Daily Liturgy
Saturday 19 June
Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
LOOK AT THE BIRDS IN THE SKY
Introduction
Paul speaks of the extraordinary graces and experiences he had been given by God.
Too often we worry much more than we should and about things that, after all, don’t matter much. Are not our fears and worries mostly about things and events of the future, and do they not usually prove groundless? We are in God’s hands. He who cares for the birds in the sky cares for us and knows what we need. Let’s be concerned, then, about making his kingdom a reality now; this is all that matters.
Opening Prayer
Lord God, our Father,
you care about the birds in the sky
and let them find food in due time.
You clothe the flowers in the field
with colors and fragrance.
So, why should we worry?
We thank you for the gift of life,
for loving us and caring for us
free of charge.
Keep us firmly in your hand
on account of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Reading 1: 2 Cor 12:1-10
Brothers and sisters:
I must boast; not that it is profitable,
but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
I know a man in Christ who, fourteen years ago
(whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows),
was caught up to the third heaven.
And I know that this man
(whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows)
was caught up into Paradise and heard ineffable things,
which no one may utter.
About this man I will boast,
but about myself I will not boast, except about my weaknesses.
Although if I should wish to boast, I would not be foolish,
for I would be telling the truth.
But I refrain, so that no one may think more of me
than what he sees in me or hears from me
because of the abundance of the revelations.
Therefore, that I might not become too elated,
a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan,
to beat me, to keep me from being too elated.
Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me,
but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,
for power is made perfect in weakness.”
I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses,
in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me.
Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults,
hardships, persecutions, and constraints,
for the sake of Christ;
for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 34:8-9, 10-11, 12-13
(9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Fear the LORD, you his holy ones,
for nothing is lacking to those who fear him.
The great grow poor and hungry;
but those who seek the LORD want for no good thing.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Come, children, hear me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Which of you desires life,
and takes delight in prosperous days?
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Alleluia: 2 Cor 8:9
Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich,
so that by his poverty you might become rich.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Mt 6:24-34
Jesus said to his disciples:
“No one can serve two masters.
He will either hate one and love the other,
or be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink,
or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds in the sky;
they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns,
yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are not you more important than they?
Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?
Why are you anxious about clothes?
Learn from the way the wild flowers grow.
They do not work or spin.
But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor
was clothed like one of them.
If God so clothes the grass of the field,
which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow,
will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’
or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’
All these things the pagans seek.
Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given you besides.
Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.
Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”
Intercessions
– For journalists and those in the media who denounce the injustices and corruption in our world, that the Lord may strengthen and protect them and that we and all people may listen to them, we pray:
– For the poor and the needy, that they may experience something of God’s concern for them through the generosity of our hearts, we pray:
– For all of us, that we may not burden ourselves with unnecessary worries and artificial needs, but learn to entrust ourselves into the hands of a loving God, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Our God and Father,
you have set for us, your children,
the feast meal of Jesus your Son.
You provide us with food and drink
that give everlasting life.
We offer you our life and efforts,
our worries and our cares.
Accept them as a token of our gratitude
and of our deep and lasting trust
in you, our loving God.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord God, our Father,
in this Eucharist you have reassured us
that you know what we need
better than we ourselves do,
and that you are with us
through Jesus Christ your Son.
Let him always stay with us,
that we may forget our self-created little worries
and give first place to you
and to your kingdom of mercy and goodness,
of integrity and committed justice.
Let these be our genuine concerns
on account of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
God really cares for us. If he cares for the birds in the sky and the flowers in the field, why would he not care for us? We are in his hands. May the God who loves you bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Commentary
A priest once asked a Hindu driver who worked for his mission in India and bathed daily in the Ganges what he would like to be when reincarnated.
Without hesitation, the Hindu answered, “A bird. They don’t work hard yet they live very well.” The priest smiled as he thought of today’s Gospel.
Providence is the belief that God cares about us and urges us not to be anxious or concerned. The Gospel today introduces various comparisons. If God provides for the birds of the sky and the lilies of the field, are we not of greater importance than they? Therefore, excessive worry about food, drink, and clothing is not consonant with a life of true faith.
Paul today describes his earlier mystical experiences. Caught in rapture and lifted to the third heaven, it was an experience about which he can boast. But he declines to boast and speaks only of his weakness, eve n of a severe temptation that had managed to keep him humble. Exactly what his “thorn in the flesh” was we are not told, but it was enough to keep him mindful of his need to depend on the power of God.
All of this is but to say, “Whatever I am is due to the goodness of God.” The realization of that truth will keep us holy and humble.
Points to Ponder
The experience of God’s providence
Strength in weakness
Paul’s “thorn in the flesh”