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FRIDAY OF THE FIFTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, JULY 19, 2024

Writer's picture:  Olivia M. Bannan Olivia M. Bannan



Reading 1

Is 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8

When Hezekiah was mortally ill,

the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, came and said to him:

"Thus says the LORD: Put your house in order,

for you are about to die; you shall not recover."

Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD:


"O LORD, remember how faithfully and wholeheartedly

I conducted myself in your presence,

doing what was pleasing to you!"


And Hezekiah wept bitterly.


Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: "Go, tell Hezekiah:

Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David:

I have heard your prayer and seen your tears.

I will heal you: in three days you shall go up to the LORD's temple;

I will add fifteen years to your life.

I will rescue you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria;

I will be a shield to this city."


Isaiah then ordered a poultice of figs to be taken

and applied to the boil, that he might recover.

Then Hezekiah asked,

"What is the sign that I shall go up to the temple of the LORD?"


Isaiah answered:

"This will be the sign for you from the LORD

that he will do what he has promised:

See, I will make the shadow cast by the sun

on the stairway to the terrace of Ahaz

go back the ten steps it has advanced."

So the sun came back the ten steps it had advanced.


REFLECTION

"O LORD, remember how faithfully and wholeheartedly

I conducted myself in your presence,

doing what was pleasing to you!"


Loyal friends are reliable, trustworthy, and always have your back. They stand by you when times are tough, stand up for you, and are always there by your side. Personally, friends should celebrate each other's successes, happy for their achievements, and are always there when called to help. Precious and few are loyal friends.


Hezekiah was such a friend of God. He did not take for granted that only good things would happen to him. With complete trust in His loyal friend he asked Him for a favor. Hezekiah had never seen God but he had done remarkable acts of service. He knew God.


Hezekiah got rid of idol worship and restored Yahweh to His rightful place as God of Judah. As a military leader, he fended off the superior forces of the Assyrians. He made the country prosperous with people living good lives. "There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him” (2 Kings 18:5).


He dug the 533 meter long tunnel called Hezekiah's tunnel so that he could fortify

the city against the invading Assyrian armies without compromising its main water source, the Gihon Spring, which lay outside the walls:


When we meet Hezekiah today he is faced with defeat and death. Through his faith he sought God's guidance through his prayers. He immediately prayed to God, alone. His deeds had been known to God as Hezekiah reflected his love of God to others.


When we pray, we have the confidence of having the listening ear of God. This confidence that God will hear us opens up His mercy and love. Visit our website papamio.org for prayer and join us weekly for FACE ZBS (zoom bible study) led by a theologian.


God bless you.

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