Sat. July 31st St Ignatius of Loyola Matt. 14: 1-12
Herod the tetrarch heard about the reputation of Jesus, and said to his court, ‘This is John the Baptist himself; he has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.’
Now it was Herod who had arrested John, chained him up and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philipp’s wife. For John had told him, ‘It is against the Law for you to have her.’ He had wanted to kill him but was afraid of the people, who regarded John as a prophet. Then, during the celebrations for Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and so delighted Herod that he promised on oath to give her anything she asked. Prompted by her mother she said, ‘Give me John the Baptist’s head, here, on a dish.’ The king was distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he ordered it to be given her, and sent and had John beheaded in the prison. The head was brought in on a dish and given to the girl who took it to her mother.
It was Herod’s guilt and fear that led him to believe that Jesus was John the Baptist risen from the dead. Our sins can haunt us and enslave us. Jesus, in taking away our sins, has set us free – free from guilt and fear, that we may walk in his love and truth.
We see in this passage also how we can be agents of the Holy Spirit or agents of the Evil One. Led and empowered by the Holy Spirit, John preached a Baptism of repentance to prepare the way for the Lord. The Holy Spirit gave him the courage and wisdom to speak the Truth, even though he knew his life would be at stake. Herod and Herodias had however been living in sin, giving in to their passions and desires of the flesh. It was thus easy for the Evil One to manipulate them - first Herodias and, through her, her daughter who so delighted Herod with her dancing, that he had John beheaded, even though he had misgivings.
When we are being guided by the Holy Spirit, we will overcome our fears, weaknesses and desires of the flesh and be agents of the Holy Spirit. We can do great things for God if we allow the Holy Spirit to fill us, transform, empower and use us, that we may follow the example of John the Baptist and St Ignatius of Loyola whose Feast we celebrate today.
Holy Spirit empower us to proclaim God’s Word and Truth.
Sun. Aug. 1st Lk. 12:13-21
Then he said to them, ‘Watch, and be on your guard against avarice of any kind, for a man’s life is not made secure by what he owns, even when he has more than he needs.’ Then he told them a parable: ‘There was
once a rich man who, having had a good harvest from
his land, thought to himself, ‘What am I to do? I have not enough room to store my crops.’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them, and I will say to my soul: My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many years to come; take things easy, eat, drink, have a good time.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This very night the demand will be made for your soul; and this hoard of yours, whose will it be then?’ So it is when a man stores up treasure for himself in place of making himself rich in the sight of God.’
How foolish! Before we shake our heads and dismiss the rich man as being not only foolish, but selfish and greedy and deserved what was coming to him, let us check ourselves. We too may be guilty of making the same mistake. Even when our cupboards are full and we have money in the bank, we are still insecure and desire to have more and more. Our insecurity stems from our lack of faith and trust in God.
We need to be wise and manage our finances in a responsible way. Let us not however be foolish in wanting to acquire more and more and end up building bigger barns and storing up treasures here on earth which do not last. All that we have can be taken at any time. Our security and our happiness is in God and God alone.
Let us thank God for all that we have and be generous and share what we have with others as we journey on in this world. Let us not wait till we die before our wealth is distributed! We will then be rich in the sight of God.
Lord, help me put my trust in you. Let not my insecurity make me selfish, greedy and blind to the needs of others.
Mon. Aug. 2nd St John Vianney Matt. 14:13-21
When Jesus received the news of John the Baptist’s death he withdrew by boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But the people heard of this and, leaving the towns, went after him on foot. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them and healed their sick.
When evening came, the disciples went to him and said,
‘...send the people away, and they can go to the villages to buy themselves some food.’ Jesus replied, ‘There is no need for them to go: give them something to eat yourselves.’ But they answered, ‘All we have with us is five loaves and two fish.’ ‘Bring them here to me,’ he said. He gave orders that the people were to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing. And breaking the loaves he handed them to his disciples who gave them to the crowds. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they collected the scraps remaining, twelve baskets full. Those who ate numbered about five thousand men, to say nothing of women and children.
Jesus was saddened by John’s death and wanted to be alone with his disciples. Yet when he saw the large crowd, he ministered to them and healed the sick. When it was late, he was concerned for the people and told his disciples to give them something to eat. His disciples too must have been discouraged and tired out. Yet they did as Jesus requested, without arguing or complaining.
Jesus continues to feed a hungry world - hungry for not only food and material things, but hungry for love, for goodness, for justice, for hope and meaning in life. He gives himself as the Bread of Life and, for all who believe in him, we will hunger no more. Jesus needs us to distribute his Bread of Life. Can we die to our self, our tiredness, selfishness, our own problems, agenda and preferences and put the needs of others before our own?
On this Feast of St John Vianney, the patron saint of all priests, we thank you Lord for our priests who serve so selflessly. We pray too that we will grow in love and service.
Tues. Aug. 3rd Matt. 14:22-36
When the crowds had eaten their fill Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side... when evening came, he was there alone, while the boat by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea, for there was a headwind. In the fourth watch of the night he went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified. ‘It is a ghost’ they said, and cried out in fear. But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, ‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.’ It was Peter who answered, ‘Lord,’ he said ‘if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind he took fright and began to sink. ‘Lord! Save me!’ he cried. Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. ‘Man of little faith,’ he said ‘why did you doubt?’ And as they got into the boat the wind dropped. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.’
If we had the faith, we could move mountains and walk through stormy seas! God gives us the faith to move the mountains of difficulties in our way of following Jesus and to come through the storms and trials of our life.
When we are faced with problems that seem insur-mountable, when we are caught in storms that threaten to engulf us - we need to keep our eyes focused on Jesus. The moment, we take our eyes off Jesus and focus on our problems - be it financial or work problems, health, family and relationship problems - like Peter we will begin to sink. But Jesus understands our fears, We simply need to call out to him. He is by our side. He will put out his hand and hold us. He will calm the storms and our fears.
Lord Jesus, take my hand and guide me through the storms of my life!
Wed. Aug. 4th Matt. 15: 21-28
Jesus left Gennesaret and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Then out came a Canaanite woman from that district and started shouting, ‘Sir, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.’ But he answered her not a word. And his disciples went and pleaded with him. ‘Give her what she wants,’ they said ‘because she is shouting after us.’ He said in reply, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.’ But the woman had come up and was kneeling at his feet. ‘Lord,’ she said ‘help me.’ ‘He replied, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs.’ She retorted, ‘Ah yes, sir; but even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.’ And from that moment her daughter was well again.
God’s plan of Salvation is not restricted to the House of Israel. God wants every man, woman and child of every nation and race to be saved. He created us all and we are all his children. Israel was God’s chosen people called, not just for themselves, but to be a light to the nations. Jesus’ mission was to save the people of Israel with whom God had made a Covenant and to form a New Israel.
Just as he worked the miracle at the wedding at Cana although it was not yet time for him to begin his public ministry, Jesus also healed the daughter of the Canaanite woman because of her great faith, though his focus at that stage was to save the lost sheep of Israel.
After his death and resurrection, Jesus continues his mission through the Holy Spirit and the Church which is the New Israel, called to be a light to the world. Thus Jesus needs us to continue his mission. However, we are reminded that our mission is a mission of love and should never be exercised with rigidity, just to keep to our schedules and programmes.
Holy Spirit, help us to carry out our mission with love.
Thur. Aug. 5th Matt. 16:13-23
‘But you,’ Jesus said ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said the Son of the Living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven...
From that time Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day.
Jesus had been preaching and ministering to the crowds, many of whom came out of curiosity or because they were in need of healing. Many of the Jews were also expecting an economic and political messiah who would liberate them from their oppression. The disciples, especially the Twelve who had lived with Jesus and been formed by him, had a deeper and more intimate relationship with Jesus. Peter, speaking on behalf of the disciples, proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah and Son of the Living God. This was a turning point. Jesus appointed Peter as head of the Church, giving him the authority and keys of the Kingdom. From then on, Jesus began to head for Jerusalem and began to predict his suffering, death and resurrection to prepare them for what lay ahead.
Jesus wants us to not only come to him for our needs, but to experience him as our Saviour and Son of the Living God – to have an intimate relationship with him that we may follow him through the cross to the glory of the resurrection.
May your Kingdom come, O Lord!
