flowers from our grounds in my room

 

aug 9 2006

Jer 31:1-7 At that time, says the LORD,I will be the God of all the tribes of Israel,and they shall be my people. Thus says the LORD: The people that escaped the sword have found favor in the desert. As Israel comes forward to be given his rest,the LORD appears to him from afar: With age-old love I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you. Again I will restore you, and you shall be rebuilt,O virgin Israel;Carrying your festive tambourines, you shall go forth dancing with the merrymakers. Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; those who plant them shall enjoy the fruits.Yes, a day will come when the watchmen will call out on Mount Ephraim:“Rise up, let us go to Zion,to the LORD, our God.”For thus says the LORD:Shout with joy for Jacob,exult at the head of the nations;proclaim your praise and say:The LORD has delivered his people,the remnant of Israel.

Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12ab, 13
R.The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,proclaim it on distant isles, and say:He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together,he guards them as a shepherd his flock.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
The LORD shall ransom Jacob,he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror.Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion,they shall come streaming to the LORD’s blessings.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Then the virgins shall make merry and dance,and young men and old as well.I will turn their mourning into joy.I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

Reading II
2 Pt 1:16-19
Beloved:
We did not follow cleverly devised myths
when we made known to you
the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.
For he received honor and glory from God the Father
when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory,
“This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven
while we were with him on the holy mountain.
Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable.
You will do well to be attentive to it,
as to a lamp shining in a dark place,
until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Mt 15: 21-28 At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,“Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him,“Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply,“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply,“It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply,“O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.

The woman from Tyre was persistent in asking Jesus to heal her child. Asking once and more was not enough, she continued and was not stopped by the disciples, not stopped by a silent response by Jesus, not stopped by a discouraging response by Jesus that she was not the one that he had come to help. She continued knowing that Jesus could heal her child and then was rewarded for her faith. Perserverance in the face of adversity is a part of faith. Belief that Jesus will heal in spite of discouraging messages and responses.

The first reading speaks of God's love for the lost remnant of Israel. There is a reminder of the covenant relationship of God and the people of Israel.

This morning I pray especially for perservance in faith and continued trust in the protection and guidance of Jesus.