The Word today, W16B

July 22 - July 27, 2024

Monday 22 July

St Mary Magdalene

Song of Songs 3:1-4 The Song of Songs unfolds as a series of love poems, serious and playful. These include what we may call quest stories or reflections on seeking the beloved. Our reading, beautiful in itself, makes for a great introduction to today’s Gospel.

John 20:1-2, 11-18 The Fourth Gospel has many “quest” stories, none more powerful than the quest of Mary Magdalen for the risen Lord. The words used mark a significant shift in this Gospel. The opening question of Jesus in this Gospel—“What are you looking for?” (John 1:38)—becomes “Whom are you looking for?” (John 20:15) We proclaim a person and not simply a doctrine.

Tuesday 23 July

St Bridget of Sweden, patroness of Europe

Galatians 2:19-20 The reading is chosen for feast of St Brigid, who had mystical experiences. A more accurate translation of the reading would be as follows: For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God. I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Gal 2:19–20)

John 15:1-8 The discourse of the vine invites us all to recognized ourselves as the branches, all recipients of the grace of Christ.

Wednesday 24 July

St Charbel Makhlouf, priest; St Declan, bishop

Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10 Today, we hear the well remembered story of the call of Jeremiah. Clearly, it was an overwhelming experience, which made him feel unworthy. He went on to become a truly great prophet, proclaiming God’s word before and during the Exile.

Matthew 13:1-9 The parable of the sower is heard in two version, the original parable and a later church interpretation. It might be helpful to set consciously aside the later reading and just hear it today for its own sake. Like all the original parables it is about the kingdom, a kingdom of humble beginnings leading to astonishing growth.

Thursday 25 July

St James, apostle

2 Corinthians 4:7-15 The reading is special for the feast. The Corinthians blew cold and hot when it came to St Paul. Once more, in this reading he defends himself, and reveals something of the inner motivation, the inner person, his sense of apostleship.

Matthew 20:20-28 Again especially chosen for the feast, this reading tells a familiar and instructive tale with one interesting difference. In Mark, it is James and John who make the blunder. In Matthew, to spare the blushes of the emerging leadership, this “role” is assigned to their mother! In any case, the message is untouched: leadership in the faith community is costly service, modelled on Jesus’ own service.

Friday 26 July

Sts Joachim and Anne, parents of the BVM

Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13 Our reading is full of pathos. God himself tells the story of his choice of Israel, in very poetic language. At the same time, God’s expresses his consternation at the ways things have turned out. It is all expressed in a very human way, but a deep truth stands at the heart of it all.

Matthew 13:10-17 Our reading is a challenge to us to listen and to see, so that we may grasp fully the message of Jesus.

Saturday 27 July

Jeremiah 7:1-11 A tough speech from Jeremiah, calling on people not to delude themselves with false assurances of piety. And yet…God will stay with them.

Matthew 13:24-30 The parable may well be directed to Matthew’s church at the time of writing. In a community commanded to perfection, the temptation to expel the less than perfect may have been strong. The message here is that it is none your business…who knows how people may change and grow?

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024bd, July 21). Sixteenth Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072124.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/

The Word today, W15B

July 15 - July 20, 2024

Monday 15 July

St Bonaventure, bishop and doctor

Isaiah 1:10-17 Like many another prophet, Isaiah notices the gap between worship and living, between what we say and what we do. God’s assessment is graphically described and the responsorial Psalm is absolutely perfect.

Matthew 10:34-11:1 This passage can surprise and even offend. The sword, however, is not the sword of judgment but the sword of decision, as the following verses show.

Tuesday 16 July

Our Lady of Mt Carmel

Isaiah 7:1-9 A terrifying moment of threat is described: the hearts of the people shuddered as the trees of the forest shudder in front of the wind. It calls for a word of God and that word is strong: God is and will be faithful if you remain faithful.

Matthew 11:20-24 Again, a difficult passage. It portrays Jesus the prophet, encountering rejection. Yet, like the prophets of old he continues to announce his offer, even if in blistering terms.

Wednesday 17 July

Isaiah 10:5-7,13-16 The Assyrian assault was interpreted as God’s reaction to injustice and idolatry. In our reading a merely political or military reading is excluded. Instead, God made use of foreigners and even invasion to call Israel back to fidelity.

Matthew 11:25-27 Jesus exclaims a powerful prayer to God. To understand it well, we need to remember that the learned and the clever are powerful while children are powerless. Thus Jesus’ message is for the oppressed.

Thursday 18 July

Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19 Today we hear a marvellous cry from the heart. Both the human condition and grace of God come to poetic expression. It would be good to take this passage home and read it quietly to yourself.

Matthew 11:28-30 In Jewish tradition, the Torah or the Law was regarded as a (very) welcome yoke, that is, guidance which you help the faithful plough a straight furrow in life. Jesus’ yoke or burden is, in addition, easy and light.

Friday 19 July

Isaiah 38:1-6,21-22,7-8 A king is seriously ill and bargains with God. We would probably all accept the deal he gets!

Matthew 12:1-8 At a surface level, this passage contrasts in a familiar way legalism and sensible flexibility. At a deeper level, it takes to to the identity of Jesus himself, “something greater than the Temple.”

Saturday 20 July

St Apollinaris, bishop and martyr

Micah 2:1-5 Like Isaiah and many of the prophets, Micah is very much against injustice, exploitation and oppression. He does not mince his words!

Matthew 12:14-21 The historical Jesus did, of course, encounter opposition. (He could hardly have said what he said and done what he did and escape severe criticism.) The historical Jesus may very well have grasped his destiny of suffering in the light of the prophets, and in particular in the light of the Suffering Servant from Isaiah, as in our reading.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024e, July 14). Fifteenth Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071424.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/

The Word today, W14B

July 08 - July 13, 2024

Monday 08 July

St Kilian, bishop and martyr

Hosea 2:16, 17-18, 21-22 Until Thursday, we read from the prophet Hosea, known for his use of marriage as a symbol of God’s love for his people. This emerges rather touchingly in today’s reading.

Matthew 9:18-26 This is Matthew’s brisk telling of a story familiar from Mark. The “sandwich” technique here creates suspense: he can heal the sick, but can he raise the dead?

Tuesday 09 July

St Augustine Zhao Rong and his companions, martyrs

Hos 8:4-7, 11-13 The worship of idols was a constant threat in the ancient world. Idols were more tangible and visible. In case we dismiss the risk too readily, it may help to remember the words of our Lord: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21)

Matthew 9:32-37 A sinister note is registered in the first paragraph of this reading. After that, Jesus the healer brings people God’s compassion.

Wednesday 10 July

Hos 10:1-3, 7-8, 12 This plaintive text is very powerful. It begins with the traditional image of the vine and goes on to ask penetrating questions. The final paragraph surely speaks today: it is time to go seeking the Lord until he comes to rain salvation on you.

Matthew 10:1-7 The Twelve were a symbol of Jesus’ mission to Israel, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. This focus of Jesus ministry becomes really clear in the last paragraph.

Thursday 11 July

St Benedict, abbot, co-patron of Europe

Proverbs 2:1-9 For the feast, we interrupt the readings from Hosea and read from Proverbs. Where can we find wisdom, truth, virtue, justice, understanding and fear of the Lord? According to Proverbs—and later according to St Benedict and many other holy men and women—these things are to be found by taking the Word of the Lord to heart.

Matthew 19:27-29 The Gospel—chosen for the feast—is really about those who have followed Jesus in leaving behind all “sensible”, “normal” forms of security and happiness for the sake of the Good News.

Friday 12 July

Hosea 14:2-10 This is a great invitation to conversion of heart. The first part is the call to come back to the Lord. The second part spell out the super-generous response of God to our response to him.

Matthew 10:16-23 Jesus was not naive. Sending out the Twelve was sending them into danger. Probably we over hear some of the experiences of the later church in the details, as there is no evidence that these things took place during the ministry of Jesus.

Saturday 13 July

St Henry of Bavaria

Isaiah 6:1-8 Beginning today, we have a week of readings from Isaiah. To start, the lectionary offers us the foundational vision of the prophet, a fabulous vision of the holiness of God, both awesome and alluring. You may recognise words we say at every Mass.

Matthew 10:24-33 Under the general heading of the mission discourse, disparate sayings are offered, reflecting a variety of concerns. Sometimes, the word is threatening; other times, it is consoling. A sense of anxious urgency hangs over the whole teaching.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024c, July 7). Fourteenth Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/070724.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/