Our Saviour Jesus Christ abolished death
and he has proclaimed life through the Good News. 2TIM 1:10
GENESIS 28:10-22
My Soul's Beloved,
Jacob was far from perfect. He took advantage of his brother's weakness and stole his birthright. At his mother's instigation, he also stole the blessing that their father meant for Esau. Yet God continues to be faithful. He remembers the covenant he made with Abraham and his descendants, and he remained with Jacob all through his self-exile until he brought him back to his homeland in safety.
Beloved, we are God's new Covenant people by the Blood of the Lamb and sealed in the Holy Spirit. Baptism has put an indelible mark on our soul, claiming us eternally for You as a member of Your Body, and of the household of God.
You have appointed an angel to be our guardian from the moment of our conception, and he is commanded to pray for us. He remains before You and with us to intercede for us, carry our prayers to You, and carry Your blessings to us. He remains with us through our sojourn on earth and will accompany us on our final journey from here to the Kingdom of God.
Thank You, Lord, for caring for me, unworthy though I am. Thank You for bringing me from darkness into Your own marvelous light. Thank You for the grace and gift of being Catholic. Thank You for Your mercies that are new each morning and for Your assurance that You will never leave me or abandon me but will remain with me always.
Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. When he had reached a certain place he passed the night there, since the sun had set. Taking one of the stones to be found at that place, he made it his pillow and lay down where he was. He had a dream: a ladder was there, standing on the ground with its top reaching to heaven; and there were angels of God going up it and coming down. And the Lord was there, standing over him, saying, ‘I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. I will give to you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants shall be like the specks of dust on the ground; you shall spread to the west and the east, to the north and the south, and all the tribes of the earth shall bless themselves by you and your descendants.
‘Be sure that I am with you; I will keep you safe wherever you go, and bring you back to this land, for I will not desert you before I have done all that I have promised you.’
Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘Truly, the Lord is in this place and I never knew it!’ He was afraid and said, ‘How awe-inspiring this place is! This is nothing less than a house of God; this is the gate of heaven!’ Rising early in the morning, Jacob took the stone he had used for his pillow, and set it up as a monument, pouring oil over the top of it. He named the place Bethel, but before that the town was called Luz.
Jacob made this vow, ‘If God goes with me and keeps me safe on this journey I am making, if he gives me bread to eat and clothes to wear, and if I return home safely to my father, then the Lord shall be my God. This stone I have set up as a monument shall be a house of God.’
PSALM 90(91):1-4,14-15
My God, in you I trust.
Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘Truly, the Lord is in this place and I never knew it!’ He was afraid and said, ‘How awe-inspiring this place is! This is nothing less than a house of God; this is the gate of heaven!’ Rising early in the morning, Jacob took the stone he had used for his pillow, and set it up as a monument, pouring oil over the top of it. He named the place Bethel, but before that the town was called Luz.
Jacob made this vow, ‘If God goes with me and keeps me safe on this journey I am making, if he gives me bread to eat and clothes to wear, and if I return home safely to my father, then the Lord shall be my God. This stone I have set up as a monument shall be a house of God.’
PSALM 90(91):1-4,14-15
My God, in you I trust.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
and abides in the shade of the Almighty
says to the Lord: ‘My refuge,
my stronghold, my God in whom I trust!’
It is he who will free you from the snare
of the fowler who seeks to destroy you;
he will conceal you with his pinions
and under his wings you will find refuge.
Since he clings to me in love, I will free him;
protect him for he knows my name.
When he calls I shall answer: ‘I am with you,’
I will save him in distress.
and abides in the shade of the Almighty
says to the Lord: ‘My refuge,
my stronghold, my God in whom I trust!’
It is he who will free you from the snare
of the fowler who seeks to destroy you;
he will conceal you with his pinions
and under his wings you will find refuge.
Since he clings to me in love, I will free him;
protect him for he knows my name.
When he calls I shall answer: ‘I am with you,’
I will save him in distress.
My God, in you I trust.
MATTHEW 9:18-26
My Soul's Beloved,
No sooner did the official ask You to come and heal his daughter, even though You were speaking to Your disciples and to the crowd, You rose immediately and accompanied him. You are a God of tender compassion. You are moved by the sight of our tears, by our suffering, especially when we suffer for our children's sake. Every prayer we make for them, for their well-being, for their salvation, for grace and restoration - You will hear and You will answer. Of this, every parent who implores You importunately night and day may be sure.
You accompanied the official to his home, and the huge crowd who were with You came with You as well. The crush of people was so great that they were pressing close to You, and one sick, sad, desperate woman in the crowd crawled up to You. You were her last resort. Having exhausted all her resources and having nothing more to lose, she risked being found out and condemned as unclean, as she crawled on her hands and knees on the dusty road, almost trampled upon by the crowd, and reached out with trembling fingers to touch just the hem of Your garment, certain that if she did so she would be healed of the shameful disease that had plagued her for twelve years. As soon as she did, You knew it. This touch was different - it was a prayer, and it immediately stirred a response in You. She was healed instantly. Try as she might to remain hidden, You would not permit it. Her faith in You was to be rewarded, and generations to come, until Your return, would remember her. Contemplate and meditate on her action and Your response to her act of faith, and all who did so would be filled with hope, faith would be reignited, and we would approach You in prayer and receive the miracles we have been pleading for just as she did.
As for the official's daughter, she died before You could reach the house, and there was a great commotion as the mourners already started their dirge. But You commanded that they clear the house, saying, ‘Get out of here; the little girl is not dead, she is asleep.’ They laughed to scorn, but they were turned out summarily while You took the little girl by the hand and she stood up just as You took Peter's mother-in-law by the hand, and immediately the fever left her and she got out of bed and began to serve.
Touch me and heal me in every way that I need healing, Beloved, and rising up may I serve You all the days that are left to me. Thank You.
While Jesus was speaking, up came one of the officials, who bowed low in front of him and said, ‘My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and her life will be saved.’ Jesus rose and, with his disciples, followed him. Then from behind him came a woman, who had suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years, and she touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, ‘If I can only touch his cloak I shall be well again.’ Jesus turned round and saw her; and he said to her, ‘Courage, my daughter, your faith has restored you to health.’ And from that moment the woman was well again.
When Jesus reached the official’s house and saw the flute-players, with the crowd making a commotion he said, ‘Get out of here; the little girl is not dead, she is asleep.’ And they laughed at him. But when the people had been turned out he went inside and took the little girl by the hand; and she stood up. And the news spread all round the countryside.
When Jesus reached the official’s house and saw the flute-players, with the crowd making a commotion he said, ‘Get out of here; the little girl is not dead, she is asleep.’ And they laughed at him. But when the people had been turned out he went inside and took the little girl by the hand; and she stood up. And the news spread all round the countryside.