My Wednesday Daily Blessings
Be still, quiet your heart and mind, the Lord is here loving you,
talking to you.................
Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot (Catholic Observance)
Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Roman Rite Calendar)
*First Reading: Hos 10:1-3, 7-8, 12
Israel is a luxuriant vine whose fruit matches its growth.
The more abundant his fruit, the more altars he built;
The more productive his land, the more sacred pillars he set up.
Their heart is false, now they pay for their guilt;
God shall break down their altars and destroy their sacred pillars.
If they would say,
"We have no king?"
Since they do not fear the LORD, what can the king do for them?
The king of Samaria shall disappear, like foam upon the waters.
The high places of Aven shall be destroyed, the sin of Israel;
thorns and thistles shall overgrow their altars.
Then they shall cry out to the mountains, "Cover us!" and to the hills,
"Fall upon us!"
"Sow for yourselves justice, reap the fruit of piety; break up for yourselves
a new field, for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain down
justice upon you."
*Responsorial Psalm: Ps 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
"Seek always the face of the Lord."
*Gospel Reading: Mt 10:1-7
Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.
The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew,
Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus.
Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,
"Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"
Do you believe in the the life-changing power of the gospel and experience its transforming effect in your life? The core of the gospel message is quite simple: the kingdom (or reign) of God is very near! What is the kingdom of God? It is that society of men and women who know God's love and mercy, and who willingly obey and honor God as their Lord and King. In the prayer which Jesus gave to his disciples (the Lord's Prayer or Our Father), he taught them to pray for God to reign in their daily lives and in the world around them: May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. When Jesus proclaimed the good news of God's kingdom he also demonstrated the power of the gospel with supernatural signs and wonders. Jesus healed people who suffered physical, emotional, and mental illnesses. He freed people from spiritual bondage to sin and demonic powers. Jesus gave his disciples the same authority he had to heal and set people free from spiritual bondage. The gospel (which literally means "good news") which Jesus proclaimed is just as relevant today, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. If we believe in Jesus and in the power of the gospel, we will experience freedom, joy, and power to live as his disciples. No one can buy heaven; but if we know the love and mercy of Jesus, then we already possess heaven in our hearts! Do you believe that Jesus can change your life and show you the power of God's kingdom?
Jesus commissioned his disciples to carry on the works which he did – to speak God's word and to bring his healing power to the weary and oppressed. In the choice of the twelve apostles we see a characteristic feature of God's work: Jesus chose very ordinary people. They were non-professionals, had no wealth or position. They were chosen from the common people who did ordinary things, had no special education, and no social advantages. Jesus wanted ordinary people who could take an assignment and do it extraordinarily well. He chose these men, not for what they were, but for what they would be capable of becoming under his direction and power. When the Lord calls us to serve, we must not think we have nothing or very little to offer. The Lord takes what ordinary people, like us, can offer and uses it for greatness in his kingdom. Do you believe that God wants to work in and through you for his glory?
**Prayer:
"Lord Jesus, you have chosen me to be your disciple. Take and use what I can offer, however meager it may seem, for the greater glory of your name."
Sources:
*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
Sword of the Spirit and
The Word Among Us
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