Saturday, July 20, 2019

Saturday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time - Reflection

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Cor 5:19

Exodus 12:37-42, Psalm 136:1, 23-24, 10-15,
Matthew 12:14-21


Exodus 12:37-42

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Although God chose Abraham and his descendants to bring about His plan of salvation, all the peoples of all the world belong to Him. He loves us all whether or not we know Him.

When the people of Israel left Egypt for the promised land there were people of other races who went with them. Apart from their livestock, they carried nothing with them except unleavened bread. All we need for our journey from this life to the next is given to us in the Bread of Life, the Bread of Angels, the Heavenly Manna, the Eucharist.

Just as the people of God were told to remember the night of the Passover when God led His people from slavery to freedom, so too are we asked to remember the New Passover when the Lamb of God was offered in Sacrifice to the Father in atonement for the sins of the world. The night when You gave us the Eucharist as a living, lasting memorial of the Covenant of Love that God has made with all who believe in You.

This is the Vigil that we too must keep until You come again in glory. 

Psalm 136:1, 23-24, 10-15

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

You are a God of mercy and compassion. Slow to anger but rich in forgiveness and love. Your love is an enduring, everlasting, never-changing love. It is a love that is the same yesterday, today, and always. You do not love us for what we do but for who we are - Your children. 

The Father loved us so much that He sent You into the world even though He knew that Your own people and the world would reject You and put You to death. It was a necessary death so we could never wonder whether God truly loved us or not. We know He does. 

From You we receive forgiveness from sin and grace to avoid the near occasion of sin. You entered into our death in order that we may enter into Your Life. In You, we have victory over sin and death.


Matthew 12:14-21

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

To this day the world takes counsel against You and those who believe in You and follow You. To this day the Christian who witnesses boldly to You and holds fast to the teaching of the Gospel is persecuted, vilified, imprisoned, beaten, and even put to death. This is why You gave us the Cross. When we look at the One who was pierced for our sake we receive hope and courage to endure.

We are told that You withdrew from that place when You knew that the Pharisees were seeking to kill You. We too are called to be prudent, not foolhardy without forgetting our mission and the call to discipleship. 

The writers of the Old Testament and the prophets reveal the history of our salvation and how God has always charted the course of the people He chose to be His own. First through Abraham and now through Baptism grafting us into Your Body and making us children of God.

Thank You, Beloved, for Your special love for sinners, the greater the sinner the greater the mercy and compassion You have for Him. God desires that not one of His children is lost but that all may be saved and come to the knowledge of Truth.  You are Truth. I am the bruised reed and smoldering wick that You will not break nor quench. 

Thank You, my joy and my hope.

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