21 July 2012, Saturday of Week 15; St. Lawrence of Brindisi

FIRST READING
Micah 2:1-5

Woe to those who plan iniquity, and work out evil on their couches; In the morning light they accomplish it when it lies within their power. They covet fields, and seize them; houses, and they take them; They cheat an owner of his house, a man of his inheritance. Therefore thus says the LORD: Behold, I am planning against this race an evil from which you shall not withdraw your necks; Nor shall you walk with head high, for it will be a time of evil.

On that day a satire shall be sung over you, and there shall be a plaintive chant: “Our ruin is complete, our fields are portioned out among our captors, The fields of my people are measured out, and no one can get them back!” Thus you shall have no one to mark out boundaries by lot in the assembly of the LORD.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 10:1-2, 3-4, 7-8, 14

R. (12b) Do not forget the poor, O Lord!

Why, O LORD, do you stand aloof? Why hide in times of distress? Proudly the wicked harass the afflicted, who are caught in the devices the wicked have contrived.

R. Do not forget the poor, O Lord!

For the wicked man glories in his greed, and the covetous blasphemes, sets the LORD at nought. The wicked man boasts, “He will not avenge it”; “There is no God,” sums up his thoughts.

R. Do not forget the poor, O Lord!

His mouth is full of cursing, guile and deceit; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity. He lurks in ambush near the villages; in hiding he murders the innocent; his eyes spy upon the unfortunate.

R. Do not forget the poor, O Lord!

You do see, for you behold misery and sorrow, taking them in your hands. On you the unfortunate man depends; of the fatherless you are the helper.

R. Do not forget the poor, O Lord!

ALLELUIA
2 Corinthians 5:19

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Matthew 12:14-21

The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.

When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many people followed him, and he cured them all, but he warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet:

Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope.

REFLECTIONS:

How do we achieve success and victory in our lives?
In everyone's life there are key moments or turning points on which the
whole of one's life hinges. The mounting confrontation between the Pharisees
and Jesus was such a decisive event and crisis. The religious leaders became
intolerant of Jesus because of their prejudice. Nothing that Jesus would
do or say from this point on would be right in their eyes. They conspired,
not simply to oppose Jesus but to eliminate him. Jesus met this defiance
with courage and determination to do his Father's will. He used the crisis
to teach his disciples an important lesson for God's way to success and
victory. The only way to glory in God's kingdom is through the cross
the cross of suffering and humiliation which Jesus endured for our sake
and for our salvation. We, too, are called to take up our cross every day
to die to sin, selfishness, envy, pride, strife, and hatred and to
lay down our lives in humble service and love for one another just as
Jesus did for our sake.
Matthew quotes from the "Suffering Servant" prophecies of Isaiah to
explain how Jesus the Messiah would accomplish his mission not through
crushing power but through love and sacrificial service (Isaiah 42:1-4).
In place of a throne Jesus chose to mount the cross and wear a crown of
thorns. He was crucified as our Lord and King (John 19:19; Philippians
2:11) There is no greater proof of God's love for us than the sacrificial
death of his only begotten Son for our sake and our salvation (John 3:16).
Jesus died not only for the Jews but for all the Gentile nations as well.
Isaiah had prophesied centuries before, that the Messiah would bring justice
to the Gentiles. To the Greek mind, justice involved giving to God and
to one's fellow citizen that which is their due (whatever is owed to them).
Jesus taught his disciples to give God not only his due, but to love him
without measure just as he loves us unconditionally without limits or
reservations.

Jesus brings the justice of God's kingdom tempered with divine love
and mercy. He does not bruise the weak or treat them with contempt, but
rather shows understanding and compassion. He does not discourage the fainthearted
but gives hope, courage, and the strength to persevere through trying circumstances.
No trials, failings, and weaknesses can keep us from the mercy and help
which Jesus offers to everyone who asks. His grace is sufficient for every
moment, every situation, and every challenge we face. When you meet trials
and difficulties, do you rely on God's help and grace?

"Lord Jesus, your love and mercy knows no bounds. Give me strength when
I am weak, hope when I am discourged, peace when I am troubled, consolation
when I am sad, and understanding when I am perplexed. Make me an instrument
of your love and peace to those who are troubled and without hope."