14th Week in Ordinary Time
10th July 2023 (Monday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 2
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Genesis 28:10-22a
In those days: Jacob left Beersheba and went towards Haran. And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house.
Psalm 91:1-2, 3-4ab, 14-15ab (R. see 2b)
R/. O my God, I trust in you.
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/. Our Saviour Christ Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel : Matthew 9:18-26
At that time: While Jesus was speaking, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went through all that district.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Highlight: Touch heals!
Guidlines: True faith makes us aware of our vulnerable and defenceless condition of adversity and affliction. It also keeps us steady from losing our hearts. Further, it makes us turn to God and seek His intervention{alertSuccess}
1. Comforting and uplifting are God's words and deeds! This is presented so vividly in God's Word today, in both readings. In the first reading from Genesis 28. 10-22, this is seen in God’s confirmation of His promises. And in the gospel from Matthew 9. 18-26, this is confirmed in Jesus’ action of healing.
2. In the first reading, God promises to Jacob that He will be faithful to all His promises in the past. He would give abundant land, posterity, prosperity and blessing to Jacob and all his descendants. At the height of all these assurances, the greatest is the assurance of His unfailing presence.
3. The Lord assures him: “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go… I will not leave you until I have done that of which I have spoken to you”.
4. This assurance is concretely accomplished in the action of Jesus in the Gospel. The simple touch of him heals and transforms the whole situation: he touches the dead girl and she comes back to life; the touch of his garment heals the woman of her haemorrhage.
5. His presence, his intervention, and his touch restores life and health and, along with them, lost joy and human dignity. God is always benevolent towards us. He is always eager and ready to come to our aid, especially in our difficult and helpless situations.
6. But what is essential is faith. It is a faith that never gives up hope, faith that never loses courage and confidence, faith that turns to God, faith that approaches God, faith that affirms our total trust in Him, and faith that seeks his touch and power. This is the faith witnessed by the officer and the woman with a haemorrhage.
Practice: We shall wholeheartedly trust in God's love and mercy, His power and His intervention. We shall beg him to extend His healing hand to touch us so that we can regain our lost joy and dignity of life {alertSuccess}