August 1
Friday

17th Week in Ordinary Time
Alphonsus Ligouri

First Reading: Jer 26:1-9

At?the beginning of?the reign of Judah's king Jehoiakim son of Josiah, the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah: Yahweh says this, "Stand in the courtyard of Yahweh's House and say to all who come from the towns of Judah to worship in Yahweh's house-all that I command you to say; do not omit anything! Perhaps they will listen to you. Perhaps each one will turn from his wicked ways. Then I will change my mind and forget the destruction that I have planned to inflict on them because of their wicked deeds.
Tell them: This is what Yahweh says:
"You have not obeyed me and you have failed to walk according to my Law which I have set before you.?You have not heeded my servants, the prophets, whom I have persistently sent to you. If you stubbornly close your ears to them, I will treat this House of mine as I treated the sanctuary of Shiloh and let all the nations see that Jerusalem is a cursed city."
The priests, the prophets and all the people heard what Jeremiah said in Yahweh's House. When Jeremiah finished saying all that Yahweh had commanded, he was besieged by the priests and prophets saying, "You are bound to die! How dare you speak in Yahweh's Name telling us that this House will be treated like Shiloh and this city is to become a deserted ruin." And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the House of Yahweh.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 69:5, 8-10, 14
Lord, in your great love, answer me.

Gospel Reading: Mt 13:54-58

Jesus went to his hometown and taught the people in their synagogue. They were amazed and said, "Where did he get this wisdom and these special powers? Isn't he the carpenter's son? Isn't Mary his mother and aren't James, Joseph, Simon and Judas his brothers? Aren't all his sisters living here? How did he get all this?" And so they took offense at him.
Jesus said to them, "The only place where prophets are not welcome is their hometown and in their own family." And he did not perform many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Commentary
How ironic that those who knew Jesus best found it most difficult to accept Him as the Messiah, the only begotten Son of God. Perhaps it was all too good to be true, that from a small village like Nazareth could come forth the salvation of the human race.
The voice of God continues to speak from the most unlikely places, especially where the poor and downtrodden find their home. Though Jesus promises that we will see His face when we look at men and women who are poor, we sometimes shy away from those very people.
Are we any different from the residents of Nazareth?

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August 2
Saturday

17th Week in Ordinary Time
Eusebius of Vercelli / Peter Julian Eymard

First Reading: Jer 26:11-16, 24

Then the priests and the prophets said to the leaders of the people: "This man must die for he has spoken against the city as you have heard with your own ears!"
Jeremiah replied, "I have been sent by Yahweh to prophesy against this House and this city all that you have heard. Hence, reform your ways and your deeds and obey Yahweh your God that he may change his mind and not bring upon you the destruction he had intended.
"As for me I am in your hands; do with me whatever you consider just and right. But know that I am innocent and if you take my life you commit a crime that is a curse on yourselves, on the city and the people. In truth it was Yahweh who sent me to say all that I said in your hearing."
Then the leaders, backed by the people, said to the priests and the prophets, "This man does not deserve death; he spoke to us in the Name of Yahweh."
As for Jeremiah he was befriended by Ahikam, son of Shaphan, and was not handed over to those who wanted him put to death.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 69:15-16, 30-31, 33-34
Lord, in your great love, answer me.

Gospel Reading: Mt 14:1-12

On one occasion the news about Jesus reached King Herod. And he said to his servants, "This man is John the Baptist. John has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him."
Herod had, in fact, ordered that John be arrested, bound in chains and put in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. For John had said to him, "It is not right for you to have her as wife." Herod wanted to kill him but he did not dare, because he feared the people who regarded John as a prophet.
On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst of the guests; she so delighted Herod that he promised under oath to give her anything she asked. The girl, following the advice of her mother, said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a dish."
The king was very displeased, but because he had made this promise under oath in the presence of the guests, he ordered it to be given her. So he had John beheaded in prison and his head brought on a dish and given to the girl. The girl then took it to her mother.
Then John's disciples came to take his body and bury it. And they went to bring the news to Jesus.

Commentary
The death of John the Baptist foreshadows the death of the Lord, just as his very birth would foreshadow the coming into the world of the only begotten Son of God. Like Jesus, John would die as he lived: holding nothing back for himself.
John the Baptist gave everything that he had to give for the sake of the Kingdom, and so must we, striving to love the Lord, our God, with all of our heart, mind, strength and soul. This is the true conversion of heart that John preached: to love God without counting the cost, and to exclude God from no portion of our daily lives.

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August 3
Sunday

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Is 55:1-3

Thus says the Lord: Come here, all you who are thirsty, come to the water!
All who have no money, come!
Yes, without money and at no cost, buy and drink wine and milk.
Why spend money on what is not food and labor for what does not satisfy? Listen to me, and you will eat well; you will enjoy the richest of fare.
Incline your ear and come to me; listen, that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, I will fulfill in you my promises to David.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 145:8-9, 15-16, 17-18
The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

Second Reading: Rom 8:35, 37-39

Brothers and sisters, who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Will it be trials, or anguish, persecution or hunger, lack of clothing, or dangers or sword?
No, in all of this we are more than conquerors, thanks to him who has loved us. I am certain that neither death nor life, neither angels nor spiritual powers, neither the present nor the future, nor cosmic powers, were they from heaven or from the deep world below, nor any creature whatsoever will separate us from the love of God, which we have in Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Gospel Reading: Mt 14:13-21

On hearing about the death of John the Baptist, Jesus set out secretly by boat for a secluded place. But the people heard of it, and they followed him on foot from their towns. When Jesus went ashore, he saw the crowd gathered there and he had compassion on them. And he healed their sick.
Late in the afternoon, his disciples came to him and said, "We are in a lonely place and it is now late. You should send these people away, so they can go to the villages and buy something for themselves to eat."
But Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat." They answered, "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fishes." Jesus said to them, "Bring them here to me."
Then he made everyone sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fishes, raised his eyes to heaven, pronounced the blessing, broke the loaves and handed them to the disciples to distribute to the people. And they all ate, and everyone had enough; then the disciples gathered up the leftovers, filling twelve baskets. About five thousand men had eaten there besides women and children.

Commentary
Although they had but a few loaves and fish, Jesus took what they had and from it effected a great miracle. From their meager supplies He created the feast that would truly satisfy all assembled with plenty left over.
The Lord is fully capable of working with whatever talents and abilities that you possess, however insignificant they might seem. Each disciple then and now has a role to play, each has something to do, in fact, that no one else on earth can do. May we all do our part, may we all play the role God wants us to play in the upbuilding of His Kingdom.

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August 4
Monday

18th Week in Ordinary Time
John Mary Vianney

First Reading: Jer 28:1-17

Early in the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, in the fifth month of the fourth year, the prophet Hananiah spoke to me. Hananiah son of Azzur from Gibeon proclaimed in Yahweh's House in the presence of the priests and the people, "This is what Yahweh the God of hosts and the God of Israel says: I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon. Within two years I will bring back to this place all the objects that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took away from Yahweh's House and carried to Babylon. I will likewise bring back Jekoniah son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all who were taken from Judah and deported to Babylon. For I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon-word of Yahweh."
Then Jeremiah replied to Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people, "So be it! May Yahweh fulfill the words you have spoken and bring back from Babylon to this place the objects taken from the House of Yahweh and all the exiles. Yet hear now what I say in your hearing and the hearing of all the people.
The prophets who came before you and me continually prophesied war, disaster and plague to many nations and great kingdoms.So the prophet who prophesies peace will not be recognized as truly sent by Yahweh, until his predictions are fulfilled."
Then Hananiah took the yoke from the neck of Jeremiah and broke it. Hananiah proclaimed in the presence of all the people, "Yahweh says this: In the same manner within two years will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar from the neck of all the nations." Then Jeremiah the prophet went on his way.
Some time later, a word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah, "Go and tell this to Hananiah: This is what Yahweh says: You have broken a wooden yoke but in its place you will get a yoke of iron.
For this is what Yahweh the God of hosts and the God of Israel says: I am placing a yoke of iron on the neck of all the nations to make them serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and they will serve him. I will even give him control over the wild animals."
Then Jeremiah said to Hananiah, "Listen! Hananiah, you have not been sent by Yahweh and yet you have deceived these people, giving them false hope with your lies. That is why Yahweh says with regard to you: I am removing you from the face of the earth. You will die this very year because you have counseled rebellion against Yahweh."
And in the seventh month of that year Hananiah died.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 119:9, 43, 79, 80, 95, 102
Lord, teach me your statutes.

Gospel Reading: Mt 14:22-36

After the crowd had eaten their fill, Jesus obliged his disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the crowd away.
And having sent the people away, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. At nightfall, he was there alone. Meanwhile, the boat was very far from land, dangerously rocked by the waves for the wind was against it.
At daybreak, Jesus came to them walking on the lake. When they saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, thinking that it was a ghost. And they cried out in fear. But at once Jesus said to them, "Courage! Don't be afraid. It's me!" Peter answered, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you walking on the water."
Jesus said to him, "Come." And Peter got out of the boat, walking on the water to go to Jesus. But, in face of the strong wind, he was afraid and began to sink. So he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately stretched out his hand and took hold of him, saying, "Man of little faith, why did you doubt?"
As they got into the boat, the wind dropped. Then those in the boat bowed down before Jesus saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God!"
They came ashore at Gennesareth. The local people recognized Jesus and spread the news throughout the region. So they brought all the sick to him, begging him to let them touch just the fringe of his cloak. All who touched it became perfectly well.

Commentary
If by the touch of the fringe of the Lord's cloak restored the health of the sick, consider the blessing of being able to receive the Lord in Holy Communion. The Holy Eucharist is rightly called the medicine of immortality, for it unites us to the source of all life, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Although we might not suffer from physical illness, we all have need of the Lord's healing in our lives. Broken by sin, we are again made whole by the Lord Jesus, the divine healer whom we meet in the sacraments.

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August 5
Tuesday

18th Week in Ordinary Time
Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major

First Reading: Jer 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22

This is another word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh:
Yahweh, God of Israel says, "Write in a book all that I have communicated to you,
Yahweh says,
"Your wound is incurable,
your injury is grievous.
There is no one to plead your cause.
There is a remedy for an ulcer
but no healing for you!
All your lovers have forgotten you;
they care nothing for you.
For I struck you as an enemy does,
with a cruel punishment,
because of your great guilt
and the wickedness of your sin.
Why cry out now that you are hurt?
Is there no cure for your pain?
Because of your great crime and grievous sin I have done this to you.
Yahweh says, "I will restore my people into Jacob's tents and have pity on his dwellings. The city will be rebuilt over its ruins and the palace restored on its proper place. From them will come songs of praise and the sound of merrymaking.
I will multiply them and they shall not be few. I will bestow honor on them and they shall not be despised. Their children will be as before and their community will be established before me. I will ask their oppressors to account.
Their leader will be one of themselves, their ruler shall emerge from their midst. I will bring him close to me for who would dare to approach me? You shall be my people and I shall be your God."

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 102:16-18, 19-21, 29 and 22-23
The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.

Gospel Reading: Mt 15:1-2, 10-14

Then some Pharisees and teachers of the Law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus. And they said to him, "Why don't your disciples follow the tradition of the elders? In fact, they don't wash their hands before eating."
Jesus then called the people near him and said to them, "Listen and understand: what enters into the mouth does not make a person unclean, what defiles one is what comes out of his mouth."
After a while the disciples gathered around Jesus and said, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended by what you said?" Jesus answered, "Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted shall be uprooted. Pay no attention to them! They are blind leading the blind. When a blind person leads another, the two will fall into a pit."

Commentary
How many times has Yahweh scolded Israel for her stubbornness? How many times has Jesus reprimanded the Pharisees and even his apostles for their hard-headedness? Oftentimes, like these people we don't get what God and Jesus are trying to teach us. And we are often bothered when God seems to be angry or our Lord is impatient with his followers. Ask any parent what they feel in raising their children. I am sure they can relate with what Yahweh must have felt with His beloved children after repeated reminders, nor with Jesus when He pointed out what is more essential over the least inconsequential things that the Pharisees were preoccupied with.
"Listen and understand." This is what Yahweh and Jesus keep telling us. Let us be open to the Spirit who speaks and teaches us the way of the Lord.

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August 6
Wednesday

Transfiguration of the Lord

First Reading: Dn 7:9-10, 13-14

I looked and saw the following:
Some thrones were set in place and One of Great Age took his seat. His robe was white as snow, his hair white as washed wool. His throne was flames of fire with wheels of blazing fire. A river of fire sprang forth and flowed before him. Thousands upon thousands served him and a countless multitude stood before him.
Those in the tribunal took their seats and opened the book.
I continued watching the nocturnal vision:
One like a son of man came on the clouds of heaven. He faced the One of Great Age and was brought into his presence.
Dominion, honor and kingship were given him, and all the peoples and nations of every language served him. His dominion is eternal and shall never pass away; his kingdom will never be destroyed.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 9
The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth.

2nd Reading: 2 P 1:16-19

Indeed, what we taught you about the power and the return of Christ Jesus our Lord was not drawn from myths or formulated theories. We ourselves were eyewitnesses of his majesty, when he received glory and honor from God the Father, when from the magnificent Glory this most extraordinary word came upon him: "This is my beloved Son, this is my Chosen One." We ourselves heard this voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.
Therefore, we believe most firmly in the message of the prophets which you should consider rightly as a lamp shining in a dark place, until the break of day, when the Morning Star shines in your hearts.

Gospel Reading: Mt 17:1-9

Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they were alone. Jesus' appearance was changed before them: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became bright as light. Just then Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus.
Peter spoke and said to Jesus, "Master, it is good that we are here. If you so wish, I will make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
Peter was still speaking when a bright cloud covered them in its shadow, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, my Chosen One. Listen to him."
On hearing the voice, the disciples fell to the ground, full of fear. But Jesus came, touched them and said, "Stand up, do not be afraid." When they raised their eyes, they no longer saw anyone except Jesus. And as they came down the mountain, Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone what they had just seen, until the Son of Man be raised from the dead.

Commentary
"Do not be afraid," Jesus says. The phrase was one to which the disciples had become accustomed. The Lord would encourage His disciples to keep moving forward along the path of faith in spite of their own feelings of inadequacy and apprehension.
On the mountain of transfiguration, Jesus provides His closest apostles with evidence that His admonitions to take courage are founded upon His divinity, His absolute power over anything that could harm them. To wonder about where the Lord is leading is only human. To remain steadfast along the path of life is to trust in His divine promise.

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August 7
Thursday

18th Week in Ordinary Time
Sixtus II and Companions / Cajetan

First Reading: Jer 31:31-34

The time is coming-it is Yahweh who speaks-when I will forge a new covenant with the people of Israel and the people of Judah. It will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt. For they broke my covenant although I was their Lord.
This is the covenant I shall make with Israel after that time: I will put my Law within them and write it on their hearts; I will be their God and they will be my people.
And they will not have to teach each other, neighbor or brother, saying: "Know the Lord," because they will all know me, from the greatest to the lowliest, for I will forgive their wrongdoing and no longer remember their sin."

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19
Create a clean heart in me, O God.

Gospel Reading: Mt 16:13-23

Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi. He asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They said, "For some of them you are John the Baptist, for others Elijah or Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
Jesus asked them, "But you, who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "It is well for you, Simon Barjona, for it is not flesh or blood that has revealed this to you but my Father in heaven.
"And now I say to you: You are Peter (or Rock) and on this rock I will build my Church; and never will the powers of death overcome it.
"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and what you unbind on earth shall be unbound in heaven."
Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
From that day Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem; he would suffer many things from the Jewish authorities, the chief priests and the teachers of the Law. He would be killed and be raised on the third day.
Then Peter took him aside and began to reproach him, "Never, Lord! No, this must never happen to you." But Jesus turned to him and said, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path. You are thinking not as God does, but as people do."

Commentary
The name "rock" that Jesus gives to Peter is the word that people of His day would use to refer to a massive, unshakable rock, the kind of rock that would endure. Jesus founds His Church upon a firm foundation, and gives His solemn promise that the rock upon which the Church is set will withstand even the greatest powers of evil.
The Church is the Body of Christ, making visible to the world the invisible God, making known the presence of the God that we cannot see. When we cling to the rock of the Church we cling to the Lord, the one whose promises never fail.

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August 8
Friday

18th Week in Ordinary Time
Dominic

First Reading: Nh 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7

See, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, one who proclaims peace.
Judah, celebrate your feasts and carry out your vows. For the wicked have been destroyed, they will not attack you any more.
Yahweh will now restore Jacob's magnificence, like Israel's splendor. For they had been plundered, laid waste as a ravaged vineyard.
Woe to the bloody city, city of lies and booty, O city of unending plunder!
But what! Crack of whips, rumble of wheels and clatter of hoofs! See the frenzied chargers, the flashing swords and glittering spears, the heaps of the wounded, the dead and dying-we trip over corpses!
I will pelt you with filth, I will treat you with contempt and make of you a shameful show, so that all who look on you will turn their backs in disgust and say: Nineveh-a city of lust-is in ruins.
Who will mourn for her? Where can we find one to comfort her?

Responsorial Psalm:
Dt 32:35cd-36ab, 39abcd, 41
It is I who deal death and give life.

Gospel Reading: Mt 16:24-28

Jesus said to his disciples, "If you want to follow me, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me. For whoever chooses to save his life will lose it, but the one who loses his life for my sake will find it. What will one gain by winning the whole world if he destroys himself? There is nothing you can give to recover your own self.
"Know that the Son of Man will come in the Glory of his Father with the holy angels, and he will reward each one according to his deeds. Truly, I tell you, there are some here who will not die before they see the Son of Man coming as king."

Commentary
The ancient baptismal rites of the Church called for the candidate to symbolically turn his back to the devil, and to turn to face the Lord as he entered into the baptismal pool. This action powerfully symbolized and makes real the solemn decision to follow the Lord wholeheartedly, without holding back, and with no strings attached.
The siren call of the world can be, at times, a distraction. May it never be our un-doing. May we hold fast to the promises of our baptism, to renounce Satan and all his empty promises.

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August 9
Saturday

18th Week in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Hb 1:12-2:4

But you, are you not Yahweh from past ages? You, my holy God, you cannot die. You have set this people to serve your justice and you have made them firm as a rock to fulfill your punishment.
Yahweh, your eyes are too pure to tolerate wickedness and you cannot look on oppression. Why, then, do you look on treacherous people and watch in silence while the evildoer swallows up one better than himself?
You treat human beings like the fish in the sea, like reptiles who are nobody's concern. This nation catches all on its hook, pulls them out with its net and piles them up in its dragnet. Pleased and delighted at their catch, they offer sacrifices to their net and burn incense to their dragnets, since these supplied them with fish in plenty and provided them with food in abundance. Will they continue, then, to constantly empty their nets, slaughtering nations without mercy?
I will stand in my watchtower and take up position on my battlements; I will see what he replies, if there is an answer to my question.
Then Yahweh answered me and said,
"Write down the vision, inscribe it on tables so it can be easily read, since this is a vision for an appointed time; it will not fail but will be fulfilled in due time. If it delays, wait for it, for it will come and will not be deferred. Look:
"I don't look with favor on the one who gives way; the upright, on the other hand, will live by his faithfulness."

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 9:8-9, 10-11, 12-13
You forsake not those who seek you, O Lord.

Gospel Reading: Mt 17:14-20

A man approached Jesus, knelt before him and said, "Sir, have pity on my son who is an epileptic and is in a wretched state. He has often fallen into the fire and at other times into the water. I brought him to your disciples but they could not heal him."
Jesus replied, "You, faithless and evil people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me." And Jesus commanded the evil spirit to leave the boy, and the boy was immediately healed.
The disciples then gathered around Jesus and asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive out the spirit?" Jesus said to them, "Because you have little faith. I say to you: if only you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could tell that mountain to move from here to there, and the mountain would obey. Nothing would be impossible to you."

Commentary
How we long for the kind of faith of which our Lord speaks! How we long to be able to trust in His promises without our cumbersome doubts.
We may take a certain solace that those who knew Jesus personally while He was on earth would still have their doubts. If those who saw Him with their own eyes had difficulties, how can we possibly hope to have genuine and lasting faith?
The answer, the Lord would tell us, is in Him. With God, all things are possible, even the kind of faith that would move mountains.

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August 10
Sunday

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: 1 K 19:9, 11-13a

When Elijah reached Horeb, the mountain of God, he came to the cave and stayed in it. Then the word of Yahweh came to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
Then Yahweh said, "Go up and stand on the mount, waiting for Yahweh." And Yahweh passed by.
There was first a windstorm, wild wind which rent the mountains and broke the rocks into pieces before Yahweh, but Yahweh was not in the wind. After the storm, an earthquake, but Yahweh was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, a fire, but Yahweh was not in the fire. After the fire, the murmur of a gentle breeze. When Elijah perceived it, he covered his face with his cloak, went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 85: 9, 10, 11-12, 13-14
Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

Second Reading: Rom 9:1-5

Brothers and sisters, I tell you sincerely in Christ, and my conscience assures me in the Holy Spirit that I am not lying: I have great sadness and constant anguish for the Jews. I would even desire that I myself suffer the curse of being cut off from Christ, instead of my brethren: I mean my own people, my kin. They are Israelites whom God adopted, and on them rests his Glory. Theirs are the covenants, the Law, the worship and the promises of God. They are descendants of the Patriarchs and from their race Christ was born, he who as God is above all distinctions. Blessed be He forever and ever: Amen!

Gospel Reading: Mt 14:22-33

Immediately Jesus obliged his disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the crowd away.
And having sent the people away, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. At nightfall, he was there alone. Meanwhile, the boat was very far from land, dangerously rocked by the waves for the wind was against it.
At daybreak, Jesus came to them walking on the lake. When they saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, thinking that it was a ghost. And they cried out in fear. But at once Jesus said to them, "Courage! Don't be afraid. It's me!" Peter answered, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you walking on the water."
Jesus said to him, "Come." And Peter got out of the boat, walking on the water to go to Jesus. But, in face of the strong wind, he was afraid and began to sink. So he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately stretched out his hand and took hold of him, saying, "Man of little faith, why did you doubt?"
As they got into the boat, the wind dropped. Then those in the boat bowed down before Jesus saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God!"

Commentary
As long as his eyes are fixed upon the Lord, Peter can do the seemingly impossible. But the moment he diverts his attention he begins to sink.
Faith in the Lord means keeping our eyes fixed intently upon Him. Distractions abound, but in Him we find security, happiness and peace. Daily prayer is a tried and true ally for us as we face challenge of remaining focused in this life upon keeping the Lord at the absolute center of our lives.
Peter began to sink, but the Lord was near. Praise God for the same merciful presence of the Lord in our lives.

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August 11
Monday

19th Week in Ordinary Time
Clare

First Reading: Ezk 1:2-5, 24-28c

On the fifth of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiakin) the word of Yahweh came to Ezekiel, son of Buzi, the priest, in the land of the Chaldeans by the banks of the Kebar.
There the hand of Yahweh was upon me.
I looked: a windstorm came from the north bringing a great cloud. A fiery light inside it lit up all around it, while at the center there was something like a glowing metal.
In the center were what appeared to be four creatures with the same form.
I heard the noise of their wings when they moved, similar to the roar of many waters, similar to the voice of the Most High, the noise of a multitude or of a camp. When they were not moving they lowered their wings.
I heard a noise above the platform over their heads. Above it was a throne resembling a sapphire and high on this throne was a figure similar to that of a man. Then I saw a light as of glowing bronze as if fire enveloped him from his waist upwards. And from his waist downwards it was as if fire gave radiance around him. The surrounding light was like a rainbow in the clouds after a day of rain. This vision was the likeness of Yahweh's Glory.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14
Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.

Gospel Reading: Mt 17:22-27

While Jesus was in Galilee with the Twelve, he said to them, "The Son of Man will be delivered into human hands, and they will kill him. But he will rise on the third day." The Twelve were deeply grieved.
When they returned to Capernaum, the Temple tax collectors came to Peter and asked him, "Does your master pay the temple tax?" He answered, "Certainly."
Peter then entered the house, but immediately Jesus asked him, "What do you think, Simon? Who pay taxes or tributes to the kings of the earth: their sons or the other people?" Peter replied, "The others." And Jesus told him, "The sons, then, are tax-free. But so as not to offend these people, go to the sea, throw in a hook and open the mouth of the first fish you catch. You will find a coin in it, take it and let it pay for you and for me."

Commentary
Citizenship has its privileges. In Jesus' day, those who lived in lands colonized by the Romans were required to pay taxes. Roman citizens were not. Jesus miraculously produces the coin to pay the tax that would admit Peter and him to the Temple as a way of showing that He would pay a much greater price so that all people might have access to the Kingdom of God.
The curtain in the Temple was torn asunder at the moment Jesus paid that price, all so that you and I might have free admission through the gates of heaven.

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August 12
Tuesday

19th Week in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Ezk 2:8-3:4

Yahweh said to me, listen then, son of man, to what I say and don't be a rebel among rebels. Open your mouth and take in what I'm about to say."
I looked and saw a hand stretched out in front of me holding a scroll. He unrolled it before me; on both sides were written lamentations, groanings and woes.
He said to me, "Son of man, eat what is given to you. Eat this scroll and then go; speak to the people of Israel." I opened my mouth and he made me eat the scroll and then he said to me, "Eat and fill yourself with this scroll that I'm giving you." I ate it and it tasted as sweet as honey.
He said, "Son of man, go to the Israelites; speak to them with my words."

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131
How sweet to my taste is your promise!

Gospel Reading: Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

The disciples came to Jesus and asked him, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
Then Jesus called a little child, set the child in the midst of the disciples, and said, "I assure you that unless you change and become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes lowly like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and whoever receives such a child in my name receives me.
"See that you do not despise any of these little ones, for I tell you: their angels in heaven continually see the face of my heavenly Father.
"What do you think of this? If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them strays, won't he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside, and go to look for the stray one? And I tell you: when he finally finds it, he is more pleased about it than about the ninety-nine that did not get lost. It is the same with your Father in heaven: there they don't want even one of these little ones to be lost."

Commentary
Who is that lost sheep? Is it not you? Is it not me?
Jesus loves you so much that He is willing to spend endless hours, even His entire earthly life so that you might be rescued from the dangers of sin and death, and so that you might be brought back to the safety. Like the good shepherd in the parable, the Lord Jesus searches for you, and when He finds you He lifts you up on His shoulders and rejoices that you have been found.
Such is the love of the Good Shepherd for you. With Him you find the verdant pastures of everlasting life.

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August 13
Wednesday

19th Week in Ordinary Time
Pontian / Hippolytus

First Reading: Ezk 9:1-7; 10:18-22

Then he shouted loudly in my ears saying, "The punishment of the city is near; see each one of these has in his hand his instrument of destruction." And six men came from the direction of the upper gate which faces north, each one with his instrument of destruction. With them was a man clothed in linen with writing material at his side. They came and stopped near the altar of bronze.
Then the Glory of the God of Israel rose from the cherubim where it rested and went to the threshold of the house. Yahweh called to the man clothed in linen who had the material for writing at his side, and he said to him, "Pass through the center of the city, through Jerusalem, and trace a cross on the forehead of the men who sigh and groan because of all the abominations committed in it."
I heard him say to the others, "Now you may pass through the city after him and strike. Your eyes shall not look with pity; show no mercy! Do away with them all - old men, young men, virgins, children and women - but do not touch anyone marked with a cross."
And as they were told to begin with the sanctuary, they struck the elders who were in front of the Temple. Yahweh said to them, "Let the courts be filled with the slain and the Temple be defiled with their blood; go out!"
They went and slew the people in the city.
The Glory of Yahweh went from above the threshold of the house and went to rest on the cherubim. Then the cherubim left, opening their wings and rising above the earth in my sight, and the wheels went with them. They halted at the east gate of the house of Yahweh and the Glory of the God of Israel was over them.
These were the living creatures I had seen under the God of Israel on the banks of the river Chebar. I recognized them as cherubim. Each had four faces, each had four wings and they had what seemed like human hands under their wings. As for the appearance of their faces, they were the faces I had seen by the river Chebar, the same likeness. Each one went straight ahead.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
The glory of the Lord is higher than the skies.

Gospel Reading: Mt 18:15-20