Gen 32:23-32

Mt 9:32-38

July 7
Tuesday

14th Week in Ordinary Time

1st Reading: Gen 32:23-32
    He took them and sent them across the stream and likewise everything he had. And Jacob was left alone.
    Then a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he could not get the better of Jacob, he struck him in the socket of his hip and dislocated it as he wrestled with him.
    The man said, "Let me go, for day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go until you have given me your blessing." The man then said, "What is your name?" "Jacob" was the reply. He answered, "You will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have been strong-with-God as you have been with men and have prevailed."
    Then Jacob asked him, "What is your name?" He answered, "Why do you ask my name?" And he blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Penuel, saying, "I have seen God face to face and survived." The sun rose as he passed through Penuel, limping because of his hip.
That is why to this day the Israelites do not eat the sciatic nerve which is in the hip socket because the sciatic nerve in Jacob's hip had been touched.

Gospel: Mt 9:32-38
    Some people brought to Jesus a man who was dumb because he was possessed by a demon. When the demon was driven out, the dumb man began to speak. The crowds were astonished and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel." (But the Pharisees said, "He drives away demons with the help of the prince of demons.")
    Jesus went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom, and he cured every sickness and disease. When he saw the crowds he was moved with pity, for they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant but the workers are only few. Ask the master of the harvest to send workers to gather his harvest."

REFLECTION
    Today's Genesis story is remarkably free of pretense. We see Jacob with his strengths as well as his flaws. There's no attempt here to spin an idyllic story of the genesis of the nation of Israel. Jacob was flawed, yet nonetheless God chose him. God didn't choose Jacob because Jacob had an excellent character. At first, it is unclear who the man is who is wrestling with Jacob. It became apparent only through the course of the night that the man wrestling with Jacob was God, who has assumed human form. In fact, God probably initiated the wrestling match.
     When God chooses us, He often overturns customary ways of doing things. God doesn't express concern about the flaws of people. God chooses to work in and through flawed people. Here, God stooped to encounter Jacob at his own level. He engaged Jacob with the kind of power that would not overpower. God chose to have a power that was in some sense comparable to the power that Jacob had brought to this moment. The implication is that, when God encounters us, He truly mixes it up with us. God gets involved in our lives in ways we cannot ignore!

PRAYER

"Lord Jesus, may your kingdom come to all who are oppressed and in darkness. Fill my heart with compassion for all who suffer mentally and physically. Use me to bring the good news of your saving grace and mercy to those around me who need your healing love and forgiveness."

Psalm 115:3-10

3 Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases.
4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
5 They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see.
6 They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell.
7 They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk;  and they do not make a sound in their throat.
8 Those who make them are like them; so are all who trust in them.
9 O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.
10 O house of Aaron, put your trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.

Sources:

http://www.bible.claret.org

http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/

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Daily WORD via Text*

Tue 7 Jul 09

DAILY WORD

Gen 32:23-32

Mt 9:32-38

The harvest is abundant but the workers are only few

Source: http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/Dailywordviatext/

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Additional Meditation Links

RCNet http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/jul6.htm

The Word Among Us http://www.wau.org/meditations/current/

Fullness of Life http://www.junmanacsa.blogspot.com/

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