MONDAY- 13^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME -C

Gospel: Matthew 8:18-22: Follow me.

I Reading: Genesis 18:16-33: Are you going to destroy the just man with the sinner?

 

Jesus Attracts People: The Cost of True Discipleship, 8:18-22

Jesus attracts people by his exemplary life. Many wanted to follow Jesus so he taught the cost of true discipleship.

1.    The crowd was attracted (v.18)

2.    The scholar was attracted (v.19)

a.    He willed to follow

b.    He was determined

c.     Jesus demanded more

1)    Must accept Him as the Son of God

2)    Personal poverty

3)    Must abandon all

3.    The average disciple was attracted (v.21-22)

a.    He hesitated

b.    He had divided attention

c.     Jesus demanded more

1)    Immediate loyalty

2)    A sense of urgency

Thought: Many are committed, but their commitments are self-commitments not Christ commitment.

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SUNDAY, 30^th JUNE, FEAST OF THE APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL, SOLEMNITY

 

I Reading: Acts 12:1-11: Herod arrested Peter, but an angel released him from his chains, leading him out of prison and into freedom.

II Reading: 2 Tim 4:6-8.17-18: Paul tells us that he has fought the good fight and finished the race. Now only martyrdom awaits him.

Gospel: Mt 16:13-19: When Jesus asked the disciples what identity people attributed to him, Peter answered on behalf of the Church that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

We celebrate today the feast of the apostles Peter and Paul. Let us thank God for these two apostles the light and strength they needed to announce the Good News of Jesus Christ throughout their life-time, and witnessed to Christ at their death through their shedding of their blood. Both were executed in Rome around the year 67 A.D., that is, some 35 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection.

These two saints are known as the “Pillars of the Church.” The Church of Christ is built by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus Christ), by the blood of the martyrs and believers. “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”

Andrew brought his brother Simon to Jesus. Jesus fixed his eyes on him and said “You are Simon, son of John; you are to be called Cephas, which means a rock (Jn 1:42).” In today’s Gospel Jesus confirmed and strengthened the faith of Peter and gave him the power and authority to carry out the mission of Christ and nothing should destroy or diminish the mission of Christ while proclaiming the Good News of Christ.

Simon Peter was an ordinary person and illiterate (Jewish mission) where as Paul was the highly educated person (Gentile mission). Both invested their whole energy in Christ and loved him so much and followed him immediately till the end of their lives even unto death. Even persecution and opposition did not stop them spreading the Gospel of Christ. Although they had lots of differences and contrasting characters, still they worked together (Unity) and preached the Good News to the people (diversity) and continued the mission of Christ with a missionary zeal (universal mission for the salvation of souls).

Let us ask for God’s grace to strengthen our faith in Christ and imbibe the spirit of these two saints to continue the mission of Jesus Christ despite persecution, rejection, opposition and temptations in our lives.

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SATURDAY- 12^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME -C

Gospel: Matthew 8:5-17: Many will come from east and west to take their places with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob.

I Reading: Genesis 18:1-15: Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? I shall visit you again and Sarah will have a son.

 

Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant: Receiving and Rejecting Men, 8:5-13

This passage shows that Jesus is definitely the Messiah (v.13). He also has the power to reject the unbelieving (v.12). Jesus had the messianic power to do the mission of his Father receiving any person, regardless of the barrier. He could span every conceivable barrier.

a.    The ideological barrier: the centurion was despised, rejected and hated by Jews.

b.    The physical barriers: the centurion’s servant was ill.

c.     The spiritual barriers: the centurion was a Gentile.

Jesus receives any person who truly believes, but rejects those who do not believe, no matter who they are.

1.    Jesus’ great power was aroused to receive the rejected (v.5-9)

a.    By the centurion’s humility

1)    Begged a Jew

2)    Called Jesus Lord

3)    Jesus’ response: “I will”

b.    By the centurion’s sense of unworthiness

c.     By the centurion’s love for a slave

d.    By the centurion’s great faih

1)    In Jesus’ supreme authority and power

2)    In Jesus as Sovereign Lord (v.8)

2.    Jesus’ great power was aroused to embrace believers of every nationality (v.10-11)

a.    The Roman centurion

b.    The “many” from every place, from all nations

3.    Jesus’ great power shall reject the unbelieving (v.12)

4.    Jesus’ great power proved his Messiahship (v.13)

Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-Law: Jesus’ Power and Its Purpose, 8:14-17)

One of the purposes for which Jesus came to earth was to meet the needs of individuals and families. The experience in Peter’s home shows this.

1.    Purpose 1: To meet the needs of the individuals and families (v.14-15)

a.    He visited Peter’s home

b.    He healed Peter’s mother-in-law: she arose and served

2.    Purpose 2: To meet the needs of the large crowds (v.16)

3.    Purpose 3: To prove his Messiahship (v.17)

a.    He bore the ultimate cause of disease

b.    He bore each fresh illness

Thought: No individual or family is too poor or unimportant for Jesus to visit and help. He cares for all.

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FRIDAY- 12^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME -C

Gospel: Matthew 8:1-4: If you want to, you can cure me.

I Reading: Genesis 17:1.9-10.15-22: All you male must be circumcised, and this shall be sign of the covenant. Sarah shall bear you a son.

 

Jesus Heals the Leper: Cleansing the Most Defiled

This passage is beautiful for spiritual cleansing. The power of Jesus to heal and cleanse the most defiled person in clearly seen.

1.    The large crowds followed Jesus (v.1)

2.    The leper: the unclean and most defiled person (v.2)

a.    He came to Jesus

b.    He worshipped Jesus

c.     He asked and trusted Jesus for cleansing

3.    The Lord Jesus (v.3)

a.    He touched

b.    He said, “I am willing”

c.     He cleansed

4.    The cleansed man (v.4)

a.    He must beware of pride, of boasting

b.    He must obey the law

Thought: “I am willing.” The mission of Jesus Christ is to seek and to save that which is lost, no matter how defiled (Lk 19:10; Mt 9:12-13; 20:28). The Church is called to the very same mission (Jn 20:21). Jesus said go-go to “all creation,” to every human being (Mk 16:15; cp. Mt 28:19-20).

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THURSDAY- 12^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME -C

Gospel: Matthew 7:21-29: The house built on rock and the house built on sand.

I Reading: Genesis 16:1-12.15-16: Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave him the name Ishmael.

                        

The Warning about False Pretences: Who shall enter the kingdom of Heaven? Mt 7:21-23

Who will enter the kingdom of heaven? Will everyone who professes Christ enter? The Lord says “No. There are some who professes my name only...” the false professors who recites only creed, rosaries and prayers etc will not enter because they don’t do the will of God but their own will they do.

1.    The law of entrance (v.21)

a.    A person must do more than profess

b.    A person must do God’s will

2.    The plea of false profession: works (v.22)

a.    Plea 1: prophesied and cast out evil spirits

b.    Plea 2: great works

c.     Plea 3: served in the Lord’s name

3.    The rejection of the false profession (v.23)

a.    Because Christ never knew

b.    Because worked iniquity

 

The Wise and Foolish Builders, Mt 7:24-27

Every person has a house- a life-to build. How he/she builds his/her life determines his destiny, not just for this life but for the eternity. How he/she builds his/her life makes all the differences...

·       Between success and failure

·       Between life and death

·       Between reward and loss

·       Between acceptance and rejection

·       Between standing and falling

There is only one foundation for every life: Jesus Christ (1Cor 3:11). He is the Rock upon which both individuals and churches are to build (Mt 16:18). Jesus teaches that there two kinds of builders.

1.    A wise builder: hears the instructions and obeys them (v.24-25)

a.    He builds a house

b.    He builds upon a rock (Christ)

c.     He faces a storm

d.    He built wisely: the difference is the foundation

2.    A foolish builder: hears the instructions and does not obey them (v.26-27)

a.    He builds a house

b.    He builds upon the sand (without Christ)

c.     He faces a storm

d.    He built foolishly: suffers great destruction-the difference is the foundation (without faith in Christ).

Thought: The man who builds on sand (without faith in Christ) is hopeless and helpless. Jesus spoke with authority because he is the Son of God and he did was with the authority of God (Mt.28:18; Mk 1:27; Jn 5:19-30; 5:27).

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WEDNESDAY- 12^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME -C

Gospel: Matthew 7:15-20: You will able to tell them by their fruits.

I Reading: Genesis 15:1-12.17-18: Abraham put his faith in God, and this faith was considered as justifying him. The Lord made a covenant with Abraham.

The Warning about False Prophets

Jesus Christ is talking about prophets, men who proclaim and teach the gospel. There are some who are false prophets, men who proclaim and teach a false gospel. Christ says seven things about false prophets. (Cf. Gal 1:6-9).

1.    Their presence: Beware (v.15)

2.    Their chief trait: they appear as sheep, but inwardly they are wolves (v.15)

a.    Outwardly: as sheep

b.    Inwardly: are wolves

3.    Their revealing mark: the fruit they gather (v.16)

4.    Their true nature: is not good, but corrupt and evil (v.17)

5.    Their hopeless fruit: cannot bear good fruit, but only bad and corrupt fruit (v.18)

6.    Their terrible future: judgement (v.19)

7.    Their fruit: exposes them (v.20)

Thought: “By their fruit you will recognize them.”

1)    “Test the spirits,” the prophets (1Jn 4:1)

2)    “Test everything,” the prophet’s fruit (1Th 5:21)

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TUESDAY- 12^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME -C

Gospel: Matthew 7:6.12-14: Always treat others as you would like them to treat you.

I Reading: Genesis 13:2. 5-18: Let there be no dispute between me and you, for we are brothers.

The Summit of Ethics: The Golden Rule and the Two Choices in Life,

Mt 7:12-14

This Scripture contains two of the most well-known things Jesus ever said. They deal with two of the basic issues of life.

(1) There is the issue of righteousness. How can a person live righteously? That is, have a right relationship with his neighbour?

(2) There is the issue of life. How can a person be sure he has life, real life?

1.    The golden rule of life (v.12)

a.    Demands true justice

b.    Includes real love

c.     Teaches the whole law

2.    The two choices in life (v.13-14)

a.    Two gates: wide vs narrow

b.    Two ways: easy and hard

c.     Two ends: destruction vs life

d.    Two travellers: the wise vs the unwise

e.     Two decisions: no effort vs seeking to find

Thought: Three things are required of people:

1)    To know what Jesus Christ taught.

2)    To believe what Jesus Christ taught.

3)    To do what Jesus Christ taught. It is not enough to know or to believe the golden rule. We must live it.

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