GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings) DATE: 6TH JULY 2017

GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)

DATE: 6TH JULY 2017

THURSDAY OF THE THIRTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

(MEMORIAL OF SAINT MARIA GORETTI, VIRGIN AND MARTYR)

FIRST READING: Genesis 22:1-19

PSALM: Psalm 115:1-6, 8-9

GOSPEL: Matthew 9:1-8

THEME: ON THE MOUNTAIN THE LORD WILL PROVIDE

God is a provider. He is able to meet every kind of human need. There are two levels of the provision of God – the general and the specific. The general provision of God is given to all, irrespective of whether a person has faith or not (e.g. air, water, sunshine etc). There is, however, a specific provision of God. This kind of provision is given on the ‘mountain’ which the Lord designates. It is a customized kind of provision, well-tailored for a particular person at a particular place and a particular time.

In our First Reading, Abraham is put to the test. God said to him, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you” (Gen 22:2). Abraham set off in obedience. The impact of the test is felt when, upon nearing the designated mountain of sacrifice, Isaac said to his father: “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” (Gen 22:7). It must have been a heartbreaking question for Abraham. However, he revealed the level of his faith in God when he answered: “God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son” (Gen 22:8.). The faith of Abraham moved the Lord to bless him graciously.

Many people do not experience the specific provision of God in their lives because they have not identified the mountain of provision or they are reluctant to climb that mountain. To climb the “designated mountain” is a call to obedient-faith. It is in doing what the Lord tells you to do that specific provisions would come your way. This is the kind of provision that the psalmist speaks of when he says: “Then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them’” (Ps. 126:2).

Are you faced with a ‘mountain’? Do not be scared of it. Climb it and discover that the God of the valley is also the God of the mountain.

PRAYER: Eternal Father, teach me to see the blessing in every trial that comes my way and when my faith is tested, help me to pass with distinction. For the sake of Christ I pray. Amen.

Andrews Obeng, svd

DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES

BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)

“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).

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