St. Anthony Mary  Zaccaria, priest 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Genesis 28:10-22a

 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran.

 When he reached a certain place the sun had set and he spent the night there. He took one of the stones that were there and using it as a pillow, he lay down to sleep.  While Jacob was sleeping, he had a dream in which a ladder stood on the earth with its top reaching to heaven and on it were angels of God going up and coming down.  

And Yahweh was standing there near him and said, “I am Yahweh, the God of your father, Abraham, and the God of Isaac. The land on which you sleep, I give to you and your descendants.   Your descendants will be numerous like the specks of dust of the earth and you will spread out to the west and the east, to the north and the south. Through you and your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed.

 See, I am with you and I will keep you safe wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land and not leave you until I have done what I promised.”  Jacob woke from his dream and said, “Truly Yahweh was in this place and I was not aware of it.”   He was afraid and said, “How full of awe is this place! It is nothing less than a House of God; it is the Gate to Heaven!”

 Then Jacob rose early and took the stone he had put under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on the top of it.   He named that place Bethel although before that it was called Luz.   Then Jacob made a vow, “If Yahweh will be with me and keep me safe during this journey I am making, if he gives me bread to eat and clothes to wear,   and if I return in peace to my father’s house, then Yahweh will be my God.

 This stone which I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me, I will give back a tenth.”

 

Ps 91:1-2, 3-4, 14-15ab

In you, my God, I place my trust.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 9:18-26

While Jesus was speaking to them, an official of the synagogue came up to him, bowed before him and said, “My daughter has just died, but come and place your hands on her, and she will live.”   Jesus stood up and followed him with his disciples.

 Then a woman who had suffered from a severe bleeding for twelve years came up from behind and touched the edge of his cloak.  For she thought, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”  Jesus turned, saw her and said, “Cour­age, my daughter, your faith has saved you.” And from that moment the woman was cured.

 When Jesus arrived at the offi­cial’s house and saw the flute players and the excited crowd, he said   “Get out of here! The girl is not dead. She is only sleeping!” And they laughed at him.  But once the crowd had been turned out, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up. The news of this spread through the whole area.

     

Gospel Reflection：

We have before us two images of healing: That of a mature woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years and that of a young girl who has recently died. The old woman took the matter of her healing in her own hands, while the little girl had to depend on her father's love. In spite of his high rank did not hesitate to ask the Lord to come and lay hands on his daughter.

And both received the grace that they need most. The little girl who was dead comes back to life, thanks to the love of a father who sought Jesus. And the woman with bleeding was healed because of her courage to touch the hem of Jesus' cloak and owning up to her actions when asked. So both love and courage unlock the mercy of God. It could affect the healing we badly need in our own lives.