will see."
Again the LORD's messenger called to Abraham from heaven and said:
"I swear by myself, declares the LORD,
that because you acted as you did
in not withholding from me your beloved son,
I will bless you abundantly
and make your descendants as countless
as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore;
your descendants shall take possession
of the gates of their enemies,
and in your descendants all the nations of the earth
shall find blessing–all this because you obeyed my command.'

Abraham then returned to his servants,
and they set out together for Beer-sheba,
where Abraham made his home.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 115:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

R. (9) I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name give glory
because of your kindness, because of your truth.
Why should the pagans say,
"Where is their God?"
R. I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Our God is in heaven;
whatever he wills, he does.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the handiwork of men.
R. I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.
They have mouths but speak not;
they have eyes but see not;
They have ears but hear not;
they have noses but smell not.
R. I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Their makers shall be like them,
everyone who trusts in them.
The house of Israel trusts in the LORD;
He is their help and their shield.
R. I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel
Mt 9:1-8

After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town.
And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
"Courage, child, your sins are forgiven."
At that, some of the scribes said to themselves,
"This man is blaspheming."
Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said,
"Why do you harbor evil thoughts?
Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,'
or to say, ‘Rise and walk'?
But that you may know that the Son of Man
has authority on earth to forgive sins"—
he then said to the paralytic,
"Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home."
He rose and went home.
When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe
and glorified God who had given such authority to men.

[annalex]

Christ Our Lord Raising The Paralytic

[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Thursday, June 30, 2005 Meditation Matthew 9:1-8 Matthew tells us that when Jesus healed the paralytic, the crowd “glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings” (Matthew 9:8). While witnessing a miracle was amazing in its own right, the people were equally amazed at the authority and dignity that Jesus manifested. They were amazed, in other words, at the sight of a man so filled with God that sickness and sin submitted to him. Jesus’ authority when he walked the earth shows us that God has tremendous plans for all his children. Ever since he created our first parents and gave them authority over all other living things, our Father destined us to walk with the same dignity that Jesus knew. Not even our sin changed God’s intention. He sent his Son not only to forgive us but also to restore to us our rightful inheritance as his children. How do we recapture this sense of dignity and honor? By giving our whole hearts to God in trust and obedience. Remember how Abraham waited many long years to receive his son, Isaac? In spite of the fact that Isaac was so precious to him, Abraham held nothing back from God, and was even willing to sacrifice his son to him. Because of Abraham’s trust and submission, God made his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and declared that they would have authority over every enemy (Genesis 22:17). God wants us to walk in freedom and dignity. We are baptized into Christ. The Holy Spirit lives in us. As we give our whole lives to Jesus, the floodgates of heaven will open to us. He will give us wisdom in our daily decisions and power to love others. Let’s not allow the devil to convince us that God doesn’t love us or has removed his promises and blessings from us. Nothing can be further from the truth! Let’s not be afraid to pray for healing, for ourselves or for other people. Let’s take up our God-given authority and ask him to fill us with the dignity that is rightfully ours—the dignity of sons and daughters of God. “Jesus, I give you my whole life. I welcome your blessings, your teaching, and your authority over me. As I submit to you, let me know the honor and dignity that you give to all of your people. Jesus, make me like you.” Genesis 22:1-19; Psalm 115:1-6,8-9

[Salvation]

One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

 

<< Thursday, June 30, 2005 >>

First Martyrs of Rome

Genesis 22:1-19

Psalm 115

Matthew 9:1-8

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“MY PRECIOUS”

“I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from Me your own beloved son.” —Genesis 22:12

Abraham was willing to give up his son for God, Who sent His Son for us. “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him may not die but may have eternal life” (Jn 3:16).

Would you give up your son, life, family, and self for God? The psalmist proclaims: “Your kindness is a greater good than life” (Ps 63:4), and “I had rather one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked” (Ps 84:11). The song goes: “Lord, You are more precious than silver; Lord, You are more costly than gold. Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds, and nothing I desire compares with You.”

Is Jesus’ Kingdom the precious pearl for which we sell all that we have? (Mt 13:46) Could we truthfully say: “I have come to rate all as loss in the light of the surpassing knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ”? (Phil 3:8)

Is Jesus your renown, praise, and beauty? (Jer 13:11) You’re His pride and joy. He loves you, even to dying on the cross for you. Is He all you’re living for? “For, to me, ‘life’ means Christ” (Phil 1:21).

Prayer: “Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All!” I give my life to You. You gave Your life for me.

Promise: “When Jesus saw their faith He said to the paralytic, ‘Have courage, son, your sins are forgiven.’ ” —Mt 9:2

Praise: The first martyrs of Rome were burned alive and devoured by wild beasts in the arena. Their blood shed for Jesus has borne great fruit by preparing Rome to be the home of the Catholic Church.