Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection August 17, 2024
Nineteenth Week of Ordinary Time
17th August 2024 (Saturday)
Psalter: Week 3
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32
The word of the Lord came to me. “What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die. “If a man is righteous and does what is just and right- if he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbour’s wife or approach a woman in her time of menstrual impurity, does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, does not lend at interest or take any profit, withholds his hand from injustice, executes true justice between man and man, walks in my statutes, and keeps my rules by acting faithfully – he is righteous; he shall surely live, declares the Lord God. “If he fathers a son who is violent, a shedder of blood, who does any of these things he shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself. “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”
Psalm 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19 (R. 12a)
R/. Create a pure heart for me, O God
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have revealed to little children the mysteries of the kingdom.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel : Matthew 19:13-15
At that time: Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Saturday – Nineteenth Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: We need to go near to Jesus, get closer to him, and receive his touch and blessing. For only the touch of Jesus can transform us into little children and take us to the kingdom
1. “Turn and Go to God!” is the call of the word of God today. In the first reading, God summons the house of Israel, “Repent and turn from all your transgressions … make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit… so turn and live”. In the gospel too, Jesus declares, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven”.
2. We can elicit a few indicators for our life: First, we need to become childlike. This means that we should become clean with a new heart and a new spirit. This is a rebirth, being dead to sin, repentant over our iniquities. The more we become like little children, the more we will desire to go to Jesus, and we will have free access to him.
3. Secondly, we need to become aware of our great responsibility to children. Whatever the role, as a parent, a teacher, elder, priest, or religious, all of us have a bounden duty toward children, and that is to lead them closer to Jesus.
4. It is then a big question mark about how many of these remain conscious and serious about their responsibility toward children. How many of us neglect our duty? How many of us hinder them from going to Jesus? These ways of hindering can be varied. It can be due to our own indifference and lukewarmness; our lack of interest and concern for them; our own unedifying life; or our own lack of conviction and sound knowledge.
5. Often, we may just shirk our responsibility saying that the children must not be forced; they must be left free to decide by themselves; their freedom must not be curtailed. But all these arguments may be mostly evasions and escaping from the trouble and sacrifice of training and forming them.
6. There are many who are so concerned to provide the children with everything that they demand, with the best they may or even may not afford. They give them money, clothes, comforts, education, job, marriage, et cetera. But how many really think of imparting them god-fearing nature, and good values? How many train the children in becoming good human beings?
Practice: All the care and provision to the children without a sound spirituality and morality is very deficient and defective. Lack of divine touch amounts to a lack of human touch!
