Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection August 13, 2024
Nineteenth Week of Ordinary Time
13th August 2024 (Tuesday)
Psalter: Week 3
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Ezekiel 28:1-10
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord God: Because your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas,’ yet you are but a man, and no god, though you make your heart like the heart of a god—you are indeed wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you; by your wisdom and your understanding you have made wealth for yourself, and have gathered gold and silver into your treasuries; by your great wisdom in your trade you have increased your wealth, and your heart has become proud in your wealth— therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you make your heart like the heart of a god, therefore, behold, I will bring foreigners upon you, the most ruthless of the nations; and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom and defile your splendour. They shall thrust you down into the pit, and you shall die the death of the slain in the heart of the seas. Will you still say, ‘I am a god,’ in the presence of those who kill you, though you are but a man, and no god, in the hands of those who slay you? You shall die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of foreigners; for I have spoken, declares the Lord God.”
Deuteronomy 32:26-27ab, 27cd-28, 30, 35cd-36ab (R. 39c)
R/. It is I who deal death and give life.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Though Jesus Christ was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel : Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14
At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me. See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Tuesday – Nineteenth Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: The perspective and the ways of God are always in contrast to the mere human ways. If we belong to God, we must be attuned to God
1. There is always a great desire and search for greatness. But the world has a false concept and means of greatness. This greatness is mostly measured in terms of ability and abundance. It is mostly in terms of physical, material, intellectual, and social power and competence. Thus, strength, money, possessions, power, position, influence, skill, tact, and success are seen as the signs of greatness.
2. Accordingly, greatness is often equated with being superior to others, being placed higher and better than others, and being able to dominate and dictate over others. This is wrong. Jesus proposes before us a different kind of greatness. It is not the greatness of the big and the powerful, but the greatness of the children. He affirms emphatically unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
3. Jesus also clarifies what is this child-likeness. It is essentially being humble. A good child is not puffed up, does not put on airs, and does not act arrogantly. A child is aware of its smallness and littleness, be it in age or experience or maturity or efficiency.
4. Another essential trait of a child is submissiveness and surrender. We find this attitude of obedience in the first reading. God asks prophet Ezekiel not to be rebellious like Israel, but to open his mouth and eat the scroll that He gave. The prophet obeys God’s order. Similarly, a good child readily listens and surrenders to its parent’s direction.
5. Jesus also draws our attention to another characteristic of being a child. It is the fragility, and vulnerability to be easily influenced and led astray. Therefore, this childlike greatness also includes our receiving children. It means that we do not despise people on the basis of external yards of greatness. We accept and treat all with respect. We also take care of those who are weak and liable to go astray.
Practice: Often, there is a strong tendency to become great in a worldly way and also to associate with the big and great people. But the Lord calls us to be humble and to associate with the small and the weak