Daily Mass Readings for Tuesday, 22 August 2023
First Reading: Judges 6: 11-24a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 85: 9, 11-12, 13-14
Alleluia: Second Corinthians 8: 9
Gospel: Matthew 19: 23-30
Tuesday, 22 August 2023
First Reading
Judges 6: 11-24a
The angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth in Ophrah
that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite.
While his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press
to save it from the Midianites,
the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said,
"The LORD is with you, O champion!"
Gideon said to him, "My Lord, if the LORD is with us,
why has all this happened to us?
Where are his wondrous deeds of which our fathers
told us when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?'
For now the LORD has abandoned us
and has delivered us into the power of Midian."
The LORD turned to him and said, "Go with the strength you have
and save Israel from the power of Midian.
It is I who send you."
But Gideon answered him, "Please, my lord, how can I save Israel?
My family is the lowliest in Manasseh,
and I am the most insignificant in my father's house."
"I shall be with you," the LORD said to him,
"and you will cut down Midian to the last man."
Gideon answered him, "If I find favor with you,
give me a sign that you are speaking with me.
Do not depart from here, I pray you, until I come back to you
and bring out my offering and set it before you."
He answered, "I will await your return."
So Gideon went off and prepared a kid and a measure of flour
in the form of unleavened cakes.
Putting the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot,
he brought them out to him under the terebinth
and presented them.
The angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and unleavened cakes
and lay them on this rock; then pour out the broth."
When he had done so,
the angel of the LORD stretched out the tip of the staff he held,
and touched the meat and unleavened cakes.
Thereupon a fire came up from the rock
that consumed the meat and unleavened cakes,
and the angel of the LORD disappeared from sight.
Gideon, now aware that it had been the angel of the LORD,
said, "Alas, Lord GOD,
that I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!"
The LORD answered him,
"Be calm, do not fear. You shall not die."
So Gideon built there an altar to the LORD
and called it Yahweh-shalom.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 85:9, 11-12, 13-14
The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for he proclaims peace
To his people, and to his faithful ones,
and to those who put in him their hope.
The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
Alleluia
2 Cor 8:9
Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich
so that by his poverty you might become rich.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Mt 19:23-30
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich
to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Again I say to you,
it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God."
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,
"Who then can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said,
"For men this is impossible,
but for God all things are possible."
Then Peter said to him in reply,
"We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?"
Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age,
when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,
will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters
or father or mother or children or lands
for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,
and will inherit eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."
Todays Reflection
The Eye of a Needle
The "eye of the needle" is a metaphor used to describe a gate in Jerusalem where a camel can pass through at night, but not at day. Saint Anselm suggests that the rich should not be able to pass through the narrow path to life until they have put off their burden of sin and riches by ceasing to love them. This passage from the Gospel can be difficult for those who are overly attached to material wealth. Jesus' answer was to sell what they have and give to the poor, leading to treasure in heaven. However, this statement should be pondered and believed by anyone struggling with attachment to material riches.
One can be attached to riches even if they do not have them, as the desire for more is the attachment that needs to be cleansed, not the actual possession of riches. It is possible to have many possessions without being attached to them at all, which is the beauty of poverty of spirit. Jesus' statement was said out of love for those who are overly attached to the things of this world.
Reflect on this passage and ask yourself if you believe it and if Jesus is speaking to you. If so, choose the true riches of Heaven over the passing things of this world. In the end, the value of spiritual wealth infinitely outweighs anything one possesses for their short time on earth.
In conclusion, the Lord desires that each of us be filled with spiritual wealth that is infinitely greater than anything we could obtain in this world. Please free me from my attachment to material wealth and help me see the value of the treasures of Your grace and mercy.
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