Wednesday 5 July
Wednesday of week 13 in Ordinary Time Saint Antony Mary Zaccaria, Priest First reading - Genesis 21:5,8-20 “This greatly distressed Abraham because of his son, but God said to him, ‘Do not distress yourself on account of the boy and your slave-girl”. Abraham was put in a very difficult situation of choice. He couldn’t find a solution. But God gives him a solution. A solution which God accompanies in both cases. There are different situations in our life we find ourselves distressed because of difficult choices. Listen to God and He will give you a solution. The relation with God is vital in these situations. That relationship guides you to go these stressful situations. Instead of getting angry or depressed or annoyed, listen to God in our distressed moments to get guidance and everything will be fine. Let’s reflect: Am I listening to my relationship to God in my stressful situations or getting distressed?
Tuesday 4 July
Tuesday of week 13 in Ordinary Time Saint Elizabeth of Portugal First reading - Genesis 19:15-29 The Lord saves the Lot and his family. He gives the time to run from the disaster. Lot listens and runs. The point is to listen to the warning of the Lord and follow it. The Lord sent His angels to lead him outside the town to a safe place. It’s important to recognize the angels the Lord sends in our life and to follow them. Let’s reflect: Am I able to recognize angels in my life?
Monday 3 July
Saint Thomas, Apostle - Feast First reading - Ephesians 2:19-22 “You are no longer aliens or foreign visitors: you are citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household”. This is our identity. This is the identity of all those around me. We are part of the God’s household. We are members of the family of God. Not only us, all those around me. Family of God which as its foundation, apostles, and prophets and of which Jesus Christ is the cornerstone. I cannot look those around me as strangers. We must feel at home. This feeling at home is the cause of our daily joy. And this citizenship is for growing more and more in one holy temple in the Lord. Our vocation is to grow in unity to become one holy temple of the Lord. Let’s reflect: Am I happy of my citizenship in the God’s household?
Sunday 2 July
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time First reading - 2 Kings 4:8-11,13-16 The hospitality of this woman ends us with a blessing from God. She insisted the prophet to stay and eat at her place. Then she recognized the holiness in the prophet. But it does not stop there. Then she takes the initiative to build a small room and resting place for the prophet. All these without expecting anything from the prophet. And the servant of Elisha recognizes what is missing for her and proposes to the prophet. That blessing is granted to them. In this reading we can see how much we can be generous towards others and how much God will take of us when we are generous without expecting anything. Let’s reflect: Am I growing in generosity?