Jul 12 2021

First reading Exodus 1:8-14,22

The Egyptians force the sons of Israel into slavery

There came to power in Egypt a new king who knew nothing of Joseph. ‘Look,’ he said to his subjects ‘these people, the sons of Israel, have become so numerous and strong that they are a threat to us. We must be prudent and take steps against their increasing any further, or if war should break out, they might add to the number of our enemies. They might take arms against us and so escape out of the country.’ Accordingly they put slave-drivers over the Israelites to wear them down under heavy loads. In this way they built the store-cities of Pithom and Rameses for Pharaoh. But the more they were crushed, the more they increased and spread, and men came to dread the sons of Israel. The Egyptians forced the sons of Israel into slavery, and made their lives unbearable with hard labour, work with clay and with brick, all kinds of work in the fields; they forced on them every kind of labour.

Pharaoh then gave his subjects this command: ‘Throw all the boys born to the Hebrews into the river, but let all the girls live.’

Responsorial Psalm 123(124)

Our help is in the name of the Lord.

‘If the Lord had not been on our side,’

this is Israel’s song.

‘If the Lord had not been on our side

when men rose up against us,

then would they have swallowed us alive

when their anger was kindled.

Our help is in the name of the Lord.

‘Then would the waters have engulfed us,

the torrent gone over us;

over our head would have swept

the raging waters.’

Blessed be the Lord who did not give us

a prey to their teeth!

Our help is in the name of the Lord.

Our life, like a bird, has escaped

from the snare of the fowler.

Indeed the snare has been broken

and we have escaped.

Our help is in the name of the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

Our help is in the name of the Lord.

Gospel Matthew 10:34-11:1

It is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth: it is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be those of his own household.

‘Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.

‘Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me.

‘Anyone who welcomes a prophet will have a prophet’s reward; and anyone who welcomes a holy man will have a holy man’s reward.

‘If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.’

When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.

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(Versi English)

Reflection
Exodus 1:8-14, 22, Matthew 10:34-11:1

“The tough road of discipleship”
The gospel speaks of sayings by Jesus regarding discipleship. Some of us might be uncomfortable with the opening lines of Jesus in the gospel passage today: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth: it is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword.” Jesus knows that His presence causes divisions, even among family members. Often, we might find ourselves misunderstood or even rejected by our loved ones and friends when we try to live out the gospel values and take a stand for what is right. This is because some people in our lives might not fully embrace Jesus and what He stands for.

Divisions happen when we are forced to choose to be for Him or to be against Him. We are called to love Jesus above everyone else. This is the primary condition for discipleship. May we always dare to take up the cross and follow Jesus faithfully to the end and have Him as our first love.

Question for reflection:
Is Jesus my first love?

(Versi BM)

Renungan
Keluaran 1:8-14, 22, Matius 10:34-11:1

“Jalan pemuridan yang sukar”
Injil berbicara tentang kata-kata Yesus berkaitan pemuridan. Sesetengah kita mungkin tidak selesa dengan kata pembukaan Yesus dalam injil hari ini: “Jangan kamu menyangka bahawa Aku datang untuk membawa damai di atas bumi: Aku datang bukan untuk membawa damai, melainkan pedang.” Yesus mengetahui bahawa kehadiranNya menimbulkan perpecahan, bahkan dalam kalangan ahli keluarga. Sering kali, kita mungkin tidak dimengerti atau bahkan ditolak oleh orang-orang yang kita kasihi dan rakan-rakan apabila kita cuba menghidupi nilai-nilai injil dan berpegang teguh pada yang benar. Ini disebabkan beberapa orang dalam hidup kita mungkin belum sepenuhnya menerima Yesus dan perkara yang Dia perjuangkan.

Perpecahan berlaku apabila kita dipaksa untuk memilih berada dipihakNya atau menentang Dia. Kita dipanggil untuk mengasihi Yesus melebihi segalanya. Inilah syarat utama untuk menjadi murid. Semoga kita sentiasa berani memikul salib dan mengikuti Yesus dengan setia dan menjadikanNya sebagai cinta pertama kita.

Soalan renungan:
Adakah Yesus cinta pertama saya?

(Versi Murut)

*Kaingkualan 1:8-14, 22; Matius 10:34-11:1*

Pambilin i Jisus ra mopor am ruo ngaulun maamaya' Nano kodon ragitio: "Pai' no pangkara' ra Aku magibit ra pababansayan ra tana' ti. Kalo magibit Aku ra pababansayan, kaa' pantutulaan. Ratangan Kuno mangkinibit ra anak ungkuyon mantula' ra ama' nano, anak ruandu' mantula' ra ina' nano, am anak mangiwan ra ruandu' mantula' ra iwan no ra ruandu'. Iou, pantula' maayo ru sasangulun no ioginio ulun ru baloi nano galama'. Osoi ayuk motogom poyo ra ama' am ina' nano ka Aku kalo sama' io masauk ra maamaya' Kuno. Koson niayuk ra osoi ayuk motogom poyo ra anak ungkuyo kapoam anak ruandu' nano ka Aku kalo sama' io masauk ra maamaya' Kuno. Osoi ayuk kalo mansaan ra salip nano am mugar maya' Raki' kalo sama' io masauk ra maamaya' Kuno. Osoi ayuk kalo masaga' mampataak ra kaayagan nano, io no matatakan ra kaayagan motopot; kaa' osoi ayuk mampataak ra kaayagan nano sabap ra Aku, makaalap io ra kaayagan motopot. Osoi ayuk ondo' mangapu ramuyun, Aku niayuk apuon no, osoi ayuk ondo' mangapu Raki', Io ondo' nanusub Raki' ti noyo ondo' apuon nano. Osoi ayuk mangapu ra nabi sabap ra io sangulun nabi, ampos ondo' moowot no mogondo' ra ampos ru sangulun nabi. Osoi ayuk mangapu ra ulun sabap ra matanda' paliso nano, io pana mokoowot niayuk ra ampos ru sangulun matanda'. Mambala' Aku ramuyun: Osoi ayuk mampainum ra santiib timug ayuk pana ta sangulun ondo' kalo umparaan ru ulun sabap ra maamaya' Ku io, totopot niayuk makaalap ulun no ra ampos nano." Kopongo i Jisus nangila' ra mopor am ruo maamaya' Nano, iruani' No boo intok raginio, am ongoi pangila' am poyo pampatanou ra tanou intor ri Aki Kapuuno' giu' ra bandar-bandar ondo' nakapaginggaar no.

Ralan ra mapagon ru maamaya’
Ragu ru Injil ra kapintaran ondo’ rinagu ri Jisus ondo’ kon ra maamaya’. Kukula’ ngaulun intor ritakau maaru’ lair kalo matasuan ra nangukab ra ralan ri Jisus ralalom pambasaan Injil ra orou raiti’: *”Pai’ no pangkara’ ra Aku magibit ra pababansayan ra tana’ ti. Kalo magibit Aku ra pababansayan, kaa’ pantutulaan.* Makapandai i Jisus ra kasaangan Nano mangkinibit ra pantutuliaran, iou pana ralalom ru sasambaloi. Masalok, maaru’ lair ra malimanan takau ra inan galama’ kalo makarati’ kapoam iou pana ra impayin ru ulun ondo’ tagamin takau am rangan-rangan paat ra itakau kuminam maayag ralalom logo-logo ru Injil am sumungka’ ra atan ra orou raiti’ ondo’ motopot. Gitio sabap ra kukula’ ngaulun ondo’ soroi ritakau maaru’ lair kalo totopot mokoongoi ri Jisus am atan sungkaan Nano.
Pantutuliaran masauk paat ra itakau jajalin mampili’ masauk ra Io ra paat kapoam manggal Riso. Itakau piawon motogom ri Jisus kasaa’ intor ra ngaangai’. Gitio noyo’ ondo’ maatang ra maamaya’. Gama’ ru masalok takau baani mansaan ra salip am maya’ ri Jisus ra gagaya’ suku’ ra pupus no am Io noyo ondo’ kasaa’ tagamin takau.

Pangkuatan ra paguangin:
I Jisus kia ondo’ kasaa’ kuno tagamin?

(Versi Iban)

Renungan
Pemansut 1:8-14,22; Matthew 10:34-11:1

“Jalai nyadi Murid ti mayuh penguji.”
Injil nusi pasal jako ajar Jesus sentang nyadi Murid. Tentu sekeda ari kitai enda berasai nyamai ati enggau jako tangkan Jesus ba bacha Injil saritu: “Anang ngumbai Aku datai mai pemaik ngagai dunya. Aku ukai datai mai pemaik, tang mai pedang.” Jesus empu nemu penatai Iya sigi ngasuh pechah belah, nyengkaum menyadi dalam ruang bilik. Suah kitai ngasai orang enda mereti utai ti ko kitai tauka ditulak sida ti dikerindu kitai enggau kaban belayan lebuh kitai deka nitih ka pengidup ti diajar dalam Injil enggau ngereja utai ti betol. Tu ulih nyadi laban sekeda sida ti ba dalam pengidup kitai empai amat endar nitih ka Jesus sereta utai ti di tan ka Iya.

Pechah belah enggau pambar pepar nyadi lebuh kitai mutus ati milih Iya tauka enda setanah enggau Iya. Kitai dikangau rindu ka Jesus lebih agi ari orang bukai. Tu meh pun atur ti keterubah nyadi Murid. Awak kitai seruran berani ngesan regang lalu nitih ka Jesus enggau penalok datai ba adan sereta nyadi ka Iya pengerindu ti keterubah.

Bisi kenya Jesus pengerindu ti keterubah aku?

(Versi Cina)

省思
«出一:8-14,22»
«玛十:34-十一:1»

” 门徒的艰难之路”
耶稣在福音讲道是关于训导门徒的话语。一些人可能会对耶稣的开场白感到不舒服在今天的福音章节：“你們不要以为我來，是为把平安帶到地上；我來不是为帶平安，而是帶刀剑。” 耶稣知道祂的同在导致分裂，甚至家庭成员之间的分裂。经常，我们可能会发现自己被所爱的人误解甚至拒绝当我们努力实践福音价值观并采取坚持正确的事情。这是因为我们生活中的一些人可能没有完全信赖耶稣和为祂而奋斗。

分裂的造成是因为当我们被迫选择为祂服务或者反对祂。我们是被蒙召爱耶稣胜过一切。这是成为门徒的首要条件。愿我们永远敢于担当十字架并忠实地跟随耶稣到底，并以祂为我们的最爱。

省思题：
耶稣是我的最爱吗？

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr. Sandra Seow FMVD.