Tuesday

20th Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday, Year II

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In today’s First Reading the Lord warns the rich man against becoming so enamored of his wealth that he grows conceited, with delusions of divinity and becoming an island with regard to others. The reality faced in Ezekiel’s time was that the wealth and security of the “prince of Tyre” were under threat and easily destroyed, along with the man’s very life, and all the money in the world wouldn’t spare him.

Our Lord in today’s Gospel is not exagerating when he says it is easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye that it is for someone rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. With wealth it seems like you have everything you could ever want, yet wealthly people many times are miserable even though they are surrounded by opulence. Their wealth can make them into islands, separating them from family and friends. Wealth is not bad on its own, but it always bears the risk of making you stop searching for the needs that money cannot buy.

Any business person will tell you it’s not a question of having money that determines success, but how wisely it is invested. Like any other creature it can separate you from God and from others or it can help you to draw closer to them. Ask Our Lord to help you review your balance sheet and see whether you’re investing in a good and holy life. The returns are out of this world.

Readings: Ezekiel 28:1–10; Deuteronomy 32:26–28, 30, 35c–36b; Matthew 19:23–30. See also 20th Week in Ordinary Time,Tuesday, 8th Week of Ordinary Time, Tuesday, Year II, and 8th Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday, Year I.

19th Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday, Year II

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In multiple Gospel accounts the disciples debated among themselves who is the greatest and how to become so, but today they have the openness to ask Our Lord, and he tells them that if they don’t have the attitude of children they won’t even make it into the Kingdom of Heaven. Through Baptism we are adopted as sons and daughters of God; we become his children, and a good child seeks to please his or her Father in everything, and counts on his or her Father to provide everything he or she needs.

If acting like a child of God is necessary to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, Our Lord reminds us today that having the humility of a child is a measure of greatness in the Kingdom. Humility is one of the most precious virtues in the eyes of God: it flies in the face of earthly ambition and vainglory. Alongside humility greatness in the Kingdom is measured by our dedication to even its smallest member. Children were accepted in Our Lord’s time, but not often appreciated. It’d be easy to argue that writing off one sheep out of hundred is okay, but Our Lord invites the disciples to show a greater level of dedication, letting no one be lost.

Let’s ask Our Lord to help us not only form a part of his Kingdom, but to be great in his eyes through our humility and dedication.

Readings: Ezekiel 2:8–3:4; Psalm 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131; Matthew 18:1–5, 10, 12–14. See also The Guardian Angels, 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B, and 19th Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday.

18th Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday, Year II

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Today’s readings remind us that the theological virtues are a gift from God that are meant to grow as we grow, bolstered by grace and our effort. Just like a muscle, resistance is required in order to strengthen and grow. In today’s First Reading the Lord is telling the Israelites of Judah that without the Lord’s help their situation is terminal: their sins are self-inflicted terminal wounds. On their own there is no remedy and no hope. The Lord is inviting them to regain hope in him again in order to be restored to peace and security.

In today’s Gospel the disciples have seen a sea of miracles: Our Lord has multiplied the loaves and fishes, healed the multitudes, and brought many back to our Heavenly Father. Now he walks on water. Peter takes it as an invitation to test the strength of his faith. He’s unsure, but Our Lord encourages him to try. A fisherman like him would never have imagined stepping out of a boat onto sea just like stepping onto a dock. He manages to take a few steps, but his faith is not strong enough yet to stay walking amid miracles. Despite this, he has formed a faith instinct to ask Our Lord for help when his faith doesn’t keep him afloat.

Impossible and hopeless situations are only impossible and hopeless when we lack faith and trust in Our Lord. The history of Church is a history of miracles too, whether miracles that help us walk on water or just stay afloat. The people in today’s Gospel received grace and healing by touching a tassel of Our Lord’s cloak; we touch Our Lord whenever we receive him in Holy Communion. Let’s believe and trust so that he can work miracles in our lives and in the lives of those he loves.

Readings: Jeremiah 30:1–2, 12–15, 18–22; Psalm 102:16–23, 29; Matthew 14:22–36. See also Wednesday after Epiphany and 18th Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday.

 

17th Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday, Year II

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In today’s readings we’re reminded of a problem that has haunted us and philosophers since the Fall of Adam and Eve: the problem of evil in the world. Everyone perceives that the world is not exactly as it should be. Jeremiah in today’s First Reading laments seeing his society wounded, good people suffering as a result of it, and an apparent absence of God. Every believer struggles with this in his or her own life. Our Lord teaches us in today’s Gospel of evildoers and “all who cause others to sin”: a source not only of sorrow, but of temptation. Why be good when being evil seems so alluring and “everyone’s” doing it?

Jeremiah questions whether the Lord is present at all anymore in the face of such misery, but Our Lord gives the response in today’s Gospel, and not just in words. He is present, teaching, leading, and sanctifying, even though many do not realize it because they don’t believe in him. He also teaches us that the Lord is perfectly aware of the wheat and the weeds in the world, and when he doesn’t act it is often to prevent a greater evil by violating the freedom to be good or to be evil of everyone involved. The moment of Judgment will come for the good and the evil, and it will be just. The good will have built on their freedom and become truly free; the evil, weighed down by their vice, will be enslaved by it forever and suffer for their deeds.

While acknowledging the evil in the world, let’s focus on doing good and being good. Evil will not have the last word.

Readings: Jeremiah 14:17–22; Psalm 79:8–9, 11, 13; Matthew 13:36–43. See also 17th Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday.

16th Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday, Year II

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In today’s First Reading the prophet Micah now speaks on behalf of Israel to God instead of the other way around. Israel prays for reconciliation with the Lord and expresses trust in his mercy. They use the image of being sheep cared for by a shepherd; the language of their prayer shows their willingness to docilely submit themselves in humility to the Lord’s will knowing that he doesn’t just make demands, but cares for them, just as they recall he did with their forefathers, the Patriarchs. Israel feels the weight of their sins, which is why they describe the Lord liberating them from sin as tossing something into the ocean: a great weight will sink into the depths of the sea and be forgotten.

If there’s one thing our society frowns upon, it’s submitting to anyone. Humility is not in great demand, unless we expect others to be humble and submit to what we want. It is easier to learn humility if we concentrate on being led by the Lord. This only makes sense if we see what a Good Shepherd he has been to us in his Son. Being led by him into greener pastures is something that starts right now.

If you’ve strayed from Our Lord don’t be afraid to draw closer to him, trusting in his mercy, so that he can lead you once again to greener pastures.

Readings: Micah 7:14–15, 18–20; Psalm 85:2–8; Matthew 12:46–50. See also 16th Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday and 25th Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday.