WHAT ARE WE LIVING FOR?

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 124

It-Tnejn u Għoxrin Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

Reading 1     JEREMIAH 20:7-9

You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped; you were too strong for me, and you triumphed. All the day I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me. Whenever I speak, I must cry out, violence and outrage is my message; the word of the LORD has brought me derision and reproach all the day. I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more. But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.

Qari I        mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Ġeremija 20, 7-9

Qarraqtni Mulej, u jien tqarraqt: kont aqwa minni, u għelibtni. Jien sirt id-daħka ta’ kuljum, kulħadd jiddieħak bija. Kull meta niġi nitkellem, jien ngħajjat, u nxandar, “Moħqrija u ħsara!”. Il-kelma tal-Mulej saret għalija tagħjir u tmaqdir kuljum. U jien għedt: “Ma nsemmihx aktar, ma nitkellimx aktar f’ismu”. Iżda f’qalbi hemm bħal nar jaqbad, magħluq f’għadmi. Għejejt inżommu magħluq ġo fija, ma niflaħx aktar għalih. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej 

Responsorial Psalm         PSALM 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

O God, you are my God whom I seek;

for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts

like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.

R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary

to see your power and your glory,

For your kindness is a greater good than life;

my lips shall glorify you.

R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Thus will I bless you while I live;

lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.

As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,

and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you. 

R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

You are my help,

and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.

My soul clings fast to you;

your right hand upholds me.

R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Salm Responsorjali    Salm 62 (63), 2.3-4.5-6.8-9 

R/. (2b): Għalik imxennaq jiena, Mulej, Alla tiegħi 

Alla, Alla tiegħi int; lilek ħerqan infittex.

Ruħi bil-għatx għalik,

għalik imxennaq jiena,

bħal art niexfa, maħruqa, bla ilma. R/. 

Għalhekk ġejt narak fit-tempju mqaddes tiegħek,

biex nitgħaxxaq bis-setgħa u l-glorja tiegħek.

Għax it-tjieba tiegħek aħjar mill-ħajja,

xufftejja jxandru t-tifħir tiegħek. R/. 

Għalhekk inbierkek tul ħajti kollha;

ngħolli idejja u nsejjaħ ismek.

Bħal b’ikel mill-aħjar li jsemmen nimtela,

u jgħannilek fommi b’xufftejn ferrieħa. R/. 

Għax int kont għajnuna għalija, 

għad-dell ta’ ġwenħajk ngħanni bil-ferħ.

Miegħek tingħaqad ruħi, 

int tweżinni bil-leminija tiegħek. R/.

Reading 2     ROMANS 12:1-2

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.

Qari II        Qari mill-Ittra lir-Rumani 12, 1-2  

Nitlobkom ħuti, għall-ħniena ta’ Alla, offru ġisimkom b’sagrifiċċju ħaj, qaddis, jogħġob lil Alla, jiġifieri l-qima spiritwali tagħkom. Timxux max-xejra ta’ din id-dinja, iżda nbidlu skond it-tiġdid ta’ fehmietkom, biex iseħħilkom tagħrfu x’inhi r-rieda ta’ Alla, x’inhu ttajjeb li jogħġbu, x’inhu perfett. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej 

Gospel     MATTHEW 16:21-27

Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay all according to his conduct.”

Evanġelju      Qari skond San Mattew 16, 21-27

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù beda juri lid-dixxipli tiegħu li kien meħtieġ għalih li jmur Ġerusalemm, isofri ħafna mix-xjuħ u l-qassisin il-kbar u l-kittieba, joqtluh, u fit-tielet jum iqum. Pietru ġibdu lejh u beda jlumu u jgħidlu: “Allaħares, Mulej! Ma jkun qatt li dan jgħaddi minn għalik!”. Iżda Ġesù dar u qal lil Pietru: “Itlaq minn quddiemi, ja xitan! Int tfixkil għalija, għax m’intix tqis il-ħwejjeġ ta’ Alla, imma qiegħed taħsibha ta’ bniedem li int!”. Imbagħad qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu: “Jekk xi ħadd irid jiġi warajja, għandu jiċħad lilu nnifsu, jerfa’ salibu, u jimxi warajja. Għax min irid isalva ħajtu, jitlifha, imma min jitlef ħajtu għall-imħabba tiegħi, isibha. Għax xi jkun jiswielu l-bniedem jekk jikseb id-dinja kollha u mbagħad jitlef ħajtu? Jew xi prezz se jagħti l-bniedem biex isalva ħajtu? Għax Bin il-bniedem għandu jiġi fil-glorja ta’ Missieru flimkien ma’ l-anġli tiegħu, u mbagħad irodd lil kull wieħed skond ma wieħed ikun għamel”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej  

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The Language of Love

Gospel Commentary by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, OFMCap, Pontifical Household Preacher.

In this Sunday’s Gospel we hear Jesus who says: “Whoever wants to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. Because whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

What does it mean to “deny" yourself? And why should you deny yourself? We know about the indignation of the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche over this the request of this Gospel.

I will begin answering these questions with an example. During the Nazi persecution, many trains full of Jews traveled from every part of Europe to the extermination camps. They were induced to get on the trains by false promises of being taken to places that would be better for them, when, in fact, they were being taken to their destruction. It happened at some of the stops that someone who knew the truth, called out from some hiding place to the passengers: “Get off! Run away!” Some succeeded in doing so.

The example is a hard one, but it expresses something of our situation. The train of life on which we are traveling is going toward death. About this, at least, there are no doubts. Our natural “I,” being mortal, is destined for destruction. What the Gospel is proposing to us when it exhorts us to deny ourselves, is to get off this train and board another one that leads to life. The train that leads to life is faith in him who said: “Whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.”

Paul understood this transferring from one transport to another and he describes it thus: “It is no longer I who lives, Christ lives in me.” If we assume the “I” of Christ we become immortal because he, risen from the dead, dies no more. This indicates the meaning of the words of the Gospel that we have heard. Christ’s call for us to deny ourselves and thus find life is not a call to abuse ourselves or reject ourselves in a simplistic way. It is the wisest of the bold steps that we can take in our lives.

But we must immediately make a qualification. Jesus does not ask us to deny “what we are,” but “what we have become.” We are images of God. Thus, we are something “very good,” as God himself said, immediately after creating man and woman. What we must deny is not that which God has made, but that which we ourselves have made by misusing our freedom -- the evil tendencies, sin, all those things that have covered over the original.

Years ago, off the coast of Calabria in southern Italy, there were discovered two encrusted masses that vaguely resembled human bodies. They were removed from the sea and carefully cleaned and freed. They turned out to be bronze statues of ancient warriors. They are known today as the Riace Warriors and are on display at the National Museum of Magna Grecia in Reggio Calabria. They are among the most admired sculptures of antiquity.

This example can help us understand the positive aspect of the Gospel proposal. Spiritually, we resemble the condition of those statues before their restoration. The beautiful image of God that we should be is covered over by the seven layers of the seven capital sins.

Perhaps it is not a bad idea to recall what these sins are, if we have forgotten them: pride, greed, lust, wrath, gluttony, envy and sloth. St. Paul calls this disfigured image, “the earthly image,” in contrast to the “heavenly image,” which is the resemblance of Christ.

“Denying ourselves,” therefore, is not a work of death, but one of life, of beauty and of joy. It is also a learning of the language of true love. Imagine, said the great Danish philosopher Kierkegaard, a purely human situation. Two young people love each other. But they belong to two different nations and speak completely different languages. If their love is to survive and grow, one of them must learn the language of the other. Otherwise, they will not be able to communicate and their love will not last.

This, Kierkegaard said, is how it is with us and God. We speak the language of the flesh, he speaks that of the spirit; we speak the language of selfishness, he that of love.

Denying yourself is learning the language of God so that we can communicate with him, but it is also learning the language that allows us to communicate with each other. We will not be able to say “yes” to the other -- beginning with our own wife or husband -- if we are not first of all able to say “no” to ourselves.

Keeping within the context of marriage, many problems and failures with the couple come from the fact that the man has never learned to express love for the woman, nor she for the man. Even when it speaks of denying ourselves, we see that the Gospel is much less distant from life than it is sometimes believed. [Translated from the Italian original by Zenit]

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So, tell me, who do you say I Am?

 

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time   (Lectionary: 121)

Il-Wieħed u Għoxrin Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena 

 

Reading 1     ISAIAH 22: 19-23

Thus says the LORD to Shebna, master of the palace: “I will thrust you from your office and pull you down from your station. On that day I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah; I will clothe him with your robe, and gird him with your sash, and give over to him your authority. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. I will place the key of the House of David on Eliakim’s shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut when he shuts, no one shall open. I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot, to be a place of honor for his family.” 

Qari I         mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Isaija 22, 19-23

Dan jgħid il-Mulej lil Sebna, dak li jieħu ħsieb il-palazz tas-sultan: “Inwarrbek minn postok, u nneħħik minn fejn qiegħed.  sejjaħ lill-qaddej tiegħi Eljakim, bin Ħilkija, inlibbsu l-libsa iegħek, u nħażżmu bit-terħa tiegħek, u nagħtih f’idejh il-ħakma tiegħek.U jkun missier għal min għammar f’Ġerusalemm, u għad-dar ta’ Ġuda.Inqiegħed muftieħ dar David fuq spallejh. Jiftaħ hu, u ħadd ma jagħlaq; jagħlaq hu, u ħadd ma jiftaħ. U nwaħħlu bħal mumar ma’ ħajt fis-sod, u jkun tron glorjuż għal dar missieru”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej    

Responsorial Psalm      PSALM 138: 1-2, 2, 3,6,8

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth; in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise; I will worship at your holy temple. R. Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands. 

I will give thanks to your name, because of your kindness and your truth: When I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me. R. Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands. 

The LORD is exalted, yet the lowly he sees, and the proud he knows from afar. Your kindness, O LORD, endures forever; forsake not the work of your hands. R. Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands. 

 Salm Responsorjali        Salm 137 (138), 1-2a.2bc-3.6.8bc

R/. (8b): It-tjieba tiegħek, Mulej, tibqa’ għal dejjem

Irroddlok ħajr, Mulej, b’qalbi kollha, għaliex int smajt kliem fommi. Quddiem l-allat irrid ngħannilek. B’wiċċi fl-art ninxteħet quddiem is-santwarju tiegħek. R/. 

Irroddlok ħajr għat-tjieba u l-fedeltà tiegħek, għax int kabbart ismek u kelmtek fuq kollox. Meta sejjaħtlek, int weġibtni, kattarli l-qawwa f’ruħi. R/.

 Kbir il-Mulej, imma jieħu ħsieb iż-żgħar; u, għalkemm fl-għoli, jagħraf mill-bogħod. Il-Mulej iżomm kelmtu miegħi. It-tjieba tiegħek, Mulej, tibqa’ għal dejjem. R/.

 Reading 2           ROMANS 11: 33-36

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor? Or who has given the Lord anything that he may be repaid? For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.  

Qari II       mill-Ittra ta’ lir-Rumani 11, 33-36

Ħuti, kemm huma kbar l-għana, l-għerf u l-għaqal ta’ Alla! Kemm tassew ħadd ma jista’ jgħarbel il-ġudizzju tiegħu u jifhem it-triqat tiegħu! Għax min qatt għaraf moħħ il-Mulej? Min qatt kien il-kunsillier tiegħu? Min qatt tah l-ewwel biex jistħoqqlu l-ħlas? Kollox ġej minnu, kollox permezz tiegħu, kollox għalih. Lilu l-glorja għal dejjem ta’ dejjem. Amen!  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej 

Gospel       MATTHEW 16:  13-20

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

 Evanġelju         Qari skond San Mattew 16, 13-20

F’dak iż-żmien, meta wasal fl-inħawi ta’ Ċesarija ta’ Filippu, Ġesù staqsa lid-dixxipli tiegħu u qalilhom: “Min jgħidu n-nies li hu Bin il-bniedem?”. U huma weġbuh: “Xi wħud, Ġwanni l-Battista; oħrajn, Elija; u oħrajn, Ġeremija jew wieħed mill-profeti”. “Imma intom min tgħidu li jien?”, staqsiehom. U qabeż Xmun Pietru u qallu: “Inti l-Messija, Bin Alla l-ħaj”. U Ġesù wieġbu u qallu: “Hieni int, Xmun bin Ġona, għax mhux bniedem tad-demm u l-laħam uriek dan, imma Missieri li hu fis-smewwiet. U jiena ngħidlek: Inti Pietru, u fuq din il-blata jiena nibni l-Knisja tiegħi, u s-setgħat tal-infern ma jegħlbuhiex. Jiena nagħtik l-imfietaħ tas-Saltna tas-Smewwiet, u kull ma torbot fuq l-art ikun marbut fis-smewwiet, u kull ma tħoll fuq l-art ikun maħlul fis-smewwiet”. Imbagħad lid-dixxipli tiegħu wissiehom biex ma jitkellmu ma’ ħadd fuq li huwa l-Messija. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej 

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Who Do You Say I Am? 

Gospel Commentary by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, OFMCap, Pontifical Household Preacher.

 There is a practice in today’s culture and society that can help us toward understanding this Sunday’s Gospel: opinion polls. These are conducted everywhere, especially in the political and commercial spheres. One day Jesus also wanted to do an opinion poll, but, as we shall see, for a different purpose. He did it not for political reasons, but for educational ones. 

Having arrived in Caesarea Philippi, that is, in the northernmost region of Israel, and taking a little rest alone with the apostles, Jesus asks them, point blank, “Who do people say that the son of man is?”  It seems that the apostles were not expecting to be asked more than to report what people were saying of him. They answered: "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 

But Jesus was not interested in measuring his popularity or in looking for an index of how well he was regarded by the people. His purpose was entirely different. So he immediately followed his first question with a second: “Who do you say that I am?" 

This second, unexpected question catches them completely off guard. There is silence and they stand looking at each other. In the Greek it makes it clear that all of the apostles together responded to the first question and that only one person, namely, Simon Peter, responded to the second question: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” 

Between the two responses there is a leap over an abyss, a “conversion.” To answer the first question it was only necessary to look around, to have listened to people’s opinions. But to answer the second question, it was necessary to look inside, to listen to a completely different voice, a voice that was not of flesh and blood but of the Father in heaven. Peter was enlightened from on high. 

It is the first clear recognition of the true identity of Jesus of Nazareth in the Gospels. The first public act of faith in Christ in history! Think about the wake that a big ship makes in the sea. It widens as the ship goes forward until it is lost on the horizon. But it begins at a single point, which is the ship itself. Faith in Jesus Christ is like this. It is as a wake that widens as it moves through history, and travels to “the very ends of the earth.” But it starts at a single point. And this point is Peter’s act of faith. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” 

Jesus uses another image, which implies stability rather than movement. It is a vertical instead of a horizontal image. It is that of a rock: “You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church.” 

Jesus changes his name -- as often happens in the Bible when someone receives an important mission -- from Simon to Cephas, or Peter -- “rock.” The true rock, the “cornerstone” is, and remains, Jesus himself. But once he has risen and ascended into heaven, this “cornerstone,” though present and active, is invisible. It is necessary for a sign to represent him, a sign that makes Christ, who is the “unshakeable foundation,” visible and efficacious in history. And this sign is Peter and, after him, his vicar, the Pope, successor of Peter, as head of the college of apostles. 

But let us return to the idea of polling. Jesus' poll, as we saw, has two parts, which have two distinct questions. First, “Who do people say that I am?” And second, “Who do you say that I am?” 

Jesus does not seem to value very much what the people think of him. He wants to know what his disciples think of him. He immediately asks them to speak for themselves. He does not let them hide behind the opinions of others. He wants them to speak of their own opinions. Almost the identical situation repeats itself today. 

Today as well “people,” “public opinion,” has its ideas about Jesus. Jesus is in vogue. Just look at what is going on in the world of literature and entertainment. A year does not go by in which there does not appear a novel or a film with its own distorted and sacrilegious vision of Christ. Dan Brown’s “Da Vinci Code” has been the most well-known one of late and has produced many imitators. 

Then there are those who are middle-of-the-road, like the people of Jesus’ time, who believe Jesus to be “one of the prophets.” He is regarded as a fascinating person and placed alongside Socrates, Gandhi and Tolstoy. I am sure that Jesus does not scorn these responses to him, because the Bible says of him that he does not “quench the smouldering wick and does not break the bruised reed,” that is, he appreciates every honest effort on the part of man. 

But, the truth be told, this view of Jesus does not seem quite right even from a human point of view. Neither Gandhi nor Tolstoy ever said: “I am the way, the truth and the life,” or “Whoever loves father and mother more than me is not worth of me.” 

With Jesus you cannot not be middle-of-the-road. Either he is what he claims to be, or he is not a great man, but rather a great lunatic lifted up by history. There are no half-measures. There are buildings and structures made of steel -- I believe that the Eiffel Tower in Paris is one -- made in such a way that if you touch a certain point or remove a certain element, everything will come down. The edifice of the Christian faith is like this, and this neuralgic point is the divinity of Jesus Christ. 

But let us leave aside the responses of the people and consider the nonbelievers. Believing in the divinity of Christ is not enough; you must also bear witness to it. Whoever knows him and does not bear witness to this faith, indeed even hides it, is more responsible before God that those who do not have this faith. 

In a scene in Paul Claudel’s play “The Humiliated Father,” a Jewish girl, beautiful but blind, alluding to the double meaning of light, asks her Christian friend: “You who see, what use have you made of the light?” It is a question that is asked of all of us who claim to be believers. [Translated from the Italian original by Zenit] 

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LORD, HAVE PITY ON ME!

>>>  Sunday, August 16, 2020   <<< 

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time      Lectionary: 118 

L-Għoxrin Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena 

 

Reading 1      ISAIAH 56:1, 6-7

Thus says the LORD: Observe what is right, do what is just; for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed. The foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, ministering to him, loving the name of the LORD, and becoming his servants—all who keep the sabbath free from profanation and hold to my covenant, them I will bring to my holy mountain and Make joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. 

Qari 1        mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Isaija 56, 1.6-7

Dan jgħid il-Mulej: “Żommu s-sewwa u agħmlu l-ġustizzja, għax is-salvazzjoni tiegħi għoddha waslet, u l-ġustizzja tiegħi dalwaqt tfeġġ. Ulied il-frustier li ntrabtu mal-Mulej biex jaqduh, u biex iħobbu isem il-Mulej, u jkunu qaddejja tiegħu, kull min iħares is-Sibt u ma jiksrux u jżomm sħiħ fil-patt tiegħi, lil dawn inwassalhom sal-muntanja mqaddsa tiegħi, u nferraħhom f’dar it-talb tiegħi. Il-vittmi maħruqa u s-sagrifiċċji tagħhom ikunu jogħġbuni telgħin minn fuq l-artal tiegħi, għax dari dar it-talb tissejjaħ għall-popli kollha”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej 

Responsorial Psalm     PSALM 67: 2-3, 5.6.8

May God have pity on us and bless us; may he let his face shine upon us. So may your way be known upon earth; among all nations, your salvation. R. O God, let all the nations praise you! May the nations be glad and exult because you rule the peoples in equity; the nations on the earth you guide. R. O God, let all the nations praise you! May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you! May God bless us, and may all the ends of the earth fear him! R. O God, let all the nations praise you! 

Salm Responsorjali      Salm 66 (67), 2-3.5.6.8

R/. (4): Ifaħħruk il-popli kollha, o Alla 

Iħenn għalina Alla, u jberikna; idawwar għal fuqna d-dija ta’ wiċċu! Biex jingħarfu fuq l-art triqatek, fost il-ġnus kollha s-salvazzjoni tiegħek. R/. 

Jithennew il-ġnus u jgħannu bil-ferħ, għax trieġi l-popli bis-sewwa,u l-ġnus fuq l-art inti tmexxihom. R/.

 Ifaħħruk il-popli, o Alla, ifaħħruk il-popli kollha. Iberikna Alla, u tibża’ minnu l-art kollha minn tarf għall-ieħor! R/. 

Reading 2       ROMANS  11: 13-15, 29-32

Brothers and sisters: I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I glory in my ministry in order to make my race jealous and thus save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.  Just as you once disobeyed God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now disobeyed in order that, by virtue of the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. For God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all. 

Qari 2         mill-Ittra lir-Rumani  11, 13-15.29-32

Ħuti, issa ngħid lilkom, il-pagani. Sakemm jiena appostlu tal-pagani nibqa’ nagħmel ġieħ lill-ministeru tiegħi, bit-tama li nqajjem l-għira ta’ ġensi u hekk insalva lil xi wħud minnhom. Għax jekk it-tkeċċija tagħhom ġiebet il-ħbiberija tad-dinja ma’ Alla, l-ilqugħ tagħhom mill-ġdid xi jkun ifisser, jekk mhux ħajja mill-imwiet? Alla ma jreġġax lura d-doni u s-sejħa tiegħu. Bħalma fl-imgħoddi intom ma kontux tobdu lil Alla, imma issa sibtu l-ħniena tiegħu minħabba d-diżubbidjenza tagħhom; hekk huma wkoll m’humiex jobduh minħabba l-ħniena li sibtu intom mingħandu, ħalli issa huma wkoll isibu l-ħniena. Għax Alla ħalla ’l kulħadd fil-jasar tad-diżubbidjenza, biex jagħmel ħniena ma’ kulħadd. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej  

Gospel          MATTHEW 15: 21-28

At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!  My daughter is tormented by a demon.”  But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. Jesus’ disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did Jesus homage, saying, “Lord, help me.”  He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.”  She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.”  Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.”  And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour. 

Evanġelju    Qari skond San Mattew 15, 21-28

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù telaq lejn Tir u Sidon. U ħarġet waħda mara Kangħanija minn dawk l-inħawi, u qabdet tgħajjat u tgħid: “Ħenn għalija, Mulej, Bin David; binti għandha fiha xitan, u magħdura ħafna!”. Iżda hu ma weġibhiex kelma. Resqu lejh id-dixxipli tiegħu, jitolbuh u jgħidulu: “Eħles minnha, għax ġejja tgħajjat warajna”. Imma hu qalilhom: “Ma ġejtx mibgħut ħlief għan-nagħaġ li ntilfu mid-dar ta’ Iżrael”. Iżda hi resqet, inxteħtet quddiemu u qaltlu: “Għinni Mulej!”. Hu weġibha: “Mhux sewwa tieħu l-ħobż tal-ulied u tixħtu lill-ġriewi”. “Hekk hu, Mulej – qaltlu – iżda l-ġriewi wkoll jieklu l-frak li jaqa’ minn fuq il-mejda ta’ sidienhom!”. Imbagħad wieġeb Ġesù u qalilha: “Mara, il-fidi tiegħek kbira! Ħa jsirlek kif tixtieq”. U minn dak il-ħin stess bintha fieqet. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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The Canaanite Woman 

A reflection by Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur, a Senior Editor with Catholic Lane.com, she also blogs at http://spiritualwomanthoughts.blogspot.com 

This week’s gospel told the story of the Canaanite woman who begs Jesus to heal her daughter. The Canaanite woman was a Gentile, a non-Jew. Jesus treats her downright coldly at first. As she pleads her case, Jesus ignores her. The disciples ask Jesus to do want she wants because she is aggravating them, following them around. He counters that he “was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel” and tells the woman herself that “it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to little dogs.” She replies, “Yes, Lord; but even little dogs eat the scraps that fall from their masters’ table.” It is only then that Jesus responds with kindness and heals her daughter. 

It is important to note that this passage comes from Matthew’s gospel, which was written for Jews. The point of the story is to show that the Gentiles were eager to accept Jesus as Lord even though the Jews were reluctant to do so. It also illustrates the importance of faith. No matter what Jesus said to her, she kept believing that he could heal her daughter. 

As a mother, this story carries further meaning. The Canaanite woman is a mother who will do whatever she needs to do for her child. Her daughter is “tormented by a devil.” At that time, devils were blamed for both physical and mental illness, but with that word “tormented,” one gets the sense that this is most likely a mental affliction. Here is a daughter who is suffering, and most likely has been suffering for quite some time. There is no worse pain than watching your child suffer and not being able to do anything about it. She had heard of Jesus, perhaps even witnessed him heal someone. This is her last hope, and she is going to pursue it until she gets what she wants. She is willing to even verbally spar with Jesus. She doesn’t shrink away when Jesus questions her right to be there. She just keeps pushing. 

Every mother has to advocate for her child at some point, and it is not always easy. It can be hard to stand up to teachers, or principals, or doctors in order to make sure that a child gets what he or she needs. It can be hard to speak up, but it is part of a mother’s job. I am naturally a very introverted person. I hate conflict and don’t do a very good job of sticking up for myself. After my first child was born, however, I soon learned that I had to stick up for him because no one else would. I had to speak for him because he couldn’t speak for himself. When he was diagnosed with life-threatening food allergies, I had to tell people. I had to make sure that accommodations were made for him whenever he was going to be someplace without me. When he started school, I had to make sure that he would be safe. I had to teach his teachers and the cafeteria workers how to use his epi-pen. I had to make sure that his classroom would be peanut-free. I had to do the same if he went to a friend’s house or to a party. I have had to advocate for my younger son for other reasons. It just comes with the parenting territory. 

Mothers can be inspired by the Canaanite woman. I don’t think that I would have the courage to stand up to Jesus the way that she did. After he ignored me, I probably would have slunk away. The Canaanite woman reminds me, and all mothers, to stand firm, to continue to have faith and advocate for our children. Whether we are on our knees praying, or in the principal’s office discussing school policy, we are our child’s voice when they cannot speak for themselves. When we start to lose faith in our ability to be that voice, we can remember the Canaanite woman and emulate her courage and strength.

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Putting all our trust in Jesus

<< Sunday, August 9th, 2020 >>

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time   /   Lectionary: 115

 Id-Dsatax-il Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

 

Reading 1          1 KINGS 19:9a,11-13a

At the mountain of God, Horeb, Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter. Then the LORD said to him, “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will be passing by.” A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD— but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake—but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was fire— but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.  When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave. 

 Qari I        mill-1 Ktieb tas-Slaten 19, 9a.11-13a

F’dak iż-żmien: Elija wasal fil-Ħoreb, il-muntanja tal-Mulej. Hemmhekk daħal fl-għar u għadda l-lejl ġo fih. U Alla qallu: “Oħroġ, u oqgħod fuq il-muntanja quddiem il-Mulej”. U ara, il-Mulej għadda. Riħ qawwi, b’saħħa li jofroq il-muntanji u jfarrak il-blat, għadda quddiem il-Mulej; imma l-Mulej ma kienx f’dan ir-riħ. U wara dan ir-riħ theżhżet l-art imma l-Mulej ma kienx f’din it-theżhiża. U wara t-theżhiża kien hemm in-nar, imma l-Mulej ma kienx fin-nar. Wara n-nar inħasset żiffa ħelwa. Elija, kif ħassha, għatta wiċċu bil-mantell, ħareġ barra, u waqaf f’bieb l-għar. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej 

Responsorial Psalm             PSALM 85: 9, 10,11-12, 13-14

I will hear what God proclaims; the LORD — for he proclaims peace. Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land. R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation. 

Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven. R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.  

The LORD himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase Justice shall walk before him, and prepare the way of his steps. R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation. 

Salm Responsorjali         Salm 84 (85), 9ab-10.11-12.13-14

R/. (8): Uri lilna, Mulej, it-tjieba tiegħek  

Ħa nisma’ xi jgħid Alla; il-Mulej is-sliem ixandar, għall-poplu u l-ħbieb tiegħu. Qrib hi tassew is-salvazzjoni tiegħu għal dawk li jibżgħu minnu, biex jgħammar is-sebħ f’artna. R/. 

It-tjieba u l-fedeltà jiltaqgħu, il-ġustizzja u s-sliem jitbewsu. Il-fedeltà mill-art tinbet, u l-ġustizzja mis-sema tixref.  R/. 

Il-Mulej ukoll jagħti l-ġid tiegħu, u artna tagħti l-frott tagħha. Il-ġustizzja quddiemu timxi, u s-sliem fuq il-passi tiegħu.  R/. 

Reading 2          ROMANS 9: 1-5

Brothers and sisters:  I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie; my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing me witness that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart.  For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. They are Israelites; theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; theirs the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. 

Qari II         mill-Ittra ta’ San Pawl Appostlu lir-Rumani  9, 1-5

Ħuti, 1ngħidilkom is-sewwa fi Kristu, m’iniex nigdeb, tixhidli l-istess kuxjenza tiegħi fl-Ispirtu s-Santu, li jiena mnikket għall-aħħar, u dejjem qalbi maqsuma; nixtieq li kont jiena stess maqtugħ minn Kristu minħabba f’ħuti, nies ġensi skond il-ġisem: l-Iżraelin.  Tagħhom hija l-adozzjoni ta’ wlied Alla u l-glorja, il-pattijiet u l-Liġi, il-liturġija u l-wegħdiet, tagħhom huma l-patrijarki; u kien minnhom li, skond il-ġisem, ħareġ Kristu, li hu fuq kollox, Alla mbierek għal dejjem ta’ dejjem. Amen!  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej 

Gospel          MATTHEW 14: 22-33

After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone.  Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.  During the fourth watch of the night,  he came toward them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.  “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.  At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”  Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”  He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.  But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”  Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

 Evanġelju          Qari skond San Mattew Mt 14, 22-33

Wara lin-nies kielu u xebgħu, Ġesù minnufih ġiegħel lid-dixxipli jitilgħu fuq id-dgħajsa u jmorru qablu x-xatt l-ieħor, sakemm jibgħat lin-nies. Wara li bagħat lin-nies, tela’ waħdu fuq l-għoljiet biex jitlob. Xħin sar filgħaxija kien għadu hemm fuq, waħdu. Id-dgħajsa kienet diġa’ f’nofs il-baħar titħabat mal-mewġ, għax kellhom ir-riħ kontra tagħhom. Fir-raba’ sahra tal-lejl mar lejn in-naħa tagħhom miexi fuq il-baħar. Huma rawh miexi fuq il-baħar u twerwru. “Dan xi fantażma!”. qalu; u qabdu jgħajtu bil-biża’. Iżda hu minnufih kellimhom u qalilhom: “Agħmlu l-qalb, jien hu, tibżgħu xejn!”. Wieġeb Pietru u qallu: “Mulej, jekk huwa int, ordnali niġi ħdejk fuq l-ilma”. “Ejja”, qallu Ġesù. Pietru niżel mid-dgħajsa, u qabad jimxi fuq l-ilma u jersaq lejn Ġesù. Iżda meta ra li r-riħ kien qawwi, baża’, ħabat jegħreq, u beda jgħajjat u jgħid: “Salvani, Mulej!”. Malajr Ġesù medd idu u qabdu: “Bniedem ta’ fidi żgħira”, qallu, “għaliex iddubitajt?”. Meta mbagħad it-tnejn telgħu fid-dgħajsa, ir-riħ waqaf. Dawk li kienu fid-dgħajsa nxteħtu jqimuh u qalulu: “Tassew, int Bin Alla!”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej    

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Peter Walks on Water

A reflection by Fr. George Smiga 

Jesus’ walking on the water in Matthew 14:22-36 is connected to an earlier episode of the gospel in which Jesus calms a storm (8:18-34). The calming of the storm is not concerned with the conditions of the water but of the cosmos. Throughout the bible the sea often stands as a symbol of the powers of evil in combat with God. Yahweh is shown to be in battle with sea monsters while creating and saving the world (Job 26:12-13). Matthew presents Jesus’ action as a cosmic battle with evil. The Greek word translated “windstorm” in 8:24 really means “earthquake.” Matthew is associating this miracle with the shaking of the foundations of the world. Jesus’ calming of the storm symbolizes his cosmic victory over evil which comes about through his resurrection. 

Jesus’ relationship to his disciples is emphasized in the story. They follow him into the boat, into the struggle with evil (8:23). Their call to the sleeping Jesus echoes the words in Psalm 44:23, “Rouse yourself! Why do you sleep, O Lord? Awake, do not  cast us off forever!” Their words have become a prayer. Matthew intends that his community see themselves in the boat voicing their fears to the risen Lord. We should place ourselves in the boat as well, so that in our struggle with evil we can hear Jesus’ response: “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” 

In Matthew 14:22-36 Jesus walks on the water. As in chapter 8, the sea represents the power of chaos which Jesus combats and will defeat. In Matt 8:23-27 Jesus was asleep in the boat. In this narrative Jesus comes to his disciples across the water. He says, “It is I” (14:27) which reflects the divine name of God from Exod 3:14, “I am he.” Just as God saved Israel from slavery in Egypt, Jesus saves his disciples from harm. 

Matthew draws this scene from Mark 6:45-52. But he enlarges the story by adding an episode about Peter. This is the first of a number of incidents concerning Peter which are only found in Matthew’s gospel. Matthew inserts much of this material into Book Four because the church is the central topic of this book and Peter plays a key role in the church. 

Peter acts as the representative of what belonging to the church means. He knows that he is called to follow Christ. So when he sees Jesus walking on the water, he asks permission to do the same (verse 28). Yet Peter is not a perfect disciple. When he sees the strength of the storm he doubts and begins to sink. Jesus pulls him up and uses Matthew’s gentle rebuke to failing disciples “You of little faith” (14:31). 

Through Peter, Matthew has shown us what it is to be a disciple. We will doubt and will need to be pulled up by Jesus time and again. But we also share in the dignity and power of Jesus. When united to the risen Lord, we too can walk on water.

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