Tag Archive for ‘Jesus’
Jesus’ Hands
I read it on Stuff. The theory goes like this—ever since we, mankind, have been able to close our hands into a fist, we have been punching each other in the face. Fist fighting does not originate in the cowboy movies. Instead, it occurred four million years earlier when our ancestors started walking on two […]
Tuesday 29 July
John 4:7-16; Ps 34; Luke 10:38-42 or John 11:19-27 Tolerance John’s reading today is about love. “Let us love one another, for love comes from God” Well I am sure that we do love God. But our neighbours? When they tailgate us – have noisy parties – jump the queue? Do we really have to […]
Saturday 26 July
Sts Joachim and Anne, Parents of Mary Ecclesiasticus 44:1, 10-15; Ps 132; Matthew 13:16-17 Grandparents feast day Joachim and Anne, parents of Mary, grandparents of Jesus. We know little about them. This feast day should remind us of how important grandparents are. Some raise their grandchildren. Some care for them several days each week. Some […]
Friday 25 July
St James, Apostle Corinthians 4:7-15; Ps 126; Matthew 20:20-28 Humility James and John were the sons of Zebedee and Salome. Was Salome an ambitious mother? She wanted her sons to sit on Jesus’s right and left. Jesus reminded her that first shall be last and vice versa. Thomas a Kempis has this thought for us […]
Tuesday 22 July
St Mary Magdalene 2 Cor 5:14-17; Ps 63; John 20:1-2, 11-18 Concern for others After Jesus’s mother, Mary Magdalene would be the woman closest to him. She anointed his weary feet. She was with him on the road to Calvary, then at the crucifixion, then at his burial. She was the first to check the […]
Saturday 19 July
Micah 2:1-5; Ps 13; Matthew 12:14-21 Courage to change The Pharisees are determined to destroy Jesus. He did not argue with them or threaten them. He walked away. Is this a reminder that like Jesus, one may need to walk away from a situation that might weaken our faith? “God, give me grace to accept […]
Friday 18 July
Isaiah 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8; Canticle Isaiah; 12:1-6: Matthew 12:1-8 Ritual or empathy The disciples are hungry so they collected grain. The Pharisees rebuked them because it was the Sabbath, the Day of Rest. Jesus’s reply suggests that sometimes empathy is more important than observing the ritual of the Sabbath. Prior to Vatican II the rituals […]
Monday 14 July
Isaiah 1:10-17; Ps 50; Matthew 10:34-11:1 Bravery Once again Jesus warns the disciples of the trials that they will meet – rejection, hatred, persecution, death. For those who consider becoming religious, reading Matthew’s passage could be intimidating. Suzanne Aubert came from France to New Zealand without her parents knowledge and with little indication of what […]
Friday 4 July
Amos 8:4-6, 9-12;Ps 119a; Matthew 9:9-13 Compassion Jesus invites Matthew to follow Him. The Pharisees question his preference for the less privileged. Is that an eye opener for us? He cures the sick, casts out demons, forgives sinners, counsels the worried. There are many who, through their work, often voluntary, with the handicapped and sick, […]
Thursday 3 July
St. Thomas, Apostle Ephesians 2: 19-22; Ps 117; John 20: 24-29 Belief Doubting Thomas. Thomas had the chance to confirm his beliefs by putting his hands into the wounds. Jesus said “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” We are not […]
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