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Reflection on the Gospel – Monday, July 7, 2025
Dear friend,
We often hear the saying, “God writes with crooked lines,” meaning that He acts in situations that, from our point of view, seem unlikely places for His Grace to work. Today’s message invites us to let go of this prejudice because the Lord is ready to act in any circumstance, even the most unexpected ones.
In the book of Genesis, which we are reflecting on this week, Jacob is fleeing from his brother Esau, who wants to kill him. Esau is supposed to be the heir of God’s promise, but that is not what God wants. Against all odds, God wants Jacob, not Esau, and shows this to Jacob in a dream—an important biblical way of revealing Himself.
God acts freely when choosing those who cooperate in salvation history. Even human weaknesses and mistakes, He uses for good to carry out His plan of redemption. Jacob, full of surprise and openness to the Lord, says in the text: “If God is with me and protects me on the way I am taking, if He gives me food and clothes, and if I return safely to my father’s house, then the Lord will be my God, and this stone I have set up will be a house of God.” Breaking the rules of birthright, this choice of Jacob surprised every Israelite.
In today’s Gospel, Matthew tells us two miracles of Jesus, mixed together: a man asks Jesus to bring his daughter back to life after she has died, and a woman is healed just by touching the edge of His cloak. Both feel unworthy to receive Jesus’ grace, but they trust His power. The man kneels and the woman quietly reaches out to touch Jesus’ cloak without being seen. They don’t see the Lord’s power as force or violence (“dynamis”), but as authority (“exousía”)—the power to free and heal, used not to control, but to cure.
Never believe you are unworthy. God always acts because He loves you despite your weakness, and if needed, He writes with crooked lines. Come close and let Him heal you.
Your brother in faith,