Reading 1
Ez 9:1-7; 10:18-22
The LORD cried loud for me to hear: Come, you scourges of the city!
With that I saw six men coming from the direction
of the upper gate which faces the north,
each with a destroying weapon in his hand.
In their midst was a man dressed in linen,
with a writer’s case at his waist.
They entered and stood beside the bronze altar.
Then he called to the man dressed in linen
with the writer’s case at his waist, saying to him:
Pass through the city, through Jerusalem,
and mark a “Thau” on the foreheads of those who moan and groan
over all the abominations that are practiced within it.
To the others I heard the LORD say:
Pass through the city after him and strike!
Do not look on them with pity nor show any mercy!
Old men, youths and maidens, women and children–wipe them out!
But do not touch any marked with the “Thau”; begin at my sanctuary.
So they began with the men, the elders, who were in front of the temple.
Defile the temple, he said to them, and fill the courts with the slain;
then go out and strike in the city.
Then the glory of the LORD left the threshold of the temple
and rested upon the cherubim.
These lifted their wings, and I saw them rise from the earth,
the wheels rising along with them.
They stood at the entrance of the eastern gate of the LORD’s house,
and the glory of the God of Israel was up above them.
Then the cherubim lifted their wings, and the wheels went along with them,
while up above them was the glory of the God of Israel.
Gospel
Mt 18:15-20
Jesus said to his disciples:
“If your brother sins against you,
go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.
If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.
If he does not listen,
take one or two others along with you,
so that every fact may be established
on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church.
If he refuses to listen even to the Church,
then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.
Amen, I say to you,
whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth
about anything for which they are to pray,
it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.”
Meditation: Matthew 18:15-20
“If two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.” (Matthew 18:19)
Wow, what a promise! But let’s be clear. Jesus isn’t talking about some magical way to get whatever we want. And he isn’t guaranteeing that we will win the lottery if we just ask a friend to join us in prayer for such a huge windfall. No, Jesus is talking about how good it is to have someone praying with us for something we need or deeply desire.
It is not always easy waiting and trusting in the Lord, and that’s why it’s so helpful to be able to have someone join us in prayer. Praying with someone is very encouraging. It helps us to know that someone else is supporting us and understands our need. It also helps strengthen our resolve to persevere and helps us discern God’s direction when someone offers us words of wisdom or encouragement.
Consider this true story: A woman and her husband were at the point of divorce. The woman dearly wanted to save their marriage, but her husband kept demanding that she sign divorce papers. Eventually he moved out of the house. Brokenhearted, his wife asked some friends to pray with her for the healing of their marriage. These friends joined her in prayer and supported her through her difficulties. Together they stormed heaven to bring her husband back, and thirteen months later, he did reconcile with his wife. Both the man and the woman acknowledge that it was God’s grace that brought them back together and mended their relationship. They both believe, also, that the woman would not have held onto any hope if it weren’t for the prayerful support of her dear friends.
Is there someone you know who needs your prayer? Is there someone you can join in praying for a special intention? Team up with that person, and you’ll be amazed at what happens. Keep persevering, and watch how the Lord works in both of your lives. Journeying together can give great peace in the storms of life, no matter what the outcome. In fact, that peace just may be the unintended answer to your prayers!
“Lord, give your children the gift of faith in your promises—and the gift of fellowship with each other.”
10 August 2010
10 Aug 2010, Feast of Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr
Reading 1
2 Cor 9:6-10
Brothers and sisters:
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.
Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you,
so that in all things, always having all you need,
you may have an abundance for every good work.
As it is written:
He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.
The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food
will supply and multiply your seed
and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
Gospel
Jn 12:24-26
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it,
and whoever hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me.”
Meditation: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10
“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (2 Corinthians 9:6)
Paul had taken up a collection for the church in Jerusalem. Besides providing material aid to the church there, he wanted to demonstrate the unity between Jews and Gentiles in the whole church. This was a crucial point for the first believers, as the animosity between Jews and non-Jews was rooted in centuries-old prejudices. Paul told the Corinthians that their less-wealthy brothers and sisters in Macedonia had given generously to Jerusalem. Now it was their turn to demonstrate their love and support.
Paul’s rationale for giving was simple: If you have plenty, you should be willing to give abundantly. Give without worrying about the cost, and give as the Spirit prompts, “without sadness or compulsion.” Why such open abundance? Because “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). He knew that in God’s economy, giving, not acquiring, is the key. Our Father is the ruler of the whole universe; he is more than able to provide for our needs.
Today is the feast of St. Lawrence, a deacon in the early church who had charge over the poor in Rome. He is venerated because he was martyred for his refusal to hand over to the emperor the money that was given to support the needy. Lawrence was a cheerful giver indeed—to the point of making lighthearted statements of faith and trust in God even as he was being put to death.
Both Paul and Lawrence tell us that if God has given us any gift at all, we should use it up for others. Even if we feel inadequate or lacking in the resources we need, we should just ask, and our generous Father will not fail us.
So if God has given you the gift of hospitality, lavish it on your neighbors and fellow parishioners. If he has given you a gift of compassion, spend it on the lowly and suffering. If he has given you a gift of light-heartedness like Lawrence, spend it on the people around you. Sow as bountifully as you can, and you will reap even more bountifully!
“Father, all gifts come from you. Show me how to be generous today and to share everything that you have so graciously given me.”
2 Cor 9:6-10
Brothers and sisters:
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.
Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you,
so that in all things, always having all you need,
you may have an abundance for every good work.
As it is written:
He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.
The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food
will supply and multiply your seed
and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
Gospel
Jn 12:24-26
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it,
and whoever hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me.”
Meditation: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10
“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (2 Corinthians 9:6)
Paul had taken up a collection for the church in Jerusalem. Besides providing material aid to the church there, he wanted to demonstrate the unity between Jews and Gentiles in the whole church. This was a crucial point for the first believers, as the animosity between Jews and non-Jews was rooted in centuries-old prejudices. Paul told the Corinthians that their less-wealthy brothers and sisters in Macedonia had given generously to Jerusalem. Now it was their turn to demonstrate their love and support.
Paul’s rationale for giving was simple: If you have plenty, you should be willing to give abundantly. Give without worrying about the cost, and give as the Spirit prompts, “without sadness or compulsion.” Why such open abundance? Because “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). He knew that in God’s economy, giving, not acquiring, is the key. Our Father is the ruler of the whole universe; he is more than able to provide for our needs.
Today is the feast of St. Lawrence, a deacon in the early church who had charge over the poor in Rome. He is venerated because he was martyred for his refusal to hand over to the emperor the money that was given to support the needy. Lawrence was a cheerful giver indeed—to the point of making lighthearted statements of faith and trust in God even as he was being put to death.
Both Paul and Lawrence tell us that if God has given us any gift at all, we should use it up for others. Even if we feel inadequate or lacking in the resources we need, we should just ask, and our generous Father will not fail us.
So if God has given you the gift of hospitality, lavish it on your neighbors and fellow parishioners. If he has given you a gift of compassion, spend it on the lowly and suffering. If he has given you a gift of light-heartedness like Lawrence, spend it on the people around you. Sow as bountifully as you can, and you will reap even more bountifully!
“Father, all gifts come from you. Show me how to be generous today and to share everything that you have so graciously given me.”
09 August 2010
09 Aug 2010, Monday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Ez 1:2-5, 24-28c
On the fifth day of the fourth month of the fifth year,
that is, of King Jehoiachin’s exile,
The word of the LORD came to the priest Ezekiel,
the son of Buzi,
in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar.—
There the hand of the LORD came upon me.
As I looked, a stormwind came from the North,
a huge cloud with flashing fire enveloped in brightness,
from the midst of which (the midst of the fire)
something gleamed like electrum.
Within it were figures resembling four living creatures
that looked like this: their form was human.
Then I heard the sound of their wings,
like the roaring of mighty waters,
like the voice of the Almighty.
When they moved, the sound of the tumult was like the din of an army.
And when they stood still, they lowered their wings.
Above the firmament over their heads
something like a throne could be seen,
looking like sapphire.
Upon it was seated, up above, one who had the appearance of a man.
Upward from what resembled his waist I saw what gleamed like electrum;
downward from what resembled his waist I saw what looked like fire;
he was surrounded with splendor.
Like the bow which appears in the clouds on a rainy day
was the splendor that surrounded him.
Such was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.
Gospel
Mt 17:22-27
As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee,
Jesus said to them,
“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men,
and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.”
And they were overwhelmed with grief.
When they came to Capernaum,
the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said,
“Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?”
“Yes,” he said.
When he came into the house, before he had time to speak,
Jesus asked him, “What is your opinion, Simon?
From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax?
From their subjects or from foreigners?”
When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him,
“Then the subjects are exempt.
But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook,
and take the first fish that comes up.
Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax.
Give that to them for me and for you.”
Meditation: Ezekiel 1:2-5,24-28
“In the land of the Chaldeans …the hand of the Lord came upon me.” (Ezekiel 1:3)
Ezekiel was a priest from Jerusalem who was among the skilled workers sent into exile by the Babylonian king in 597 b.c. This exile was seen as a national disgrace, a sign of God’s disfavor over the people’s disregard of the covenant. So when the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel in far-off Babylon, it was news indeed. Here he was, cut off from Jerusalem and the Temple, and still God called him. Amazing! God hadn’t abandoned the people to their fate! He still wanted to nourish them with his word, even in this foreign, hostile land!
What did God say to the exiles through Ezekiel? Well, he didn’t confirm their hopes for a swift return home and an easy peace. Instead, Ezekiel prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem as the consequence of the people’s disobedience and rebellion. And within a few years, he was proved right. In 586 b.c., Babylon’s army overran the city, and the sacred Temple was burnt to the ground.
Just then, something very interesting happened. Ezekiel, once known as a prophet of condemnation and doom, began speaking of restoration and renewal instead. He promised that God would do something new among his people. He would raise them up and give them a new heart. He would give them a new spirit that would inspire them to think and act in accordance with his will. He would raise them from their graves of isolation and destruction and give them new life and hope (Ezekiel 37).
Through his prophecies, Ezekiel offered the people confrontation and comfort—each according to their needs at the time. He showed how faithful God is to his people and to his purposes. And today he shows us that no matter how far we may wander from him, God will not give up on us.
We all experience rough patches in our relationship with the Lord. We all have periods when we just can’t seem to stay close to him. It’s in these times that God turns to us with compassion and the offer of healing. He doesn’t reject us at all. On the contrary, it seems that he loves us even more. That’s how faithful he is to all of us!
“Father, so many people are far from you today, yet you have not abandoned them. Jesus, we entrust all of creation to you!”
Ez 1:2-5, 24-28c
On the fifth day of the fourth month of the fifth year,
that is, of King Jehoiachin’s exile,
The word of the LORD came to the priest Ezekiel,
the son of Buzi,
in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar.—
There the hand of the LORD came upon me.
As I looked, a stormwind came from the North,
a huge cloud with flashing fire enveloped in brightness,
from the midst of which (the midst of the fire)
something gleamed like electrum.
Within it were figures resembling four living creatures
that looked like this: their form was human.
Then I heard the sound of their wings,
like the roaring of mighty waters,
like the voice of the Almighty.
When they moved, the sound of the tumult was like the din of an army.
And when they stood still, they lowered their wings.
Above the firmament over their heads
something like a throne could be seen,
looking like sapphire.
Upon it was seated, up above, one who had the appearance of a man.
Upward from what resembled his waist I saw what gleamed like electrum;
downward from what resembled his waist I saw what looked like fire;
he was surrounded with splendor.
Like the bow which appears in the clouds on a rainy day
was the splendor that surrounded him.
Such was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.
Gospel
Mt 17:22-27
As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee,
Jesus said to them,
“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men,
and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.”
And they were overwhelmed with grief.
When they came to Capernaum,
the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said,
“Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?”
“Yes,” he said.
When he came into the house, before he had time to speak,
Jesus asked him, “What is your opinion, Simon?
From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax?
From their subjects or from foreigners?”
When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him,
“Then the subjects are exempt.
But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook,
and take the first fish that comes up.
Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax.
Give that to them for me and for you.”
Meditation: Ezekiel 1:2-5,24-28
“In the land of the Chaldeans …the hand of the Lord came upon me.” (Ezekiel 1:3)
Ezekiel was a priest from Jerusalem who was among the skilled workers sent into exile by the Babylonian king in 597 b.c. This exile was seen as a national disgrace, a sign of God’s disfavor over the people’s disregard of the covenant. So when the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel in far-off Babylon, it was news indeed. Here he was, cut off from Jerusalem and the Temple, and still God called him. Amazing! God hadn’t abandoned the people to their fate! He still wanted to nourish them with his word, even in this foreign, hostile land!
What did God say to the exiles through Ezekiel? Well, he didn’t confirm their hopes for a swift return home and an easy peace. Instead, Ezekiel prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem as the consequence of the people’s disobedience and rebellion. And within a few years, he was proved right. In 586 b.c., Babylon’s army overran the city, and the sacred Temple was burnt to the ground.
Just then, something very interesting happened. Ezekiel, once known as a prophet of condemnation and doom, began speaking of restoration and renewal instead. He promised that God would do something new among his people. He would raise them up and give them a new heart. He would give them a new spirit that would inspire them to think and act in accordance with his will. He would raise them from their graves of isolation and destruction and give them new life and hope (Ezekiel 37).
Through his prophecies, Ezekiel offered the people confrontation and comfort—each according to their needs at the time. He showed how faithful God is to his people and to his purposes. And today he shows us that no matter how far we may wander from him, God will not give up on us.
We all experience rough patches in our relationship with the Lord. We all have periods when we just can’t seem to stay close to him. It’s in these times that God turns to us with compassion and the offer of healing. He doesn’t reject us at all. On the contrary, it seems that he loves us even more. That’s how faithful he is to all of us!
“Father, so many people are far from you today, yet you have not abandoned them. Jesus, we entrust all of creation to you!”
07 August 2010
08 Aug 2010, Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Wis 18:6-9
The night of the passover was known beforehand to our fathers,
that, with sure knowledge of the oaths in which they put their faith,
they might have courage.
Your people awaited the salvation of the just
and the destruction of their foes.
For when you punished our adversaries,
in this you glorified us whom you had summoned.
For in secret the holy children of the good were offering sacrifice
and putting into effect with one accord the divine institution.
Reading 2
Heb 11:1-2,8-19
Brothers and sisters:
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for
and evidence of things not seen.
Because of it the ancients were well attested.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place
that he was to receive as an inheritance;
he went out, not knowing where he was to go.
By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country,
dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise;
for he was looking forward to the city with foundations,
whose architect and maker is God.
By faith he received power to generate,
even though he was past the normal age
—and Sarah herself was sterile—
for he thought that the one who had made the promise was
trustworthy.
So it was that there came forth from one man,
himself as good as dead,
descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky
and as countless as the sands on the seashore.
All these died in faith.
They did not receive what had been promised
but saw it and greeted it from afar
and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth,
for those who speak thus show that they are seeking a homeland.
If they had been thinking of the land from which they had come,
they would have had opportunity to return.
But now they desire a better homeland, a heavenly one.
Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God,
for he has prepared a city for them.
By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac,
and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son,
of whom it was said,
“Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.”
He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead,
and he received Isaac back as a symbol.
Gospel
Lk 12:32-48
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not be afraid any longer, little flock,
for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
Sell your belongings and give alms.
Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out,
an inexhaustible treasure in heaven
that no thief can reach nor moth destroy.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.
Be sure of this:
if the master of the house had known the hour
when the thief was coming,
he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,
the Son of Man will come.”
Then Peter said,
“Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?”
And the Lord replied,
“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward
whom the master will put in charge of his servants
to distribute the food allowance at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.
Truly, I say to you, the master will put the servant
in charge of all his property.
But if that servant says to himself,
‘My master is delayed in coming,’
and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants,
to eat and drink and get drunk,
then that servant’s master will come
on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour
and will punish the servant severely
and assign him a place with the unfaithful.
That servant who knew his master’s will
but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will
shall be beaten severely;
and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will
but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating
shall be beaten only lightly.
Much will be required of the person entrusted with much,
and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”
Meditation: Luke 12:32-48
“Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)
What a wonderful promise! God delights in giving us his kingdom—in taking us to be with him forever. But before we see this promise realized, there is a lot of waiting. The Israelites knew God would defeat their enemies, but they had to wait out many plagues before Pharaoh fi nally let them go. God promised Abraham a son, but look how long his childlessness stretched on before Isaac was born. Similarly, we know that Jesus will knock at our door one day to take us to his side, but until then, we have to hold on to our faith.
It’s good to know that we are not waiting in the dark with no idea of what it will be like when the kingdom comes. Because of Jesus’ cross and resurrection, the kingdom has already begun to unfold in our world and in our hearts. We get a glimpse of it every time we gather to worship the Lord. We see it in the least of his people, whose needs tug at our hearts. We feel it when we forgive someone who has wronged us, and when we receive forgiveness from someone we have hurt.
So don’t hesitate to invest in God’s kingdom. Choose every day to live as you want to live when it comes in all its fullness. As you do, something wonderful and surprising happens: Jesus Christ, your King, sits you down and waits on you! He honors you for helping someone when you could just as easily have turned away. He congratulates you for turning the other cheek and not seeking revenge. He rewards you for caring for his beloved poor.
God is never outdone in generosity. He has promised you the kingdom, and he delivers on that promise every day!
“Father, thank you for calling me to live in your kingdom. I place my heart into your keeping, for you are my only treasure.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions for Individual Reflection or Group Discussion
(Wisdom 18:6-9; Psalm 33:1,12,18-22; Hebrews 11:1-2,8-19; Luke 12:32-48)
1. The first reading today speaks of awaiting the salvation of the just. How patient are you in waiting for the Lord? What are the circumstances when you aren’t?
2. The responsorial psalm talks of those who “hope” for God’s kindness. The psalmist also prays: “May your kindness, O Lord, be upon us who have put our hope in you” (Psalm 33:22). Our Catechism says that hope is both “the confident expectation of divine blessing” and “the fear of offending God’s love”. We sin against hope by despair. In what way does our view of the nature and character of God, and his disposition towards us, contribute to this despair? What are the circumstances in your life that can cause you to despair of hope, and in receiving God’s love?
3. In the Letter to the Hebrews we read the story of Abraham, who did not presume upon his own ideas or his own abilities. He confidently placed his trust in God. What are some times in your life when you stepped out in faith, trusting God that he would protect and sustain you. Is there anything in your life right now that you are fearful of doing — something that God may be asking of you?
4. Today’s Gospel begins with the words: “Do not be afraid”. Jesus tells us why: “for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom”. What steps can you take to open yourself to receive all that your Heavenly Father wants to give you? What might be holding you back?
5. The meditation ends with these words, “God is never outdone in generosity. He has promised you the kingdom, and he delivers on that promise every day!” What are some ways that God has shown his generosity to you?
Wis 18:6-9
The night of the passover was known beforehand to our fathers,
that, with sure knowledge of the oaths in which they put their faith,
they might have courage.
Your people awaited the salvation of the just
and the destruction of their foes.
For when you punished our adversaries,
in this you glorified us whom you had summoned.
For in secret the holy children of the good were offering sacrifice
and putting into effect with one accord the divine institution.
Reading 2
Heb 11:1-2,8-19
Brothers and sisters:
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for
and evidence of things not seen.
Because of it the ancients were well attested.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place
that he was to receive as an inheritance;
he went out, not knowing where he was to go.
By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country,
dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise;
for he was looking forward to the city with foundations,
whose architect and maker is God.
By faith he received power to generate,
even though he was past the normal age
—and Sarah herself was sterile—
for he thought that the one who had made the promise was
trustworthy.
So it was that there came forth from one man,
himself as good as dead,
descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky
and as countless as the sands on the seashore.
All these died in faith.
They did not receive what had been promised
but saw it and greeted it from afar
and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth,
for those who speak thus show that they are seeking a homeland.
If they had been thinking of the land from which they had come,
they would have had opportunity to return.
But now they desire a better homeland, a heavenly one.
Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God,
for he has prepared a city for them.
By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac,
and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son,
of whom it was said,
“Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.”
He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead,
and he received Isaac back as a symbol.
Gospel
Lk 12:32-48
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not be afraid any longer, little flock,
for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
Sell your belongings and give alms.
Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out,
an inexhaustible treasure in heaven
that no thief can reach nor moth destroy.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.
Be sure of this:
if the master of the house had known the hour
when the thief was coming,
he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,
the Son of Man will come.”
Then Peter said,
“Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?”
And the Lord replied,
“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward
whom the master will put in charge of his servants
to distribute the food allowance at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.
Truly, I say to you, the master will put the servant
in charge of all his property.
But if that servant says to himself,
‘My master is delayed in coming,’
and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants,
to eat and drink and get drunk,
then that servant’s master will come
on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour
and will punish the servant severely
and assign him a place with the unfaithful.
That servant who knew his master’s will
but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will
shall be beaten severely;
and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will
but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating
shall be beaten only lightly.
Much will be required of the person entrusted with much,
and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”
Meditation: Luke 12:32-48
“Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)
What a wonderful promise! God delights in giving us his kingdom—in taking us to be with him forever. But before we see this promise realized, there is a lot of waiting. The Israelites knew God would defeat their enemies, but they had to wait out many plagues before Pharaoh fi nally let them go. God promised Abraham a son, but look how long his childlessness stretched on before Isaac was born. Similarly, we know that Jesus will knock at our door one day to take us to his side, but until then, we have to hold on to our faith.
It’s good to know that we are not waiting in the dark with no idea of what it will be like when the kingdom comes. Because of Jesus’ cross and resurrection, the kingdom has already begun to unfold in our world and in our hearts. We get a glimpse of it every time we gather to worship the Lord. We see it in the least of his people, whose needs tug at our hearts. We feel it when we forgive someone who has wronged us, and when we receive forgiveness from someone we have hurt.
So don’t hesitate to invest in God’s kingdom. Choose every day to live as you want to live when it comes in all its fullness. As you do, something wonderful and surprising happens: Jesus Christ, your King, sits you down and waits on you! He honors you for helping someone when you could just as easily have turned away. He congratulates you for turning the other cheek and not seeking revenge. He rewards you for caring for his beloved poor.
God is never outdone in generosity. He has promised you the kingdom, and he delivers on that promise every day!
“Father, thank you for calling me to live in your kingdom. I place my heart into your keeping, for you are my only treasure.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions for Individual Reflection or Group Discussion
(Wisdom 18:6-9; Psalm 33:1,12,18-22; Hebrews 11:1-2,8-19; Luke 12:32-48)
1. The first reading today speaks of awaiting the salvation of the just. How patient are you in waiting for the Lord? What are the circumstances when you aren’t?
2. The responsorial psalm talks of those who “hope” for God’s kindness. The psalmist also prays: “May your kindness, O Lord, be upon us who have put our hope in you” (Psalm 33:22). Our Catechism says that hope is both “the confident expectation of divine blessing” and “the fear of offending God’s love”. We sin against hope by despair. In what way does our view of the nature and character of God, and his disposition towards us, contribute to this despair? What are the circumstances in your life that can cause you to despair of hope, and in receiving God’s love?
3. In the Letter to the Hebrews we read the story of Abraham, who did not presume upon his own ideas or his own abilities. He confidently placed his trust in God. What are some times in your life when you stepped out in faith, trusting God that he would protect and sustain you. Is there anything in your life right now that you are fearful of doing — something that God may be asking of you?
4. Today’s Gospel begins with the words: “Do not be afraid”. Jesus tells us why: “for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom”. What steps can you take to open yourself to receive all that your Heavenly Father wants to give you? What might be holding you back?
5. The meditation ends with these words, “God is never outdone in generosity. He has promised you the kingdom, and he delivers on that promise every day!” What are some ways that God has shown his generosity to you?
07 Aug 2010, Saturday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Hb 1:12—2:4
Are you not from eternity, O LORD,
my holy God, immortal?
O LORD, you have marked him for judgment,
O Rock, you have readied him punishment!
Too pure are your eyes to look upon evil,
and the sight of misery you cannot endure.
Why, then, do you gaze on the faithless in silence
while the wicked man devours
one more just than himself?
You have made man like the fish of the sea,
like creeping things without a ruler.
He brings them all up with his hook,
he hauls them away with his net,
He gathers them in his seine;
and so he rejoices and exults.
Therefore he sacrifices to his net,
and burns incense to his seine;
for thanks to them his portion is generous,
and his repast sumptuous.
Shall he, then, keep on brandishing his sword
to slay peoples without mercy?
I will stand at my guard post,
and station myself upon the rampart,
And keep watch to see what he will say to me,
and what answer he will give to my complaint.
Then the LORD answered me and said:
Write down the vision
Clearly upon the tablets,
so that one can read it readily.
For the vision still has its time,
presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint;
If it delays, wait for it,
it will surely come, it will not be late.
The rash man has no integrity;
but the just man, because of his faith, shall live.
Gospel
Mt 17:14-20
A man came up to Jesus, knelt down before him, and said,
“Lord, have pity on my son, who is a lunatic and suffers severely;
often he falls into fire, and often into water.
I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.”
Jesus said in reply,
“O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you?
How long will I endure you?
Bring the boy here to me.”
Jesus rebuked him and the demon came out of him,
and from that hour the boy was cured.
Then the disciples approached Jesus in private and said,
“Why could we not drive it out?”
He said to them, “Because of your little faith.
Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you will say to this mountain,
‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.
Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Meditation: Habakkuk 1:12–2:4
“Then the Lord answered me.” (Habakkuk 2:2)
The prophet Habakkuk was about to be engaged in one of the most amazing conversations in the Bible. It didn’t start out so amazing, though. Habakkuk was perplexed and brokenhearted. Israel had become saturated with violence and injustice, and he wanted to know what God was going to do about it. But as the conversation unfolded, he saw God’s salvation, and the vision filled him with hope.
Do you believe that you can hear God speaking to you? You can, you know. God loves talking with his children. So let’s take a look at how this prophet spoke—and listened—to God so that we can learn from him.
Habakkuk began by coming to God with questions: “Why, then, do you gaze on the faithless in silence while the wicked man devours one more just than himself?” (Habakkuk 1:13). Why did God let things get so bad? He wasn’t afraid to pour out his heart and ask God some hard, even demanding, questions.
But not only is Habakkuk courageous, he is persistent and patient as well: “I will stand at my guard post, and station myself upon the rampart, and keep watch to see what he will say to me, and what answer he will give to my complaint” (Habakkuk 2:1). It wasn’t enough just to make one simple request. He kept on asking. He kept on listening, too, trying to discern God’s voice among all the other voices in and around him. Habakkuk shows us that devotion to prayer is important if only because friendship takes time!
Finally, God answered. But what was the first thing he said? “Write down the vision” (Habakkuk 2:2). Make sure you are keeping track of my words to you, lest you forget them or confuse them. Hold fast to what you have heard, because the vision “still has its time” (2:3). It may not come to pass right away, and you will want to keep alert so that you can spot it when it does happen.
Do you want to begin a lifelong conversation with the Lord? Then follow Habakkuk’s example. Ask him real questions. Take the time to meditate and listen for his answers. And be sure to write down what you think he is saying to you. God is always speaking to us. We just need to learn how to hear him!
“Lord, help me to hear your voice. I want to know friendship with you!”
Hb 1:12—2:4
Are you not from eternity, O LORD,
my holy God, immortal?
O LORD, you have marked him for judgment,
O Rock, you have readied him punishment!
Too pure are your eyes to look upon evil,
and the sight of misery you cannot endure.
Why, then, do you gaze on the faithless in silence
while the wicked man devours
one more just than himself?
You have made man like the fish of the sea,
like creeping things without a ruler.
He brings them all up with his hook,
he hauls them away with his net,
He gathers them in his seine;
and so he rejoices and exults.
Therefore he sacrifices to his net,
and burns incense to his seine;
for thanks to them his portion is generous,
and his repast sumptuous.
Shall he, then, keep on brandishing his sword
to slay peoples without mercy?
I will stand at my guard post,
and station myself upon the rampart,
And keep watch to see what he will say to me,
and what answer he will give to my complaint.
Then the LORD answered me and said:
Write down the vision
Clearly upon the tablets,
so that one can read it readily.
For the vision still has its time,
presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint;
If it delays, wait for it,
it will surely come, it will not be late.
The rash man has no integrity;
but the just man, because of his faith, shall live.
Gospel
Mt 17:14-20
A man came up to Jesus, knelt down before him, and said,
“Lord, have pity on my son, who is a lunatic and suffers severely;
often he falls into fire, and often into water.
I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.”
Jesus said in reply,
“O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you?
How long will I endure you?
Bring the boy here to me.”
Jesus rebuked him and the demon came out of him,
and from that hour the boy was cured.
Then the disciples approached Jesus in private and said,
“Why could we not drive it out?”
He said to them, “Because of your little faith.
Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you will say to this mountain,
‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.
Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Meditation: Habakkuk 1:12–2:4
“Then the Lord answered me.” (Habakkuk 2:2)
The prophet Habakkuk was about to be engaged in one of the most amazing conversations in the Bible. It didn’t start out so amazing, though. Habakkuk was perplexed and brokenhearted. Israel had become saturated with violence and injustice, and he wanted to know what God was going to do about it. But as the conversation unfolded, he saw God’s salvation, and the vision filled him with hope.
Do you believe that you can hear God speaking to you? You can, you know. God loves talking with his children. So let’s take a look at how this prophet spoke—and listened—to God so that we can learn from him.
Habakkuk began by coming to God with questions: “Why, then, do you gaze on the faithless in silence while the wicked man devours one more just than himself?” (Habakkuk 1:13). Why did God let things get so bad? He wasn’t afraid to pour out his heart and ask God some hard, even demanding, questions.
But not only is Habakkuk courageous, he is persistent and patient as well: “I will stand at my guard post, and station myself upon the rampart, and keep watch to see what he will say to me, and what answer he will give to my complaint” (Habakkuk 2:1). It wasn’t enough just to make one simple request. He kept on asking. He kept on listening, too, trying to discern God’s voice among all the other voices in and around him. Habakkuk shows us that devotion to prayer is important if only because friendship takes time!
Finally, God answered. But what was the first thing he said? “Write down the vision” (Habakkuk 2:2). Make sure you are keeping track of my words to you, lest you forget them or confuse them. Hold fast to what you have heard, because the vision “still has its time” (2:3). It may not come to pass right away, and you will want to keep alert so that you can spot it when it does happen.
Do you want to begin a lifelong conversation with the Lord? Then follow Habakkuk’s example. Ask him real questions. Take the time to meditate and listen for his answers. And be sure to write down what you think he is saying to you. God is always speaking to us. We just need to learn how to hear him!
“Lord, help me to hear your voice. I want to know friendship with you!”
06 August 2010
06 Aug 2010, Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
Reading 1
Dn 7:9-10, 13-14
As I watched:
Thrones were set up
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was bright as snow,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
his throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.
The court was convened and the books were opened.
As the visions during the night continued, I saw:
One like a Son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
The one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.
Reading 2
2 Pt 1:16-19
Beloved:
We did not follow cleverly devised myths
when we made known to you
the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.
For he received honor and glory from God the Father
when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory,
“This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven
while we were with him on the holy mountain.
Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable.
You will do well to be attentive to it,
as to a lamp shining in a dark place,
until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Gospel
Lk 9:28b-36
Jesus took Peter, John, and James
and went up a mountain to pray.
While he was praying his face changed in appearance
and his clothing became dazzling white.
And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,
who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus
that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep,
but becoming fully awake,
they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
As they were about to part from him, Peter 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.”
But he did not know what he was saying.
While he was still speaking,
a cloud came and cast a shadow over them,
and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.
They fell silent and did not at that time
tell anyone what they had seen.
Meditation: 2 Peter 1:16-19
The Transfiguration of the Lord
He received honor and glory from God the Father. (2 Peter 1:17)
Suppose you had been around to hear Peter tell the story of Jesus’ transfiguration. Wouldn’t you want all the colorful details that we read in Mark, Luke, and Matthew? Wouldn’t you expect even more inside information—like maybe what Moses looked like or what Elijah said? But here Peter focuses only on the voice from heaven that said: “This is my beloved Son.” What a disappointment!
We have to remember why Peter wrote this letter. He wanted to exhort believers to persevere in their faith, and he knew that simply recounting spectacular events from the past was insufficient. Peter sought to highlight who Jesus is, not necessarily all the wonders he performed. What’s more, the voice that Peter heard didn’t say: “Hey, look at what my Son can do!” No, God simply said that he loved his Son and was pleased with him. In other words, the relationship was more important than the miracles.
Why was God so pleased with his Son? Because Jesus was completely faithful to his mission. He let nothing—not the disciples’ misunderstanding, not the opposition of some Pharisees, not even the occasionally misguided accolades of his simple followers—deter him from proclaiming the gospel. He even knew what lay ahead of him—not just persecution but even death— and still he held firm. He surely had a sense of how much easier his life could be if he were to water down his message. But he couldn’t stand the thought of turning away from his Father or abandoning us.
This kind of devotion moved his Father deeply. And so on the Mount of Transfiguration, he gave Jesus a glimpse of the glory that awaited him—the glory, in fact, that awaits everyone who strives to remain faithful to God.
Today’s feast urges us, then, to hold fast to the Lord and to the calling he has given us. It tells us that there is something more important than spectacular miracles—our relationship with the Lord. Today, may we all hear God say to us: “You are my beloved child. I am glad to call you my own.”
“Lord, show me your glory! Let me hear your voice in my heart today, so that I can become more like you.”
Dn 7:9-10, 13-14
As I watched:
Thrones were set up
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was bright as snow,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
his throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.
The court was convened and the books were opened.
As the visions during the night continued, I saw:
One like a Son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
The one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.
Reading 2
2 Pt 1:16-19
Beloved:
We did not follow cleverly devised myths
when we made known to you
the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.
For he received honor and glory from God the Father
when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory,
“This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven
while we were with him on the holy mountain.
Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable.
You will do well to be attentive to it,
as to a lamp shining in a dark place,
until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Gospel
Lk 9:28b-36
Jesus took Peter, John, and James
and went up a mountain to pray.
While he was praying his face changed in appearance
and his clothing became dazzling white.
And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,
who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus
that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep,
but becoming fully awake,
they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
As they were about to part from him, Peter 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.”
But he did not know what he was saying.
While he was still speaking,
a cloud came and cast a shadow over them,
and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.
They fell silent and did not at that time
tell anyone what they had seen.
Meditation: 2 Peter 1:16-19
The Transfiguration of the Lord
He received honor and glory from God the Father. (2 Peter 1:17)
Suppose you had been around to hear Peter tell the story of Jesus’ transfiguration. Wouldn’t you want all the colorful details that we read in Mark, Luke, and Matthew? Wouldn’t you expect even more inside information—like maybe what Moses looked like or what Elijah said? But here Peter focuses only on the voice from heaven that said: “This is my beloved Son.” What a disappointment!
We have to remember why Peter wrote this letter. He wanted to exhort believers to persevere in their faith, and he knew that simply recounting spectacular events from the past was insufficient. Peter sought to highlight who Jesus is, not necessarily all the wonders he performed. What’s more, the voice that Peter heard didn’t say: “Hey, look at what my Son can do!” No, God simply said that he loved his Son and was pleased with him. In other words, the relationship was more important than the miracles.
Why was God so pleased with his Son? Because Jesus was completely faithful to his mission. He let nothing—not the disciples’ misunderstanding, not the opposition of some Pharisees, not even the occasionally misguided accolades of his simple followers—deter him from proclaiming the gospel. He even knew what lay ahead of him—not just persecution but even death— and still he held firm. He surely had a sense of how much easier his life could be if he were to water down his message. But he couldn’t stand the thought of turning away from his Father or abandoning us.
This kind of devotion moved his Father deeply. And so on the Mount of Transfiguration, he gave Jesus a glimpse of the glory that awaited him—the glory, in fact, that awaits everyone who strives to remain faithful to God.
Today’s feast urges us, then, to hold fast to the Lord and to the calling he has given us. It tells us that there is something more important than spectacular miracles—our relationship with the Lord. Today, may we all hear God say to us: “You are my beloved child. I am glad to call you my own.”
“Lord, show me your glory! Let me hear your voice in my heart today, so that I can become more like you.”
05 August 2010
05 Aug 2010, Thursday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Jer 31:31-34
The days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel
and the house of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers:
the day I took them by the hand
to lead them forth from the land of Egypt;
for they broke my covenant,
and I had to show myself their master, says the LORD.
But this is the covenant that I will make
with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD.
I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts;
I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
No longer will they have need to teach their friends and relatives
how to know the LORD.
All, from least to greatest, shall know me, says the LORD,
for I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more.
Gospel
Mt 16:13-23
Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
and he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Then he strictly ordered his disciples
to tell no one that he was the Christ.
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly
from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
“God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.”
He turned and said to Peter,
“Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
Meditation: Jeremiah 31:31-34
“I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel.” (Jeremiah 31:31)
It’s pretty amazing that God would offer the Israelites a new covenant, considering how poorly they kept the first one. But that’s just the way he is. He loves us too much to leave us to our own devices. What’s more, this new covenant is still in effect today—and for all of us, not just the children of Israel. Looking back at history, we can see that this new covenant found its ultimate fulfillment in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
So what is this new covenant? And how is it better than the first one?
First of all, it is a promise of the forgiveness of our sins. Under the first covenant, blood from sacrificial animals was used to atone for the people’s sinful acts. In the new covenant, it is Jesus’ own blood that has cleansed us. And this cleansing is internal, both forgiving our sinful acts and cleansing our consciences as well (Hebrews 9:11-14).
Secondly, it is God’s promise to write his law on our hearts, not just on tablets of stone. This means that God’s ways and his will can be woven into the very fabric of who we are, affecting our every thought, word, and action. It means that we can be transformed more and more into the image of the Lord!
Finally, the new covenant promises that all of us, from the least to the greatest, can know the Lord—and know him deeply and personally. It means that we can have a relationship with God. We can know the way he thinks and how he feels and not just rely on ancient stories about him.
If we put all this together, we can see that because of this new covenant, we can live a new, Spirit-filled life! Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can find the grace to obey God’s commands. We can discover a new intimacy with the Lord in prayer. And we can find a new courage to reach out to others with the message of the gospel.
So what are you waiting for? Place your faith in God’s promises, and watch as the new covenant unfolds in your life today.
“Jesus, I rejoice in all that you have done for me. Let my joy be contagious today, so that everyone might come to know you as Savior, Lord, and Friend.”
Jer 31:31-34
The days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel
and the house of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers:
the day I took them by the hand
to lead them forth from the land of Egypt;
for they broke my covenant,
and I had to show myself their master, says the LORD.
But this is the covenant that I will make
with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD.
I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts;
I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
No longer will they have need to teach their friends and relatives
how to know the LORD.
All, from least to greatest, shall know me, says the LORD,
for I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more.
Gospel
Mt 16:13-23
Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
and he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Then he strictly ordered his disciples
to tell no one that he was the Christ.
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly
from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
“God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.”
He turned and said to Peter,
“Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
Meditation: Jeremiah 31:31-34
“I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel.” (Jeremiah 31:31)
It’s pretty amazing that God would offer the Israelites a new covenant, considering how poorly they kept the first one. But that’s just the way he is. He loves us too much to leave us to our own devices. What’s more, this new covenant is still in effect today—and for all of us, not just the children of Israel. Looking back at history, we can see that this new covenant found its ultimate fulfillment in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
So what is this new covenant? And how is it better than the first one?
First of all, it is a promise of the forgiveness of our sins. Under the first covenant, blood from sacrificial animals was used to atone for the people’s sinful acts. In the new covenant, it is Jesus’ own blood that has cleansed us. And this cleansing is internal, both forgiving our sinful acts and cleansing our consciences as well (Hebrews 9:11-14).
Secondly, it is God’s promise to write his law on our hearts, not just on tablets of stone. This means that God’s ways and his will can be woven into the very fabric of who we are, affecting our every thought, word, and action. It means that we can be transformed more and more into the image of the Lord!
Finally, the new covenant promises that all of us, from the least to the greatest, can know the Lord—and know him deeply and personally. It means that we can have a relationship with God. We can know the way he thinks and how he feels and not just rely on ancient stories about him.
If we put all this together, we can see that because of this new covenant, we can live a new, Spirit-filled life! Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can find the grace to obey God’s commands. We can discover a new intimacy with the Lord in prayer. And we can find a new courage to reach out to others with the message of the gospel.
So what are you waiting for? Place your faith in God’s promises, and watch as the new covenant unfolds in your life today.
“Jesus, I rejoice in all that you have done for me. Let my joy be contagious today, so that everyone might come to know you as Savior, Lord, and Friend.”
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