Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in
Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 392
Lectionary: 392
The way of the just is smooth;
the path of the just you make level.
Yes, for your way and your judgments, O LORD,
we look to you;
Your name and your title
are the desire of our souls.
My soul yearns for you in the night,
yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you;
When your judgment dawns upon the earth,
the world’s inhabitants learn justice.
O LORD, you mete out peace to us,
for it is you who have accomplished all we have done.
the path of the just you make level.
Yes, for your way and your judgments, O LORD,
we look to you;
Your name and your title
are the desire of our souls.
My soul yearns for you in the night,
yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you;
When your judgment dawns upon the earth,
the world’s inhabitants learn justice.
O LORD, you mete out peace to us,
for it is you who have accomplished all we have done.
O LORD, oppressed by your
punishment,
we cried out in anguish under your chastising.
As a woman about to give birth
writhes and cries out in her pains,
so were we in your presence, O LORD.
We conceived and writhed in pain,
giving birth to wind;
Salvation we have not achieved for the earth,
the inhabitants of the world cannot bring it forth.
But your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise;
awake and sing, you who lie in the dust.
For your dew is a dew of light,
and the land of shades gives birth.
we cried out in anguish under your chastising.
As a woman about to give birth
writhes and cries out in her pains,
so were we in your presence, O LORD.
We conceived and writhed in pain,
giving birth to wind;
Salvation we have not achieved for the earth,
the inhabitants of the world cannot bring it forth.
But your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise;
awake and sing, you who lie in the dust.
For your dew is a dew of light,
and the land of shades gives birth.
Responsorial
Psalm102:13-14AB AND 15, 16-18, 19-21
R. (20b) From heaven the Lord
looks down on the earth.
You, O LORD, abide forever,
and your name through all generations.
You will arise and have mercy on Zion,
for it is time to pity her.
For her stones are dear to your servants,
and her dust moves them to pity.
R. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.
The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and not despised their prayer.
R. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.
Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the LORD:
“The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die.”
R. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.
You, O LORD, abide forever,
and your name through all generations.
You will arise and have mercy on Zion,
for it is time to pity her.
For her stones are dear to your servants,
and her dust moves them to pity.
R. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.
The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and not despised their prayer.
R. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.
Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the LORD:
“The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die.”
R. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.
AlleluiaMT 11:28
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMT 11:28-30
Jesus said:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
For the readings of the
Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, please go here.
Meditation: Take
My Yoke upon You and Learn from Me
What
does the yoke of Jesus refer to in the Gospel? The Jews used the image of a
yoke to express submission to God. They spoke of the yoke of the law, the yoke
of the commandments, the yoke of the kingdom, and the yoke of God. Jesus says
his yoke is "easy". The Greek word for "easy" can also mean
"well-fitting". Yokes were tailor-made to fit the oxen well. Oxen
were yoked two by two. Jesus invites us to be yoked with him, to unite our life
with his life, our will with his will, and our heart with his heart. To be
yoked with Jesus is to be united with him in a relationship of love, trust, and
obedience.
Jesus carries our burdens with us
Jesus also says his "burden is light". There's a story of a man who once met a boy carrying a smaller crippled lad on his back. "That's a heavy load you are carrying there," exclaimed the man. "He ain't heavy; he's my brother!" responded the boy. No burden is too heavy when it's given in love and carried in love. When we yoke our lives with Jesus, he also carries our burdens with us and gives us his strength to follow in his way of love. Do you know the joy of resting in Jesus' presence and walking daily with him along the path he has for you?
Freed from the burden of sin and guilt
Jesus offers us a new kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy. In his kingdom sins are not only forgiven but removed, and eternal life is poured out for all its citizens. This is not a political kingdom, but a spiritual one. The yoke of Christ's kingdom, his kingly rule and way of life, liberates us from the burden of guilt and from the oppression of sinful habits and hurtful desires. Only Jesus can lift the burden of sin and the weight of hopelessness from us. Jesus used the analogy of a yoke to explain how we can exchange the burden of sin and despair for a weight of glory and victory with him. The yoke which Jesus invites us to embrace is his way of love, grace, and freedom from the power of sin. Do you trust in God's love and submit to his will and plan for your life?
Jesus carries our burdens with us
Jesus also says his "burden is light". There's a story of a man who once met a boy carrying a smaller crippled lad on his back. "That's a heavy load you are carrying there," exclaimed the man. "He ain't heavy; he's my brother!" responded the boy. No burden is too heavy when it's given in love and carried in love. When we yoke our lives with Jesus, he also carries our burdens with us and gives us his strength to follow in his way of love. Do you know the joy of resting in Jesus' presence and walking daily with him along the path he has for you?
Freed from the burden of sin and guilt
Jesus offers us a new kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy. In his kingdom sins are not only forgiven but removed, and eternal life is poured out for all its citizens. This is not a political kingdom, but a spiritual one. The yoke of Christ's kingdom, his kingly rule and way of life, liberates us from the burden of guilt and from the oppression of sinful habits and hurtful desires. Only Jesus can lift the burden of sin and the weight of hopelessness from us. Jesus used the analogy of a yoke to explain how we can exchange the burden of sin and despair for a weight of glory and victory with him. The yoke which Jesus invites us to embrace is his way of love, grace, and freedom from the power of sin. Do you trust in God's love and submit to his will and plan for your life?
Lord
Jesus, inflame my heart with love for you and for your ways and help me to
exchange the yoke of rebellion for the yoke of submission to your holy and
loving word. Set me free from the folly of my own sinful ignorance and
rebellious pride that I may wholly desire what is good and in accord with your
will.
Daily
Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Grace bear us, by an anonymous
early author from the Greek church
"'My
yoke is easy and my burden light.' ... The prophet says this about the burden
of sinners: 'Because my iniquities lie on top of my head, so they have also
placed a heavy burden on me' (Psalm 38:4)' ...'Place my yoke upon you, and
learn from me that I am gentle and humble of heart.' Oh, what a very pleasing
weight that strengthens even more those who carry it! For the weight of earthly
masters gradually destroys the strength of their servants, but the weight of
Christ rather helps the one who bears it, because we do not bear grace; grace
bears us. It is not for us to help grace, but rather grace has been given to
aid us.' (excerpt from INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY, the
Greek fathers).
THURSDAY, JULY 16, MATTHEW 11:28-30
Weekday
(Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19; Psalm 102)
Weekday
(Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19; Psalm 102)
KEY VERSE: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest" (v. 28).
TO KNOW: The prophet Jeremiah told the people that they would find "rest for their souls" if they would follow the straight path to God (Jer 6:16). However, the religious leaders laid a crushing weight on the people by complicating God's law with numerous legal obligations, and made no effort to lighten the load of those burdened by these regulations. Often, they neglected the true purpose of the law—justice and mercy. Jesus invited all who were weary of trying to fulfill the law to come to him. Obedience to his word would be light in comparison to the religious leader's legalistic requirements. Jesus was the embodiment of God's law of compassion and love, and he made the way to God accessible. By taking on the light yoke of obedience to his word, Jesus' followers would find rest from all that oppressed them (Is 25:4-5).
TO LOVE: How can I help someone carry their burdens today?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, be my yoke-mate in this anxious time of the pandemic.
Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
According to Carmelite chronicles, the Order of Mount Carmel had its origins with the disciples of the prophet Elijah who lived in a cave on Mount Carmel. In the 12th century, a rule was established and the order began to spread to Europe. Amid the many persecutions, Saint Simon Stock, General of the Order, turned with confidence to the Blessed Mother. As he knelt in prayer on July 16, 1251, she appeared before him and presented him with the brown scapular, a loose sleeveless garment reaching from the shoulders to the knees. He was given the assurance of her heavenly protection for all who died wearing it. Devotion spread quickly throughout the Christian world. At Lourdes in 1858, the Virgin chose to make her last apparition on July 16th, feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. And at Fatima on October 13, 1917, it was Our Lady of Mount Carmel who appeared to the three children. Throughout the ages, the Queen of Carmel has always kept a faithful watch over her cherished children on earth.
The Carmelite Scapular is not:
* a magical charm to protect you
* an automatic guarantee of salvation
* an excuse for not living up to the demands of the Christian life
The Carmelite Scapular is a sign:
* that has been approved by the Church for over seven centuries
* that stands for the decision to follow Jesus like Mary:
* to be open to God and to his will
* to be guided by faith, hope, and love
* to pray at all times
* to discover God present in all that happens around us
* a magical charm to protect you
* an automatic guarantee of salvation
* an excuse for not living up to the demands of the Christian life
The Carmelite Scapular is a sign:
* that has been approved by the Church for over seven centuries
* that stands for the decision to follow Jesus like Mary:
* to be open to God and to his will
* to be guided by faith, hope, and love
* to pray at all times
* to discover God present in all that happens around us
Thursday 16 July 2020
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19. From heaven the Lord looks down on the
earth – Psalm 101(102):13-21. Matthew 11:28-30.
Come to me all you who labour
Victoria: ‘You’re not very flattering when you
compare me with an ox hitched to a plough or to a cart loaded with rocks. But
sometimes I do feel like one – hot and bothered, too much on my plate and
overloaded with worries and responsibilities. It’s a relief to come to you to
find rest. But even your rest times don’t last, do they?’
Jesus: ‘No, they don’t. That’s why I asked you to put my yoke
around your neck so you can pull the plough. You will have to pull other
people’s carts anyway,
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Saint of the Day for July 16
 |
| The Virgin of the Carmelitas | unknown |
The Story of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Hermits lived on Mount Carmel near the Fountain of Elijah in
northern Israel in the 12th century. They had a chapel dedicated to Our Lady.
By the 13th century they became known as “Brothers of Our Lady of Mount
Carmel.” They soon celebrated a special Mass and Office in honor of Mary. In
1726, it became a celebration of the universal Church under the title of Our
Lady of Mount Carmel. For centuries the Carmelites have seen themselves as
specially related to Mary. Their great saints and theologians have promoted
devotion to her and often championed the mystery of her Immaculate Conception.
Saint Teresa of Avila called Carmel “the Order of the
Virgin.” Saint John of the Cross credited Mary with saving him from
drowning as a child, leading him to Carmel, and helping him escape from prison.
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus believed that Mary cured her from illness. On
her First Communion day, Thérèse dedicated her life to Mary. During the last
days of her life she frequently spoke of Mary.
There is a tradition—which may not be historical—that Mary
appeared to Saint Simon Stock, a leader of the Carmelites, and gave him a
scapular, telling him to promote devotion to it. The scapular is a modified
version of Mary’s own garment. It symbolizes her special protection and calls
the wearers to consecrate themselves to her in a special way. The scapular
reminds us of the gospel call to prayer and penance—a call that Mary models in
a splendid way.
Reflection
The Carmelites were known from early on as “Brothers of Our Lady
of Mount Carmel.” The title suggests that they saw Mary not only as “mother,”
but also as “sister.” The word sister is a reminder that Mary
is very close to us. She is the daughter of God and therefore can help us be
authentic daughters and sons of God. She also can help us grow in appreciation
of being sisters and brothers to one another. She leads us to a new realization
that all human beings belong to the family of God. When such a conviction
grows, there is hope that the human race can find its way to peace.
Mary, under the Title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, is the Patron
Saint of:
Chile
Lectio Divina: Matthew 11:28-30
Lectio Divina
Thursday, July 16, 2020
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
God our Father,
Your light of truth
guides us to the way of Christ.
May all who follow Him
reject what is contrary to the Gospel.
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.
Your light of truth
guides us to the way of Christ.
May all who follow Him
reject what is contrary to the Gospel.
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 11:28-30
Jesus said: "Come to me, all you who labor and are
burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For
my yoke is easy, and my burden light."
3) Reflection
• The Gospel today is composed of only three verses (Mt
11:28-30) which form part of a brief literary unit, one of the most beautiful
ones, in which Jesus thanks the Father for having revealed the wisdom of the
Kingdom to the little children and because He has hidden it from the doctors
and the wise (Mt 11:25-30). In the brief commentary which follows we will
include the entire literary unit.
• Matthew 11:25-26: Only the little children accept and
understand the Good News of the Kingdom. Jesus recites a prayer: “I thank You
Father, Lord of Heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned
and the clever and revealing them to little children.” The wise, the
doctors of that time, have created a system of laws which they imposed on the
people in the name of God (Mt 23:3-4). They thought that God demanded this
observance from the people. But the law of love, which Jesus has revealed
to us, said the contrary. What is important in order to be saved is not
what we do for God, but what God, in His great love, does for us! God wants
mercy and not sacrifice (Mt 9:13). The simple and poor people understood Jesus’
way of speaking and rejoiced. The wise said that Jesus was in
error. They could not come to understand His teaching. “Yes, I
praise you! He praised the Father that the little children understand the
message of the Kingdom despite it being hidden from the wise and the learned!
If they want to understand it they have to become the pupils of the little
children! This way of thinking and of teaching makes people feel
uncomfortable.
• Matthew 11:27: The origin of the new Law: the Son knows
the Father. What the Father has to tell us He has given to Jesus, and
Jesus reveals it to the little children, so that they may be open to His
message. Jesus, the Son, knows the Father. He knows what the Father
wanted to communicate to us, when many centuries ago He gave His Law to Moses.
Today, Jesus is teaching many things to the poor and to the little children
and, through them, to all His Church.
• Matthew 11:28-30: The invitation of Jesus which is still
valid today. Jesus invites all those who are tired to go to Him, and
He promises them rest. In our communities today, we should be the
continuation of this invitation which Jesus addresses to people who were tired
and oppressed by the weight of the observance asked by the laws of
purity. He says, “Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of
heart.” Many times, this saying has been manipulated, to ask people for
submission, meekness and passivity. Jesus wants to say the opposite. He asks
people not to listen to “the wise and learned,” the professors of
religion of that time, and to begin to learn from Him, from Jesus, a man who
came from Galilee, without higher instruction, who says He is “meek and humble
of heart.” Jesus does not do as the scribes, who exalt themselves because
of their science, but He places Himself at the side of the people who are
exploited and humiliated. Jesus, the new Master, knows by experience what takes
place in the heart of the people who suffer. He has lived this well and
has known it during the thirty years of His life in Nazareth.
• How Jesus puts into practice what He taught in the
Discourse on the Mission. Jesus has a passion: to announce the Good News
of the Kingdom. He had a passion for the Father and for the people of His
country who are poor and abandoned. There, where Jesus found people
who listened to Him, Jesus announced the Good News, in any place: In
the synagoguesduring the celebration of the Word (Mt 4:23), in the houses of
friends (Mt 13:36); walking along the way with the disciples (Mt 12:1-8); along
the shore of the sea, sitting in the boat (Mt 13:3); on the
Mount from where He proclaims the Beatitudes (Mt 5:1); in
the squares and in the cities, where people would bring the
sick to Him (Mt 14:34-36). Also in the Temple of Jerusalem, during
the pilgrimage (Mt 26:55)! In Jesus everything is revelation of
everything which He bore inside Himself! He not only announced the Good News of
the Kingdom; He Himself was and continues to be a living sign of
the Kingdom. In Him we see clearly what happens when a human being
allows God to reign in his life. Today’s Gospel reveals the tenderness
with which Jesus welcomes the little children. He wanted them to find rest and
peace. And because of this choice of His for the little children and the
excluded, He was criticized and persecuted. He suffered very much! The same
thing happens today. When a community tries to open itself to be a place of
welcome and consolation for the little children and the excluded of today who
are the foreigners and the migrants, many people do not agree and
criticize.
4) Personal questions
• Have you ever experienced the rest promised by Jesus?
• How can the words of Jesus help our community to be a place of rest for our life?
• How can one be meek and humble while at the same time striving for promotion or advancement at work or in the community?
• To follow Jesus requires radical change. How can this be an easy yoke or a light burden?
• How can the words of Jesus help our community to be a place of rest for our life?
• How can one be meek and humble while at the same time striving for promotion or advancement at work or in the community?
• To follow Jesus requires radical change. How can this be an easy yoke or a light burden?
5) Concluding Prayer
In You is the source of life,
by Your light we see the light.
Continue Your faithful love to those who acknowledge You,
and Your saving justice to the honest of heart. (Ps 36:9-10)
by Your light we see the light.
Continue Your faithful love to those who acknowledge You,
and Your saving justice to the honest of heart. (Ps 36:9-10)
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