Daily Bible Reflections
for July 5, 2012;

Dear Friend,

This Thursday, remember that He knows you and loves you.

Praying for you,

Bo Sanchez

5
 July
Thursday
TODAY'S READINGS:

DIDACHE | COMPANION | SABBATH
DIDACHE

 

HAVE FAITH
 
When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the paralyzed man, “Courage, my son! Your sins are forgiven.” – Matthew 9:2
 
Icia didn’t know how to react to the invitation from her school. She was chosen as part of the high school delegation that would go to Rome to witness the canonization of their blessed foundress. She was of course excited, but she became troubled when she learned that her family has to cover all the travel and incidental expenses.
She knew that this financial requirement was a major hurdle. She conditioned herself that she wouldn’t be able to join the delegation even before she presented the invitation to her parents. “Do you really want to join this?” her dad asked her. She nodded her head. Her dad then suggested that she write to friends, family and fellow community members to ask for assistance.
Icia followed her dad’s instructions. Her parents were able to allot some amount from their family savings. After a couple of months, she was able to solicit more than enough for her travel. Her visa to Italy was also approved with no hitches. Through her faith in God and action, she was able to join the delegation and became a witness to a truly magnificent event. Alvin Fabella (alvinfabella@yahoo.com)
5
REFLECTION:
Do you have problems that seem too big to overcome? Don’t despair. God will always be there for you.
 
Lord, You said that we must have faith like the mustard seed. May our trials in life serve as opportunities for us to grow our faith in You.
 
St. Anthony Zaccaria, priest, pray for us.
 
 

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COMPANION

 

1ST READING  
 
Amaziah is a corrupt priest and he tries to discredit Amos in the eyes of the king. Amos is not intimidated and prophesies that the wife of Amaziah will be “forced into the streets,” his children all killed, and finally that he, Amaziah, will die in exile. Not a very clever way to try and make friends. Amos is eventually sent away from Bethel and his prophecies are ignored.
 
Amos 7:10-17
10 Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent word to Jeroboam, king of Israel: “Amos has conspired against you here within Israel; the country cannot endure all his words. 11 For this is what Amos says: Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be exiled from its land.” 12 To Amos, Amaziah said: “Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah! There earn your bread by prophesying, 13 but never again prophesy in Bethel; for it is the king’s sanctuary and a royal temple.” 14 Amos answered Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company of prophets; I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores. 15 The Lord took me from following the flock, and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ 16 Now hear the word of the Lord!” You say: prophesy not against Israel, preach not against the house of Isaac. 17 Now thus says the Lord: Your wife shall be made a harlot in the city, and your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword; your land shall be divided by measuring line, and you yourself shall die in an unclean land; Israel shall be exiled far from its land.
 
P S A L M
 
Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11
R: The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
7 [8] The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul; the decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. (R) 8 [9] The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the command of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eye. (R) 9 [10] The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true, all of them just. (R) 10 [11] They are more precious than gold, than a heap of purest gold; sweeter also than syrup or honey from the comb. (R)
 
GOSPEL
 
Jesus is not interested in drawing attention to Himself, but He is also incapable of ignoring someone who needs help. The greatest power Jesus exercises in His ministry is when He forgives the sins of people. We tend to focus on the miracle of healing that can be seen rather than the one that we don’t see. This is a natural reaction but one we have to balance with the choice to go deeper. We need to focus on the conversion of our hearts to God and all that it involves.
 
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
 
Matthew 9:1-8
1 After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. 2 And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” 3 At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts? 5 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” 7 He rose and went home. 8 When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.
LIST
think: The greatest power Jesus exercises in His ministry is when He forgives the sins of people.
 
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
 
_______________________________________________________
 
God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________
 
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 2 Chronicles 10-12
 

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SABBATH

 

Challenge Your Limits
 
As a young boy I have always been in awe of the prophets of the Scriptures. I marvel at their wisdom, courage and perseverance. They seemed surreal, almost superhuman. As an adult reading about their vocation stories, I begin to see that they are as human as the man on the street. This makes me admire them all the more — what with the physical, psychological, social and even spiritual adversities they have to overcome in order to fulfill their vocation to prophesy.
Today in the First Reading, we hear of the vocation story of Amos. Amos was a Judean herdsman whom God called to preach against the evil of the north country of Israel. He was known to be one of the most passionate prophets of the Old Testament.
Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, told Amos, “Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there.” Surprised, Amos protested, “I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees.” God, through the priest Amaziah, was calling Amos to something beyond his comfort zone. Amos felt uneasy and reasoned that he cannot do anything but be a dresser of sycamore trees. But God saw great potential in Amos. Amos submitted himself and he came to be known as one of the most passionate prophets of the Old Testament.
I remember reading this wise advice: “Do not limit your challenges; challenge your limits.” Amos felt limited by the challenge to be a prophet. “I am not a prophet. I am just a dresser of sycamore trees.” God wanted Amos to challenge his limitations and free himself from the chains of his self-inflicted weakness. Amos trusted God. And the rest as we know is history. Fr. Joel Jason
 
REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are you most often limited by challenges that come your way? Or do you challenge your limits?
 
Lord Jesus, You are the potter, I am the clay. Mold me, shape me, break me. Bring me beyond the limits to the fullness of my potentials. Amen.
 

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