1st Reading: Lev 25:1, 8–17* Yahweh spoke to Moses by marlon rante

1st Reading: Lev 25:1, 8–17* Yahweh spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai: When seven sabbaths of years have passed, that is, seven times seven years, there shall be the time of the seven weeks of years, that is forty-nine years. Then on the tenth day of the seventh month sound the trumpet loudly. On this Day of Atonement sound the trumpet all through the land. Keep holy the fiftieth year and proclaim freedom for all the inhabitants of the land. It shall be a jubilation year for you when each one shall recover his property and go back to his family. … In this year of Jubilee each of you shall recover his own property. When you sell something to your neighbor or buy something from him, do not wrong one another. … but you shall fear your God, for I am Yahweh, your God.

saturday

August

17th Week in Ordinary Time Alphonsus Liguori Psalter: Week 1

Ps 67:2–3, 5, 7–8 O God, let all the nations praise you!

Gospel: Mt 14:1–12 On one occasion the news about Jesus reached King Herod. And he said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. John has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Herod had, in fact, ordered that John be arrested, bound in chains and put in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. For John had said to him, “It is not right for you to have her as wife.” Herod wanted to kill him but he did not dare, because he feared the people who regarded John as a prophet. On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst of the guests; she so delighted Herod that he promised under oath to give her anything she asked. The girl, following the advice of her mother, said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a dish.” The king was very displeased, but because he had made this promise under oath in the presence of the guests, he ordered it to be given her. So he had John beheaded in prison and his head brought on a dish and given to the girl. The girl then took it to her mother. Then John’s disciples came to take his body and bury it. And they went to bring the news to Jesus.

od told Moses that all cultivation work on the land was to cease in the year of Jubilee. His message to the Israelites was that they should beware of greed, and that their lives didn’t consist in the abundance of their possessions. He gave them His assurance that they would all prosper by observing these years of rest. This was an encouragement to all those, who agreed neither to sow nor reap. Today, we are invited to exercise willing dependence on God’s providence for our support; to consider ourselves as God’s tenants, and to use our possessions accordingly. If we are careful to live by faith, we may trust God with our comfort. Through Him, we are eased of the burdens of worldly care and labor, both of which become sanctified and sweetened for us. But, many Christians waste valuable time anticipating evil, worrying about what they will do and how they will proceed in the way of hope. We should not anticipate evil, nor distress ourselves about the future. Let us remember that the path of hope in God’s will is always the path of safety!

1st Reading: Ex 16:2–4, 12–15 In the desert the whole community of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron and said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of Yahweh in Egypt when we sat down to caldrons of meat and ate all the bread we wanted, whereas you have brought us to this desert to let the whole assembly die of starvation!” Yahweh then said to Moses, “Now I am going to rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to gather what is needed for that day. In this way I will test them to see if they will follow my Teaching or not. “I have heard the complaints of Israel. Speak to them and say: Between the two evenings you will eat meat, and in the morning you will have bread to your heart’s content; then you shall know that I am Yahweh, your God!” In the evening quails came up and covered the camp. And in the morning, dew had fallen around the camp. When the dew lifted, there was on the surface of the desert a thin crust like hoarfrost. The people of Israel upon seeing it said to one another, “What is it?” for they didn’t know what it was. Moses told them, “It is the bread that Yahweh has given you to eat.” 2nd Reading: Eph 4:17, 20–24 I say to you, then, and with insistence I advise you in the Lord: do not imitate the pagans who Ps 78:3–4, 23–24b, 25, 54 live an aimless kind of life. The Lord gave them bread from heaven. But it is not for this that you have followed Christ. For I suppose that you heard of him and received his teaching which is seen in Jesus himself. You must give up your former way of living, the old self, whose deceitful desires bring selfdestruction. Renew yourselves spiritually, from inside, and put on the new self, or self according to God, that is created in true righteousness and holiness.

sunday

Gospel: Jn 6:24–35 When they saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time When they found him on the other side of Psalter: Week 2 the lake, they asked him, “Master, when did you come here?” Jesus answered, “Truly, I say to you, you look for me, not because you have seen through the signs, but because you ate bread and were satisfied. Work then, not for perishable food, but for the lasting food which gives eternal life. The Son of Man will give it to you, for he is the one the Father has marked.” Then the Jews asked him, “What shall we do? What are the works that God wants us to do?” And Jesus answered them, “The work God wants is this: that you believe in the One whom God has sent.” They then said, “Show us miraculous signs, that we may see and believe you. What sign do you perform? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert; as Scripture says: They were given bread from heaven to eat.” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven. My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. The bread God gives is the One who comes from heaven and gives life to the world.” And they said to him, “Give us this bread always.” he miraculous multiplication of loaves and Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whofish is not the first time that the Lord proever comes to me shall never be hungry, and vided food to nourish the bodies of His people. whoever believes in me shall never be thirsty. Throughout the forty years of the Israelites wandering in the desert, the Lord would intervene by providing them with manna, “the bread that came down from heaven.” In fact, the people of Israel would survive in the desert only because of the Lord’s tender care. The manna in the desert foreshadowed an even more impressive accomplishment, greater even than the feeding of the five thousand by the Sea of Galilee. The Lord, who once provided food from heaven to satisfy the hunger of His people, now feeds us with His Body and Blood, the bread of life and the cup of eternal salvation, the food and drink that truly satisfy the hungry heart, the only food and drink that never leave us hungry or thirsty again.

August

03 August monday

18th Week in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 2

Ps 81:12–13, 14–15, 16–17 Sing with joy to God our help.

1st Reading: Num 11:4b–15* Now the rabble that was among them had greedy desires and even the Israelites wept and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish we ate without cost in Egypt, … Now our appetite is gone; there’s no-thing to look at, nothing but manna.” Now the manna was like coriander seed and had the appearance of bedellium. … They boiled it in a pot and made cakes with it which tasted like cakes made with oil. As soon as dew fell at night in the camp, the manna came with it. Moses heard the people crying, family by family at the entrance to their tent and Yahweh became very angry. This displeased Moses. Then Moses said to Yahweh, “Why have you treated your servant so badly? Is it because you do not love me that you burdened me with this people? … Kill me rather than treat me like this, I beg of you, if you look kindly on me, and let me not see your anger.” Gospel: Mt 14:13–21* On hearing about the death of John the Baptist, Jesus set out secretly by boat for a secluded place. … Late in the afternoon, his disciples came to him and said, “We are in a lonely place and it is now late. You should send these people away, so they can go to the villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” But Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat.” They answered, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fishes.” Jesus said to them, “Bring them here to me.” Then he made everyone sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fishes, raised his eyes to heaven, pronounced the blessing, broke the loaves and handed them to the disciples to distribute to the people. And they all ate, and everyone had enough; then the disciples gathered up the leftovers, filling twelve baskets. About five thousand men had eaten there besides women and children.

he forty years in the desert, living only on manna from heaven, will always be symbolic for us. The Israelites were weary of the manna, which God had made for them, even though it was wholesome and nourishing food. It cost them no money and the labor of gathering it was very little indeed. Yet, they would not be satisfied unless they had flesh to eat. They talked of Egypt’s cheapness and the fish they ate there, as if that had cost them nothing, when they had paid dearly for it all with their freedom and hard servitude. Those of us, who should be happy, often make ourselves miserable by the lack of contentment in our lives. We give way to the carnal mind, when all we seek are the delights and satisfaction of our senses. It is appalling that some of us have too much food, while the large majority of people have too little, even for survival. We need to start planning for a world that is a better place for ourselves and our children. Please God, may it not take another generation before the world is used to living with just enough…neither more nor less of everything!

1st Reading: Num 12:1–13* Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married … And Yahweh heard. … Yahweh came down in the pillar of cloud and, standing at the door of the Tent, called Aaron and Miriam. They both went out and he said, “Listen carefully to what I say, If there is a prophet among you, I reveal myself to him in a vision and I speak to him in a dream. It is not so for my servant, Moses, my trusted steward in all my household. To him I speak face to face, openly, and not in riddles, and he sees the presence of Yahweh. Why then did you not fear to speak against my servant, against Moses?” Yahweh became angry with them and he departed. The cloud moved away from above the Tent and Miriam was there white as snow with leprosy. … Then Moses cried to Yahweh, “Heal her, O God, I beg of you.”

tuesday

August

18th Week in Ordinary Time John Vianney Psalter: Week 2

Ps 51:3–4, 5–6ab, 6cd–7, 12–13 Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Gospel: Mt 14:22–36* (or Mt 15:1–2, 10–14) … At daybreak, Jesus came to them walking on the lake. When they saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, thinking that it was a ghost. And they cried out in fear. But at once Jesus said to them, “Courage! Don’t be afraid. It’s me!” Peter answered, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you walking on the water.” Jesus said to him, “Come.” And Peter got out of the boat, walking on the water to go to Jesus. But, in face of the strong wind, he was afraid and began to sink. So he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately stretched out his hand and took hold of him, saying, “Man of little faith, why did you doubt?” As they got into the boat, the wind dropped. Then those in the boat bowed down before Jesus saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God!” They came ashore at Gennesareth. The local people recognized Jesus and spread the news throughout the region. …

oses felt overwhelmed by his leadership responsibilities. He was tired and discouraged and he often lacked the faith that God would continue to provide for his people. Miriam and Aaron’s criticism took place at a time when the responsibilities of leading so many people in such harsh conditions were wearing Moses down. What he needed most was encouragement and help with leadership. He should have received these things from Aaron and Miriam. But they were too focused on improving their own position by belittling Moses. God saw the devastating effect this was having on Moses and wanted them to hear His opinion of Moses. As God declared Moses’ value, the hurt feelings and self-doubt Moses carried must have melted away. The application of this passage is clear for us: why are we not afraid to speak against God’s servants? Those, who serve as leaders in our Church, should command our respect and support, not our criticism, especially if that criticism is intended to inflate our own position or opinion. As God’s servants, God is the one with final responsibility for them. A little praise helps keep the machinery of leadership well oiled. When our words are displeasing, God’s anger burns!

05 August wednesday

18th Week in Ordinary Time Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major Psalter: Week 2

Ps 106:6–7ab, 13–14, 21–22, 23 Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

1st Reading: Num 13:1–2, 25—14:1, 26a–29a, 34–35* Yahweh then spoke to Moses, saying, “Send men to explore the land of Canaan that I am giving to the Israelites; … They gave an account to them and the whole community and showed them the fruit of this land. … And they spread an unfavorable report … “The land we went through to explore is a land that devours its inhabitants and all the people we saw there are men of great size. … Then all the community broke out in loud cries and wept during the night. Then Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron saying, “How long will this wicked community grumble against me?” … All of you of twenty years or more, … who grumbled against me, your corpses will fall in the desert. I, Yahweh, have spoken. Surely this is what I will do to this wicked community that has conspired against me. In this wilderness they shall be destroyed and this is where they shall die.” Gospel: Mt 15:21–28 Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Now a Canaanite woman came from those borders and began to cry out, “Lord, Son of David, have pity on me! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But Jesus did not answer her, not even a word. So his disciples approached him and said, “Send her away: see how she is shouting after us.” Then Jesus said to her, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel.” But the woman was already kneeling before Jesus and said, “Sir, help me!” Jesus answered, “It is not right to take the bread from the children and throw it to the little dogs.” The woman replied, “It is true, sir, but even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said, “Woman, how great is your faith! Let it be as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

e may wonder why the Israelites waited for forty days for the return of their spies, when they were ready to enter Canaan, under all the assurances of success they could have from God. But they distrusted God’s power and promise. After the messengers returned, they discouraged the people from going into Canaan, and the people refused to believe that it was as fruitful as God had said it was. They gave into the temptation of putting confidence in the judgment of humans, when they had the word of God, in which to trust. How often do we depend solely upon ourselves for survival, rather than hand our lives entirely over to God? Many of life’s difficulties dwindle and vanish before a lively, active faith in the power and promise of God. All things are possible to those of us, who believe; but lessons offered by the world are not always to be trusted. Lack of trust and belief overlooks the promises and the power of God, magnifies every danger and difficulty and fills our heart with discouragement. When we actually believe that God will help us overcome all our problems, then we find that all things are, indeed, possible!

1st Reading: Dn 7:9–10, 13–14 Daniel said, “I looked and saw the following: Some thrones were set in place and One of Great Age took his seat. His robe was white as snow, his hair white as washed wool. His throne was flames of fire with wheels of blazing fire. A river of fire sprang forth and flowed before him. Thousands upon thousands served him and a countless multitude stood before him. “Those in the tribunal took their seats and opened the book. “I continued watching the nocturnal vision: “One like a son of man came on the clouds of heaven. He faced the One of Great Age and was brought into his presence. “Dominion, honor and kingship were given him, and all the peoples and nations of every language served him. His dominion is eternal and shall never pass away; his kingdom will never be destroyed.”

thursday

August

Our Lord’s Transfiguration Psalter: Proper

Ps 97:1–2, 5–6, 9 The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth.

2nd Reading: 2 P 1:16–19 Gospel: Mk 9:2–10 Jesus took Peter, John and James and led them up a high mountain. There his appearance was changed before their eyes. Even his clothes shone, becoming as white as no bleach of this world could make them. Elijah and Moses appeared to them; the two were talking with Jesus. Then Peter spoke and said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say; they were overcome with awe. But a cloud formed, covering them in a shadow, and from the cloud came this word, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him.” And suddenly, as they looked around, they no longer saw anyone except Jesus with them. As they came down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man be risen from the dead. So they kept this to themselves, although they discussed with one another what ‘to rise from the dead’ could mean.

he Transfiguration of Christ is the culminating point of His public life, just as His Baptism is its starting point and His Ascension its end. The dazzling brightness which emanated from His whole body was produced by an interior shining of His divinity. By this glorious manifestation, Christ strengthened the faith of his three friends and prepared them for the terrible struggle ahead, by giving them a foretaste of the glory to be attained through suffering. Here is a prediction of the near approach of Christ’s kingdom: it is good to be away from the world and be alone with Christ; and to be with Christ, glorified in heaven. God accepts Christ as His beloved Son and is ready to accept us in Him. When we give of ourselves to Him, our souls are transformed. We are more open to the influences of God when we are engaged in prayer. We should try to spend time, everyday, in reflective prayer. The way for our soul to be transformed by God’s love is frequently to converse with God. Then, just as Christ’s garments became white and glittering, so shall our souls get a little of God’s light to shine upon them!

07 August friday

18th Week in Ordinary Time Sixtus II and Companions / Cajetan Psalter: Week 2

Ps 77:12–13, 14–15, 16 and 21 I remember the deeds of the Lord.

1st Reading: Dt 4:32–40* Ask of the times past. Inquire from the day when God created man on earth. Ask from one end of the world to the other: Has there ever been anything as extraordinary as this? Has anything like this been heard of before? Has there ever been a people who remained alive after hearing as you did the voice of the living God from the midst of the fire? Never has there been a God who went out to look for a people and take them out from among the other nations by the strength of trials and signs, by wonders and by war, with a firm hand and an outstretched arm. Never has there been any deed as tremendous as those done for you by Yahweh in Egypt, which you saw with your own eyes. You saw this that you might know that Yahweh is God and that there is no other besides him. He let you hear his voice from heaven that you might fear him; on earth he let you see his blazing fire and from the midst of the fire you heard his word. Because of the love he had for your fathers, he chose their descendants after them, and he himself made you leave Egypt with his great power. He expelled before you peoples more numerous and stronger than you, and he has made you occupy their land: today he has given this to you as an inheritance. Therefore, try to be convinced that Yahweh is the only God of heaven and earth, and that there is no other. … Gospel: Mt 16:24–28 Jesus said to his disciples, “If you want to follow me, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me. For whoever chooses to save his life will lose it, but the one who loses his life for my sake will find it. What will one gain by winning the whole world if he destroys himself? There is nothing you can give to recover your own self. “Know that the Son of Man will come in the Glory of his Father with the holy angels, and he will reward each one according to his deeds. Truly, I tell you, there are some here who will not die before they see the Son of Man coming as king.”

oses urged the Israelites to honor the greatness, glory, and goodness of God, as well as His authority over them and their obligations to Him. In keeping God’s commandments, they were be acting wisely for themselves. They showed that they were characters of wisdom and honor and that, in observing the law, they were glorifying God. Those, who called upon God, certainly found him ready to answer their prayers of peace, faith, and hope. All judgments of the divine law were above the laws of any nation. God manifests Himself to us in the works of creation. Whenever we consider how good God is to us, we owe it to Him to make a conscious decision never to sin against Him. Whenever we allow that our spiritual prosperity depends upon our piety, we enjoy the certain benefits and advantage of obedience. Whenever afflictions urge us to seek God, as long as we seek Him with all our hearts, we find that He is our comfort. As long as we are faithful to Him, by the grace of God working within us, His mercy will never forsake us. Let us, forever, be held by the bonds of His love and mercy!

1st Reading: Dt 6:4–13 Listen, Israel: Yahweh, our God, is One Yahweh. And you shall love Yahweh, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength. Engrave on your heart the commandments that I pass on to you today. Repeat them over and over to your children, speak of them when you are at home and when you travel, when you lie down and when you rise. Brand them on your hand as a sign, and keep them always before your eyes. Engrave them on your doorposts and on your city gates. Do not forget Yahweh when he has led you into the land which he promised to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; for he will give you great and prosperous cities which you did not build, houses filled with everything good which you did not provide, wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant. So when you have eaten and have been satisfied, do not forget Yahweh who brought you out from Egypt where you were enslaved. Fear Yahweh, your God, serve him and call on his Name when you have to swear an oath.

saturday

August

18th Week in Ordinary Time Dominic Psalter: Week 2

Ps 18:2–3a, 3c–4, 47 and 51 I love you, Lord, my strength.

Gospel: Mt 17:14–20 A man approached Jesus, knelt before him and said, “Sir, have pity on my son who is an epileptic and is in a wretched state. He has often fallen into the fire and at other times into the water. I brought him to your disciples but they could not heal him.” Jesus replied, “You, faithless and evil people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.” And Jesus commanded the evil spirit to leave the boy, and the boy was immediately healed. The disciples then gathered around Jesus and asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive out the spirit?” Jesus said to them, “Because you have little faith. I say to you: if only you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could tell that mountain to move from here to there, and the mountain would obey. Nothing would be impossible to you.”

oses challenged the new generation of Israelites to rededicate their lives to God. He reminded them of their covenant with God, and how all aspects of life were to be regulated for the good of all. Today, we are also challenged to keep our relationship with God always fresh in our minds. God is concerned with every area of our lives; He wants us to love Him and all our fellows. We should never forget to protect our faith in God, as the only living and true God. It is better to have one fountain than a thousand cisterns; one all-sufficient God than a thousand insufficient friends! The first and the greatest commandment of God’s law is that we love Him, and that everything we do must come from the principle of this love. We are to love God with all our heart and soul and might. That means that we are to love with sincere love; not in word and mouth only, but inwardly in truth. We must love God above any creature. We must love Him with all our heart and all our understanding. Our hearts must be united in His love!

1st Reading: 1 K 19:4–8 Elijah disappeared into the desert going on a day’s journey. Then he sat down under a broom tree and prayed to die, “That is enough, Yahweh, take away my life for I am dying.” He lay down and went to sleep under the broom tree. Then an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” Elijah looked and saw, at his head, a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. He ate and drank and went back to sleep. The angel of Yahweh came a second time to him, saying, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too long for you.” He got up, ate and drank, and on the strength of that food, he traveled for forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. 2nd Reading: Eph 4:30—5:2 Do not sadden the Holy Spirit of God which you were marked with. It will be your distinctive mark on the day of salvation. Do away with all quarreling, rage, anger, insults and every kind of malice: be good and understanding, mutually forgiving one another as God forgave you in Christ. As most beloved children of God, strive to imitate him. Follow the way of love, the example of Christ who loved you. He gave himself up for us and became the offering and sacrificial victim whose fragrance rises to God. Ps 34:2–3, 4–5, 6–7, 8–9a Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

sunday

Gospel: Jn 6:41–51 The Jews murmured because Jesus had said, “I am the bread which comes from heaven.” And they said, “This man is the son of Joseph, isn’t he? We know his father and mother. How can he say that he has come from heaven?” Jesus answered them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. No one can come to me unless he is drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise him up on the last day. It has been written in the Prophets: They shall all be taught by God. So whoever listens and learns from the Father comes to me. “For no one has seen the Father except the One who comes from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. “I am the bread of life. Though your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, they died. But here you have the bread which comes from heaven so that you may eat of it and not die. “I am the living bread which has come from heaven; whoever eats of this bread will live forever. The bread I shall give is my flesh and I will give it for the life of the world.”

August

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 3

esus introduces a new element into His “Bread of Life” discourse. He equates the bread of life with His flesh, the flesh that He will give for the life of the world. Jesus’ choice of words is deli berate, for it makes crystal clear the meaning of His discourse. After all, the term “bread of life” could easily be interpreted as a metaphor for His teaching. One could easily come to the conclusion that the phrase “bread of life” referred simply to his verbal instruction. Jesus clearly intends the phrase “bread of life” to have a much more particular meaning. In fact, he identifies the phrase with His flesh, His corporeal flesh and blood. When He says that His flesh will be given for the life of the world, Jesus is referring to His body being nailed to the cross, His blood being poured out in the perfect sacrifice of Calvary. There can be no doubt that these powerful words point both to His sacrificial death and to the Holy Eucharist, the means by which His sacrifice would be represented on altars around the world until He comes in glory.

10 August monday

19th Week in Ordinary Time Lawrence Psalter: Week 3

Ps 112:1–2, 5–6, 7–8, 9 Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

1st Reading: 2 Cor 9:6–10 Remember: the one who sows meagerly will reap meagerly, and there shall be generous harvests for the one who sows generously. Each of you should give as you decided personally, and not reluctantly as if obliged. God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to fill you with every good thing, so that you have enough of everything at all times, and may give abundantly for any good work. Scripture says: He distributed, he gave to the poor, his good works last forever. God who provides the sower with seed will also provide him with the bread he eats. He will multiply the seed for you and also increase the interests of your good works. Gospel: Jn 12:24–26 Jesus said, Truly, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Those who love their life destroy it, and those who despise their life in this world keep it for everlasting life. Whoever wants to serve me, let him follow me and wherever I am, there shall my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

oday’s parable by Jesus of the grain of wheat, dying in order to produce a crop, highlights the truth of a very old epithet: we have to die, before we can rise! Often, when we look at ourselves and the evil that we have done when our flesh was weak, we can despair that our flesh will be weak again and we will do evil things again, that God will measure us by them and we will suffer. But Christ, Himself, descended from the throne of God, all the way down to a handkerchief-sized country, into the womb of a young virgin of working class. He was born in a stinking stable and laid in an itchy manger. He suffered the indignity of the cross. He descended very low, indeed. We should remember that, when we acknowledge our sins to Christ, not hiding out of shame, He forgives our sins and erases our guilt. When we acknowledge how low we have gone, He measures our soul by how high we can rise…and He lifts us up, very high indeed. Christ knows that the measure of our soul is not how low we can go, but how high we can rise!

1st Reading: Dt 31:1–8* When Moses finished telling all Israel these words, he said, “I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I can no longer deal with anything—Remember that Yahweh told me that I shall not cross the Jordan River. Now Joshua shall be at your head, as Yahweh has said. He, your God, will go before you to destroy these nations before you, and you will drive them away. … After this, Moses called Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel: “Be valiant and strong, you shall go with this people into the land which Yahweh swore to their ancestors he would give them and you shall give it to them as their possession. Yahweh shall go before you. He shall be with you; he shall not leave you or abandon you. Do not fear, then, or be discouraged.”

tuesday

August

19th Week in Ordinary Time Clare Psalter: Week 3

Dt 32:3–4ab, 7, 8, 9 and 12 The portion of the Lord is his people.

Gospel: Mt 18:1–5, 10, 12–14 The disciples came to Jesus and asked him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child, set the child in the midst of the disciples, and said, “I assure you that unless you change and become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes lowly like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and whoever receives such a child in my name receives me. “See that you do not despise any of these little ones, for I tell you: their angels in heaven continually see the face of my heavenly Father. “What do you think of this? If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them strays, won’t he leave the ninetynine on the hillside, and go to look for the stray one? And I tell you: when he finally finds it, he is more pleased about it than about the ninety-nine that did not get lost. It is the same with your Father in heaven: there they don’t want even one of these little ones to be lost.”

oses assured Israel of God’s constant presence. It should be remembered that the ancient world was not interested in gods as some abstract theological concept. They would have thought of modern theologians, by and large, as crazy. God was only of value as He acted in the lives of the people, protecting them, providing for them, and meeting their daily needs. In a strangely eerie way, this is still how we are, today: we are God’s spiritual Israel. He encourages our faith and hope; He will never fail us. When Moses commended Joshua as their leader, whose wisdom, courage and affection they had long known, the thing to notice was the fact that it didn’t matter who their leader was, because God would be with them, protecting them. That is still the deciding factor: it doesn’t matter who our leader is, or who we are, when we have God with us. Therefore, we ought to be of good cheer; through God, we shall be victorious. Whenever we step out in obedience to His will, the whole world will come to know that we are, in fact, acting on God’s instruction!

12 August wednesday

19th Week in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 3

Ps 66:1–3a, 5 and 8, 16–17 Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire!

1st Reading: Dt 34:1–12* From the barren plain of Moab, Moses went up to Mount Nebo, to the summit of Pisgah, opposite Jericho. And Yahweh showed him all the Land: from Gilead to Dan, the whole of Naphtali, the land of Ephraim, and of Manasseh, the whole land of Judah, as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, the Plains, the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. And Yahweh said to him: “This is the land about which I swore to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, promising it to their descendants. I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you shall not enter it.” … Gospel: Mt 18:15–20 Jesus said to his disciples, “If your brother or sister has sinned against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are in private, and if he listens to you, you have won your brother. If you are not listened to, take with you one or two others so that the case may be decided by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he still refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembled Church. But if he does not listen to the Church, then regard such a one as a pagan or a publican. “I say to you: whatever you bind on earth, heaven will keep bound; and whatever you unbind on earth, heaven will keep unbound. “In like manner, I say to you: if on earth two of you are united in asking for anything, it will be granted to you by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered in my Name, I am there among them.”

oses died after standing atop Mount Nebo and surveying Canaan, the Promised Land. He died within sight of heaven and the future life. But, however unique his death may have been, in many ways it was like our own. By God’s grace and by all that God tells us about heaven and how death brings us there, the same opportunity is afforded to us as was afforded to Moses, before his death. In Moses’ death, we have a picture of every Christian’s death: as an appointment, made by God, at a definite time; as a step that we might take with some regrets, but with wonderful confidence; as a step that we take within sight of the world to come; as a step, which God will attend and which we will not make alone; and as a step that is not the end, but the beginning of our lives. Death is the beginning of the soul’s perfect and sinless life in the presence of God’s glory. We should not miss the point that Moses’ death and burial are, a symbol of the death that awaits all of us, who die, believing in Christ.

1st Reading: Jos 3:7–10a, 11, 13–17* Then Yahweh said to Joshua: “Today I will begin to make you great in the eyes of Israel and they shall know that I am with you as I was with Moses. Give this order to the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: As soon as you come to the banks of the Jordan, stand still in the river.” …When the priests who carry the Ark of the Lord of all the earth put their feet into the water of the Jordan, the water coming from upstream shall stop flowing and stand in one single mass.” When those who carried the Ark went down to the river and their feet touched the edge of the water, the water from upstream stopped flowing. The water stood still, forming something like a dam very far from that place. … The priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant remained in the middle of the river which dried up, until all the Israelites had crossed the Jordan.

thursday

August

19th Week in Ordinary Time Pontian / Hippolytus Psalter: Week 3

Ps 114:1–2, 3–4, 5–6 Alleluia!

Gospel: Mt 18:21—19:1* Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how many times must I forgive the offenses of my brother or sister? Seven times?” Jesus answered, “No, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. … A king decided to settle the accounts of his servants. Among the first was one who owed him ten thousand gold ingots. As the man could not repay the debt, the king commanded that he be sold as a slave… The official threw himself at the feet of the king and said, ‘Give me time, and I will pay you back everything.’ The king took pity on him and not only set him free but even canceled his debt. “This official then left the king’s presence and he met one of his companions who owed him a hundred pieces of silver. … ‘Pay me what you owe!’ His companion threw himself at his feet and asked him, ‘Give me time, and I will pay everything.’ The other did not agree, but sent him to prison until he had paid all his debt. His companions saw what happened. … so they went and reported everything to their lord. Then the lord summoned his official and said, ‘Wicked servant, I forgave you all that you owed when you begged me to do so. Weren’t you bound to have pity on your companion as I had pity on you?’ The lord was now angry, so he handed his servant over to be punished, until he had paid his whole debt.” Jesus added, “So will my heavenly Father do with you unless each of you sincerely forgive your brother or sister.”

s we travel through life, we are encouraged to walk as far as we can, always depending on God for directions. We must expect and prepare to travel along pathways that we have not passed before; but, along the pathway of hope, we may proceed with boldness and cheerfulness. Whether we are called to suffer poverty, pain, labor, or persecution, we are following the author and the object of our faith. The miracle of God’s love and power is repeated in us. God’s love for us ought to encourage our hope that peace will be with us, just as it always was with the Israelites.

14 August friday

19th Week in Ordinary Time Maximilian Mary Kolbe Psalter: Week 3

Ps 136:1–3, 16–18, 21–22 and 24 His mercy endures forever.

1st Reading: Jos 24:1–13* … Addressing the people, Joshua said to them: “Yahweh, the God of Israel, commands me to say to you: Your ancestors lived beyond the Euphrates River—Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor—serving other gods. But I brought Abraham your father from beyond the Euphrates and led him through the whole land of Canaan. … Then I sent Moses and Aaron to punish Egypt in the way that you know, that you might leave. Then I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and you came to the sea. … … I gave you lands which you have not tilled, cities which you did not build but in which you now live. I gave you vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant but from which you now eat. Gospel: Mt 19:3–12* Some Pharisees approached Jesus. They wanted to test him and asked, “Is a man allowed to divorce his wife for any reason he wants?” Jesus replied, “Have you not read that in the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and he said: Man has now to leave father and mother, and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one body? So they are no longer two but one body; let no one separate what God has joined.” They asked him, “Then, why did Moses command us to write a bill of dismissal in order to divorce?” Jesus replied, “Moses knew your stubborn heart, so he allowed you to divorce your wives, but it was not so in the beginning. … The disciples said, “If that is the condition of a married man, it is better not to marry.” Jesus said to them, “Not everybody can accept what you have just said, but only those who have received this gift. Some are born incapable of marriage. Some have been made that way by others. But there are some who have given up the possibility of marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who can accept it, accept it.”

ike Joshua and the Israelites, we can renew our commitment to God and his Word. In Canaan, there were seven nations greater and mightier than Israel that had to be dispossessed and destroyed. But, just as no nation could defeat Joshua and Israel under God, so no being in the spirit realm can withstand the power of Christ, who has defeated Satan, and is now at God’s right hand. Joshua spoke to the Israelites in God’s name. The doctrinal part of his sermon was a history of the great things God had done for his people. The application of this history was an exhortation to fear and serve God. As Christians, we must remember that spiritual victory lies in obedience to God through the power of His resurrected Son, Jesus Christ. We must never think our work for God is done, until our life is done. If He lengthens out our days beyond what we expected, it is because He has some further service for us to do.

1st Reading: Rev 11:19a; 12:1–6a, 10ab* A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman, clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain, looking to her time of delivery. Then another sign appeared: a huge, red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and wearing seven crowns on its heads. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour the child as soon as it was born. She gave birth to a male child, the one who is to rule all the nations with an iron scepter; then her child was seized and taken up to God and to his throne while the woman fled to the desert where God had prepared a place for her. …

saturday

August

Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary Psalter: Proper

Ps 45: 10, 11, 12, 16 The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.

2nd Reading: 1 Cor 15:20–27 Gospel: Lk 1:39–56* Mary entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit, and giving a loud cry, said, “You are most blessed among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb! … And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit exults in God my savior! He has looked upon his servant in her lowliness, and people forever will call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, Holy is his Name! He has acted with power and done wonders, and scattered the proud with their plans. He has put down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up those who are downtrodden. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He held out his hand to Israel, his servant, for he remembered his mercy, even as he promised our fathers, Abraham and his descendants forever.” Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned home.

y promulgating the bull, Munificentissimus Deus, on 1 November, 1950, Pope Pius XII infallibly declared that the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was a dogma of the Catholic faith. Likewise, the Second Vatican Council, in its dogmatic constitution, Lumen Gentium, taught that ‘the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, when her earthly life was over, and exalted by the Lord as queen over all things.’ It is not surprising that the Holy Spirit has led the Church to believe in Mary’s share in His glorification. So close was she to Christ on earth, she is with him, body and soul, in heaven. In the light of the Assumption of Mary, it is easy to pray to her with new meaning. She found joy in God her savior. She was the lowly handmaid, who deeply worshipped God and was raised to the heights. From her position of strength, she helps the lowly and the poor find justice on earth, and challenges the rich and powerful to distrust wealth and power as a source of happiness.

1st Reading: Pro 9:1–6 Wisdom has built her house set upon seven pillars; she has slaughtered her beasts, prepared her wine and laid her table. Next, she sent her servants to call from the central square of the city, “Pass by here, you who are fools.” To the senseless she says, “Come, eat and drink of the bread and wine I have prepared. Give up your foolishness and you will live; take the straight path of discernment.” 2nd Reading: Eph 5:15–20 Pay attention to how you behave. Do not live as the unwise do, but as responsible persons. Try to make good use of the present time, because these days are evil. So do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk: wine leads to levity; but be filled with the Holy Spirit. Gather together to pray with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and celebrate the Lord in your heart, giving thanks to God the Father in the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord, always and for everything.

Ps 34:2–3, 10–11, 12–13, 14–15 Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

sunday

Gospel: Jn 6:51–58 Jesus said to the crowds, “I am the living bread which has come from heaven; whoever eats of this bread will live forever. The bread I shall give is my flesh and I will give it for the life of the world.” The Jews were arguing among themselves, “How can this man give us flesh to eat?” So Jesus replied, “Truly, I say to you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood live with eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day. My flesh is really food and my blood is drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood, live in me and I in them. Just as the Father, who is life, sent me and I have life from the Father, so whoever eats me will have life from me. This is the bread which came from heaven; unlike that of your ancestors, who ate and later died. Those who eat this bread will live forever.”

August

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 4

n the beginning, the Lord gave breath to all living creatures and created man and woman in His own image and likeness. Now, the Lord stands before the assembled multitudes and states unabashedly that He is the Lord of life, and that those who come to Him in faith will live forever. Jesus institutes the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist so that we might live with Him for all eternity. By drawing near to the Lord Jesus in the sacraments we approach the source of everlasting life and place our trust that He alone can lead us through the valley of the shadow of death into the joys of eternal life. Food and drink are necessary for any journey; Jesus makes it abundantly clear that only the food and drink of His Body and Blood will give us the nourishment we need to experience the good life here on earth and the joy of eternal life in heaven.

17 August monday

20th Week in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 4

Ps 106:34–35, 36–37, 39–40, 43ab and 44 Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

1st Reading: Jdg 2:11–19* … When Yahweh saw that they had abandoned him to serve Baal and Ashtaroth, he became angry with his people and gave them into the hands of plunderers who left them in misery. He himself sold them to their enemies who completely surrounded the Israelites, so that these Israelites could no longer withstand them. Whenever they felt strong for an offensive, Yahweh would turn against them and send evil upon them, as he had warned them and sworn to do. And this caused much distress and anguish for the Israelites. Yahweh raised up “judges” (or liberators) who saved the Israelites from their exploiters. But neither did they obey those “judges” for they still prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them. … When Yahweh made a judge appear among his people, Yahweh was with him and saved them from their enemies. … But when the judge died, they again became worse than their ancestors—worshiping and serving other gods. They would not renounce their pagan practices and stubborn ways. Gospel: Mt 19:16–22 A young man approached him and asked, “Master, what good work must I do to receive eternal life?” Jesus answered, “Why do you ask me about what is good? Only one is Good. If you want to enter eternal life, keep the commandments.” The young man said, “Which commandments?” Jesus replied, “Do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “I have kept all these commandments, what is still lacking?” Jesus answered, “If you wish to be perfect, go and sell all that you possess and give the money to the poor and you will become the owner of a treasure in heaven. Then come back and follow me.” On hearing this answer, the young man went away sad for he was a man of great wealth.

e have a general idea of the course of things with the Israelites, during the time of the Judges. By forsaking God, they made themselves mean and miserable, just as they would have been great and happy, if they had continued to be faithful to Him. They served the meanest gods and the meanest princes of the nations around them. They would not reform; so crazy were they about their idols that they obstinately continued to backslide. God might, in justice, have abandoned them; but he wouldn’t do it to them, out of pity for them. When people cherish and indulge their corrupt appetites and passions, God justly leaves them to themselves and the power of their sins, which will be their ruin. God has told us how deceitful and desperately wicked our hearts can be; but, often, we aren’t willing to believe it, until, by sad experience, we find that it’s true. We need to examine how matters stand with ourselves and to pray without ceasing, so that we may be grounded in love and that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith. Let us declare war against sin, and follow after holiness for all of our days!

1st Reading: Jdg 6:11–24a* … The Angel of Yahweh said to him, “Yahweh be with you, valiant warrior.” Gideon answered, “Please, my lord, if Yahweh is with us, why is all this happening to us? Where are the wonders which our fathers recounted to us? … Yahweh then turned to him and said, “Go, and with your courage, save Israel from the Midianites. It is I who send you.” … Then the Angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the bread; put them on this rock, and pour the broth over them.” Gideon did so. At that moment, the Angel of Yahweh extended the staff he was holding and touched the meat and the bread. Suddenly, fire blazed from the rock. The fire consumed the meat and the bread, and the Angel of Yahweh disappeared. Gideon realized that he was the Angel of Yahweh and said, “Alas, O Lord Yahweh! I have seen the Angel of Yahweh face to face.” …

tuesday

August

20th Week in Ordinary Time Jane Frances de Chantal Psalter: Week 4

Ps 85:9, 11–12, 13–14 The Lord speaks of peace to his people.

Gospel: Mt 19:23–30 Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I say to you: it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, believe me: it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.” On hearing this the disciples were astonished and said, “Who, then, can be saved?” Jesus looked steadily at them and answered, “For humans it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Then Peter spoke up and said, “You see we have given up everything to follow you: what will be our lot?” Jesus answered, “You who have followed me, listen to my words: on the Day of Renewal, when the Son of Man sits on his throne in glory, you, too, will sit on twelve thrones to rule the twelve tribes of Israel. As for those who have left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or property for my Name’s sake, they will receive a hundredfold and be given eternal life. Many who are now first will be last, and many who are now last will be first.”

ideon was a brave man, who had led a life of obscurity; and yet he was stirred up to undertake something great. Even though he might have known that God was with him, Gideon was weak in faith. This made it difficult for him to reconcile the assurances of God with the distress, into which the Israelites were plunging headlong. The angel of God told him to act as Israel’s deliverer; and that was that. When the angel called the lowly Gideon a valiant warrior, God made him so. God takes delight in strengthening the humble and humbling the proud. Gideon wanted to have his faith confirmed. Now, while we don’t expect signs before our eyes as Gideon wanted, we must pray earnestly to God that, having found grace in His sight, He will show us a sign in our heart, by the powerful working of His spirit there. By such a sign of peace in our heart, we shall know that we have found grace in God’s sight. Even if our courage fails us, when we hear God’s words of peace within us, we shall know, for sure, that we shall persevere against all odds!

19 August wednesday

20th Week in Ordinary Time John Eudes Psalter: Week 4

Ps 21:2–3, 4–5, 6–7 Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

1st Reading: Jdg 9:6–15* … The trees once set out to find and anoint a king. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’ The olive tree answered, ‘Am I going to renounce the oil by which—thanks to me— gods and people are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’ The trees said to the fig tree: ‘Come and reign over us.’ The fig tree answered them, ‘Am I going to renounce my sweetness and my delicious fruit, to hold sway over the trees?’ … Then the trees said to the bramble bush: ‘Come, reign over us.’ The bramble bush answered the trees, ‘If you come in sincerity to anoint me as your king, then come near and take shelter in my shade; but if not, let fire break out of the bramble bush to devour even the cedars of Lebanon.’ Gospel: Mt 20:1–16* Jesus said to his disciples, “This story throws light on the kingdom of heaven. A landowner went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay the workers a salary of a silver coin for the day, and sent them to his vineyard. “He went out again at about nine in the morning, and seeing others idle in the square, he said to them: ‘You, too, go to my vineyard and I will pay you what is just.’ So they went. “The owner went out at midday and again at three in the afternoon, and he did the same. Finally he went out at the last working hour—it was the eleventh— and he saw others standing there. The master said: ‘Go and work in my vineyard.’ “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager: ‘Call the workers and pay them their wage,… ’Those who had come to work at the eleventh hour turned up and were given a denarius each (a silver coin). When it was the turn of the first, they thought they would receive more. But they, too, received a denarius each. … “They said: ‘These last hardly worked an hour, yet you have treated them the same as us who have endured the day’s burden and heat.’ The owner said to one of them: ‘Friend, I have not been unjust to you. Did we not agree on a denarius a day? So take what is yours and go. I want to give to the last the same as I give to you. …’ “So will it be: the last will be first, the first will be last.”

n ethical matters, humility means something like putting others first. If someone slaps us in rage, we don’t reciprocate rage, but we turn the other cheek, so that their rage can work itself out. If we don’t like someone slapping us, we are first to learn to love our enemy and then figure out the loving way to respond. If someone needs clothes, we don’t give them just the minimum; we see that they are cared for properly. Perhaps, it would be better for us to change the economic conditions that make people needy in the first place. The humility motif also has a psychological dimension that is the opposite of arrogance and the desire for glory, at the expense of others. Rather, our ambition should be to have a child-like mindset, focused on getting the job done with a minimum of fuss!

1st Reading: Jdg 11:29–39a* … Jephthah made a vow to Yahweh: “If you make me victorious, I shall sacrifice to you whoever first comes out of my house to meet me when I return from battle. He shall be for Yahweh and I shall offer him up through the fire.” Jephthah crossed the territory of the Ammonites to fight against them, and Yahweh gave him victory. … When Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, his daughter came out to meet him. …When Jephthah saw her, he tore his clothes and cried out, “My daughter, you have shattered me; you have brought me misfortune. For I have made a foolish vow to Yahweh, and now I cannot take it back.” She answered him, “Father, even if you have made such a foolish vow, you have to do to me just as you promised, for Yahweh has avenged you and crushed your enemies. I only beg of you to give me two months to live with my companions in the mountains. There I shall lament because I will never marry.” … At the end of two months, she returned to her father and he fulfilled the vow he had made. …

thursday

August

20th Week in Ordinary Time Bernard Psalter: Week 4

Ps 40:5, 7–8a, 8b–9, 10 Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Gospel: Mt 22:1–14* Jesus went on speaking to them in parables: “This story throws light on the kingdom of heaven. A king celebrated the wedding of his son. He sent his servants to call the invited guests to the wedding feast, but the guests refused to come. “Again he sent other servants ordering them to say to the invited guests: ‘I have prepared a banquet, … come then, to the wedding feast.’ But they paid no attention and went away. … “The king became angry. He sent his troops to destroy those murderers and burn their city. Then he said to his servants: ‘The wedding banquet is prepared, but the invited guests were not worthy. Go, then, to the crossroads and invite everyone you find to the wedding feast.’ “The servants went out at once into the streets and gathered everyone they found, good and bad alike, …“The king came in to see those who were at table, and he noticed a man not wearing the festal garment. So he said to him: ‘Friend, how did you get in without the wedding garment?’ But the man remained silent. So the king said to his servants: ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the dark where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “Know that many are called, but few are chosen.”

hat did Jesus mean when he said: “Many are called, but few are chosen”? Was he teaching that God offered salvation to many by giving it to a few? In a word: “No!” He was saying that many were invited to follow him, but that only a few would give him the respect due to him, and that they alone would be welcome in the kingdom. The most striking thing about this saying is that Jesus was defining the standard, set by God, of being a part of the kingdom: only by accepting Jesus would they come to God. In other words, Jesus was saying: “Many are invited, but only a few of those invited have met the criteria of paying proper respect for God to be fully accepted.”

21 August friday

1st Reading: Ru 1:1, 3–6, 14b–16, 22 There was a famine in the land during the time of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Judges, and a man from Bethlehem in Judah departed with Pius X his wife and two sons to sojourn in the country of Moab. Psalter: Week 4 Naomi’s husband Elimelech died. She was left with her two sons, who married Moabite women, one named Orpah and Ps 146:5–6ab, 6c–7, 8–9a, 9bc–10 the other Ruth. Praise the Lord, my soul! After living in Moab for about ten years, Mahlon and Chilion also died and Naomi was left bereft of husband and two sons. Having heard that Yahweh had come to help his people by giving them food, Naomi prepared to return home. Again they sobbed and wept. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye, but Ruth clung to her. Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law returns to her people and her gods. You too must return. Go after her.” Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you. For I will go where you go and stay where you stay. Your people will be my people and your god, my God. Thus it was that Naomi returned from Moab with her Moabite daughter-in-law and arrived in Bethlehem as the barley harvest began. Gospel: Mt 22:34–40 When the Pharisees heard how Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. One of them, a teacher of the Law, tried to test him with this question, “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the Law?” Jesus answered, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and the most important of the commandments. But after this there is another one very similar to it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole Law and the Prophets are founded on these two commandments.”

aomi wanted her daughters-in-law to return with her and live with the Israelites; but if they went with her, she didn’t want them to go on her account. She would have them make it their deliberate choice to sit down first and count the cost. Ruth was resolved to return with her, even when it involved making a new profession of faith in God. While Orpah was loath to part from her, she did not love Naomi well enough to leave Moab for her sake. Those, who take upon themselves a profession of faith, only to oblige their friends or family, generally end up being souls of little faith. As soon as their faith is tried by hardship, they tend to quit it, though perhaps with some sorrow. Thus, many have a value and affection for Christ, yet come up short of salvation by Him, when they refuse to forsake worldly things for Him. They don’t love Christ enough; they love worldly attractions better. Those, who adopt religious ways without resolve, stand like a door half-open, inviting in a thief; but, resolve in faith shuts and bolts the door, resists the devil and finds peace in God’s protection!

1st Reading: Ru 2:1–3, 8–11; 4:13–17* … Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Don’t go away from here to glean in anyone else’s field. Stay here with my women servants. See where the harvesters are and follow behind. I have ordered the men not to molest you. They have filled some jars with water. Go there and drink when you are thirsty.” Bowing down with her face to the ground, she exclaimed, “Why have I, a foreigner, found such favor in your eyes?” Boaz answered, “I have been told all about you—what you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband’s death, how you have gone with her, leaving your own father and mother and homeland, to live with a people you knew nothing about before you came here. So Ruth was taken by Boaz and became his wife. Yahweh made her conceive and give birth to a son. …

saturday

August

20th Week in Ordinary Time Queenship of Mary Psalter: Week 4

Ps 128:1b–2, 3, 4, 5. See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.

Gospel: Mt 23:1–12* Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees sat on the seat of Moses. So you shall do and observe all they say, but do not do as they do, for they do not do what they say. They tie up heavy burdens and load them on the shoulders of the people, but they do not even raise a finger to move them. … They enjoy the first place at feasts and reserved seats in the synagogues, and being greeted in the marketplace and being called ‘Master’ by the people. “But you, do not let yourselves be called Master because you have only one Master, and all of you are brothers and sisters. Neither should you call anyone on earth Father, because you have only one Father, he who is in heaven. Nor should you be called leader, because Christ is the only leader for you. Let the greatest among you be the servant of all. For whoever makes himself great shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be made great.”

oday, we have a heartwarming story, as remarkable for its simplicity as for the excellence of its values. The characters are models of virtue and goodness, to be emulated. Naomi is notable for the way she was concerned about the welfare of her daughter-in-law. Ruth displayed absolute loyalty to her mother-in-law and her adopted family. She was never motivated out of self-interest, but faithfully sought to preserve the family. The story demonstrates how ordinary people find peace and security when they behave unselfishly. Indeed Ruth, a foreigner, became the great-grandmother of David, the greatest monarch of Israel, and the linear ancestor of Jesus, through whom myriads of us were re-born into God. God’s heritage extends to all of us…gentiles as well as those of Jewish descent! In becoming the ancestor of David and Jesus, Ruth was instrumental in the happiness of all of us, who are saved by God. She was a witness for God to the whole world; so much so that, no matter who we are, we can accept God’s invitation to salvation.

1st Reading: Jos 24:1–2a, 15–17, 18b Joshua summoned all the tribes of Israel in Shechem, and assembled the elders, leaders, judges and secretaries. And together they presented themselves before God. Addressing the people, Joshua said to them: “Yahweh, the God of Israel, commands me to say to you: Your ancestors lived beyond the Euphrates River Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor serving other gods. But if you do not want to serve Yahweh, make known this very day whom you shall serve whether they be the gods your ancestors served in Mesopotamia or the gods of the Amorites who formerly occupied the land in which you now live. As for me, I and my household will serve Yahweh.” The people answered: “May God not permit that we ever abandon Yahweh to serve other gods! For it was he who brought us and our ancestors out of Egypt, the house of slavery. It was he who did those great wonders that we have seen; he protected us on the way and through all the land where we passed, driving away before us all the nations especially the Amorites who lived in this land. So we shall also serve Yahweh: he is our God!” 2nd Reading: Eph 5:21–32 Let all kinds of submission to one another become obedience to Christ. So wives to their husbands: as to the Lord. The husband is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head of the Church, his body, of whom he is also the Savior. And as the Church submits to Christ, so let a wife submit in everything to her husband. As for you, husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her. He washed her and made her holy by baptism in the Word. As he wanted a radiant Church without stain or wrinkle or any blemish, but holy and blameless, he himself had to prepare and present her to himself. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they love their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. And no one has ever hated his body; he feeds and takes care of it. That is just what Christ does for the Church, because

Ps 34:2–3, 16–17, 18–19, 20–21, 22–23 Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. we are a part of his body. Scripture says: Because of this a man shall leave his father and mother to be united with his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a very great mystery, and I refer to Christ and the Church.

sunday

Gospel: Jn 6:60–69 After hearing his doctrine, many of Jesus’ followers said, “This language is very hard! Who can accept it?” Jesus was aware that his disciples were murmuring about this and so he said to them, “Does this offend you? Then how will you react when you see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh cannot help. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. But among you there are some who do not believe.” From the beginning, Jesus knew who would betray him. So he added, “As I have told you, no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.” After this many disciples withdrew and no longer followed him. Jesus asked the Twelve, “Will you also go away?” Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We now believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

August

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 1

hat are we to make of the Bread of Life Discourse? How are we to interpret the claim of Jesus that His flesh is real food and His blood real drink? Some interpret that saying of Jesus merely as a metaphor for His life-giving Word. Still others follow the lead of those who left Jesus upon hearing those words, never being able to accept the literal interpretation of those words, and never to follow Him again. St. Peter acts for the apostles and for the whole Church when He chooses to stay with the Lord, absolutely staking his faith on the Lord Jesus as the Holy One of God, and upon His words being completely reliable and true. At the heart of our Catholic faith is the Holy Eucharist, the sacrament through which we encounter the substantial presence of the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of the Lord. Through the Holy Eucharist we meet the Lord and receive the great gift that He gives us, the gift of His Body and Blood. Even if our minds struggle to comprehend this sublime mystery our hearts can say with St. Peter, “Lord, to whom shall we go” You have the words of eternal life.?”

24 August monday

Bartholomew, apostle Psalter: Proper

Ps 145:10–11, 12–13, 17–18 Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

1st Reading: Rev 21:9b–14 Then one of the seven angels came to me, one of those with the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues. And he said, “Come, I am going to show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” He took me up in a spiritual vision to a very high mountain and he showed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shines with the glory of God, like a precious jewel with the color of crystal-clear jasper. Its wall, large and high, has twelve gates; stationed at them are twelve angels. Over the gates are written the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. Three gates face the east; three gates face the north; three gates face the south and three face the west. The city wall stands on twelve foundation stones on which are written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Gospel: Jn 1:45–51 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found the one that Moses wrote about in the Law, and the prophets as well: he is Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” Nathanael replied, “Can anything good come from Naza reth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming, he said of him, “Here comes an Israelite, a true one; there is nothing false in him.” Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?” And Jesus said to him, “Before Philip called you, you were under the fig tree and I saw you.” Nathanael answered, “Master, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” But Jesus replied, “You believe because I said: ‘I saw you under the fig tree.’ But you will see greater things than that. Truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

athanael made a prejudicial remark about Jesus coming from Nazareth, but was quick to withdraw it, after he had met Jesus. All of us, who want to follow the word of God, must beware of prejudices against places of birth, racial or denominational differences in others. When we look closely for ourselves, we will sometimes find good in places, where we looked for none. Many people are kept from the ways of God by the unreasonable prejudices they conceive. At least, in Nathanael there was no guile. He was not hypocritical, nor was he dishonest. He was of sound character, an upright, godly man. Jesus witnessed true character when Nathanael was under the fig tree. He might have been in prayer, seeking direction as to the hope and consolation of Israel. But Jesus knew what he was, and this showed him that Jesus knew the secrets of his heart. Likewise, we should seek to be one of those, of whom it is said: there is no guile. While imperfections are found in all of us, hypocrisy doesn’t belong to our Christian character. When Christ communes with us in prayer, things in heaven and things on earth are reconciled and united together.

1st Reading: 1 Thes 2:1–8 You well know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not in vain. We had been ill-treated and insulted in Philippi but, trusting in our God, we dared announce to you the message of God, and face fresh opposition. Our warnings did not conceal any error or impure motive, nor did we deceive anyone. But as God had entrusted his Gospel to us as to faithful ministers, we were anxious to please God who sees the heart, rather than human beings. We never pleased you with flattery, as you know, nor did we try to earn money, as God knows. We did not try to make a name for ourselves among people, either with you or anybody else, although we were messengers of Christ and could have made our weight felt. On the contrary, we were gentle with you, as a nursing mother who feeds and cuddles her baby. And so great is our concern that we are ready to give you, as well as the Gospel, even our very lives, for you have become very dear to us.

tuesday

August

21st Week in Ordinary Time Louis of France / Joseph Calasanz Psalter: Week 1

Ps 139:1–3, 4–6 You have searched me and you know me, Lord.

Gospel: Mt 23:23–26 Jesus said, “Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You do not forget the mint, anise and cumin seeds when you pay the tenth of everything, but then you forget what is most fundamental in the Law: justice, mercy and faith. These you must practice, without neglecting the others. Blind guides! You strain out a mosquito, but swallow a camel. “Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You fill the plate and the cup with theft and violence, and then pronounce a blessing over them. Blind Pharisee! Purify the inside first, then the outside too will be purified.”

he scribes and Pharisees extended the law into every aspect of life. It filled their lives and became the purpose of their being. They reflected their expansion of the law and left off the search for the heart of God. In the process, their lives no longer reflected the way, the love, the life, of God’s heart. This was why Jesus said that they were blind guides leading the blind. They knew the surface of the law, but not that which supported the law, God’s heart…God’s love. Because of this lack of understanding they went astray. If the law was a bowl of soup they could pick out the smallest thing that didn’t belong and yet the biggest themes would be swallowed whole. Upon swallowing a camel, it then became a part of the body of law. It was in the applying of this new false understanding of the law that led to their mistakes in thinking, to which Jesus referred. We are what we are inside of us. Our outward motives may keep the outside clean, while the inside is filthy. But if we want to achieve newness of life, we must begin by cleansing our interior selves.

26 August wednesday

21st Week in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 1

Ps 139:7–8, 9–10, 11–12ab You have searched me and you know me, Lord.

1st Reading: 1 Thes 2:9–13 Remember our labor and toil; when we preached the Gospel, we worked day and night so as not to be a burden to you. You are witnesses with God that we were holy, just and blameless toward all of you who now believe. We warned each of you as a father warns his children; we encouraged you and urged you to adopt a way of life worthy of God who calls you to share his own glory and kingdom. This is why we never cease giving thanks to God for, on receiving our message, you accepted it, not as human teaching, but as the word of God. That is what it really is, and as such it is at work in you who believe. Gospel: Mt 23:27–32 Jesus said, “Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs beautiful in appearance, but inside there are only dead bones and uncleanness. In the same way you appear as religious to others, but you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness within. “Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous. You say: Had we lived in the time of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in the blood of prophets. So, you yourselves confess to be kins of those who murdered the prophets. And now, finish off what your ancestors began!”

ypocrisy is the deliberate affectation of more virtue than one actually has. In our minds, the word hypocrisy suggests the outward display of piety, goodness, or sincerity when one is, in reality, irreligious, corrupt, and insincere. Therefore, it connotes more than pretense or affectation, but the assumption of goodness and piety when one is neither good nor pious and does not want to be. Thus hypocrisy, in the modern sense, should be understood as a kind of purposeful, selfserving, and deceitful play acting. When Jesus called the scribes and certain of the Pharisees hypocrites, he put a different emphasis on the word than we usually do. Their sin was not primarily dissembling, of feigning piety and righteousness, though that certainly revealed a deeper illness. Rather, he was chiding them for an obstinate, self-righteous conviction of their own goodness. To emphasize, Jesus attacked them because of their insistence that their standard of righteousness was correct when, in reality, it was nothing short of apostasy. Their perversion destroyed the works of God and actually led people into unrighteousness. Because of their self-perceived correctness, they could not repent; and because they could not repent, they could not receive the Spirit of God.

1st Reading: 1 Thes 3:7–13 What a consolation for us, brothers and sisters, in the midst of our troubles and trials, this faith of yours! It is a breath of life for us when you stand firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for all the joy that we feel before God because of you? Day and night we beg of him to let us see you again, that we may complete the instruction of the believers. May God our Father and Jesus our Lord prepare the way for us to visit you. May the Lord increase more and more your love for each other and for all people, as he increases our love for you. May he strengthen you internally to be holy and blameless before God, our Father, on the day that Jesus, our Lord, will come with all his saints.

thursday

August

21st Week in Ordinary Time Monica Psalter: Week 1

Ps 90:3–5a, 12–13, 14 and 17 Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!

Gospel: Mt 24:42–51 Jesus said to his disciples, “Stay awake, then, for you do not know on what day your Lord will come. Just think about this: if the owner of the house knew that the thief would come by night around a certain hour, he would stay awake to prevent his house to be broken into. So be alert, for the Son of Man will come at the hour you least expect. “Imagine a capable servant whom his master has put in charge of his household to give them food at the proper time. Fortunate indeed is that servant whom his master will find at work when he comes. Truly, I say to you, his lord will entrust that one with everything he has. “Not so with the bad servant who thinks: My master is delayed. And he begins ill-treating his fellow servants while eating and drinking with drunkards. But his master will come on the day he does not know and at the hour he least expects. He will dismiss that servant and deal with him as with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

o watch for Christ’s coming, is to maintain that frame of mind, in which we would be hoping that He would find us. We cannot know how much time we have to live, much less can we know the time fixed for the last judgment. Christ’s coming will be happy for those of us, who are found ready. But those, who choose the world for their portion in this life, will have hell for their portion in the other life. May Christ, when He comes, pronounce us blessed and present us to God, fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in heaven. We must not become numb to this. We must not become numb to the deaths of those who die as a consequence of poverty, through lack of food or health care or shelter, for lack of hope or possibility, in our own country or elsewhere in the world. “How can I give you up?” God cries, knowing the consequences of us continuing on as we are. Our Christian tradition does not soften the reality of crucifixion. What it does affirm is that devastation, loss, and crucifixion do not have the last word. That belongs to God!

28 August friday

21st Week in Ordinary Time Augustine Psalter: Week 1

Ps 97:1 and 2b, 5–6, 10, 11–12 Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

1st Reading: 1 Thes 4:1–8 For the rest, brothers, we ask you in the name of Jesus, the Lord, and we urge you to live in a way that pleases God, just as you have learned from us. This you do, but try to do still more. You know the instructions we gave you on behalf of the Lord Jesus: the will of God for you is to become holy and not to have unlawful sex. Let each of you behave towards his wife as a holy and respectful husband, rather than being led by lust, as are pagans who do not know God. In this matter, let no one offend or wrong a brother. The Lord will do justice in all these things, as we have warned and shown you. God has called us to live, not in impurity but in holiness, and those who do not heed this instruction disobey, not a human, but God himself who gives you his Holy Spirit. Gospel: Mt 25:1–13 Jesus told his disciples this parable: “This story throws light on what will happen in the kingdom of heaven. Ten bridesmaids went out with their lamps to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were careless while the others were sensible. “The careless bridesmaids took their lamps as they were and did not bring extra oil. But those who were sensible, brought with their lamps flasks of oil. As the bridegroom delayed, they all grew drowsy and fell asleep. “But at midnight, a cry rang out: ‘The bridegroom is here, come out and meet him!’ All the maidens woke up at once and trimmed their lamps. Then the careless ones said to the sensible ones: ‘Give us some oil, for our lamps are going out.’ The sensible ones answered: ‘There may not be enough for both you and us. You had better go to those who sell and buy for yourselves.’ “They were out buying oil when the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him to the wed-ding feast, and the doors were shut. “Later the rest of the bridesmaids arrived and called out: ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ But he answered: ‘Truly, I do not know you.’ “So, stay awake, for you do not know the day nor the hour.”

ur world has an urgent need for witnesses. We must witness that our identity is centered on true spirituality, and that our morality derives from that spirituality. We must witness that our faith challenges many of the values of the dominant secular culture. We must witness that our traditions have great meaning for us. We must witness that challenging commitments offer firm principles by which we may live our lives. We must witness that adherence to traditional morality often comes at a considerable personal cost: perhaps of losing family, friends, even jobs. We must witness that what we have found in Christ is true and real. We must witness by seeking our lasting happiness. We must witness by striving for personal holiness and authenticity. Witness has no room for complacency, hypocrisy, or self-indulgence. For all those who wish to be authentic witnesses, a life of prayer and reflection is crucial. As effective witnesses, we must have an unambiguous mind, a well-formed conscience and a passion for the way of life that leads us to eternity.

1st Reading: Jer 1:17–19 But you, get ready for action; stand up and say to them all that I command you. Be not scared of them or I will scare you in their presence! See, I will make you a fortified city, a pillar of iron with walls of bronze, against all the nations, against the kings and princes of Judah, against the priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but shall not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue you—it is Yahweh who speaks.”

saturday

August

Beheading of John the Baptist Psalter: Week 1

Ps 71:1–2, 3–4a, 5–6b, 15ab and 17 I will sing your salvation.

Gospel: Mk 6:17–29* Herod had ordered John the Baptist to be arrested and had him bound and put in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. Herod had married her and John had told him, “It is not right for you to live with your brother’s wife.” So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him, but she could not because Herod respected John. He knew John to be an upright and holy man and kept him safe. … Herodias had her chance on Herod’s birthday, when he gave a dinner for all the senior government officials, military chiefs and the leaders of Galilee. On that occasion the daughter of Herodias came in and danced; and she delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want and I will give it to you.” And he went so far as to say with many oaths, “I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom.” She went out to consult her mother, “What shall I ask for?” The mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried to the king and made her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist, here and now, on a dish.” The king was very displeased, but he would not refuse in front of his guests because of his oaths. So he sent one of the bodyguards with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded John in prison; then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl. And the girl gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard of this, they came and took his body and buried it.

he drunken oath of a king with a shallow sense of honor, a seductive dance and the hateful heart of a queen combined to bring about the martyrdom of John the Baptist. The “voice crying in the desert” did not hesitate to accuse the guilty, did not hesitate to speak the truth. John’s life and death were a giving-over of self for God and other people. His simple style of life was one of complete detachment from earthly possessions. His heart was centered on God and the call that he heard from the Spirit of God speaking to his heart. Confident of God’s grace, he had the courage to speak words of condemnation or repentance, of salvation. Each of us has a calling, to which we must listen. It is our role to witness to Christ’s love in our lives. Whatever our position in this world, we are called to be Christ’ disciples. By our words and deeds, others should realize that we live in the joy of knowing Christ. We don’t have to depend upon our own limited resources, but we can draw strength from the vastness of Christ’s saving grace.

1st Reading: Dt 4:1–2, 6–8 And now, Israel, listen to the norms and laws which I teach that you may put them into practice. And you will live and enter and take possession of the land which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, gives you. Do not add anything to what I command you nor take anything away from it. But keep the commandments of Yahweh, your God, as I command you. If you observe and practice them, other peoples will regard you as wise and intelligent. When they come to know of all these laws, they will say, “There is no people as wise and as intelligent as this great nation.” For in truth, is there a nation as great as ours, whose gods are as near to it as Yahweh, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? And is there a nation as great as ours whose norms and laws are as just as this Law which I give you today? 2nd Reading: Jas 1:17–18, 21–22, 27 Every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of Light, in whom there is no change or shadow of a change. By his own will he gave us life through the Word of Truth, that we might be a kind of offering to him among his creatures. So get rid of any filth and reject the prevailing evil, and welcome the Word that has been Ps 15:2–3, 3–4, 4–5 planted in you and has the power to save you. The one who does justice will live Be doers of the Word and not just hearers, lest in the presence of the Lord. you deceive yourselves. In the sight of God, our Father, pure and blameless religion lies in helping the orphans and widows in their need and keeping oneself from the world’s corruption.

Gospel: Mk 7:1–8, 14–15, 21–23 One day the Pharisees gathered around Jesus and with them were some teachers of the Law who had just come from Jerusalem. They noticed that some of his disciples were eating their meal with unclean hands, that is, without washing them. Now the Pharisees, and in fact, all the Jews, never eat without washing their hands for they follow the tradition received from their ancestors. Nor do they eat anything when they come from the market without first washing themselves. And there are many other traditions they observe, for example, the ritual washing of cups, pots and plates. So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law asked him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders, but eat with unclean hands?” Jesus answered, “You, shallow people! How well Isaiah prophesied of you when he wrote: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. The worship they offer me is worthless, for what they teach are only human rules. You even put aside the commandment of God to hold fast to human tradition.” Jesus then called the people to him again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and try to understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can make that person unclean. It is what comes out from within that makes unclean. For evil designs come out of the heart: theft, murder, adultery, jealousy, greed, maliciousness, deceit, indecency, slander, pride and folly. All these evil things come from within and make a person unclean.”

sunday

August

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 2

he discussion about cleanliness in today’s Gospel centers around Jewish traditions of washing hands and purifying vessels so as to put them to good and holy use. External rituals are performed so as to signify interior sentiments of piety and holiness. Jesus challenges the Pharisees to make certain that the interior movements of their hearts truly live up to what they profess with their words and ritual gestures. For Jesus, holiness is not just a matter of observing a collection of precepts. Rather, holiness is a way of life, striving to love the Lord with all of one’s heart, mind, soul and strength. How do we become holy? How do we attain the cleanliness spoken of in the Gospel? We do so by drawing near to the One who is all holy, the Lord Jesus who enters our lives through the sacraments of the Church so that we might experience renewal of heart and conversion of life. By drawing near to the Lord Jesus in Word and Sacrament we allow Him to influence our attitudes, thoughts and actions. May we seek the holiness that allows us to be “doers of the Word and not merely hearers.”

31 August monday

1st Reading: 1 Thes 4:13–18 Brothers and sisters, we want you not to be mistaken about 22nd Week in Ordinary Time those who are already asleep, lest you grieve as do those who Psalter: Week 2 have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose; it will be the same for those who have died in Jesus. God will bring Ps 96:1 and 3, 4–5, 11–12, 13 them together with Jesus and for his sake. By the same word The Lord comes to judge the earth. of the Lord we assert this: those of us who are to be alive at the Lord’s coming will not go ahead of those who are already asleep. When the command by the archangel’s voice is given, the Lord himself will come down from heaven, while the divine trumpet call is sounding. Then those who have died in the Lord will rise first; as for us who are still alive, we will be brought along with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the celestial world. And we will be with the Lord forever. So, then comfort one another with these words. Gospel: Lk 4:16–30* When Jesus came to Nazareth where he had been brought up, he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath as he usually did. He stood up to read and they handed him the book of the prophet Isaiah. Jesus then unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and new sight to the blind; to free the oppressed and announce the Lord’s year of mercy.” … Then he said to them, “Today these prophetic words come true even as you listen.” All agreed with him and were lost in wonder, while he kept on speaking of the grace of God. Nevertheless they asked, “Who is this but Joseph’s son?” … Jesus added, “No prophet is honored in his own country. Truly, I say to you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens withheld rain for three years and six months and a great famine came over the whole land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow of Zarephath, in the country of Sidon. … On hearing these words, the whole assembly became indignant. They rose up and brought him out of the town, to the edge of the hill on which Nazareth is built, intending to throw him down the cliff. But he passed through their midst and went his way.

esus was accepted by some and rejected by others. But the oftentimes most amazing coincidence is that those, who rejected him were those who were closest to him. He didn’t do any miracles before them, because of their lack of faith. Jesus had to leave Nazareth because the people there not only rejected him, they would have killed him, just because he spoke the truth to them. Many think that if we are born into what is considered a Christian land, we are qualified to be called Christians. But this is altogether wrong! Most of the existing knowledge of Jesus is extremely shallow and is greatly corrupted with erroneous views, with respect to his teaching and also his mission. Let us not be likewise: when we see the great miracles of life that are done for us, when we hear Christ’s words of truth and, it’s time to repent and trust Him with our lives!