Catholic Daily Mass Reading + Reflection, 5th July 2023
FIRST READING
“The son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.”
A reading from the Book of Genesis (Genesis 21:5.8-20)
Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And the child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.” And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son. But God said to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the lad and because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your descendants be named. And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. When the water in the skin was gone, she cast the child under one of the bushes. Then she went, and sat down over against him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot; for she said, “Let me not look upon the death of the child.” And as she sat over against him, the child lifted up his voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not; for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him fast with your hand; for I will make him a great nation.” Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. And God was with the lad, and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness, and became an expert with the bow.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm34:7-8.10-11.12.13 (R. see 7a)
R/. The lowly one called, and the Lord heard him.
This lowly one called; the Lord heard,
and rescued him from all his distress.
The angel of the Lord is encamped
around those who fear him, to rescue them. R/.
Fear the Lord, you his holy ones.
They lack nothing, those who fear him.
The rich suffer want and go hungry,
But those who seek the Lord lack no blessing. R/.
R/. The lowly one called, and the Lord heard him.
Come, children, and hear me,
That I may teach you the fear of the Lord.
Who is it that desires life
And longs to see prosperous days? R/.
ALLELUIA James 1:8
Alleluia. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
You have come here before the appointed time to torment the demons.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 8:28-34)
At that time: When Jesus came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” Now a, herd of many swine was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged him, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine.” And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the swine; and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and perished in the waters. The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, and what had happened to the demoniacs. And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighbourhood.
The Gospel of the Lord.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
Even demons recognized Jesus as the Son of God and acknowledged his authority over them. They were eventually sent into the swine. Surprisingly, the villagers were not happy; they considered their material possessions more important than the life of their fellowmen and hence begged Jesus to leave. It is a tragedy when we pride our financial or material stability over our spiritual liberation. We must at no point value financial, bodily or emotional comfort over and above a closer relationship with God, who cares for all. We must seize every given opportunity that we receive to let Jesus into our lives, no matter what it takes. Let us not give up in the midst of tribulations. Let us value human life more than material possessions.
TODAY’S SAINT AND QUOTE: St Anthony Mary Zaccaria – July 5th
That which God commands seems difficult and a burden. The way is rough; you draw back; you have no desire to follow it. Yet do so and you will attain glory.
NINE DAY MID-YEAR PRAYERS FOR DIVINE STRENGTH
“Psalm 28:7-8” 1st July – 9th July 2023
DAY 5: PRAYER AGAINST SICKNESS AND EXTREME POVERTY
Dear God, we place our worries in your hands. We place our sick under your care and humbly ask that you restore your servant to health again. Above all, grant us the grace to acknowledge your will and know that whatever you do, you do for the love of us. Amen.
Teach us O God to see with your own eyes and hear the cries of the less privileged around us and come to their aid. Lord we pray for our respective lawmakers that they may enact laws and policies that will alleviate poverty and hunger in our land.
OPENING
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Invocation of the Holy Spirit
Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray:
O God, who taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the gift of the same Spirit we may be always truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation, Through Christ Lord. Amen.
HEAVENLY FATHER, giver of life and health: Comfort and relieve the sick, all users of this platform, and give your power of healing to all those who minister to their needs, that they may be strengthened in their weakness and have confidence in your loving care; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Father, we pray and declare free in the name of Jesus, every user of this Missal Application under captivity by poverty (Jn. 8:36) Poverty is a reproach, therefore I say no to poverty in their lives in the remainder of this year 2023 and beyond in Jesus name. (Ps110:1-2)
We come against all the killer diseases of Cancer, High BP, Diabetes, hepatitis and other diseases in the mighty name of Jesus name.
PRAYER POINT
1. Father in the name of Jesus I command every spirit of poverty out of my life (Phil 2:10)
2. Father, Let there be healings for everyone afflicted by any form of diseases in Jesus’ name. Acts 3:3
3. Father; Let the blood of Jesus cleanse us from all sins and diseases.
4. We declare health, comfort and strength to every sick person in the hospitals and hones in Jesus’ name!
5. Let every plague cease in every community, home and nation in Jesus’ name Pray that you shall not be barren. Exo 23:26. Ask that God to show all your mockers proof.
6. Arise for me, O Lord, stretch out your hand and deliver us from horrible pits and fatal quicksand of life. Ps. 40.2
REFLECTION:
Father, bless me with riches and wealth to the Shame of my enemies this year. Gen 1: 28
Father, I receive grace afresh to walk in holiness; the way of sound health. Exo 15:26
PRAYER OF CONFIRMATION AND TRUST IN GOD
God, I feel unsure of everyone else in my life, but I know I can trust you. I pray that you’ll help me to grow in that trust, knowing that you have the best for me, even if I am afraid no one else does.
I thank you for the powerful name of Jesus to which every knee shall bow. Thank you for giving me your authority over all the power of the enemy. Nothing shall harm me.
Lord, God Almighty, I thank you for protecting me from every form of evil and bringing me the gift of your divine health. I thank you for breaking the chains of oppression and delivering me from every form of sin, sickness, disease and lie of the enemy.
Thank you for your full armor, your name, your most precious Blood and your Holy Spirit. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. Thank you heavenly father for all your protection and provisions, for yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, now and forevermore. Amen.