My Saturday Daily Blessings
Be still, quiet your heart and mind, the Lord is here loving you, talking to you.................
Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Catholic Observance)
Saturday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Roman Rite Calendar)
*First Reading: Gn 1-5, 15-29
When Isaac was so old that his eyesight had failed him, he called his older son Esau and said to him, “Son!”
“Yes father!” he replied.
Isaac then said, “As you can see, I am so old that I may now die at any time.
Take your gear, therefore–your quiver and bow–and go out into the country to hunt some game for me.
With your catch prepare an appetizing dish for me, such as I like,
and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my special blessing before I die.”
“Yes father!” he replied.
Isaac then said, “As you can see, I am so old that I may now die at any time.
Take your gear, therefore–your quiver and bow–and go out into the country to hunt some game for me.
With your catch prepare an appetizing dish for me, such as I like,
and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my special blessing before I die.”
Rebekah had been listening while Isaac was speaking to his son Esau.
So, when Esau went out into the country to hunt some game for his father, Rebekah [then] took the best clothes of her older son Esau
that she had in the house, and gave them to her younger son Jacob to wear; and with the skins of the kids she covered up his hands and the hairless parts of his neck.
Then she handed her son Jacob the appetizing dish and the bread she had prepared.
So, when Esau went out into the country to hunt some game for his father, Rebekah [then] took the best clothes of her older son Esau
that she had in the house, and gave them to her younger son Jacob to wear; and with the skins of the kids she covered up his hands and the hairless parts of his neck.
Then she handed her son Jacob the appetizing dish and the bread she had prepared.
Bringing them to his father, Jacob said, “Father!”
“Yes?” replied Isaac. “Which of my sons are you?”
Jacob answered his father: “I am Esau, your first-born.
I did as you told me.
Please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your special blessing.”
But Isaac asked, “How did you succeed so quickly, son?”
He answered, “The LORD, your God, let things turn out well with me.”
Isaac then said to Jacob, “Come closer, son, that I may feel you, to learn whether you really are my son Esau or not.”
So Jacob moved up closer to his father.
When Isaac felt him, he said, “Although the voice is Jacob’s, the hands are Esau’s.”
(He failed to identify him because his hands were hairy, like those of his brother Esau; so in the end he gave him his blessing.)
Again he asked Jacob, “Are you really my son Esau?”
“Certainly,” Jacob replied.
Then Isaac said, “Serve me your game, son, that I may eat of it and then give you my blessing.”
Jacob served it to him, and Isaac ate; he brought him wine, and he drank.
Finally his father Isaac said to Jacob, “Come closer, son, and kiss me.”
As Jacob went up and kissed him, Isaac smelled the fragrance of his clothes.
With that, he blessed him saying, “Ah, the fragrance of my son is like the fragrance of a field that the LORD has blessed!
“Yes?” replied Isaac. “Which of my sons are you?”
Jacob answered his father: “I am Esau, your first-born.
I did as you told me.
Please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your special blessing.”
But Isaac asked, “How did you succeed so quickly, son?”
He answered, “The LORD, your God, let things turn out well with me.”
Isaac then said to Jacob, “Come closer, son, that I may feel you, to learn whether you really are my son Esau or not.”
So Jacob moved up closer to his father.
When Isaac felt him, he said, “Although the voice is Jacob’s, the hands are Esau’s.”
(He failed to identify him because his hands were hairy, like those of his brother Esau; so in the end he gave him his blessing.)
Again he asked Jacob, “Are you really my son Esau?”
“Certainly,” Jacob replied.
Then Isaac said, “Serve me your game, son, that I may eat of it and then give you my blessing.”
Jacob served it to him, and Isaac ate; he brought him wine, and he drank.
Finally his father Isaac said to Jacob, “Come closer, son, and kiss me.”
As Jacob went up and kissed him, Isaac smelled the fragrance of his clothes.
With that, he blessed him saying, “Ah, the fragrance of my son is like the fragrance of a field that the LORD has blessed!
“May God give to you of the dew of the heavens
And of the fertility of the earth abundance of grain and wine.
And of the fertility of the earth abundance of grain and wine.
“Let peoples serve you, and nations pay you homage;
Be master of your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be those who curse you, and blessed be those who bless you.”
Be master of your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be those who curse you, and blessed be those who bless you.”
*Responsorial Psalm: Ps 135:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6
"Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good!"
*Gospel: Lk 2:41-51
Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
and when he was twelve years old,
they went up according to festival custom.
After they had completed its days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,
but his parents did not know it.
Thinking that he was in the caravan,
they journeyed for a day
and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
but not finding him,
they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions,
and all who heard him were astounded
at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him,
they were astonished,
and his mother said to him,
“Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
And he said to them,
“Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
But they did not understand what he said to them.
He went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them;
and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
**Reflection:
Do you know the pain and grief of losing someone close to you? Mary and Joseph must have felt anxious and helpless when the boy Jesus disappeared. Nonetheless they returned to Jerusalem with confident trust that God would guide them in their hour of trial. Why did Jesus stay back when his parents left for home? Just as the prophet Samuel heard the call of the Lord at a very young age, Jesus in his youth recognized that he has been given a call by his heavenly Father. His answer to his mother's anxious inquiry reveals his trusting faith and confident determination to pursue his heavenly Father's will. Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house? Our Heavenly Father calls each one of us. With the call God gives grace – grace to say "yes" to his will and grace to persevere through obstacles and trials that stand in the way. Do you recognize God's call on your life and do you trust in his grace and strength?
**Prayer:
"Lord Jesus, in love you have called me to live for your praise and glory. May I always find joy in your presence and trust in your wise and loving plan for my life."
AMEN.
Sources:
The readings on this page are from the Jerusalem Bible, which is used at Mass in most of the English-speaking world.
*Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
**Don Schwager
Author and Writer for The Word Among Us
Member, Servants of the Word (c) 2006
Word Life Community
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