Liturgical Readings for : Tuesday, 13th August, 2024
Tuesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Optional memorial of Ss Pontian, pope and Hippolytus, priest, and martyrs
and Fachtna, bishop
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Ezekiel 2:8- 3: 4
He gave me the scroll to eat and it tasted sweet as honey.
I, Ezekiel, heard a voice speaking. It said,
‘You, son of man, listen to the words I say;
do not be a rebel like that rebellious set.
Open your mouth and eat what I am about to give you.’
I looked a hand was there, stretching out to me and holding a scroll.
He unrolled it in front of me; it was written on back and front; on it was written ‘lamentations, wailings, moanings’.
He said,
‘Son of man, eat what is given to you; eat this scroll, then go and speak to the House of Israel’. I opened my mouth; he gave me the scroll to eat and said,
‘Son of man, feed and be satisfied by the scroll I am giving you’.
I ate it, and it tasted sweet as honey.
Then he said, ‘Son of man, go to the House of Israel and tell them what I have said.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 118
Response Your promise is sweet to my taste, O Lord.
2. The law from your mouth means more to me than silver and gold.
Your promise is sweeter to my taste than honey in the mouth. Response
3. Your will is my heritage for ever, the joy of my heart.
I open my mouth and I sigh as I yearn for your commands. Response
3. Your will is my heritage for ever, the joy of my heart.
I open my mouth and I sigh as I yearn for your commands. Response
Gospel Acclamation Mt 11: 29
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children .
Alleluia !
Or 2 Thess 2: 14
Alleluia, alleluia!
Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, says the Lord,
for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Alleluia !
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 18:1-5. 10. 12-14 Glory to you, O Lord
See that you never despise any of these little ones.
The disciples came to Jesus and said,
Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’
So he called a little child to him and set the child in front of them. Then he said,
‘I tell you solemnly, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And so, the one who makes himself as little as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
‘Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.
‘See that you never despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven are continually in the presence of my Father in heaven. ‘
Tell me. Suppose a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays; will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go in search of the stray? I tell you solemnly, if he finds it, it gives him more joy than do the ninety-nine that did not stray at all.
Similarly, it is never the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Tuesday 19th Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14
In the gospel reading Jesus’ disciples ask him, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ In response to their question, Jesus does not say the greatest are the most successful, the strongest, those who outdo others in skill and power. Rather, he took a child, one of the least significant in the culture of the time, and declared that children are the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Those who, in Jesus’ time, had no status or power or influence or expertise or skill are the greatest in the kingdom of God. What makes them great in God’s kingdom is their openness to receive God’s presence in Jesus. Today we can still recognize that openness to the Lord in children. Jesus then goes on to call on his disciples and on all of us to become like little children, and he declares that unless we do so we will not enter the kingdom of God. Children can be our teachers.
As adults we need to be as open to the Lord’s presence as children are. Then we will be great in the kingdom of God. From speaking of children, Jesus goes on to speak of ‘little ones’. This phrase may refer to those people whose faith is not yet fully immature and, therefore, vulnerable to being scandalized. The parable of the lost sheep or, better, the ‘Devoted Shepherd’, suggests that God has a special concern for this group within the church. We are called to share God’s concern that their faith is not weakened further by attitudes and actions that are contrary to the mind of Christ.
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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd.
