July 10 2006
Hos 2:16, 17c-18, 21-22 Thus says the LORD: I will allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak to her heart. She shall respond there as in the days of her youth,when she came up from the land of Egypt. On that day, says the LORD, She shall call me “My husband,”and never again “My baal.” I will espouse you to me forever:I will espouse you in right and in justice,in love and in mercy; I will espouse you in fidelity,and you shall know the LORD.
Ps 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9R. (8a) The Lord is gracious and merciful.
Every day will I bless you,and I will praise your name forever and ever.Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;his greatness is unsearchable.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
Generation after generation praises your works and proclaims your might. They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty and tell of your wondrous works.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds and declare your greatness.They publish the fame of your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your justice.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,slow to anger and of great kindness.The LORD is good to all and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
2 Cor 12:7-10
Brothers and sisters:That I, Paul, might not become too elated, because of the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me,but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses,in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults,hardships, persecutions, and constraints,
for the sake of Christ;for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Mt 9:18-26 While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said,“My daughter has just died.But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” Jesus turned around and saw her, and said,“Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured. When Jesus arrived at the official’s houseand saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion,he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they ridiculed him.When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand,and the little girl arose. And news of this spread throughout all that land.
These readings are repeated from recent readings. In lectio, it gives more to savor to repeat a reading. Often layers unfold with the same reading read once, twice, three times in one sitting.
Jesus the healer and divine was ridiculed by the crowd on his way to heal the girl that they thought was dead. Faith can mean to walk with a heart led by God through crowds that are derisive and at times worse than that. The love of God and others gives strength to walk through the trials and hardships.
Paul talks about embracing sufferings for the faith because this low of perserving through the trials is at the same time a lifting up to God. A revelation of faith to be strong in our weakness. It is the Christian life and a mystery that a persecuted people could grow under the situations that would eliminate or disperse others. It is one of the joys of the faith that God is constantly fills any thirst or hunger for those who truly love God.
In the desert, the time of deprivation and heat and toil, God speaks to us. God has chosen us as God's beloved. The love of our people and our lives that is everlasting and all giving. Sometimes, a journey into the desert brings us back into communion with our love of God. A people created to love of free will. All of life is a giving and receiving of love with God and the God that is greeted in others.
Ps 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9R. (8a) The Lord is gracious and merciful.
Every day will I bless you,and I will praise your name forever and ever.Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;his greatness is unsearchable.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
Generation after generation praises your works and proclaims your might. They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty and tell of your wondrous works.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds and declare your greatness.They publish the fame of your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your justice.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,slow to anger and of great kindness.The LORD is good to all and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
2 Cor 12:7-10
Brothers and sisters:That I, Paul, might not become too elated, because of the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me,but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses,in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults,hardships, persecutions, and constraints,
for the sake of Christ;for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Mt 9:18-26 While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said,“My daughter has just died.But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” Jesus turned around and saw her, and said,“Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured. When Jesus arrived at the official’s houseand saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion,he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they ridiculed him.When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand,and the little girl arose. And news of this spread throughout all that land.
These readings are repeated from recent readings. In lectio, it gives more to savor to repeat a reading. Often layers unfold with the same reading read once, twice, three times in one sitting.
Jesus the healer and divine was ridiculed by the crowd on his way to heal the girl that they thought was dead. Faith can mean to walk with a heart led by God through crowds that are derisive and at times worse than that. The love of God and others gives strength to walk through the trials and hardships.
Paul talks about embracing sufferings for the faith because this low of perserving through the trials is at the same time a lifting up to God. A revelation of faith to be strong in our weakness. It is the Christian life and a mystery that a persecuted people could grow under the situations that would eliminate or disperse others. It is one of the joys of the faith that God is constantly fills any thirst or hunger for those who truly love God.
In the desert, the time of deprivation and heat and toil, God speaks to us. God has chosen us as God's beloved. The love of our people and our lives that is everlasting and all giving. Sometimes, a journey into the desert brings us back into communion with our love of God. A people created to love of free will. All of life is a giving and receiving of love with God and the God that is greeted in others.
posted by Joan Morris at 8:00 PM
