Jul 2 2021

First reading Genesis 23:1-4,19,24:1-8,62-67

‘Choose a wife for my son Isaac’

The length of Sarah’s life was a hundred and twenty-seven years. She died at Kiriath-arba, or Hebron, in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn and grieve for her.

Then leaving his dead, Abraham spoke to the sons of Heth: ‘I am a stranger and a settler among you,’ he said. ‘Let me own a burial-plot among you, so that I may take my dead wife and bury her.’

After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field of Machpelah opposite Mamre, in the country of Canaan.

By now Abraham was an old man well on in years, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. Abraham said to the eldest servant of his household, the steward of all his property, ‘Place your hand under my thigh, I would have you swear by the Lord, God of heaven and God of earth, that you will not choose a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live. Instead, go to my own land and my own kinsfolk to choose a wife for my son Isaac.’ The servant asked him, ‘What if the woman does not want to come with me to this country? Must I take your son back to the country from which you came?’ Abraham answered, ‘On no account take my son back there. The Lord, God of heaven and God of earth, took me from my father’s home, and from the land of my kinsfolk, and he swore to me that he would give this country to my descendants. He will now send his angel ahead of you, so that you may choose a wife for my son there. And if the woman does not want to come with you, you will be free from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.’

Isaac, who lived in the Negeb, had meanwhile come into the wilderness of the well of Lahai Roi. Now Isaac went walking in the fields as evening fell, and looking up saw camels approaching. And Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac. She jumped down from her camel, and asked the servant, ‘Who is that man walking through the fields to meet us?’ The servant replied, ‘That is my master’; then she took her veil and hid her face. The servant told Isaac the whole story, and Isaac led Rebekah into his tent and made her his wife; and he loved her. And so Isaac was consoled for the loss of his mother.

Responsorial Psalm 105(106):1-5

O give thanks to the Lord for he is good.

Alleluia!

O give thanks to the Lord for he is good;

for his love endures for ever.

Who can tell the Lord’s mighty deeds?

Who can recount all his praise?

O give thanks to the Lord for he is good.

Alleluia!

They are happy who do what is right,

who at all times do what is just.

O Lord, remember me

out of the love you have for your people.

O give thanks to the Lord for he is good.

Alleluia!

Come to me, Lord, with your help

that I may see the joy of your chosen ones

and may rejoice in the gladness of your nation

and share the glory of your people.

O give thanks to the Lord for he is good.

Alleluia!

Gospel Matthew 9:9-13

It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick

As Jesus was walking on, he saw a man named Matthew sitting by the customs house, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.

While he was at dinner in the house it happened that a number of tax collectors and sinners came to sit at the table with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ When he heard this he replied, ‘It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. Go and learn the meaning of the words: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. And indeed I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.’

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(Versi English)

Reflection.
Genesis 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67,
Matthew 9:9-13

“Jesus includes all and loves all”
Matthew, a tax collector, was known by those around him as a public sinner. On the other hand, Jesus looked at him, saw the good in him, and invited him to experience the embrace of God’s mercy and love. Later, He even shared a meal at Matthew’s house with other tax collectors and public outcasts. Jesus did what He did because His mission was to bring God’s love to all people, especially to the “sick” and the “sinner”.

Today, Jesus takes the initiative and comes to us because He sees the good in us that we sometimes might not recognise in ourselves. He invites us to enter into the embrace of God’s mercy which has the power to transform us, heal us and empower us so that we, in turn, can follow Jesus as His disciples, as His instruments to bring His love to all people, without exception. May we respond to Jesus and open our hearts to love like Him.

Questions for reflection:
Am I prejudiced against someone? How can I respond to Jesus as He calls me again to follow Him?

(Versi BM)

Kejadian 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67, Matius 9:9-13

“Yesus menerima dan mengasihi semua”

Matius, seorang pemungut cukai dikenali oleh orang-orang disekitarnya sebagai seorang yang berdosa. Sebaliknya, Yesus memandangnya, melihat kebaikan yang ada padanya dan mengajaknya untuk mengalami pelukan belas kasihan Tuhan. Yesus bahkan makan bersama dengan pemungut cukai yang lain dan orang-orang yang dipinggirkan oleh masyarakat di rumah Matius. Yesus melakukannya kerana misi-Nya adalah untuk membawa kasih Allah kepada semua orang, terutama mereka yang ‘sakit’ dan ‘orang-orang berdosa’.

Hari ini Yesus mengambil inisiatif dan datang kepada kita kerana Dia melihat kebaikan yang ada pada kita, yang kadang kala tidak kita sedari. Dia menjemput kita untuk masuk ke dalam pelukan belas kasihan Tuhan yang berkuasa mengubah, menyembuhkan dan memberi kekuatan kepada kita agar kita dapat mengikuti Yesus sebagai rasulNya, sebagai alat untuk membawa kasihNya kepada semua orang. Semoga kita memberi respon kepada Yesus dan membuka hati kita untuk mengasihi seperti Dia.

Soalan renungan:
Adakah saya berprasangka buruk terhadap seseorang? Bagaimana saya memberi respon kepada Yesus ketika Dia memanggil saya sekali lagi untuk mengikuti Dia?

(Versi Murut)

*Kasaukan 23:1-4, 19, 24:1-8, 62-67; Matius 9:9-13*
Iruani’ ri Jisus intok raginio. Tatanga’ ra Io nangkiralan, kakito No sangulun mampalulur ra cukai, ioginio i Matius, nanturung ra baloi ru cukai no. Indagu i Jisus riso, “Baya’ Raki’!” Bigor i Matius am baya’ io ri Jisus. Giu’ ra baloi ri Matius i, nangakan i Jisus am maamaya’-maamaya’ Nano magugulung ra masuang ulun mampalulur ra cukai am ulun ondo’ karaan ra malaat no ra rondo’ mija’. Kukula’ ngaulun ru Parisi nakakito ra baal raginio. Kuati’ nilo maamaya’-maamaya’ ri Jisus, “Kua ra Mangngila’ mino mangakan magugulung ra mampalulur ra cukai am ulun ondo’ karaan ra malaat?” Nokorongog i Jisus ra pangkuatan nilono am taam Io, “Ulun maligag kalo muma’ ra duktur, kaa’ ondo’ ayuk ulun marualan. Uyumo’ min noyo atan arati’ tinulisan ra Buuk Kitab ti: ‘Marara’ Aku ra taak simbalui min kaa’ masaga’ Aku ra makaasi’ kau ra ulun bokon’. Aku minatong sala’ ka mampiau ra ulun ondo’ moonsoi rokokoon, kaa’ mampiau ra ulun ondo’ karaan ra malaat.”
Sinimpung ngai’ ri Jisus am motogom ra ngaangai’
I Matius, sangulun mampalulur ra cukai, ondo’ nauligan ru ulun ngai’ ra liput nano koson ra ulun makatula. Sakaansai ra, nagilong i Jisus riso, nakito ondo’ moonsoi riso, am pangkimait riso koson mili’ ra asi’ am togom ri Aki Kapuuno’. Tauli no, nangakan Io giu’ ra baloi ri Matius nagugulung ra masuang ulun mampalulur ra cukai am ulun ondo’ karaan ra malaat. Binaal ri Jisus atan ondo’ baalon Nano sabap ra misi Nano iono magibit ra togom ri Aki Kapuuno’ ra ngaangai’ ulun, mulu’ poyo ra ulun ‘marualan’ am ra ulun ‘makatula’.
Orou raiti’, pirot ri Jisus am minatong ritakau sabap ra makito No ondo’ moonsoi ritakau ondo’ sanganuan kalo matutunan takau galama’. Mangkimait Io ritakau koson sumubol ralalom ru asi’ ri Aki Kapuuno’ ondo’ mokoondo’ ra kuasa’ mamgulau ritakau, mamabas ritakau, am mangiou ritakau maa’ raginio mampapalit, mabuli maya’ ri Jisus koson ra maamaya’, koson ra kuliamos Nano ondo’ makapagibit ra togom Nano ra ngaangai’ ulun, ra kalo lilion. Gama’ ru tumaam takau ri Jisus am mangukab ra guang takau koson motogom mogondo’ Riso.

Pangkuatan ra paguangin:
Mokoondo’ aku kia manantam ra sasangulun? Ati kulaan mabuli aku tumaam ri Jisus paat ra Io mampiau poyo raki’ koson maya’ Riso?

(Versi Iban)

Renungan
Pemungkal 23:1-4,19;1-8,62-67; Matthew 9:9-13

“Jesus nerima semua sereta rindu ka semua.”
Matthew, pengumpol chukai, dikelala laban iya orang ti bedosa ba mata orang mayuh. Tang, Jesus meda iya, lalu meda pemadas ti bisi dalam Matthew sereta ngangau iya awak ngasaika pengasih sereta pengerindu Allah Taala. Udah nya, Jesus makai ba rumah Matthew begulai enggau pengumpol chukai ke bukai. Jesus ngereja pengawa Iya laban Iya mai pengerindu Allah Taala ka semua orang kelebih agi sida ti sakit enggau ngagai sida ti bepenyalah.

Saritu, Jesus ngambi singkang keterubah sereta datai ngagai kitai laban Iya meda pemadas ti didalam kitai ti enda entu di akun kitai kediri. Iya ngangau kitai awak tama dalam pengasih Allah Taala ti bisi kuasa ngubah kitai, nyuman ka kitai lalu meri kitai kuasa ngambi kitai ulih nitih ka Jesus nyadi Murid Iya, nyadi perengka Iya mai pengerindu Iya ngagai semua orang. Awak kitai nyaut Jesus sereta muka ati kitai deka rindu baka Iya.

Bisi aku prejudis ngaga orang bukai?Kati aku ulih nyaut Jesus lebuh Iya ngangau aku nitih ka Iya baru?

(Versi Cina)

2021年7月2日常年期第十三周单数年星期五

省思
《创廿三:1-4, 十九; 廿四:1-8, 62-67》
《玛九:9-13》

“耶稣包括大家也爱大家”
玛太，一名稅吏，是大家公认的公众罪人。然而，耶稣望着他的时候，看到他的好并邀他感受天主的慈悲和爱。之后祂还在玛太的家与其他的税史和被排挤的人一起用餐。耶稣这么做是因为祂的使命就是把天主的爱带给大家，尤其是’病人’和’罪人’。
今天，天主主动来到我们面前看我们都不懂自己的好。祂邀请我们一同感受可以改变、痊愈和鼓励我们变成天主门徒的慈悲心，并且成为祂的器皿，无条件的把爱传给大家。让我们回应天主并向祂敞开我们的胸怀。

省思题:
我是否对某人有成见？我要如何回应耶稣要我跟随祂的邀请？

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