Friday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 411
Lectionary: 411
Moses said to the
people:
“Ask now of the days of old, before your time,
ever since God created man upon the earth;
ask from one end of the sky to the other:
Did anything so great ever happen before?
Was it ever heard of?
Did a people ever hear the voice of God
speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live?
Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himself
from the midst of another nation,
by testings, by signs and wonders, by war,
with his strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors,
all of which the LORD, your God,
did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?
All this you were allowed to see
that you might know the LORD is God and there is no other.
Out of the heavens he let you hear his voice to discipline you;
on earth he let you see his great fire,
and you heard him speaking out of the fire.
For love of your fathers he chose their descendants
and personally led you out of Egypt by his great power,
driving out of your way nations greater and mightier than you,
so as to bring you in
and to make their land your heritage, as it is today.
This is why you must now know, and fix in your heart,
that the LORD is God in the heavens above and on earth below,
and that there is no other.
You must keep his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you today,
that you and your children after you may prosper,
and that you may have long life on the land
which the LORD, your God, is giving you forever.”
“Ask now of the days of old, before your time,
ever since God created man upon the earth;
ask from one end of the sky to the other:
Did anything so great ever happen before?
Was it ever heard of?
Did a people ever hear the voice of God
speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live?
Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himself
from the midst of another nation,
by testings, by signs and wonders, by war,
with his strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors,
all of which the LORD, your God,
did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?
All this you were allowed to see
that you might know the LORD is God and there is no other.
Out of the heavens he let you hear his voice to discipline you;
on earth he let you see his great fire,
and you heard him speaking out of the fire.
For love of your fathers he chose their descendants
and personally led you out of Egypt by his great power,
driving out of your way nations greater and mightier than you,
so as to bring you in
and to make their land your heritage, as it is today.
This is why you must now know, and fix in your heart,
that the LORD is God in the heavens above and on earth below,
and that there is no other.
You must keep his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you today,
that you and your children after you may prosper,
and that you may have long life on the land
which the LORD, your God, is giving you forever.”
Responsorial PsalmPS 77:12-13, 14-15, 16 AND 21
R. (12a) I remember the deeds of the Lord.
I remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I remember your wonders of old.
And I meditate on your works;
your exploits I ponder.
R. I remember the deeds of the Lord.
O God, your way is holy;
what great god is there like our God?
You are the God who works wonders;
among the peoples you have made known your power.
R. I remember the deeds of the Lord.
With your strong arm you redeemed your people,
the sons of Jacob and Joseph.
You led your people like a flock
under the care of Moses and Aaron.
R. I remember the deeds of the Lord.
I remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I remember your wonders of old.
And I meditate on your works;
your exploits I ponder.
R. I remember the deeds of the Lord.
O God, your way is holy;
what great god is there like our God?
You are the God who works wonders;
among the peoples you have made known your power.
R. I remember the deeds of the Lord.
With your strong arm you redeemed your people,
the sons of Jacob and Joseph.
You led your people like a flock
under the care of Moses and Aaron.
R. I remember the deeds of the Lord.
GospelMT 16:24-28
Jesus said to his
disciples,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory,
and then he will repay each according to his conduct.
Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here
who will not taste death
until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory,
and then he will repay each according to his conduct.
Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here
who will not taste death
until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”
Meditation: "Whoever
loses his life for my sake will find it "
What is the most important investment you can
make with your life? Jesus poses some probing questions to challenge our
assumptions about what is most profitable and worthwhile. In every decision of
life we are making ourselves a certain kind of person. The kind of person we
are, our character, determines to a large extent the kind of future we will
face and live. It is possible that some can gain all the things they set their
heart on, only to wake up suddenly and discover that they missed the most
important things of all. Of what value are material things if they don't help
you gain what truly lasts in eternity. Neither money nor possessions can buy
heaven, mend a broken heart, or cheer a lonely person.Jesus asks the question: What will a person give in exchange for his or her life? Everything we have is an out-right gift from God. We owe him everything, including our very lives. It's possible to give God our money, but not ourselves, or to give him lip-service, but not our hearts. A true disciple gladly gives up all that he or she has in exchange for an unending life of joy and happiness with God. God gives without measure. The joy he offers no sadness or loss can diminish. The cross of Christ leads to victory and freedom from sin, despair, and death. What is the cross which Jesus Christ commands me to take up each day? When my will crosses with his will, then his will must be done. Are you ready to lose all for Jesus Christ in order to gain all with Jesus Christ?
"Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and all my will, all that I have and possess. You have given them to me; to you, O Lord, I restore them; all things are yours, dispose of them according to your will. Give me your love and your grace, for this is enough for me." (Prayer of Ignatius of Loyola, 1491-1556)
www.dailyscripture.net
 Selling Your Soul |
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Friday of the
Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
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Father Jason Brooks, LC
Matthew 16:24-28
Then Jesus said to his disciples,
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross,
and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever
loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one
to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in
exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his
Father´s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct.
Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death
until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom."
Introductory Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to seek the things that are
above. Help me to seek the things that last forever, so that all the things
that I do may give you glory and help my brothers and sisters to grow closer
to you, who live and reign with Christ, your Son, in the unity of the Holy
Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Petition: Father, give me the courage to take up my cross and follow in
the footsteps of your Son.
1. Friends of the Cross: There are many Christians that are willing
to be friends with Jesus in good times. However, there are very few
Christians that are true friends of Jesus, who embrace the cross at all
times, even in the bad. Of course, it is never easy to be a friend of the
cross, but who wants to be a fair-weather fan of Jesus and his Gospel? Our
Christian lives are a constant battle. We should never forget that. We all
are tempted to escape from the reality of our situation from time to time.
Nevertheless, whoever perseveres until the end will be saved and have a fruitful
life. We can’t expect to have a glorious eternity full of celebration and joy
if we don’t shed some blood, sweat and tears here on earth for the sake of
Christ and the good of our brothers and sisters.
2. Money Can’t Buy You Love: “What profit would there be for one to gain
the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for
his life?” In other words, Jesus is saying that it doesn’t matter how much
money you make, or what kind of car you drive, or what kind of clothes you
wear, or what kind of degree you have. You might spend your whole life trying
to earn millions of dollars and amass all sorts of luxuries and securities,
but you will have done all this in vain. You will have missed out on the true
meaning of life and the true treasure of love. Don’t make the mistake of
constantly trying to make life easier and more comfortable for yourself. You
will only end up being hopelessly miserable and extremely lonely.
3. Paybacks Are Tough: “For the Son of Man will come with his
angels in his Father´s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to
his conduct.” It is clear that Jesus will not let us into heaven just because
we say we believe in him. He also makes this clear in other teachings
throughout the Gospels. Faith alone is not sufficient to be saved. Even Satan
and his devils believe — and shudder (cf. James 2:19). Let us reflect on the
words of Saint James for further insight: “What good is it, my brothers and
sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you?
If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to
them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,’ and yet you do not supply
their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has
no works, is dead” (James 2:14-17).
Conversation with Christ: I pledge allegiance to the cross and to the
holy, Catholic Church; and to the Kingdom for which it stands: One Body in
Jesus Christ, everlasting life, with forgiveness and freedom from sin.
Resolution: I will perform some corporal work of mercy
today. (“The corporal works of mercy consist especially in feeding the
hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and
imprisoned, and burying the dead. Among all these, giving alms to the poor is
one of the chief witnesses to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice
pleasing to God” [Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2447]).
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 9
MATTHEW 16:24-28
(Deuteronomy 4:32-40; Psalm 77)
KEY VERSE: "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me" (v 24).
READING: Before revealing his glory in the Transfiguration (Mt 17:1-9), Jesus warned his disciples about his coming passion and death (v 21). He wanted to help his followers understand that the pathway to exultation was not one of power but of self-denial. True glory could only be found through the way of the cross. Sharing Jesus' passion was not an option for his disciples. If they wished to follow him, they must be willing to let go of everything, even their own lives. Those things that the world valued would profit them nothing. They could not exchange eternal salvation for an earthly reward. At the final judgment, God would repay each one according to their faithful conduct.
REFLECTING: What holds me back from completely following Jesus?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to surrender my life to you
Optional Memorial of Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), virgin and martyr
Edith Stein was born on October 12, 1891, the youngest of seven children in a Jewish family at Breslau. Through her passionate study of philosophy she searched after truth and found it in reading the autobiography of St. Teresa of Jesus. In 1922 she was baptized a Catholic and in 1933 she entered the Carmel of Cologne where she took the name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. When the Nazis invaded Holland, she and her sister Rose, also a convert to Catholicism, were captured and sent to the concentration camp at Auschwitz where they were gassed and cremated at Auschwitz on August 9, 1942. Edith died a martyr for the Christian faith after having offered her holocaust for the people of Israel. A woman of singular intelligence and learning, she left behind a body of writing notable for its doctrinal richness and profound spirituality. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II at Cologne on May 1, 1987 and canonized on October 11, 1998. Her feast is celebrated by the Church on August 9 of each year.
www.daily-word-of-life.com
I remember the deeds of the Lord
‘What do you have to offer in exchange for your life?’
The stories of our tradition remind us that no one is more faithful than God and all that is asked of us is faithfulness in return. Throughout the ages, this is the message. Sometimes the simplest truths are the most profound and yet the most challenging to live. If we choose God, then words will not be the end of it. Our entire life is transformed into one of faithful seeking, finding, listening and responding.
Every decision we make and everything we do will be undertaken through the lens of knowing the love and mercy of the God who is faithful throughout all time. Taking up his cross was Jesus’ ultimate act of faithfulness to God. May we have the courage to do the same.
www.churchresources.info
August 9
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)
(1891-1942)
A brilliant philosopher who stopped believing in God when she was
14, Edith Stein was so captivated by reading the autobiography of Teresa of
Avila (October 15) that she began a spiritual journey that led to her Baptism
in 1922. Twelve years later she imitated Teresa by becoming a Carmelite, taking
the name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.
Born into
a prominent Jewish family in Breslau (now Wroclaw, Poland), Edith abandoned Judaism
in her teens. As a student at the University of Göttingen, she became
fascinated by phenomenology, an approach to philosophy. Excelling as a protégé
of Edmund Husserl, one of the leading phenomenologists, Edith earned a
doctorate in philosophy in 1916. She continued as a university teacher until
1922 when she moved to a Dominican school in Speyer; her appointment as
lecturer at the Educational Institute of Munich ended under pressure from the
Nazis.
After
living in the Cologne Carmel (1934-38), she moved to the Carmelite monastery in
Echt, Netherlands. The Nazis occupied that country in 1940. In retaliation for
being denounced by the Dutch bishops, the Nazis arrested all Dutch Jews who had
become Christians. Teresa Benedicta and her sister Rosa, also a Catholic, died
in a gas chamber in Auschwitz on August 9, 1942.
Blessed
John Paul II beatified Teresa Benedicta in 1987 and canonized her 12 years
later.
Comment:
The writings of Edith Stein fill 17 volumes, many of which have been translated into English. A woman of integrity, she followed the truth wherever it led her. After becoming a Catholic, Edith continued to honor her mother’s Jewish faith. Sister Josephine Koeppel, O.C.D. , translator of several of Edith’s books, sums up this saint with the phrase, “Learn to live at God’s hands.”
The writings of Edith Stein fill 17 volumes, many of which have been translated into English. A woman of integrity, she followed the truth wherever it led her. After becoming a Catholic, Edith continued to honor her mother’s Jewish faith. Sister Josephine Koeppel, O.C.D. , translator of several of Edith’s books, sums up this saint with the phrase, “Learn to live at God’s hands.”
Quote:
In his homily at the canonization Mass, Pope John Paul II said: “Because she was Jewish, Edith Stein was taken with her sister Rosa and many other Catholics and Jews from the Netherlands to the concentration camp in Auschwitz, where she died with them in the gas chambers. Today we remember them all with deep respect. A few days before her deportation, the woman religious had dismissed the question about a possible rescue: ‘Do not do it! Why should I be spared? Is it not right that I should gain no advantage from my Baptism? If I cannot share the lot of my brothers and sisters, my life, in a certain sense, is destroyed.’”
In his homily at the canonization Mass, Pope John Paul II said: “Because she was Jewish, Edith Stein was taken with her sister Rosa and many other Catholics and Jews from the Netherlands to the concentration camp in Auschwitz, where she died with them in the gas chambers. Today we remember them all with deep respect. A few days before her deportation, the woman religious had dismissed the question about a possible rescue: ‘Do not do it! Why should I be spared? Is it not right that I should gain no advantage from my Baptism? If I cannot share the lot of my brothers and sisters, my life, in a certain sense, is destroyed.’”
Addressing himself to
the young people gathered for the canonization, the pope said: “Your life is
not an endless series of open doors! Listen to your heart! Do not stay on the
surface but go to the heart of things! And when the time is right, have the
courage to decide! The Lord is waiting for you to put your freedom in his good
hands.”
www.americancatholic.org
LECTIO: MATTHEW
16,24-28
Lectio:
Friday, August 9, 2013
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Father of everlasting goodness,
our origin and guide,
be close to us
and hear the prayers of all who praise you.
Forgive our sins and restore us to life.
Keep us safe in your love.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
our origin and guide,
be close to us
and hear the prayers of all who praise you.
Forgive our sins and restore us to life.
Keep us safe in your love.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 16,24-28
Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone wants to be a
follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life
for my sake will find it.
What, then, will anyone gain by winning the whole world and forfeiting his life? Or what can anyone offer in exchange for his life? 'For the Son of man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will reward each one according to his behaviour. In truth I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of man coming with his kingdom.'
What, then, will anyone gain by winning the whole world and forfeiting his life? Or what can anyone offer in exchange for his life? 'For the Son of man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will reward each one according to his behaviour. In truth I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of man coming with his kingdom.'
3) Reflection
• The five verses of today’s Gospel continue with the words of
Jesus to Peter which we meditated on yesterday. Jesus does not hide nor lessen
the demands of discipleship. He does not allow Peter to take the initiative and
puts him in his place: “Far from me!” Today’s Gospel makes
explicit these demands for all of us;
• Matthew 16, 24: “Take up his cross and follow me”. Jesus draws the conclusions which are valid even until now: “If anyone wants to follow me, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me”. At that time, the cross was the death sentence which the Roman Empire inflicted on marginalized persons and bandits. To take up the cross and carry it behind Jesus was the same as to accept to be marginalized by the unjust system which legitimized injustice. The Cross is not fatalism, nor exigency from the Father. The Cross is the consequence of the commitment freely taken up by Jesus to reveal the Good News that God is Father and that, therefore, we all have to be accepted and treated as brothers and sisters. Because of this revolutionary announcement, Jesus was persecuted and he was not afraid to give his life. Nobody has greater love than this: to give one’s life for his friends (Jn 15, 13). The witness of Paul in the letter to the Galatians indicates the concrete significance and importance of all this: “But as for me, it is out of the question that I should boast at all, except of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world”. (Ga 6, 14). And he ends by referring to the marks of the tortures which he suffered: “After this, let no one trouble me, I carry branded on my body the marks of Jesus” (Ga 6, 17).
• Matthew 16, 25-26: “Anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it”. These two verses make explicit universal human values which confirm the experience of many Christians and non Christians. To save one’s life, to lose one’s life, to find one’s life. The experience of many is the following: Anyone who is always seeking goods and riches is never satisfied. Anyone who gives himself to others, forgetting himself, experiences a great happiness. This is the experience of the mothers who give themselves, and of so many people who do not think of self but think of others. Many do this and live in this way almost out of instinct, as something which comes from the bottom of the heart. Others act in this way because they have had a painful experience of frustration which has led them to change attitude. Jesus is right in saying: “Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it”. The reason is important: “For my sake”, or like Mark says: “For the sake of the Gospel” (Mk 8, 35). And he ends saying: “What, then will anyone gain by winning the whole world and forfeiting his life? Or what can anyone offer in exchange for his life?” This last phrase recalls the Psalm where it is said that no one is capable of paying the ransom for his life: “But no one can ever redeem himself or pay his own ransom to God; the price for himself is too high, it can never be that he will live on for ever and avoid the sight of the abyss” (Ps 49, 8-10).
• Matthew 16, 27-28: The Son of Man is going to come in the glory of the Father and he will reward each one according to his behaviour. These two verses refer to the hope regarding the coming of the Son of Man in the last times, as judge of humanity, as he is presented in the vision of the Prophet Daniel (Dn 7, 13-14). The first verse says: “The Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels and will reward each one according to his behaviour”. (Mt 16, 27). This phrase speaks about the justice of the Judge. Each one will receive according to his own behaviour. The second verse says: “There are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming with his kingdom”. (Mt 16, 28). This phrase is an advertisement to help to perceive the coming of Jesus, the Judge of the actions of life. Some thought that Jesus would have come afterwards (1 Th 4, 15-18). But in fact, Jesus was already present in persons, especially in the poor. But they did not perceive this, Jesus himself had said: “Every time that you have helped the poor, the sick, the homeless, the prisoner, the pilgrim, you helped me, it was me!” (cfr. Mt 25, 34-45).
4) Personal questions
• Anyone who loses his life will find it. What experience do I
have regarding this?
• The words of Paul: “As for me, instead, there is no other glory than the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified for me and I for the world”. Do I have the courage to repeat these words in my life?
• The words of Paul: “As for me, instead, there is no other glory than the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified for me and I for the world”. Do I have the courage to repeat these words in my life?
5) Concluding Prayer
Proclaim with me the greatness of Yahweh,
let us acclaim his name together.
I seek Yahwe4h and he answers me,
frees me from all my fears. (Ps 34, 3-4)
www.ocarm.orglet us acclaim his name together.
I seek Yahwe4h and he answers me,
frees me from all my fears. (Ps 34, 3-4)
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