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The BreadCast


Daily Exposition of the Readings for Catholic Mass...

as well as Prayers to the Saints on the General Roman Calendar (for the U.S.).  

From the books Our Daily Bread and Prayers to the Saints by James H. Kurt - both with imprimatur.

Jul 9, 2023

(Gn.28:10-22;   Ps.91:1-4,14-15;   Mt.9:18-26)

 

“Know that I am with you;

I will protect you wherever you go.”

 

What the Lord says here to Jacob, He says indeed to all of us:  He will protect us on our journey; let us but take refuge in Him.  Our dearest Jesus is the abode of God, and in Him our souls are safe.

As Jacob sets forth alone from the land of Canaan, he fears that he shall not return to this place of His promised inheritance.  But the Lord comes to him in a dream to stand “beside him” and assure him that the promise is firm: “I will never leave you until I have done what I promised you.”  With these words of encouragement and the vision of heaven’s ladder still in his mind, Jacob cries out in “solemn wonder” of that place in which the Lord revealed Himself to His servant.  He sets up a memorial stone, thereby to mark “God’s abode.”

Our psalm today sings of the Lord’s protection upon those who trust in Him.  He answers our call in distress, rescues us from “the snare of the fowler,” and gives us refuge.  Thus we “dwell in the shelter of the Most High,” abiding in His shadow, covered by His wings of blessed protection.  “Because he clings to me, I will deliver him,” says our psalmist in the voice of the Lord; and indeed we know that trusting in Him is our salvation.

And in our gospel we discover where such refuge lies; we find Him who is the true house of God, and we are shown the faith which is necessary to make our home there.  What Jesus says to the woman, He says to His whole Church: “Courage, daughter!  Your faith has restored you to health.”  Her great faith told her she needed but to “touch his cloak,” but to press up against the walls of the temple that is Christ to find healing.  And the synagogue leader states simply and clearly his faith in the Lord: “My daughter has just died.  Please come and lay your hand on her and she will come back to life.”  Yes, indeed the protection of the Lord, the refuge and strength He is to us in our faith, reaches beyond the grave.

Our own journeys can be arduous, brothers and sisters.  At times it can seem as if the Lord is leaving us, as if He is far away.  Faith.  Faith, brothers and sisters, will see us through all difficulties, even death.  We are destined to rise with Him on the last day; we are blessed here now along the way.  Jesus is the ladder which leads to heaven; He Himself is the House of God.  With faith in Him and in His protection, let us climb with the angels to His abode.

Today in our hearts let us set up for Him a memorial stone, that we might remember His sacred presence.  For now we do more than touch the tassel of His cloak; He enters us and we enter Him whole.

 

*******

O LORD, we shall be raised up,

if we but trust in you.

YHWH, you are our refuge; help us to trust entirely in you.  If we have but faith, we shall be saved from all disease and even death.  We shall dwell with you forever.  For you bless those who trust in you, who seek to do your holy will.

To Heaven let us come, dear LORD; send us your Son to carry us there.  He is the ladder upon which we climb, aided by your angels.  How shall we fly unto you if you do not reach down to us?  If you do not call us, we cannot go forth.  Without your protection we shall surely die.  We have no hope but you.

You raise the daughter of the faithful man; you heal the hemorrhage of the poor woman.  Into the Promised Land you guide your chosen child, Israel.  You alone are awesome, O God.  You alone save us from distress.  Bring us into your House this day, for your House is a fortress where we take refuge and find our souls secure.