SATURDAY OF WEEK 15 IN ORDINARY TIME - 2024

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself,
and he has entrusted to us the news that they are reconciled. 2COR 5:19

MICAH2:1-5

My Soul's Beloved,

Too often in this world, and throughout human history cries of lamentation of the poor, the helpless, and the powerless have risen up to heaven and have been heard by God. No cry, no sigh, no tear goes unseen and unheard. We may have to wait for God's time patiently, submissively, and hopefully trusting in His wisdom and power to respond at a time that He chooses and in the manner He chooses. But this we ought never to doubt that the wicked, although they may flourish for a while, will be punished. No one can escape the wrath of the righteous judge especially when evil is perpetrated against the anawim of the Lord.

It is said: Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small; Though with patience He stands waiting, with exactness grinds He all.

The helpless who suffer injustice at the hands of those who plot evil, those in high places who plan mischief, who spend the dark hours of the night carrying out their nefarious plots, who covet what belongs to the poor, will be avenged by God. Those who believe that they are invincible because they are allowed to loot, plunder, destroy, and murder without hindrance will eventually receive divine retribution. Vengeance belongs to You, Lord and no one can escape the righteous anger of God.

PSALM 9B(10):1-4,7-8,14

Lord, do not forget the poor.

Lord, why do you stand afar off

  and hide yourself in times of distress?

The poor man is devoured by the pride of the wicked:

  he is caught in the schemes that others have made.

For the wicked man boasts of his heart’s desires;

  the covetous blasphemes and spurns the Lord.

In his pride the wicked says: ‘He will not punish.

  There is no God.’ Such are his thoughts.

His mouth is full of cursing, guile, oppression,

  mischief and deceit under his tongue.

He lies in wait among the reeds;

  the innocent he murders in secret.

His eyes are on the watch for the helpless man.

But you have seen the trouble and sorrow,

  you note it, you take it in hand.

The helpless trusts himself to you;

  for you are the helper of the orphan.

Lord, do not forget the poor.

MATTHEW 12:14-21

My Soul's Beloved,

You truly are a Sign of Contradiction in the world. You turn everything on its head and confuse the proud, the mighty, and the powerful of this world. In the Kingdom of God, it is the little ones who gain precedence. It is the simple, the humble, the peacemakers, the poor, the least who are exalted and raised up. 

The Father did not send You into the world as a mighty warrior but a little babe, conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mother. You came into the world like us in all things save sin. You came helpless, little, poor so no one can say that You do not understand. You experience every human emotion that we experience and there is no suffering, no privation, that You cannot identify with. You are God - equal to the Father and the Holy Spirit and yet You humbled Yourself and took upon Yourself the punishment that was ours, the humiliation that was ours, You paid the price that sets us free making us children of God and heirs to the Kingdom.

You do all in gentleness, tenderness, kindness, humility, and above all love:

This was to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah:
Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved, the favourite of my soul.
I will endow him with my spirit,
and he will proclaim the true faith to the nations.
He will not brawl or shout,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
He will not break the crushed reed,
nor put out the smouldering wick
till he has led the truth to victory:
in his name the nations will put their hope.