Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection August 10, 2024
Eighteenth Week of Ordinary Time
10th August 2024 (Saturday)
Psalter: Week 2
Reading of the Day
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 9:6b-10
Brethren: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor, his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
Psalm 112:1b-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9 (R. 5a)
R/. It goes well for the man who deals generously and lends.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel : John 12:24-26
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honour him.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Saturday – Eighteenth Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: True love empties itself totally and gives totally to God and others. A love that does not lead one to piety and charity, is not true
1. Today we venerate St Lawrence, one of the most popular martyrs of Rome of the first centuries. Both the readings very well fit him. Quite in tune with Jesus’ words, Lawrence did not love or preserve his life but sacrificed it for the sake of the Lord.
2. Thus he kept it for eternal life. He served the Lord and so he followed him to the end till death. He trusted unswervingly in our God who can provide us with every blessing in abundance for every good work. Therefore, he abounded in every act of charity and generosity toward the poor.
3. He cooperated joyfully with the God who supplies seed to the sower, multiplies the resources, and increases the harvest of righteousness. Therefore, he sowed bountifully and also reaped bountifully a rich harvest of holiness and goodness.
4. He was a cheerful giver and so the Lord deeply loved him. Like a grain of wheat that loses itself to live with a new life and bear fruit, so also Lawrence abnegated himself to fill others. Death to egoism in self-denial and life to others in altruism marked his whole life.
5. That is why, as Jesus assured, “where I am, there shall my servant be also; if anyone serves me, the Father will honor him”, Lawrence the servant of the Lord remains in heaven where his master is, and he is honored by the Father because he served the Son
Practice: Sacrifice and service are the hallmarks of a true disciple of Christ. One who refuses to sacrifice his self-interests and fails to place himself to serve others is an unworthy disciple