July 30, 2021 Friday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time-B  

Leviticus 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34-37

Psalm 81

Matthew 13:54-58

“Where did this man get all this?”  Mt. 13:56

Lord, it must have hurt you to be questioned by your hometown friends and family. You only wanted to include them in your kingdom. You only wanted to love them and show them the face of their Father in heaven. You only wanted to heal their wounds: physical, mental and spiritual. It’s clear that to receive all you want to give us your children, we must believe in you as the glorious Son of God.  So many falter in their faith during times of suffering and trouble. These people doubted you because they thought they knew you as one of them. They, like Peter when he objected to your sacrifice on the cross, were thinking like human beings think. Human logic comes up short in understanding you and comprehending your immense love for us. Lord, I don’t want to make the same mistake your hometown friends made. I surrender to you, like Thomas, as my Lord and my God. Show me how I open my heart to everything you want for me. Show me the obstacles I put up to knowing you as my Savior and closest friend.  Amen.