EIGHTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME August 2, Monday The first reading in the 18th and the 19th weeks is taken from the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy. It describes the journey of God’s people through the desert, with the trials of the difficult journey, the temptations of discouragement, lack of faith and trust, material and […]
Category Archives: Daily Readings
August 1, Sunday Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Jesus confronts us today with the question: “Why are you looking for me?” Why are we looking for God, for Jesus? Is it merely for the things he gives us? We receive much from God, that is true, but do we look for Jesus for himself, for […]
July 31, Saturday SEVENTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME When the Jews celebrated the jubilee year every fiftieth year, slaves were supposed to be set free, land alienated through debts to be returned to its original owner. The idea was to allow for a radically new beginning, with respect for human rights and dignity. It […]
July 30, Friday SEVENTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME God gave feasts to the Jews and to us not merely to celebrate God’s wonderful deeds of the past but to relive them in the present and to draw strength from them for the future. Modern society has largely lost the sense of festivity. We go […]
July 29, Thursday SEVENTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME To serve without being asked, to be ready for others. To be given little publicity but to work backstage. Not to ask for honours and pass on the shoulder but to do one’s work quietly. This is how she followed the Lord. And her faith was […]
July 28, Wednesday SEVENTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME The radiance on the face of Moses indicates his intimate relationship with God. He is the prophet, the leader, the mediator between the people and God, the reconciler. The two parables of today’s stress, each in its own way, that one should give up everything in order […]
July 27, Tuesday SEVENTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Exodus gives us here a beautiful example of God’s tender covenant love for his sometimes-wayward people. He keeps protecting them and being present to them (hence, the cloud). His presence is very intimate especially for Moses. Hence, the radiance of Moses’ face. Jesus explains the parable […]
July 26, Monday SEVENTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Cued by the Bible, in many languages “to worship (or adore) the golden calf” means to be inordinately after money and riches. In the Bible, it means to try to make oneself a god in the image of the human person, a god that one can […]
July 25, Sunday Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time The traditional sign in the scriptures that God loves us and cares for us is that he provides food for his people, usually bread, the staple food in much of the world. Can we believe this when so many go hungry? Let us first ask ourselves […]
July 24, Saturday SIXTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Today’s first reading describes the rite of the covenant, by which Israel became God’s chosen people with whom God made a blood compact, a Sangduguan, whereby they became his blood relations. “I am the Lord your God” (in the singular, “thy” term of intimacy). The tremendous, […]