Monday-Tuesday

Monday August 17, 009 of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Judges 2: 11-19 Psalm 106: 34-40, 43-44 Matthew 19L 16-22
Psalm Response: “ Remember us Lord. As a favor to Your people”

Joshua had hardly been assigned, by God, to shepherd His people when, with itching ears they succumbed to the example of the inhabitants of the land the Lord had given them, and began to imitate them by honoring and adoring their gods.
They offered sacrifices to Baal and Ashtaroth, putting these statues and idols on the same plane as their God.
God had it up to Here!
Therefore, when in the past, they fought against superior numbers, and they were vanquished, they assumed an attitude of vainglory as though they accomplished the task without help.
As a result, God let them have their way and without His intervention, they were always defeated.
We don’t have false gods made of metal, stone and wood so we think we’re immune to idolatry. However, our false gods do not have a physical form. Rather power, prestige and prosperity are our effective gods.
Don’t give in to the love of success. The only success worthy of note, is the attainment of our final goal, our perpetual resting place with Him!

The psalmist reminds the people of their disobedience to God’s commands. They were to put the conquered people to the ban, extermination.
We would think it heinous to do so. However, God’s order is not a suggestion. He was aware the lives of the conquered people are precious in His sight.
Who are we , with our limited vision, to know His plan for them or us!

The young man in the Gospel story probably followed the Law to a fault. He was trying to justify his life by confirming his compliance with the Law. Jesus extends the Law to perfection. “Sell your wealth and distribute the proceeds to the poor. Be perfect as your heavenly Father!”
Crestfallen, the young man couldn’t or wouldn’t comply with God’s request and went away sad because his wealth was vast and he enjoyed his leisure.
God offers us the same alternative to our lives. We may not have untold riches but what we have, time, talents and know-how could be expended to help someone in need.
How? Volunteer!










Tuesday August 18, 2009 of the 20th Week in Ordinary time
Readings: Judges 6: 11-24a Psalm 85: 9, 11-14 Matthew 19: 23-30
Psalm response: “ The Lord speaks peace to His people”

After Joshua until the monarchy was established in Samuel’s time, the tribes of Israel were governed by Judges. There were twelve in all, representing the number sons of Jacob and their tribes.
We may remember Sampson, who was like superman, but the rest of the Judges were not of note.
In this periscope, Gideon, was the judge over Israel. He wasn’t a formidable personage and even considered himself a weak unable leader.
The angel of God,( a synonym of God’s presence) appeared to Gideon and instructed him to attack the Midianites. Gideon was aghast! He protested he wasn’t the one God should use to extricate the Midianites from their land as he was the weakest of all the Israelites.
However, after many protests, God told Gideon, “I will be with you”!
Since Gideon wasn’t too sure of himself, he asked God to be with him always and especially when he returned to the place where he had been instructed to attack.
God assured him and Gideon went ahead and defeated the Midianites despite their superior numbers and his own fraility.
Gideon returned to Ophrah, ( not The Oprah) prostrated himself and offered a sacrifice, built an altar and worshiped God.
We always think we’re too weak to do marvelous acts for God. If we just pull ourselves together and realize God is always with us when we endeavor to be His messenger in charity and love of neighbor, we can become the Gideons of our generation. We will not be called upon to defeat a multitude of the enemy, but, we will have the grace of God with us in our attempts to be Him.

The psalmist harkens to the word of the Lord. He seeks peace, hope, truth and justice. He confidently expects to receive his request for his God has told him he would.

If you’ve ever seen the gate known as the “eye of the needle”, you would recognize Jesus’ reference to it. The entrance is arched in shape and built low to the ground.
Jesus makes the point of the difficulty, not, the impossibility.
When His disciples worried about their lot since they had given up homes, wives and
fortune, for His Kingdom, Jesus assures them, they can’t even imagine the treasure
awaiting them in the eternity He has promised..
We are also the heirs of this Kingdom as He has promised. The worldly treasures will
pale compared to the eternity of happiness with the Lord.
God will not be outdone! We can depend on it.