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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, July 4, 2002 The Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word: Amos 7:10-17 Psalm 19:8-11 Matthew 9:1-8 A Reflection on Today's Scripture: In today's Gospel, Jesus heals a paralytic. It's a story that teaches us a very important lesson about healing. That is, that a healing is an occurrence that is not meant just for the "cured", but also for those who hear about and who themselves might be sick and need (at some time or another) to be healed. It is part of our human nature to be in awe of miraculous-appearing events and since by nature we live in a world of "sensing" - physical healings assume great attention. Jesus seems to teach us today that we are not just creatures of "sense" but also those of "spirit". Often we forget the spiritual parts of us that need a healing touch. Either we seek healing in inappropriate and ineffective ways or we deny altogether that there is anything unwell about us. If by grace we comprehend the message of today's gospel, we begin to see how sin has paralyzed us and confined us into patterns of hopelessness and helplessness and how badly we're in need of healing. Perhaps, as in the gospel, we're so incapacitated that we can't bring ourselves to the healer, but must rely on someone else to do it for us. In this and indeed in all times of need the vehicle to the Healer is faith. Jesus demonstrates for us that we have reason to live in faith and peace even when things seem impossible. He showed the skeptical and uninformed who He was and the power He possessed. Let us then use the great vehicle of faith and bring not only ourselves, but those who cannot come on their own into the presence of the One who loves us and has compassion on us in all our infirmities. "Have courage" Jesus said; ....have courage. Heavenly FATHER I thank You for the gift of Jesus who teaches me of You, and Your immense love for me. Have mercy on me Lord, a sinner, that I may be healed, that I may see, that I may walk, that I might love You as much as I am able. - Donna Raye Nelson, ocds ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) YOU CAN HELP to evangelize the Word of God: Please recommend our website to your friends and Catholic webmasters. The meditations are in English & Spanish at http://www.borg.com/~joachim/DailyMeds.html (case sensitive). ARCHIVED Meditations: http://www.abcsoffaith.com/quiet/quietplace.html and at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] For ALL communications, including subscribe/unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (c)2002 The Way, The Truth, The Life. Permission granted to make reprints of the meditations or to post on any web page, except for profit. Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible with Revised New Testament and Revised Psalms (c)1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Full text from the New American Bible: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm Lives of the Saints: http://www.christdesert.org/public_texts/martyrology/ |
Title: Meditation: Thursday, July 4, 2002
