Saturday, August 18th, 2018

Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

LECTIONARY
418

FIRST READING
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!

PSALM
PS 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19

Response: 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.

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.

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.

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.

Daily Reflection

18th August 2018

In the Old Testament, responsibility was mostly seen in collective terms: Israel as a whole was either faithful or unfaithful. However, this was conveniently being used by people to shift blame and avoid taking responsibility for their failings. They would abdicate themselves of blame by repeatedly saying that their teeth were set on edge because their fathers ate sour grapes. So God, through His prophet, Ezekiel, leads the people of Israel into an examination of conscience and challenges them to take personal responsibility for their actions. God does not seek the death of a sinner, but desires that the sinner realises the consequences of the sin and consciously chooses to be upright, doing what is good and just.

In today’s Gospel text, Jesus uses yet another incident to explain that God's love has ample room for everyone, particularly those with childlike spontaneity, innocence and simplicity.

May the lessons learnt from Scripture lead us to a humble realisation of our responsibilities.