16th Week in Ordinary Time
29th July 2023 (Saturday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 4
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Exodus 24:3-8
In those day, Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the rules. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord. And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”
Psalm 50: 1-2, 5-6, 14-15 (R. see 14)
R/. Give your praise as a sacrifice to God
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/. Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls
R/. Alleluia
Gospel : John 11:19-27
At that time: many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Highlight: Not conflict but harmony!
Guidlines: True faith is seen not merely in great overflows of praise and worship or impressive wonders, miracles, or preaching, but much more in sincere tears and an abandoning surrender to God{alertSuccess}
1. Often the mention of Martha immediately brings to one’s mind the reproach of Jesus for being frantic and anxious (cf. Lk 10. 38-42). So, lightly or seriously Martha is referred to as one excessively engrossed in many affairs, negligent toward Jesus, and complaining against her own sister. Some overenthusiastic preachers can also exhort their audience not to be like Martha.
2. But this is unfair to Martha, who is actually an emblem of faith. Just listen to the words of Martha at the death of her beloved brother Lazarus and at the delayed visit and condolences of Jesus, which is apparently an act of negligence and unconcern. But there are no complaints or blame.
3. Instead, a confession of total surrender and trust: “If you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask” (Vv. 21-22). These are really words of tremendous and unshaken faith that attest to a profound trust in God and in His presence and benevolence, “always and everywhere”. God’s care reaches beyond space and time.
4. Therefore, Jesus’ rebuke is not to be taken as fault-finding or undermining her value. Jesus points to a possible danger of losing sight of his presence and not giving priority to him amidst many activities. What makes a disciple is love for Jesus, priority to him, and firm faith in him.
5. Martha demonstrates this unswerving faith in Jesus, rooted in a personal intimacy, even in such a testing time as her brother’s death. This is the true faith: to continue to cling to God even in knockout moments. She is in fact a model for all to be committed to God in deep loving faith and active service.
Practice: We are assaulted and tormented by many things to do. But help us Lord never to lose sight of you and not to mess up our priorities.{alertSuccess}