Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time: June 26 - July 2, 2005
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Authors
Alexander, Andy, S.J.
Issue Date
2005-06-26
Volume
Issue
Type
Language
en_US
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Abstract
The Thirteenth Week of|Ordinary Time Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.|The readings of the Thirteenth Sunday encourage us to welcome those who carry the word of God and urge us to live out that message in our everyday lives. Jesus asks us to live the challenge of the gospel first and to put everything else in our lives after that. Faithfully following the Gospel might mean sacrificing our lives for something as small as giving "only a cup of cold water" to a child.|During the week, we continue our narrative from Genesis with stories of Abraham's relationship with the Lord, from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah to his willingness to sacrifice his own son. His wife, Sarah dies, and Abraham prepares for then end of his own life by searching for a wife for his son, Issac. The Genesis readings close the week with the story of Issac's wife, Rebekah, deceiving her now-elderly and blind husband into giving his blessing and birthright to her favored son, Jacob.|The Psalms this week offers praise to God for his mercy and faithfulness to us.|The Gospel of Matthew follows Jesus on his journeys, constantly teaching his disciples about faithfulness. He heals the sick, calms a violent storm at sea and forgives sins. At the end of the week, he does something extraordinary - he invites the reviled tax collector, Matthew, to be one of his followers. Then he indicates that the old ways of relating to God are gone - that he is the new way, the new wineskin.|On Wednesday we celebrate the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, apostles, who were the founders of the Church in Rome.|The Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time brings us the warm and pastoral image of Jesus inviting us to put down our burdens and rest in him.
Daily Prayer This Week|The gospels offer us encouragement this week because they are so filled with imperfect people struggling to live out their lives. We celebrate the life of Peter, the hot-tempered and fear-filled follower who was called to lead the Church, and Paul, who persecuted the earliest Christians, and then did the most to spread the Good News among the Gentiles. Matthew the tax collector is invited to follow Jesus - and he does so without hesitation.|The invitation to us this week comes from the heart of Jesus to ours: "Follow me." How do we open our hearts more fully to that invitation? In our daily prayer we can name the desire we are looking for and ask Jesus for help.|Each morning as we open our eyes to face the day ahead, we can simply ask Jesus for the courage to follow him.|Lord, give me the strength today to accept your invitation to follow you. Living that invitation each moment will take patience and courage and I ask you for it because I can't supply it for myself. And, Jesus, when I fail and snap at my family or forget to be compassionate with my spouse, grant me the humility to apologize for that. Let me remember how much you love me and let me share that with everyone who comes into my life today.|In the smallest moments in the background of our day we can remember that desire and offer it to God. As we walk down the street or cook dinner or run an errand we can speak to our Lord as we would to a friend. It doesn't take time, only focus.|Some days it seems like I am being tossed on a boat in the darkness, Jesus. Part of me wants to be saved but another part wants to run from you. I'm not always proud of how I lead my life and sometimes I am afraid to be alone with you. Guide me through this darkness, please.|At the end of the day, we can take a few moments as we get ready for bed:| Thank you, dearest Lord, for your presence in my life today. I felt you with me in some of the more difficult moments. Thank you for being there.
Daily Prayer This Week|The gospels offer us encouragement this week because they are so filled with imperfect people struggling to live out their lives. We celebrate the life of Peter, the hot-tempered and fear-filled follower who was called to lead the Church, and Paul, who persecuted the earliest Christians, and then did the most to spread the Good News among the Gentiles. Matthew the tax collector is invited to follow Jesus - and he does so without hesitation.|The invitation to us this week comes from the heart of Jesus to ours: "Follow me." How do we open our hearts more fully to that invitation? In our daily prayer we can name the desire we are looking for and ask Jesus for help.|Each morning as we open our eyes to face the day ahead, we can simply ask Jesus for the courage to follow him.|Lord, give me the strength today to accept your invitation to follow you. Living that invitation each moment will take patience and courage and I ask you for it because I can't supply it for myself. And, Jesus, when I fail and snap at my family or forget to be compassionate with my spouse, grant me the humility to apologize for that. Let me remember how much you love me and let me share that with everyone who comes into my life today.|In the smallest moments in the background of our day we can remember that desire and offer it to God. As we walk down the street or cook dinner or run an errand we can speak to our Lord as we would to a friend. It doesn't take time, only focus.|Some days it seems like I am being tossed on a boat in the darkness, Jesus. Part of me wants to be saved but another part wants to run from you. I'm not always proud of how I lead my life and sometimes I am afraid to be alone with you. Guide me through this darkness, please.|At the end of the day, we can take a few moments as we get ready for bed:| Thank you, dearest Lord, for your presence in my life today. I felt you with me in some of the more difficult moments. Thank you for being there.
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Publisher
University Ministry, Creighton University.
License
These prayer guides may not be sold or used commercially without permission. Personal or parish use is permitted.