July 10, 2014
Thursday
14th Week in Ordinary Time 1st Reading:
Hos 11: 1-4, 8-9
Gospel: Mt 10:7–15
Jesus said to his disciples, “Go and proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, cleanse the lepers, and drive out demons. You received this as a gift, so give it as a gift. Do not carry any gold, silver or copper in your purses. Do not carry a traveler’s bag, or an extra shirt, or sandals, or walking stick: workers deserve their living. “When you come to a town or a village, look for a worthy person and stay there until you leave. “As you enter the house, wish it peace. If the people in the house deserve it, your peace will be on them; if they do not deserve it, your blessing will come back to you. “And if you are not welcomed and your words are not listened to, leave that house or that town and shake the dust off your feet. I assure you, it will go easier for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than it will for the people of that town.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the
Assimilated Life
Experience)
A story is told of a penitent who surprised a priest by confessing he had just killed 20 people. “Why did you kill them?” inquired the shocked priest. “Because they said they believed in God”, replied the killer. “Father, do you really believe that God exists?” asked the penitent. The priest stammered and said: “I used to but now, I have my doubts”. The moral is: Faith is not tested until it is challenged.
One loses nothing by believing in God when nothing is at stake. But when believing in God demands one’s life, the shock comes like lightning that brings forth from the ground very healthy and nutritious mushrooms. Gold is tested in fire. Faith similarly tested is the kind of faith that perpetuates God’s kingdom on earth.
In today’s Gospel the Lord said that the kingdom of heaven is near. Is it nearer in the Philippines because we are 90% Catholics? One Catholic is enough to make one feel the nearness of God’s kingdom. When faith is translated into action, sick people experience healing, those who have died unloved come back to life, evil spirits scram and the poor live better lives. These are manifestations of the presence of God’s kingdom.
The sick receive healing when we make this world less stressful. The “living dead” come back to life when we actively campaign against illegal drugs. “Lepers” get healing when the outcasts receive their dignity back. Demons scram when we fight against corruption by choosing God-fearing political leaders. Let those who have the faith take the challenge of making the kingdom within reach to everyone. – Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.frdan.org.
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