July 08, 2025 Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: Genesis 32:23–33; Matthew 9:32–38
While fleeing to Haran, Jacob has a profound encounter with God through a vision or dream. This moment becomes a conviction and confirmation that God’s presence is always with him. In response, Jacob renames the city from Luz (meaning “almond tree”) to Bethel, which means “house of God.”
Later, as Jacob returns to the land promised to his grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac, he wrestles with a mysterious stranger throughout the night. It is only at daybreak, near the end of the encounter, that Jacob realizes it is God Himself. He pleads with God for a blessing. God tests Jacob’s perseverance and, recognizing his faithfulness, blesses him and changes his name from Jacob to Israel. The name Israel means “one who wrestles or struggles with God,” or “one who strives and prevails with God.” Jacob then renames the place from Penuel (meaning “face of God”) to Peniel, declaring, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.”
God’s enduring love and concern for humanity is fully revealed in the person of Jesus Christ in today’s Gospel. The world is wounded in many ways—psychologically, physically, socially, and spiritually. In the Gospel, a man possessed by a mute demon is healed by Jesus, restoring his ability to speak.
While the common people glorify God in awe, the Pharisees—learned and rigid—accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of the prince of demons. Yet this baseless accusation does not deter Jesus. Instead, He continues His mission with even greater dedication, traveling through cities and villages, teaching, preaching, and healing.
Jesus desires the continuity of this mission and instructs His disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers into His vineyard. Our mission is Missio Dei—the mission of God—and it must continue with constancy and commitment!
Call to Action: Missio Dei is missio populi—the mission of God is the mission of the people. God needs us. Are we ready to listen to Him and collaborate with Him?
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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