June 30, 2021 Wednesday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time-B

Genesis 21:5, 8-20

Psalm 34

Matthew 8:28-34

When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him.  Ps. 34:7

And he said to them, “Go then!” Mt. 8:32

Lord, your power over evil must have been the talk of the town. Freeing two men possessed by many demons and sending the demons into a herd of swine surely was not something they saw every day. But for you confronting evil was all in a day’s work. How the lives of those two men were changed. How many of the townspeople became believers we don’t know. You still cast out demons today. There have been times in my life that I was under the influence of evil. I am so grateful to you that you have forgiven me and sent the evil in my heart and mind far away. I am sorry for all my sins of word, deed and thought. You have accepted by contrition and have provided the grace for me to have a clean heart and to love good and hate evil. Scripture reminds us that justice is more important than sacrifice. Many people today cry out for justice. I pray our nation can make justice a priority. I also pray for an end to the violence, destruction and hate that are in so many of our people now. Dear Lord, show us how to live the abundant life you came to give us.  Amen.