Tenth Week of Ordinary Time
15th June 2024 (Saturday)
Psalter: Week 2
Reading of the Day
First Reading: 1 Kings 19:19-21
In those days: Elijah departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.
Psalm 16:1b-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10 (R.See 5a)
R/. It is you, O Lord, who are my portion.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Bend my heart, O God, to your decrees grant me mercy by your law.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel : Matthew 5:27-32
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Saturday – Tenth Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: God calls us in our own given situations, but once called, both our situation and also the situation of others will change
1. Truthfulness and faithfulness are the hallworks of a true follower of Christ. The custom of Swearing must be seen in this context. Apparently, swearing seems quite useful in convincing the other and providing a sense of assurance.
2. Thus it appears as an expression of firmness and trust. But if we reflect a little deep, we see that it can convey the contrary. It implies a lack of honesty, truthfulness and credibility. We are not so sure that we cannot be counted as reliable by our own selves.
3. Therefore, we call upon other factors like God God or God’s grace, temple or altar etc. Swearing indirectly implies there is inadequate self-responsibility and the weightage of persuasion is shifted onto these other reliables. The concern is not so much keeping the oath or breaking it, but rather fostering a consistent sense of self-responsibility, reliability, and truthfulness
4. It is better to develop this sense of self-responsibility and truthfulness. These increase trustworthiness. These are essential for any mission. Elisha is bestowed with the grace of succession after Elijah because God finds him trustworthy to continue His mission.
Practice: It is only truthfulness and trustworthiness that can stand us countable and reliable in the sight of God and others.