Saturday, August 13, 2016

Saturday, August 13 2016 Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time


Reading 1 Ez 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32

The word of the LORD came to me:
Son of man, what is the meaning of this proverb
that you recite in the land of Israel:

“Fathers have eaten green grapes,
thus their children’s teeth are on edge”?

As I live, says the Lord GOD:
I swear that there shall no longer be anyone among you
who will repeat this proverb in Israel.
For all lives are mine;
the life of the father is like the life of the son, both are mine;
only the one who sins shall die.

If a man is virtuous—if he does what is right and just,
if he does not eat on the mountains,
nor raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel;
if he does not defile his neighbor’s wife,
nor have relations with a woman in her menstrual period;
if he oppresses no one, 
gives back the pledge received for a debt,
commits no robbery;
if he gives food to the hungry and clothes the naked;
if he does not lend at interest nor exact usury;
if he holds off from evildoing,
judges fairly between a man and his opponent;
if he lives by my statutes and is careful to observe my ordinances,
that man is virtuous—he shall surely live, says the Lord GOD.

But if he begets a son who is a thief, a murderer,
or lends at interest and exacts usury–
this son certainly shall not live.
Because he practiced all these abominations, he shall surely die;
his death shall be his own fault.

Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel,
each one according to his ways, says the Lord GOD.
Turn and be converted from all your crimes,
that they may be no cause of guilt for you.
Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed,
and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.
Why should you die, O house of Israel?
For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,
says the Lord GOD. Return and live!

Responsorial Psalm Ps 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19

R. (12a) Create a clean heart in me, O God.
A clean heart create for me, O God;
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners shall return to you.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.

Alleluia See Mt 11:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 19:13-15

Children were brought to Jesus
that he might lay his hands on them and pray.
The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said,
“Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them;
for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

REFLECTION 

CHILDISH OR CHILD-LIKE?

"Jesus said, 'Let the children come to Me. Do not hinder them. The kingdom of God belongs to such as these.' " –Matthew 19:14

When Jesus sees children, He thinks of His Father's kingdom, for "the kingdom of God belongs" to those who are like children. Jesus teaches that to be like children of the kingdom means to: 

  • choose to become lowly (Mt 18:4), 
  • choose poverty in spirit, that is, voluntary poverty (Mt 5:3). When we as disciples of Jesus imitate Him by living below our means, the kingdom of God is ours (Mt 5:3), 
  • live so faithfully and openly for the Lord that we become "persecutable," for the kingdom of God belongs to the persecuted (see Mt 5:10), 
  • resist temptations to intellectual pride (Lk 10:21), and 
  • be innocent of evil (1 Cor 14:20; see also Mt 10:16). 

In summary, Jesus teaches that to be like children means to be as dependent on Him as little children are dependent on their parents. To live in God's kingdom is to depend on Him for everything, for without Him we can do nothing (Jn 15:5).

The purpose of life is to give all to live in God's kingdom (Mt 13:44-46). Therefore, obey Jesus and become like children.

PRAYER: Father, make me more childlike as I get older.
PROMISE: "Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die?" –Ez 18:31
PRAISE: Sts. Pontian and Hippolytus were exiled, reconciled, and martyred. They modeled reconciliation after grave disagreements.

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