THE FEAST OF SAINTS ELIZABETH OF PORTUGAL AND ANTHONY MARY ZACCARIA.

FEAST OF SAINTS ELIZABETH OF PORTUGAL & ANTHONY MARY ZACCARIA.

“Although the voice is Jacob’s, the hands are Esau’s.” (Genesis 27: 22).

THE WORD OF GOD:
"When Isaac was so old that his eyesight had failed him, he called his older son Esau and said to him, “Son!” “Yes, father!” he replied.

Isaac then said, “As you can see, I am so old that I may now die at any time. Take your gear, therefore—your quiver and bow—and go out into the country to hunt some game for me. With your catch prepare an appetizing dish for me, such as I like, and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my special blessing before I die.”

Rebekah had been listening while Isaac was speaking to his son Esau. So, when Esau went out into the country to hunt some game for his father, Rebekah [then] took the best clothes of her older son Esau that she had in the house, and gave them to her younger son Jacob to wear; and with the skins of the kids she covered up his hands and the hairless parts of his neck. Then she handed her son Jacob the appetizing dish and the bread she had prepared.

Bringing them to his father, Jacob said, “Father!” “Yes?” replied Isaac. “Which of my sons are you?” Jacob answered his father: “I am Esau, your first-born. I did as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your special blessing.”

But Isaac asked, “How did you succeed so quickly, son?” He answered, “The Lord, your God, let things turn out well with me.”

Isaac then said to Jacob, “Come closer, son, that I may feel you, to learn whether you really are my son Esau or not.”

So Jacob moved up closer to his father. When Isaac felt him, he said, “Although the voice is Jacob’s, the hands are Esau’s.” (He failed to identify him because his hands were hairy, like those of his brother Esau; so in the end he gave him his blessing.)

Again he asked Jacob, “Are you really my son Esau?” “Certainly,” Jacob replied.

Then Isaac said, “Serve me your game, son, that I may eat of it and then give you my blessing.” Jacob served it to him, and Isaac ate; he brought him wine, and he drank. Finally his father Isaac said to Jacob, “Come closer, son, and kiss me.” As Jacob went up and kissed him, Isaac smelled the fragrance of his clothes. With that, he blessed him saying,

“Ah, the fragrance of my son is like the fragrance of a field that the Lord has blessed!

“May God give to you of the dew of the heavens And of the fertility of the earth abundance of grain and wine.

“Let peoples serve you, and nations pay you homage; Be master of your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be those who curse you, and blessed be those who bless you.” (Genesis 27: 1 - 5, 15 - 29).

Saturday July 5th in the 13th week in Ordinary Time is the feast St Elizabeth of Portugal.

Also known as Elizabeth of Aragon. (1271 - 1336). Elizabeth married King Denis of Portugal when she was very young. Only 12 years. She set an example of Christian charity in the court and was the peace-maker between her husband and the children. After her husband died, Elizabeth became a Franciscan tertiary.

Today is also the feast of St Anthony Mary Zeccaria.

St. Anthony Zaccaria (1502-1539) was Italian from Cremona in Lombardy. 

He became a successful medical doctor at the age of 22. Unsatisfied with worldly success, he became a priest. He continued to care for the sick and comfort the dying. In Milan, he co-founded women’s religious order and then a congregation of priests called the Clerics Regular of Saint Paul (the Barnabites). Anthony reinvented a three-day exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the Forty Hours Devotion.  St Anthony Zaccaria died in 1539 at the age of 37.

Our key Scripture this Saturday is from Genesis 27: 1 - 29). We explore the great mystery of Divine Providence. And specifically the mystery of the Call, the Choice and the Anointing by the Sovereign God.

Why does God call Jacob instead of Esau? David instead of one of his brothers? Judas Iscariot instead of Benjamin? Why did God chose Israel for His own People instead of Egypt? This is a great mystery of Divine Providence.

"For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his treasured possession." (Psalm 135: 4).
This Divine Purpose cannot be started more clearly than this.

God’s choice comes with blessings:

"May God give to you of the dew of the heavens and of the fertility of the earth abundance of grain and wine." (Genesis 27: 28).

Through the great mystery and gift of Baptism, we are all called, chosen and anointed as priest, prince and prophet.

The Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July.

"Almighty and eternal God, you have appointed your only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world, and willed to be appeased by his Blood. Grant we beg of you, that we may worthily adore this price of our salvation, and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of the present life, so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord." Amen.

Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ purify and heal us. 

For Prayers and Prayer intentions for the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/06/july-devotion-to-precious-body-of-jesus.html?m=1