LIVING ON MIRACLES

"And you, lift up your staff and, with hand outstretched over the sea, split the sea in two, that the Israelites may pass through it on dry land." Exodus 14:16 The Israelites, who had seen the Lord miraculously plague the Egyptians with frogs, gnats, flies, pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and the death of the firstborn, did not truly believe in these miracles. If they had, they would have believed that the Lord would do one more miracle and free them from the pursuing Egyptian army at the Red Sea. Instead, they expected to be killed (Ex 14:11). The scribes and Pharisees were like the Israelites at the Red Sea, for they did not believe in Jesus' many miracles of healing and deliverance. They insisted on Jesus doing more signs, as if the miracles He had already worked were inadequate (Mt 12:38). We likewise need to believe in the miracles the Lord has already done. Our faith is based on the miracles of His Incarnation, sacrificial death, and Resurrection. Our life in Christ is based on the miracles the Lord has done in Baptism, the Eucharist, and the other sacraments. To live the Christian life, we must believe not only that the Lord can do miracles but especially that He has done miracles. Ask the Lord to strengthen your faith in His death and Resurrection. By His grace, strengthen your faith in being baptized into His death and Resurrection. Live on miracles. Prayer: Father, give me much greater faith in Your miracles from the past. Promise: "The Lord Himself will fight for you; you have only to keep still." Ex 14:14 Praise: St. Camillus fought the addiction of gambling and turned his life over to God.

July 18, 2011

Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1
Ex 14:5-18 When it was reported to the king of Egypt that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants changed their minds about them. They exclaimed, What have we done! Why, we have released Israel from our service! So Pharaoh made his chariots ready and mustered his soldiersB six hundred first-class chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt, with warriors on them all. So obstinate had the LORD made Pharaoh that he pursued the children of Israel even while they were marching away in triumph. The Egyptians, then, pursued them; Pharaohs whole army, his horses, chariots and charioteers, caught up with them as they lay encamped by the sea, at Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon. Pharaoh was already near when the children of Israel looked up and saw that the Egyptians were on the march in pursuit of them. In great fright they cried out to the LORD. And they complained to Moses, Were there no burial places in Egypt that you had to bring us out here to die in the desert? Why did you do this to us? Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Did we not tell you this in Egypt, when we said, Leave us alone. Let us serve the Egyptians? Far better for us to be the slaves of the Egyptians than to die in the desert. But Moses answered the people, Fear not! Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the LORD will win for you today. These Egyptians whom you see today you will never see again. The LORD himself will fight for you; you have only to keep still.

Then the LORD said to Moses, Why are you crying out to me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. And you, lift up your staff and, with hand outstretched over the sea, split the sea in two, that the children of Israel may pass through it on dry land. But I will make the Egyptians so obstinate that they will go in after them. Then I will receive glory through Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots and charioteers. The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I receive glory through Pharaoh and his chariots and charioteers.
Exodus 15:1bc-2, 3-4, 5-6

Responsorial Psalm
R. (1b) Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory. I will sing to the LORD, for he is gloriously triumphant; horse and chariot he has cast into the sea. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. He is my God, I praise him; the God of my father, I extol him. R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory. The LORD is a warrior, LORD is his name! Pharaohs chariots and army he hurled into the sea; the elite of his officers were submerged in the Red Sea. R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory. The flood waters covered them, they sank into the depths like a stone. Your right hand, O LORD, magnificent in power, your right hand, O LORD, has shattered the enemy. R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
Mt 12:38-42

Gospel
Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you. He said to them in reply, An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign,

but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here. At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.

Daily Word Of God

Monday, 18th July 2011 16th Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 12:38-42
Some of the scribes and Pharisees spoke up. Master, they said, we should like to see a sign from you. He replied, It is an evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign! The only sign it will be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah remained in the belly of the sea-monster for three days and three nights, so will the Son of man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. On Judgement Day the men of Nineveh will appear against this generation and they will be its condemnation, because when Jonah preached they repented; and look, there is something greater than Jonah here. On Judgement Day the Queen of the South will appear against this generation and be its condemnation, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and look, there is something greater than Solomon here.

TODAY'S POINTERS ON GOD'S WORD

As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention? The Ninevites recognized God's warning when Jonah spoke to them and they repented. The Pharisees refused to accept the miracles and signs that Jesus performed because they were prejudiced. They rejected Jesus and would not change . The same stern warning that Jesus gave to His generation applies to anyone who professes to accept Jesus as Saviour and Master but continue to be lukewarm and/or live a lifestyle that is centred on secular values instead of Gospel values . Pray for the grace to be attentive and receptive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and for the grace to live a life faithful to the teachings of Christ .

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Mon 18 th July 2011 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Greater than Jonah, greater than So lips of any ordinary human being, the

Ex. 14:5-18; (R. Ps.) Ex. 15:1-2.3-4,5-6; Mt. 12:38-42 (Ps Wk IV )

be mere boasting, perhaps true, perh lips of Jesus they are, for those who b reminder of Gods humility in becom being. God is incomparable and so c compared with mere human beings l

But God chose to become a human b so Jesus enters into a human world w show us a sign and its strugg of what is more than ordinary.

Jesus severely criticizes the scribes a ask for a sign. Yet Jesus Himself appe the Israelites in a way that raised ma those who encountered him: What k this? These questions were frequen miracles, but just as frequently raise

For those who were open to Jesus, hi teaching were signs enough to lead t threshold of faith. The scribes and Ph demanded proof, whereas Gods trut acceptance.

Lord Jesus, enlighten our hearts Scriptures with deeper faith, so discover in Your miracles and Yo deepest consolation of Your hea