LOVE THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART

EIGHTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

August 7, Saturday

The beautiful first reading of today is the Shema Israel, “Hear, O Israel,” named after the opening words. It is a text recited three times a day, or at least once in the morning, by every pious Jew, even up to this day. It tells how God is a liberating God, who has gratuitously done much for his people. What else should the people, the object of God’s love, do than respond with their love and express this by faithfulness, loyalty, and obedience to his commandments? Though affection is not yet much a part of it, at least we cannot say that the OT is an age of only law and fear.

First Reading: Deuteronomy 6:4-13

Attention, Israel!

God, our God! God the one and only!

Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that’s in you, love him with all you’ve got!

Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.

When God, your God, ushers you into the land he promised through your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give you, you’re going to walk into large, bustling cities you didn’t build, well-furnished houses you didn’t buy, come upon wells you didn’t dig, vineyards and olive orchards you didn’t plant. When you take it all in and settle down, pleased and content, make sure you don’t forget how you got there—God brought you out of slavery in Egypt.

Deeply respect God, your God. Serve and worship him exclusively. Back up your promises with his name only. Don’t fool around with other gods, the gods of your neighbors, because God, your God, who is alive among you is a jealous God. Don’t provoke him, igniting his hot anger that would burn you right off the face of the Earth. Don’t push God, your God, to the wall as you did that day at Massah, the Testing-Place. Carefully keep the commands of God, your God, all the requirements and regulations he gave you. Do what is right; do what is good in God’s sight so you’ll live a good life and be able to march in and take this pleasant land that God so solemnly promised through your ancestors, throwing out your enemies left and right—exactly as God said.

Gospel: Matthew 17:14-20

With a Mere Kernel of Faith

At the bottom of the mountain, they were met by a crowd of waiting people. As they approached, a man came out of the crowd and fell to his knees begging, “Master, have mercy on my son. He goes out of his mind and suffers terribly, falling into seizures. Frequently he is pitched into the fire, other times into the river. I brought him to your disciples, but they could do nothing for him.”

Jesus said, “What a generation! No sense of God! No focus to your lives! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring the boy here.” He ordered the afflicting demon out—and it was out, gone. From that moment on the boy was well.

When the disciples had Jesus off to themselves, they asked, “Why couldn’t we throw it out?”

 “Because you’re not yet taking God seriously,” said Jesus. “The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle.”

Prayer

Lord, you alone are our God.
Through your Son, Jesus Christ,
you have led us out of the slavery and darkness of sin
to give us a share in your own life and love.
Thank you Lord God, for your generosity.
Help us to share ourselves freely
without demanding any return
and inspire all we do with the love
that you have shown us
in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Reflection:

Move mountains

14-20 ‘Moving mountains’ was an expression used of Rabbis who were skilled in interpreting Scripture and resolving difficulties. Moving a real mountain must have been so dramatic in the time of Jesus. But today it is not so. If you want to move a real mountain, hire a bulldozer, Moving mountains is not a big problem. Any problem that a machine can solve cannot be such a big problem. There are much greater ones at the personal level. No machine can help us there; it requires a greater and more subtle power. That power is the faith that is lodged in us. It is a power greater than that of a bulldozer. Sometimes certain misfortunes that threaten our lifes, where in the material or financial securities remain useless, force us to turn to God as the final refuge. Today’s Gospel takes us to one of such situations. A father is in pain to see the sufferings of his son. He had tried all possible treatments for his son, but without any cure. Even the disciples of Jesus could not offer a help for the child. Reaction of Jesus at the failure of his disciples shows a sense of frustration and anger, because Jesus does not want his disciples to remain helplessly staring at the mountain. He had taught them numerous times they could move the mountains provided they have a little faith. In fact, he had given them the power to heal the sick and drive out demons, when they were all sent on the Mission. But now, they remain helpless. Matthew’s point was to emphasise that God accomplishes what seems impossible, through the hands of those who believe in him, provided they remain close to and trusting in God. Even a little faith can accomplish much, when we are connected to sources of power – the authority of God. The Lord does not want us to turn to him only in situations of need. It is our experience that when we are confronted with mountain of problems for which we cannot find a solution, we turn to God and expect God to perform signs and favours for us. This is the wrong way of approaching God. We look for God only when we need him, but God looks for us all the time!

Video available on Youtube: Move mountains