TUESDAY, 19th July 2011
Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
quote of the day
I've learned that you should say your prayers every night.
- Age 9
thanks
all our gratitudes
.Someone's father... dear Father, we thank You for providing and keeping watch over him during his stay in the hospital and making him fit enough to be discharged… Amen.
.Someone's uncle)... dear Father, we thank You for healing the wound on his foot little by little and making him fit enough to be discharged… Amen.
listen
Reading I
Ex 14:21-15:1
Moses stretched out his hand over the sea,
and the LORD swept the sea
with a strong east wind throughout the night
and so turned it into dry land.
When the water was thus divided,
the children of Israel marched into the midst of the sea on dry land,
with the water like a wall to their right and to their left.
The Egyptians followed in pursuit;
all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and charioteers went after them
right into the midst of the sea.
In the night watch just before dawn
the LORD cast through the column of the fiery cloud
upon the Egyptian force a glance that threw it into a panic;
and he so clogged their chariot wheels
that they could hardly drive.
With that the Egyptians sounded the retreat before Israel,
because the LORD was fighting for them against the Egyptians.
Then the LORD told Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea,
that the water may flow back upon the Egyptians,
upon their chariots and their charioteers."
So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea,
and at dawn the sea flowed back to its normal depth.
The Egyptians were fleeing head on toward the sea,
when the LORD hurled them into its midst.
As the water flowed back,
it covered the chariots and the charioteers of Pharaoh's whole army
that had followed the children of Israel into the sea.
Not a single one of them escaped.
But the children of Israel had marched on dry land
through the midst of the sea,
with the water like a wall to their right and to their left.
Thus the LORD saved Israel on that day
from the power of the Egyptians.
When Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore
and beheld the great power that the LORD
had shown against the Egyptians,
they feared the LORD and believed in him and in his servant Moses.
Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD:
I will sing to the LORD, for he is gloriously triumphant;
horse and chariot he has cast into the sea.
Responsorial Psalm
Exodus 15:8-9, 10 and 12, 17
R. (1b) Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
At the breath of your anger the waters piled up,
the flowing waters stood like a mound,
the flood waters congealed in the midst of the sea.
The enemy boasted, "I will pursue and overtake them;
I will divide the spoils and have my fill of them;
I will draw my sword; my hand shall despoil them!"
R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
When your wind blew, the sea covered them;
like lead they sank in the mighty waters.
When you stretched out your right hand, the earth swallowed them!
R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
And you brought them in and planted them on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place where you made your seat, O LORD,
the sanctuary, O LORD, which your hands established.
R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
Gospel
Mt 12:46-50
While Jesus was speaking to the crowds,
his mother and his brothers appeared outside,
wishing to speak with him.
Someone told him, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside,
asking to speak with you."
But he said in reply to the one who told him,
"Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?"
And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said,
"Here are my mother and my brothers.
For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father
is my brother, and sister, and mother."
Reflection 1:
from 'word among us'
"Then Moses and the Israelites sang… "(Exodus 15:1)
Picture yourself with front-row seats at the final game of the World Cup. People are cheering as the underdog team scores the winning goal. The whole stadium erupts, and you can't contain yourself. Suddenly you are shouting, clapping, giving high-fives to strangers, and waving your banner wildly.
This must have been how the people of Israel felt when they saw the Egyptian army being swallowed up by the sea. The chase was over, and they were now free. They couldn't help but break into celebration!
This is the kind of excitement that Jesus wants to give us every time we recall the salvation he won for us. He wants us to celebrate our freedom from slavery and the promise of eternal life with him. He wants us to clap our hands and shout praises to him because he has defeated the devil and set us free from sin. He wants us to sing and dance because he has rescued us from death.
If you want some idea of what this kind of worship looks like, read chapters four and five of the Book of Revelation. There, we see how all of heaven is filled with singing and rejoicing, with loud acclamations and shouts of praise to God the Father and to Jesus, his Son.
Does your prayer time look like this? If not, it should. Our God is faithful, powerful, loving, and merciful. We have so much to rejoice over, so much to celebrate. We have challenges and problems, too. But nothing is too big for Jesus. Nothing is beyond his ability to intervene. Nothing is so menacing that it can overshadow God's goodness and presence.
So try devoting your prayer today to rejoicing and celebrating. Go ahead and speak words of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord. Sing and clap your hands. You may even want to shout for joy or dance like King David! Even if you don't feel like singing, even if you feel a little silly, try it anyway! Take a few moments to recall all the wondrous things God has done in your life. Think about the ways he has protected you, healed you, or shown you his love, and you'll find reason enough to open your mouth, raise your hands, and shout praises.
(Psalm) Exodus 15:8-10,12,17;
Matthew 12:46-50
Reflection 2:
from 'inspiring women everyday'
What's in a name?
John 20:24–31
'Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"' (v.28)
What's the first word you associate with the name of Jesus' disciple, Thomas? Is it strong, courageous, gentle, fearless? Or doubting? As we read the account of him struggling to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead, do we feel some empathy for him? Do we have times of doubt too?
Thomas had walked alongside Jesus for three years and would have been as intimate with Him as the other disciples. Why then did he doubt the truth, when he knew and loved the Truth?
Thomas actually needs to be respected for his faith. His honest doubts always had a purpose. He was seeking the truth, open about his doubts, and very quick to believe when his questions were answered.
I remember, as a new Christian, attending a Christian basics course. With so many questions needing answers I went on it a second time, in order to understand the answers I'd received but hadn't understood the first time round! My vicar said to my husband, 'I'm so glad Gill came on the course twice, because she asked the questions others didn't dare to ask.'
It's OK to have periods when we struggle in our faith. God won't love us any the less. It is in the struggle that we discover the truth, our faith is strengthened, and we, too, recognise Christ and say, 'My Lord and my God'. Why not find someone you trust and share your doubts, as you seek answers that will strengthen your faith?
What, I wonder, do people think of when they hear our name? Ask God what He associates with yours ... beloved, joy giver, warrior princess, beautiful, faithful, generous? I guarantee that God's word for us will no doubt be wonderful!
Reflection 3:
from 'oxygen'
(Today's OXYGEN by Aloysius Ting)
It was then that Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song in honour of the Lord
I once came home from a Saturday giving a consultation to find that my laptop was not with me. I became flustered as I had made a few stops on my way home and there was a chance I could have left it anywhere. Tracing my steps, I thought the best chance was back in school. Saying a quick pray, I took a cab down. During the ride, I sought intercession from St Jude, the patron of lost and desperate cases. When I reached the table where I was having consultation, my laptop was there, untouched. The first thing I did was SMS my parents to tell them the good news; the next was checking my email. I quickly how horrible I was. I should have thanked God first.
For a long time, I had issue with the Gospel passage. I thought that Jesus was being very rude. Is it not good to see your loved ones coming? Is it not right to greet them? Instead Christ appears to have shunned them. Looking closer though, this is far from the truth. Whenever Christ scolded anyone, He directed the rebuke at them. This time, He addressed not His family but those who pointed them out to Him. Yes, the coming of His family was a happy occasion. However, at that point of time it was more important to focus on Christ's teachings rather than get distracted. Christ accordingly pointed out how the people had their priorities wrong. The first reading shows how the Israelites got their priorities right. Following their successful crossing and the drowning of the Egyptians, the people of God sang the triumph of the Lord.
When good things happen to us, we naturally want to share the news with those around us, especially our loved ones. There is nothing wrong with this at all. However we need to remember who deserves first honour. In our joy brothers and sisters, may we first of all share our happiness with God from whom all good things come.
pray
our choir members
.a choir member who's studying... Heavenly Father, as she prepares for her exams this coming Friday, we pray that You will guide her during these few days in preparing herself for her exam. Grant her the peace of heart and mind so that she is able to concentrate fully on studying. We also pray that her employees will be understanding and grant her time off for her to concentrate on doing her revisions… Amen.
our members' families, relatives & friends
.Jon (a choir member's nephew)... dear Father, we pray that You continue to bless this young man with Your love and comfort him with Your gentle hands whenever he is in pain. Fill his heart with Your joy and happiness so that he may experience them in the special ways only You can deliver. Send Your angels to be by his side and keep him company, talk to him and sing hymns to him. Assure him that You will always be there for him for he is a special child of Yours… Amen.
Our general prayers
.Then Moses and the Israelites sang… (from the 'Word among us')… Jesus, You are Lord and Saviour. I rejoice in Your love and Your provision!… Amen.
.What's in a name… (from 'Inspiring Women Every Day')... My Lord and my God, help me to see beyond myself, with my fears, doubts and failings. Help me search for Your truth, and may my discoveries bless other honest seekers… Amen.
.To love others... Heavenly Father, You bless us with many relationships and You invite us into the community of Your sons and daughters who have been redeemed by Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me to love my neighbor with charity, kindness, compassion, and mercy, just as You have loved me. In all of my relationships, and in all that I do and say, may I always seek to bring You honor and glory… Amen.
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