12th Week in Ordinary Time
28th June 2023 (Wednesday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 4
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
In those days: The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look towards the heaven, and number the stars, If you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness. And he said to him, "I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess." But he said, "O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?" He said to him, "Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon." And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half. And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river of Euphrates.
Psalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9 (R. 8a)
R/. The Lord remembers his covenant forever.
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/. Abide in me, and I in you, says the Lord; he who abides in me bears much fruit.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel : Matthew 7:15-20
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thorn bushes? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Highlight: God, our shield and reward!
Indicative: Those who trust in God even in seemingly impossible situations and live righteously will please God and be blessed by God beyond measures{alertSuccess}
1. Falsity is always detestable in the sight of God because He knows humans through and through. Those who are false may disguise themselves in the garbs of holiness. They may be able to fool and deceive others.
2. But they cannot fool God. God will certainly take them to task. This is how Jesus warns in the gospel about the false people in the holy garb of prophets. These are inwardly violent wolves but outwardly meek sheep.
3. They are bad trees that appear to bear good fruits. But they bear only bad fruits. And they are judged by their bad fruits. Accordingly, just like the bad trees they will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
4. Therefore, what is important is that we are sincere and authentic with no false disguises. We must grow and live like good trees that bear good fruits. We must prove ourselves by the quality of our fruits.
5. Then surely God will bless us and reward us abundantly. This is what we see in the case of Abram in Genesis. Abram is obedient to God. With utter faith, he believes in God’s promises and8 assurances, even though they seem humanly impossible.
6. If not for his faith, how would he believe God’s promise of making him the father of a multitude of descendants, when he is already advanced in age and without an heir? Abram is truly a good tree that bears the abundant fruits of faith and righteousness. That is why he is rewarded with an heir, numerous descendants and spacious land.
7. We find thus a contrast between Abram, a pagan and the false prophets of the race of believers. Though pagan, Abram won God’s favour because of his faith in God and the righteousness of life. On the contrary, the Pharisees and the scribes proved themselves to be false prophets and incurred God’s judgement because of their falsity and lack of fruits.
Practice: In our life, ultimately what matters is not mere exterior allegiance like race or nation, but the interior spirit of faith that authenticates itself in good fruits{alertSuccess}