A Cup Of Water Given To The Prophet – Catholic Mass Reading, Sunday, 2nd July 2023 + Reflection
FIRST READING
“That is the holy man of God, let him remain there.”
A reading from the second Book of Kings (2Kings 4:8-11.14-16a)
One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God, who is continually passing our way. Let us make a small roof chamber with walls, and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.” One day he came there, and he turned into the chamber and rested there. And he said to Gehazi his servant, “What is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.” He said, “Call her.” And when he had called her, she stood in the door way. And he said, “At this season, when the time comes round, you shall embrace a son.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 89:2-3.16-17. 1 8- 19 (R .cf. 2a)
R/. I will sing forever of your mercies, O Lord.
I will sing forever of your mercies, O Lord;
through all ages my mouth will proclaim your fidelity.
I have declared your mercy is established forever;
your fidelity stands firm as the heavens. R/.
How blessed the people who know your praise,
who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,
who find their joy every day in your name,
who make your justice their joyful acclaim. R/.
R/. I will sing forever of your mercies, O Lord.
For you are the glory of their strength;
By your favour it is that our might is exalted.
Behold, the Lord is our shield;
He is the Holy One of Israel, our king. R/.
SECOND READING
“Having been buried with him by baptism, let us walk in newness of life.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans (Romans 6:3-4.8-11)
Brethren: All of us who have been baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death. We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. For we know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA 1 Peter2:9
Alleluia. You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation; declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
He who does not take his cross is not worthy of me. He who receives you, receives me.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 10:37-42)
At that time: Jesus said to his apostles, “He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me. He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward, and he who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
Celebrant:
Our Lord Jesus Christ invites us to follow him with unwavering devotion and to love him above all else. Let us ask him for the grace to be able to respond adequately to this call.
FOR THE CHURCH: that her members may respond faithfully to God’s summons to put aside the deeds of darkness and enter into his marvelous light. We pray O Lord.
FOR POLITICAL LEADERS: that the Gospel message may penetrate and enlighten their hearts and minds, so that they may work for the good of all. We pray O Lord.
FOR COUPLES EXPERIENCING CHILDLESSNESS: that their marriage will be blessed with god-fearing children who will fulfil God’s will and serve him all the days of their lives. We pray O Lord.
FOR OURSELVES: that we may respond to the call of Jesus to follow him by detaching ourselves from distractions that hinder us from answering this call wholeheartedly. We pray O Lord.
FOR OTHER INTENTIONS: (the sick, church projects or other activities).
For the dead, especially those of our parish community and family members: that they may find eternal rest with the Lord. We pray O Lord.
We pray in silence for our private intentions.
Celebrant:
Gracious God, your fidelity stands firm as the heavens. We humbly pray that you grant us the grace to become authentic disciples of Jesus Christ in our every word and deed. Through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
To be a disciple of Jesus, on should possess the attitude, character and purpose of Jesus. Jesus lived a life of total availability and became a compassionate and healing shoulder for the other to lean on; he lived and shared the love of the Father, becoming the food and drink of the other and sacrificing his life on the cross to redeem us. Jesus categorically stated that whoever wants to be his disciples should take up the cross and follow him. Any attachment to parents, siblings, property or anything else will disqualify us from becoming disciples of Jesus. The only attachment we should have in following Jesus is to Jesus himself. Today we speak of the need to have credible and faithful witnesses in the church, but hardly find any. The real reason is that we have become regrets in the presence of God (Cfr 1 Sam 15:11) as we live a life according to the standards of the world. When Jesus made us his disciples he anointed us with his power to baptize, cast out demons, heal the sick, and bring the gospel to the nations. However, like the Pharisees and others during the time of Jesus, we too clamour for a cross-less life and choose the values of the world, forgetting the fact that we are called to represent Jesus here on earth. Let us ask ourselves: what is our greatest love? Is it Jesus?
NINE DAY MID-YEAR PRAERS FOR DIVINE STRENGTH “Psalm 28:7-8” 1st July – 9th July 2023
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.
SELF-EXAMINATION
-Tell God about your pain—for you, not for Him, since He already knows more about what’s in your heart than you do.
-Ask God for what you need—and hold loosely to your expectations for how and when He’ll rescue you.
-Remember who God is to you—a fortress sheltering you from the storm.
-Declare your trust in God—make an intentional, faith-based decision.
-Praise God for His faithful love—do it to remind yourself of God’s character, and to uplift your soul.
Prayer Point:
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.
Lam. 3:22-23, John 8:1-11, Ps. 130:1-8, rom. 4:4, Ps. 32:2.
CLOSING:
Father, my Lord and my God, my Almighty redeemer and my strength, my soul is worn-out right now. I’m stuck in uncertainty and go round and round towards fear and panic. But, I remember who I serve: God, who hasn’t given me a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. God, who knows the end from the beginning, for whom none of this is a surprise. God, whose plans are for my hopeful future, and not for evil.
So now, in the middle of my uncertain circumstance, Lord—in the middle of my pain—I pray for Your strengthening love to help my unbelief. Help me be my own witness, Jesus, as I recall past times when You rescued me. When you protected and set me on the path to victory.
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.
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.