Frederick, Maryland, United States - Daily Mass Reading & Catholic Meditation “The Word among Us” for Friday, 1 August 2014

Frederick, Maryland, United States - Daily Mass Reading & Catholic Meditation “The Word among Us” for Friday, 1 August 2014
Meditations: Matthew 13:53-57 When Jesus finished telling these stories, he left there, returned to his hometown, and gave a lecture in the meetinghouse. He made a real hit, impressing everyone. “We had no idea he was this good!” they said. “How did he get so wise, get such ability?” But in the next breath they were cutting him down: “We’ve known him since he was a kid; he’s the carpenter’s son. We know his mother, Mary. We know his brothers James and Joseph, Simon and Judas. All his sisters live here. Who does he think he is?” They got their noses all out of joint.
58 But Jesus said, “A prophet is taken for granted in his hometown and his family.” He didn’t do many miracles there because of their hostile indifference.
Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Where did this man get such wisdom? (Matthew 13:54)
How often does a word you hear or read, a verse from Scripture, or a line from a hymn stir something in your heart? You understand some aspect of who God is, either for the first time or in a whole new light. And with that understanding, you feel a new touch of God’s love or a gentle conviction of sin or a new motivation to serve. You sense a particular direction for your life or a confirmation that you are on the right path.
But then the wonder of all you have received is dulled by that awful word—but. Ordinary objections, human fear, or practical considerations arise and dominate your mind. The comfort, joy, or sense of purpose that you were enjoying gives way, and you are left wondering if anything really happened at all.
This is how the crowd in Jesus’ hometown reacted. Their initial admiration for Jesus, based on his teaching and his reputation as a miracle worker, turned to disbelief when he came back to pay them a visit. Everything they had heard sounded so good, but when they saw him, he looked like the same old carpenter’s son they had always known. As a result, Jesus couldn’t work many mighty deeds there.
The Nazarenes’ lack of faith didn’t totally overpower Jesus; it just hindered them from receiving everything he wanted to give them. Lack of faith doesn’t render Jesus powerless; it renders us unreceptive.
God loves you. He really does. He wants to work in your life. If any thought or emotion rises up that argues otherwise, turn a deaf ear to it! Resist the urge to demand easy explanations or to rely solely on human logic. Instead, tell yourself, “God wants to guide and direct me. He wants to heal and forgive me. He wants me to know him personally.” Believe that God wants to surprise you with his kindness and compassion, and you’ll feel wonder rising up in your heart. And when you do, pause and embrace it.
“Jesus, help me feel your loving touch today.” Amen!
Jeremiah 26: Change the Way You’re Living
1 At the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this Message came from God to Jeremiah:
2-3 “God’s Message: Stand in the court of God’s Temple and preach to the people who come from all over Judah to worship in God’s Temple. Say everything I tell you to say to them. Don’t hold anything back. Just maybe they’ll listen and turn back from their bad lives. Then I’ll reconsider the disaster that I’m planning to bring on them because of their evil behavior.

4-6 “Say to them, ‘This is God’s Message: If you refuse to listen to me and live by my teaching that I’ve revealed so plainly to you, and if you continue to refuse to listen to my servants the prophets that I tirelessly keep on sending to you—but you’ve never listened! Why would you start now?—then I’ll make this Temple a pile of ruins like Shiloh, and I’ll make this city nothing but a bad joke worldwide.’”
7-9 Everybody there—priests, prophets, and people—heard Jeremiah preaching this Message in the Temple of God. When Jeremiah had finished his sermon, saying everything God had commanded him to say, the priests and prophets and people all grabbed him, yelling, “Death! You’re going to die for this! How dare you preach—and using God’s name!—saying that this Temple will become a heap of rubble like Shiloh and this city be wiped out without a soul left in it!”
All the people mobbed Jeremiah right in the Temple itself.
Psalm 69:5 God, you know every sin I’ve committed;
My life’s a wide-open book before you.
8 My brothers shun me like a bum off the street;
My family treats me like an unwanted guest.
9 I love you more than I can say.
Because I’m madly in love with you,
They blame me for everything they dislike about you.
10 When I poured myself out in prayer and fasting,
All it got me was more contempt.
14 But I will pray to you, LORD,
at a favorable time.
God, in your abundant kindness, answer me
with your sure deliverance.
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