Catholic Daily Reading + Reflection (Homily), 2 July 2021
Mass Readings, Reflection – Homily for Friday July 2, 2021
Weekday (13)
Vestment: Green
Today’s Rosary: The Sorrowful Mystery
Nine Day Mid-Year Prayers for Divine Healing and Restoration (Thursday 1st July – Friday 9th July)
DAY 2: GODS FORGIVENESS THROUGH GOD’S MERCY
God’s forgiveness and grace is bigger than any sin you might have committed, You cannot change the past, but you can change your actions and thoughts as you move forward, to conform with God’s.
FIRST READING
Isaac loved Rebekah and was comforted after his mother’s death
A reading from the Book of Genesis (Genesis 23:1-4.19; 24:1-8.62-67)
Sarah lived a hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan; and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. And Abraham rose up from before his dead, and said to the Hittites, “I am a stranger and a sojourner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah east of Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his house, who had charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” The servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land; must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there. The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘To your descendants I will give this land, ’he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there.” When the servant returned with Rebekah, Isaac was dwelling in the Negeb. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening; and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, there were camels coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she alighted from the camel, and said to the servant, “Who is the man yonder, walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took her veil and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. Then Isaac brought her into the tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm106:1b-2.3-4ab.4c-5 (R.1b)
R/. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Or: Alleluia.
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his mercy endures forever.
Who can tell the Lord’s mighty deeds,
Or recount in full his praise? R.
Blessed are they who observe what is just,
who at all times do what is right.
O Lord, remember me
With the favour you show to your people. R.
R/. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Or: Alleluia.
Visit me with your saving power,
That I may see the riches of your chosen ones,
and may rejoice in the gladness of your nation,
boasting in the glory of your heritage. R.
ALLELUIA Matthew 11:28
Alleluia. Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, says the Lord. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 9:9-13)
At that time: As Jesus passed on, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as he sat at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
Mathew, like Zacchaeus, was a wealthy tax collector but for the rest of the Jews he belonged to a class of traitors and cheaters. Perhaps it was for this reason that he did not have to think twice when Jesus called him. The call, “Follow me,” ignited in him a thirst for joy, peace and hope which he had hitherto lacked. He leaves everything and follows the one who offered him the beauty of a dignified life. His experience of joy and peace produces a ripple effect, making many other tax collectors to join him in following Jesus and celebrating the experience of discipleship. Jesus, the divine physician, found Matthew and offered him the medicine for his soul that brought him true happiness. Jesus heals us too, and brings us joy, peace and hope, no matter what our illness is.
NINE DAY MID-YEAR PRAYERS FOR DIVINE HEALING AND RESTORATION “1 Peter 2:24”
DAY 2: GODS FORGIVENESS THROUGH GOD’S MERCY
God’s forgiveness and grace is bigger than any sin you might have committed, You cannot change the past, but you can change your actions and thoughts as you move forward, to conform with God’s.
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.
Prayer Points:
1. Thank God for his mercies, kindness and love: Father! As I repent and forsake my sins, set me free from every area the devil has been accusing me before you in Jesus name.
2. As you grant that adulterous woman amnesty from those accusing her, liberate my destiny from Christ the brutal judgments of hell in Jesus name.
3. Oh Lord my God! By your mercies, cancel every claim of my accusers and cause them to slip away one by one until there is none left in Jesus name.
4. Father! Please, grant me comprehensive freedom from the conspiracies of Hell-bent individuals in Jesus name. By the mercies of God, no more condemnation against me, against your Church and my Nation in Jesus name.
5. In the Mighty name of Jesus Christ, I refuse to return to the valley of my old life of sin by the mercies of God.
Reflection:
Total remission from sins that held us bound is the exclusive of God’s mercy. His mercy is capable of granting us release from the punishment of our wrong actions or inactions.
Lamentation 3:22-23, John 8:1-11, Ps. 130:1-8, rom. 4:4, Ps. 32:2.
Closing:
Prayer of Confirmation and trust in God
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.
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.
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.