12th Week in Ordinary Time
27th June 2023 (Tuesday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 4
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Genesis 13:2, 5-18
Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land. Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go with the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of the Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord. The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northwards and southwards and eastwards and westwards, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring for ever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.
Psalm 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5 (R. 1b)
R/. O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/. . I am the light of the world, says the Lord; Whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel : Matthew 7:6, 12-14
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Highlight: The Golden Rule!
Indicative: It needs deep faith to choose the right path of God and walk it steadily. This includes a benevolent approach toward others{alertSuccess}
1. Faith and benevolence are the most effective powers of a true follower of God. The Word of God reiterates this today. It is a faith that is unswerving and wisely discerning. And it is a benevolence that is empathetic and generous.
2. It is this faith which Jesus speaks as something holy and pearl. This should be preserved without throwing to dogs or swine that indicate evil and worldly forces. We should be judicious not to expose and submit our faith to the endangering nature and ways of the world.
3. The world does not realise the value of the sacredness and preciousness of faith. The world may trample it underfoot as something useless. It may wrongly show us that faith is not worth it. The world will choose the broader way of ease and pleasure, and will falsely make us think that it is the best way.
4. It is in such situations we should preserve and safeguard our faith. We must wisely discern and choose the narrow way against the broader way. We must persistently walk the narrow way. It is difficult but it alone leads to salvation.
5. This narrow way of faith involves a life of benevolence. It is a kindness that empathetically understands and thinks of the good of others. In Jesus’ own words, it does to others what it wishes for itself from others.
6. In simple details, true benevolence is marked by empathy and altruism. It gives others that understanding, respect, concern, love, encouragement, appreciation and support, which it expects from others. And it is generous as well.
7. In the first reading from Genesis, we have Abram as a concrete example of this empathetic and generous benevolence. He gives preference to his nephew Lot when it comes to the choice of land to occupy. This is rewarded abundantly by God.
Practice: Realising the worth of faith, clarity of priorities and walking the right way - these are the fundamental norms of a good and godly life{alertSuccess}