The Word Among Us: A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Wednesday, 1 July 2015

The Word Among Us: A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Wednesday, 1 July 2015

Meditation: Matthew 8:28 When Yeshua arrived at the other side of the lake, in the Gadarenes’ territory, there came out of the burial caves two men controlled by demons, so violent that no one dared travel on that road. 29 They screamed, “What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” 30 Now some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged him, “If you are going to drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” 32 “All right, go!” he told them. So they came out and went into the pigs, whereupon the entire herd rushed down the hillside into the lake and drowned. 33 The swineherds fled, went off to the town and told the whole story, including what had happened to the demonized men. 34 At this, the whole town came out to meet Yeshua. When they saw him, they begged him to leave their district.
Blessed Junípero Serra, Priest (Optional Memorial)
They begged him to leave their district. (Matthew 8:34)
When a brutal conflict ends, people dance in the streets, celebrate with parades, and initiate other spontaneous demonstrations of joy and relief. So why weren’t the Gadarenes dancing for joy and begging Jesus to stay to work more miracles for them? After all, he had freed them from the men terrorizing the area. He had delivered those men from the grip of demons. But it was what happened to the pigs that scared them. This was just too strange for them, so the people begged Jesus to leave.
Ask yourself, “What if I ask Jesus to heal some area in my life, but he asks me to abandon a sinful habit first?” Or “What if something strange happens at a healing Mass when Father anoints me with oil? What does God’s power feel like, anyway? What if I pass out?”
It’s possible that something unexpected will happen when Jesus shows up. Remember, his power is out of our control. The same power that casts out demons may move us out of our comfort zones at times, but there is one thing we can all rely on: God is on our side! He created each of us out of love, and he loves us always, without reservation.
The idea of God’s power can seem scary. But if you ever feel unsure about inviting him into an area in your life, remind yourself of what you already know about him. He ismerciful. He is unrelenting towards sin, but overflowing in kindness and grace. He detests wrongdoing, but he delights in you. Sit quietly with him today, and ask him to show you who he is and how he sees you. As you do, you’ll find joy and hope dispelling whatever fear you may have.
“Jesus, I want you to work in my life, but sometimes I’m afraid of what that will feel like. Let the reassurance of your love for me overflow so that I can trust in you.” Amen!Genesis 21:(v) 5 Avraham was one hundred years old when his son Yitz’chak [laughter] was born to him.
8 The child grew and was weaned, and Avraham gave a great banquet on the day that Yitz’chak was weaned. 9 But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom Hagar had borne to Avraham, making fun of Yitz’chak; 10 so Sarah said to Avraham, “Throw this slave-girl out! And her son! I will not have this slave-girl’s son as your heir along with my son Yitz’chak!”
11 Avraham became very distressed over this matter of his son. 12 But God said to Avraham, “Don’t be distressed because of the boy and your slave-girl. Listen to everything Sarah says to you, because it is your descendants through Yitz’chak who will be counted. 13 But I will also make a nation from the son of the slave-girl, since he is descended from you.”
14 Avraham got up early in the morning, took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child; then he sent her away. After leaving, she wandered in the desert around Be’er-Sheva. 15 When the water in the skin was gone, she left the child under a bush, 16 and went and sat down, looking the other way, about a bow-shot’s distance from him; because she said, “I can’t bear to watch my child die.” So she sat there, looking the other way, crying out and weeping. 17 God heard the boy’s voice, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What’s wrong with you, Hagar? Don’t be afraid, because God has heard the voice of the boy in his present situation. 18 Get up, lift the boy up, and hold him tightly in your hand, because I am going to make him a great nation.” 19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. So she went, filled the skin with water and gave the boy water to drink.
20 God was with the boy, and he grew. He lived in the desert and became an archer.
Psalms 34:7 (6) This poor man cried; Adonai heard
and saved him from all his troubles.
8 (7) The angel of Adonai, who encamps
around those who fear him, delivers them.
Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
10 (9) Fear Adonai, you holy ones of his,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
11 (10) Young lions can be needy, they can go hungry,
but those who seek Adonai lack nothing good.
12 (11) Come, children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of Adonai.
13 (12) Which of you takes pleasure in living?
Who wants a long life to see good things?
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