9th Week in Ordinary Time
10th June 2023 (Saturday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 1
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Tobit 12:1, 5-15, 20
In those days: When the wedding feast was completed, Tobit called his son Tobias and said to him, "Child, see that you give his wages to the man who went with you, and that you add something over and above." So he called him and said, "Take for your wages half of all that you came back carrying, and depart safe and sound." Then the angel called the two of them privately and said to them: "Bless God and acknowledge him before all the living with respect to the good things he has done for you. Bless and sing hymns to his name. Report the words of God to all people honourably, and do not hesitate to acknowledge him. It is an honourable thing to keep a king's secret hidden and gloriously to reveal and acknowledge the works of God. Keep doing what is good, and evil will not come upon you. Prayer with sincerity, practising mercy, and righteousness is better than wealth with injustice. It is a more honourable thing to do a work of mercy than to store up gold. Practising mercy delivers from death, and it purges away every sin. Those who do deeds of mercy will have full satisfaction from life; but those who practise sin and injustice are enemies of their own souls. "I will tell you the whole truth and not conceal anything from you. I informed you already and said, 'It is an honourable thing to keep a king's secret hidden and gloriously to reveal the works of God.' So now, when you prayed, and Sarah too, I brought the remembrance of your prayers before the glory of the Lord, and likewise when you buried the dead. When you did not hesitate to rise and leave your meal and go and care for the dead, then I was sent to you, to test you, and at the same time God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah. I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand and enter before the glory of the Lord." And now bless God and acknowledge him on earth. Behold! I am ascending to him who sent me. Write down all these things that have happened to you." And he ascended.
Tobit 13:1b and 2, 3-4a, 6efgh, 6ij, 8 (R. 1b)
R/. Blessed is God who lives forever.
Gospel : Mark 12:38-44
At that time: In his teaching Jesus said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the market-places and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a pretence make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: Do not slack!
Indicative: A little with righteousness is better than an abundance with wickedness. It is not how much one gives but how one gives, is that matters the most{alertSuccess}
1. Often people give so much importance to the quantity and neglect the quality. One may give a big lump sum with much wickedness. But it will not win God’s favour because it comes from a wicked source.
2. On the other hand, even a little, given with a good heart, is more meritorious and pleasing in God’s sight. Today both readings illustrate and extol the spirit of giving generously. It is not the abundance of things but the abundance of heart in generosity that makes the difference.
3. How grateful and generous is Tobit in rewarding Raphael, thought to be a mere companion to Tobiah! “Not only what is due but a bonus too… Take as your wages, half of all that you have brought back”.
4. In the gospel, how magnanimous and uncalculating the poor widow is! Apparently, she gave very little. But she gave the whole and all of her little. She gave everything of her little thing.
5. She had no spirit of accumulation and retention. There is no greater thing that is worth gathering and retaining than faith in God and doing good to others.
Imperative: “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9.7). It is a quotation easily cited than practised. Let us learn to give generously and joyfully!{alertSuccess}