Tenth Week of Ordinary Time
13th June 2024 (Thursday)
Psalter: Week 2
Reading of the Day
First Reading: 1 Kings 18:20-39
In those days: Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look towards the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times. And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’” And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
Psalm 65:10abcd, 10e-11, 12-13 (R. 2ab)
R/. Praise is due to you in Sion, O God.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. A new commandment I give to you, says the Lord, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel : Matthew 5:20-26
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Thursday – Tenth Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: The test of fidelity is not the show of strength of faith. In other words, fidelity does not consist in the number of religious rules or miracles but in humble surrender and obedience to God’s will
1. Anyone who is a little religious-minded will surely aspire to enter the kingdom of heaven. And today Jesus clarifies once again how to enter there. It is not by a show and display of the greatness of faith through some activities or practices. It is only through a humble surrender and obedience to God’s will and ways.
2. Elijah can be indicative of this spirit. Certainly, he was well-acclaimed and a “powerful” man of God, demonstrating the awesome power of God. He defeated and terminated the priests of false Baal. He shut up the skies from rain causing drought and again he opens up the heavens to rain.
3. But, all through he remains open and obedient to God’s directions. We read, “Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel”. This indicates the meeting with God, going into His presence. “And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees”. This shows his humility and surrender.
4. God is not pleased with an attitude of pomp and great bearing. What pleases Him is only a humble attitude that goes beyond the mere letter of the law to the spirit of it. It goes deep beyond the skin-deep. It goes to the essential beyond the superficial. It goes to the centre beyond the peripheral. It goes to the maximum beyond the bare minimums.
5. That is why Jesus states, “Unless your virtue and righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees and scribes, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”. He also explains in simple contrasts. One may avoid physical murder but psychological killing through anger, insult, and hurt is much more grievous. One may offer great gifts but they will be futile when there is no self-offering, no heart of peace and reconciliation.
6. St Anthony was such a humble and noble soul. He remained intimate with Jesus. He always obeyed and did God’s will. He was passionately committed to God’s mission by his sanctity and fidelity. Let us not only seek favours from him, but also imbibe something of his spirit, especially something of his intimacy with the Lord, something of zeal and depth for sharing God’s Word and good word from his eloquent and powerful preaching and something of regaining and recuperating our lost spirit from his special gift for restoring the lost.
Practice: It is not enough to follow the external rules and rubrics. The rituals and offerings that we do must bring about an interior change and renewal. To be truly religious is to be deeply righteous
