August 12 - Monday

Theme: SEEK NO PRIVILEGES

Readings: Ezk 1:2-5, 24-28;  Mt 17:22-27

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
you are present among us in secret, incognito,
with the everyday appearance
of an ordinary person.
God, give us eyes of faith
to see that you are among us
in the person of Jesus your Son
in this eucharist,
in the joys and sorrows of life,
in the people we meet in the street.
Make us attentive to your presence
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Scripture Readings

First Reading Introduction:
       Ezekiel presents us God in his impressive majesty and glory. Yet at the same time he is the mobile God, the God to be found where people are, as the imagery of the wings imply, the angelic creatures acting as God’s chariot.

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

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 gae 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. On seeing it I fell on my face and then I heard a voice speaking.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 148:1-2, 11-14

Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights!

Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!

Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!

Young men and women alike, old and young together!

Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven.

He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the LORD!

Gospel Introduction:
      The gospel gives us the image of God-in-civilian Jesus, God’s Son, a man who pays his taxes even when he is not obliged to. It may be a hint for us not to ask for privileges because we are Christians and to act and live as free people, who at times – or often – choose to do what we are not obliged to do, especially in the form of help.

Gospel: 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."

(Gospel Commentary)

General Intercessions

For the Church, that it may not be ashamed of preaching the crucified Christ and of being self-effacing with him, we pray:

For all of us, that we may never put the law above people but practice first the great commandment of loving one another, we pray:

For our Christian communities, that we may welcome strangers and foreigners and make them our friends in the name of God who has befriended us, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

God, our Father,
you are our God of glory,
and yet you let your Son come among us
in the simple signs of bread and wine.
Stay among us
and make us also reflect your presence
in all simplicity
by making you available to people
in our goodness and compassion,
by the power of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God,
you know how complicated we can be,
and yet, your glory is among us
in all that is simple and commonplace:
in water and oil, bread and wine,
a gesture of forgiveness and reconciliation.
God, we thank you for your goodness.
And may our hearts and gestures
be as simple as your presence,
that in a tear or a smile
we may reveal your Son in our midst,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

We are free sons and daughters of God and we cherish this freedom. Yet we do not want to be a clan separate from others or people seeking privileges. We want to be united with all and to serve them. May almighty God bless you, the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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Gospel Commentary (Monday)

One finds three elements present in today's gospel: the announcement of an approaching suffering, the need of paying the temple taxes, and the need to avoid scandals among people. This threefold word teaches us to tackle our relationship with ourselves especially while facing suffering: our relationship with God and our faith community symbolized by the temple, and our relationship with others, exercising an exquisite and tactful behavior to avoid hurting others' conscience. The mere announcement of an oncoming suffering makes us feel sad, even if it is followed by the assurance that everything will end alright. We tend to focus our attention on the negative, in this way increasing our pain. In our dealings with God and our faith community we are to act freely, though exercising prudence "as not to offend these people" who may have different way of thinking.

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Opening Prayer

Great and holy God,
you stoop down to us,
fallible and limited people,
and your preference goes
to children and the humble.
Give us the heart of a child,
unpretentious and receptive, trusting and believing,
that we may become wise with your wisdom
and grow up to the full human size
of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Scripture Readings

First Reading Introduction:
         Ezekiel is told to eat the scroll with the prophecies he has to make to the people of God. That means, he has to be filled with its message. It contains bitter utterances, because he has to make the people face the truth of their infidelities, but at the same time it tastes sweet to the prophet because he takes up his mission without protest, for he is doing what he has to do

First Reading: Ezk 2:8 - 3:4

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: Psalms 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 11, 131

I delight in the way of your decrees as much as in all riches.

Your decrees are my delight, they are my counselors.

The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

I treasure your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against you.

With open mouth I pant, because I long for your commandments.

Gospel: 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."

(Gospel Commentary)

General Intercessions

For those who are the greatest in the Church, that they may serve with great dedication and without looking down on them, the weakest, the poorest, those wounded in life, we pray:

For all of us, that like Jesus, by loving them and praying for them, we may place in our midst children, the poor, the humble and all who serve, we pray:

For those working in social welfare institutions, that they may provide shelter and much love for orphans and rejected and abandoned children, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

God, our Father,
your Son Jesus voluntarily gave up
all divine honors and privileges
to become one of us and to die our death.
He gives himself to us here
in the form of a humble piece of bread.
Give us the attitude of Jesus,
self-effacing and respectful
before you and one another
and available to all calls and all needs.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

No one as great as you, Lord our God,
has made himself as small as you;
no one as distant as you
has made himself so near to us in our weakness
as you in your Son Jesus Christ.
Make us see your Son
here in this eucharist and in everyday life.
Make us self-effacing and respectful
before you and before one another
in trust, hope and joy,
like Christ Jesus our Lord.

Blessing

Jesus tells us to change and to become like little children. This is not an invitation to become childish, but to learn from children to become spontaneous and trusting toward God and one another, admiring and grateful and expecting all that is good, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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Gospel Commentary (Tuesday)

The parable of the one hundred sheep teaches the missionary dimension of Jesus' apostolate, his special concern for sinners and those who stray. In fact, Jesus came "to seek and save the lost" (Lk 9:10), "to call the outcasts, not the respectable people" (Mt 9:13). This attitude should impel our parishes and Christian communities to constantly reach out to the unchurched and marginalized, instead of just working with those who are already in touch with the Church. One of the greatest injustices in the world is the unjust distribution of the Church's resources, personnel, structures, efforts, even programs and schedules of activities. We spend most efforts evangelizing the evangelized, playing safe inside the Christian community, while dreaming to save the world. More than ever we need missionaries, persons in dialogue with the vast and complex world.

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August 14 - Wednesday

Theme: CARRYING ONE ANOTHER  

Readings: Ezk 9:1-7; 10:18-22; Mt 18:15-20

Note. August 14 - Feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe, Priest, Martyr - see also Celebration of Saints

Opening Prayer

God of mercy and compassion,
your Son Jesus Christ has brought us together
as a community of sinners
that knows that you have pardoned us.
When our weaknesses threaten our unity,
remind us of our responsibility for one another.
Let your unifying Spirit give us the strength
to care for one another
and to do all we can to remain
a living, forgiving and welcoming community
where we keep meeting in the name of Jesus,
our Lord, now and for ever.

Scripture Readings

First Reading Introduction:
        The holiness of God can stand no evil, as Ezekiel proclaims to an unfaithful people; only those marked with the sign of God, those personally responding to his offer of salvation, will be spared. And yet, this holy God is also a forgiving God, as we have all experienced. What would we do without forgiveness?

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: Psalms 113:1-6

Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD; praise the name of the LORD.

Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time on and forevermore.

From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised.

The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.

Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?

Gospel: Mt 18:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples, "If your brother or sister has sinned against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are in private, and if he listens to you, you have won your brother. If you are not listened to, take with you one or two others so that the case may be decided by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he still refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembled Church. But if he does not listen to the Church, then regard such a one as a pagan or a publican.

I say to you: whatever you bind on earth, heaven will keep bound; and whatever you unbind on earth, heaven will keep unbound.

In like manner, I say to you: if on earth two of you are united in asking for anything, it will be granted to you by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered in my Name, I am there among them."

(Gospel Commentary)

General Intercessions

For all those God has entrusted to one another: our Christian families, our towns and cities, people who work together, and all our communities, that love may inspire us to deal with one another with frankful tact and respect, we pray:

For all of us, that we may believe in the goodness of each person and be patient with one another, we pray:

For our communities, that we may often pray together in the name of Jesus for the needs of the world and the Church, for Christ assures us that our prayer will be heard, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

God our Father,
you bring together at the table of your Son
the weak with the strong, the sick with the healthy.
Let your Son fill us here
with the fullness of his presence
that we may accept one another
to live with one another in peace and friendship.
We offer you our good will
and ask you for the strength
to welcome each other in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

God our Father,
your Son Jesus has been in our midst
and he has strengthened us with his body and blood.
He made our wounds of sin his wounds and healed them.
Let the wounds of our brothers and sisters
become ours, their joys our happiness.
Let your Son teach us the art
of bringing those who err back to you
and into our communities
without embittering or humiliating them,
without any feeling of superiority,
but simply because they are our brothers and sisters
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

We know we are responsible for one another. Our community should be a place where we can speak freely to one another and help those in trouble to keep them in the community or to win them back. May God give you this openness and courage, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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Gospel Commentary (Wednesday)

Fraternal correction is one of the most effective tools for human and spiritual growth. We all are to be in solidarity, working for the good of all. As members of a Christian community we abandon the Old Testament individualism of "Am I my brother's keeper?"(Gen 4:9) and are bound to help each other in pursuit of holiness. Jesus tells his disciples how to correct a brother or sister who has done wrong: talk to the person concerned in private. If the person does not listen to you, call for one or two companions as witnesses. If he still refuses to listen, you can inform the assembled community. Jesus doesn't institute a structure for reconciliation, he emphasizes the community spirit that makes us feel responsible for one another. Fraternal correction and public penance were common in the early church.

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August 15 - Thursday

OUR LADY’S ASSUMPTION   

Theme: Mary’s Song Is Also Ours  

Readings: 1st Reading: Rev 11:19; 12:1-6, 10
         2nd Reading: 1 Cor 15:20-27
Gospel: Lk 1:39-56

Greeting

Glory and honor to our risen Lord,
whose victory over death
was shared first by her
who was closest to him,
his Mother, the Virgin Mary.
May her Son, the Lord Jesus, be always with you.
R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant

Today we rejoice for one of us who has reached her destination. It is Mary’s great feast, the feast of her Easter, Our Lady’s Assumption. On earth she went the way of Jesus, she lived the beatitudes wholeheartedly, and now she shares in Jesus’ glory. The Assumption is for us a sign of hope. It reminds us that we too are called to share with her in Jesus’ victory if we are willing to share with her in the humble faith and service of the poor and the lowly in the kingdom of God. Let us celebrate!

Penitential Act

Let us ask the Lord to forgive us our sins
that we may one day share with Mary
in the resurrection of her Son.
               (Pause)
Lord Jesus, your mother, God's humble Servant,
was kept free from all sin:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, great things were done to Mary
when she was taken up into heaven:
Christ. Have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, your Mother served you
with her whole heart and person
and she lives now and forever in your joy:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord,
liberate us from all sin
and lead us in faith and hope
to the joys of everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer

Let us thank God with Mary
and ask him for the strength of her faith
               (pause)
Lord our God,
you took Mary up into heaven
with her body as well as with her soul,
to share in the definitive triumph over death
of Jesus, your Son,
because on earth she humbly served your plans
as the first of those who believe.

Grant us her attitude
of trusting openness to your will,
that you may overcome evil and death in us,
and lead us safely, with Mary,
into your everlasting joy.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Scripture Readings

First Reading Introduction:
       Christ is victorious over evil and is taken up into heaven. The woman of our text is the Church, but as Mary was eminently all that the Church is called to be, the liturgy applies the text to her. She is victorious with her Son.

First Reading: Mary Sums Up the Church (Rev 11:19; 12:1-6,10)

Then the sanctuary of God in the heavens was opened, and the Ark of the Covenant of God could be seen inside the sanctuary. There were flashes of lightning, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a violent hail-storm.

A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman, clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain, looking to her time of delivery.

Then another sign appeared: a huge, red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and wearing seven crowns on its heads. It had just swept along a third of the stars of heaven with its tail, throwing them down to the earth.

The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour the child as soon as it was born. She gave birth to a male child, the one who is to rule all the nations with an iron scepter; then her child was seized and taken up to God and to his throne while the woman fled to the desert where God had prepared a place for her; there she would be looked after for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

Then I heard a loud voice from heaven:
        Now has salvation come,
        with the power and the kingdom of our God,
        and the rule of his anointed.
        For our brothers' accuser has been cast out,
        who accused them night and day, before God.

Second Reading Introduction:
       Christ overcame death by his ressurction. He was the first to rise from the dead, but we shall follow him and rise because of him. This is why Mary, who shared in his life, his mission and suffering, could follow him in heaven, even bodily.

Second Reading: Christ, Cause and First Fruits  of the Resurrection (1 Cor 15:20-27)

But no, Christ has been raised from the dead and he comes before all those who have fallen asleep. A human being brought death; a human being also brings resurrection of the dead. All die for being Adam's, and in Christ all will receive life. However, each one in his own time: first Christ, then Christ's people, when he comes.

Then the end will come, when Christ delivers the kingdom to God the Father, after having destroyed every rule, authority and power. For he must reign and put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed will be death. As Scripture says: God has subjected everything under his feet.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 45:10-12, 16

Hear, O daughter, consider and incline your ear; forget your people and your father's house, and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him; the people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts, the richest of the people

In the place of ancestors you, O king, shall have sons; you will make them princes in all the earth.

Gospel Introduction:
     Mary fully responds in humility and service to the plans of God. She recognizes that her greatness comes from God. It is God who exalts her and who will    lift her up into heaven at her assumption. She sums up a humble and serving Church.

Gospel: God Exalts the Humble (Lk 1:39-56)

Mary set out for a town in the Hills of Judah. She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit, and giving a loud cry, said, "You are most blessed among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb! How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me? The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby within me suddenly leapt for joy. Blessed are you who believed that the Lord's word would come true!"

And Mary said:
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit exults in God my savior!
He has looked upon his servant in her lowliness, and people forever will call me blessed.

The Mighty One has done great things for me, Holy is his Name!
From age to age his mercy extends to those who live in his presence.
He has acted with power and done wonders, and scattered the proud with their plans.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up those who are downtrodden.

He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
He held out his hand to Israel, his servant, for he remembered his mercy,
even as he promised our fathers, Abraham and his descendants forever."
Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned home.

(Gospel Commentary)

General Intercessions

With the help of Mary, our mother, let us pray together to our Father in heaven that he may look with favor upon us, his servants, and do great things in us. Let us say:
R/ Lord, hear your people.

–  That the Lord may show his love to all those who try to serve him well, and that he may show his forgiving mercy to those who have failed him and one another, let us pray:
R/ Lord, hear your people.

–  That the Lord may show his power and defend the humble people who are trampled upon, and dispose us all to respect and love them, let us pray:
R/ Lord, hear your people.

–  That the Lord may give us the will and the strength to accomplish his word in our life, day after day, single-mindedly and joyfully, let us pray: 
R/ Lord, hear your people.

–  That the Lord, make us aware of the poverty of our heart, so that he can fill us with his gentleness, his acceptance of people, and his care for the poor, let us pray:
R/ Lord, hear your people.

–  That the Lord may help us see to it that the hungry are fed, and dispose all people and the mighty of the world to give everyone a fair share in the earth’s goods, let us pray:
R/ Lord, hear your people.

–  That the Lord may take up all our beloved dead into his home of everlasting joy, let us pray:
R/ Lord, hear your people.

Lord our God, on the feast of Mary’s Assumption we pray: fill us with all  good things, that we may bless your holy name through Jesus Christ our Lord.  R/ Amen.

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,

you let your Spirit come down on Mary

and made her the mother of Jesus, your Son,

yet you waited for her humble yes.

Let your Spirit come down with power

on our humble gifts of bread and wine

and let them become your Son.

Let your Spirit inspire us

to seek your will in all we do

and to make Jesus known to the world.

We ask you this through Christ our Lord. R / Amen.

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer

With Mary, we thank the Father today for the great things he has done in her and which he keeps doing for us through Jesus our Lord.

Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer

In the words of Jesus
we pray to our Father
that his will may be done in us. R/ Our Father...

Deliver Us

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil,
and from the ultimate enemy, death.
Let your compassion and faithful love
reach from age to age,
and fill the hungry with good things,
as we wait in joyful hope for our resurrection
at the full coming of our Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...

Invitation to Communion

This is Jesus, the Lord, who said:
Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood
will live for ever,
and I will raise them up on the last day.
Happy are we to be invited
to eat the Lord’s body,
and to share in his victory. R/ Lord, I am not worthy....

Prayer after Communion

God, you lift up the humble;
in Mary you have given us a vision
of a Church that knows how to serve
and to hold on to you in life and in death.
With Mary, and in the strength of her Son,
may we be poor and humble enough
to listen to your word and to live by it,
to visit our neighbor in need,
and to be to the world the body of your Son,
until you let us share in your glory for ever. R/ Amen.

Blessing

What Mary was on earth,
we the Church are called to be:
believing in God's ways and guidance
even without knowing what the future will bring,
open to one another's needs,
serving with all that is in us.
May God give you this strenght and bless you:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/Amen.

Let us go in peace
to love and serve God in people. R/ Thanks be to God.

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Gospel Commentary (Thursday)

Whenever I reflect on the Assumption of Mary I feel great joy for her success and a pinch of loneliness, like when a beloved has been taken from us. Mary the humble servant, the faithful listener, the loving and generous Mother, was so loved by the Lord that he decided to take the whole of her to heaven. Our hearts easily accept the dogma of the Assumption of Mary, proclaimed in 1950, even if our heads find difficulty in explaining it. Mary, the kindhearted girl rushing to help her cousin Elisabeth and the powerful prophet of the Magnificat that announces and denounces, has been exalted. We are glad for her, our beloved Mother, and we get the lesson: when someone tries to bring God to our human life situation, God will take him/her, in an assumption process, towards him.

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August 16 - Friday

Theme: MARRIAGE: FAITHFUL LOVE

Readings: Ezk 16:1-15, 60, 63 or 16:59-63;   Mt 19:3-12

Opening Prayer

God, your name is love;
everyone who loves knows you
and anyone who fails to love
can never have known you.
Keep us from separating what you have united:
husbands and wives, parents and their children,
your Son and his Church, friends in their joys and sorrows.
Let all live in your creative, lasting love,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Scripture Readings

First Reading Introduction:
         In poignant, at times almost crude terms, springing from a heart that loves deeply and is hurt by infidelity, the prophet Ezekiel reminds the people of God’s covenant love. What the people are, what we are, we are by God’s love. He has linked his destiny to ours and cannot forget or abandon us, even it we desert him.

First Reading: Ezk 16:1-15, 60, 63 or 16:59-63

The word of Yahweh came to me in these terms, "Son of man, make known to Jerusalem its sins. You say on my behalf: Your beginning was in Canaan; there you were born. Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. On the day you were born your cord was not cut, you were not bathed in water to make you clean, you were not rubbed with salt nor were you wrapped in cloth. There was no one to look with pity on you or compassionate enough to give you any of these attentions. You were left exposed in the open fields because you were looked upon with disgust on the day you were born.

But I passed by and saw you immersed in your blood. I said to you in the midst of your blood, "Live!" I made you grow like a plant of the field. You grew up and became tall and were becoming of marriageable age. Your breasts were formed and your hair had grown but you were naked and exposed. I passed by later and saw you were at the age of love and spread part of my garment over you to cover your nudity. I made a covenant with you with an oath - word of Yahweh - and you were mine. Then I bathed you in water, I cleansed you of your blood and anointed you with oil. I clothed you with embroidered cloth and put soft leather sandals on your feet. I dressed you in fine linen and covered you with silk. I adorned you with jewelry, putting bracelets on your arms, a necklace around your neck and a ring in your nose. I gave you earrings and a magnificent crown for your head. You were adorned with gold and silver; your clothing was fine linen, silk and embroidered cloth. You were fed on finest flour, honey and oil; you became very beautiful and rose to be queen. Your beauty was perfect and your renown spread through the nations, because of the splendor I had given you - word of Yahweh.

But you relied on your beauty; you trusted in your fame and you began to give yourself to every passerby like a prostitute.

But I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth and make in your favor an eternal covenant. You will be mindful of your ways and be ashamed when I take your sisters, both the elder and the younger, and give them to you as daughters, without prejudice to my covenant with you. For I will uphold my covenant with you and you will know that I am Yahweh, so that you may remember, be ashamed and never open your mouth again because of your humiliation, when I have pardoned you for all you have done," word of Yahweh.

Responsorial Psalm: Isaiah 12:2-6

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the LORD GOD is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known his deeds among the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted.

Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth.

Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Gospel Introduction:
         God reveals some qualities of his own love in the love of husband and wife. It is a love that reveals, in which a person discloses himself to another person as intimately as possible. It is a love that accepts the other person as he or she is and is willing to share everything together. It is a love that sacrifices all self-interests for the partner. It is a faithful love. It is also a love that is creative, that brings out the best in the other person. Is this not an image of God’s love and, conversely, is God’s Trinitarian love and his love for us not the model of all human love?

Gospel: Mt 19:3-12

Some Pharisees approached him. They wanted to test him and asked, "Is a man allowed to divorce his wife for any reason he wants?"

Jesus replied, "Have you not read that in the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and he said: Man has now to leave father and mother, and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one body? So they are no longer two but one body; let no one separate what God has joined."

They asked him, "Then, why did Moses command us to write a bill of dismissal in order to divorce?" Jesus replied, "Moses knew your stubborn heart, so he allowed you to divorce your wives, but it was not so in the beginning. Therefore I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, unless it be for infidelity, and marries another, commits adultery."

The disciples said, "If that is the condition of a married man, it is better not to marry." Jesus said to them, "Not everybody can accept what you have just said, but only those who have received this gift. Some are born incapable of marriage. Some have been made that way by others. But there are some who have given up the possibility of marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who can accept it, accept it."

(Gospel Commentary)

General Intercessions

For the homes built on unselfish love, that through them we may understand better all the depth of God’s love, we pray:

For homes that are broken and for partners who have failed each other, that people may show them understanding and that God may give them mercy, we pray:

For those who have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of God, that they may never become loners but that their hearts may be spacious and warm, open to all people and to all needs, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

God, our Father,
around this table with bread and wine
we celebrate our community
and remember Jesus’ love.
Let your Son accompany us
wherever we share the same food
and walk side by side toward the future
in faithfulness and trust.
Make us keepers of one another’s happiness
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Faithful God of the covenant,
you have entrusted love to us
not as a finished product
but as an assignment for life.
Let the love of Jesus invest our love
with indestructible fidelity and generosity
that it may weather all storms
and keep growing in depth
until you crown it with your joy for ever.

Blessing

What God has joined together, let no one separate. Husband and wife are one, and they have promised to be one in sickness and health, in good days and in bad days. May God keep them united and may he bless you all, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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Gospel Commentary (Friday)

It is sometimes said that married couples have an advantage over single persons, including priests and nuns, entering heaven because they already passed purgatory and even hell on earth. It is said also that to succeed in married life persons need to wear three rings: engagement ring, wedding ring and suffer-ring. Joking aside, the truth is that life, both single and married, has as much to do with pain and suffering as with joy and love. It is a long life journey, where the needed companionship will mean happiness but many times suffering as well. If we understand the nature and destiny of the human person as a journey towards God under his/her loving design, any difficulty that will come our way will be bearable. Otherwise we will think that the companion is someone we can dispose of when it hurts.

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August 17 - Saturday

Theme: THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM

Readings: Ezk 18:1-10, 13, 30-32;  Mt 19:13-15

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
you love all that is little and humble.

As a child seeks refuge in the arms of its parents,
may our strength be to let you carry us.
Teach us through little children
not to boast of anything we have
or anything we have done
but to be open to and receptive of your grace.
For you are our greatness and richness
through Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Scripture Readings

First Reading Introduction:
         It is true that we often suffer the consequences or enjoy the benefits of the deeds of others, good or bad, that there is a solidarity in sin. Yet Ezekiel points out for us today that each is personally responsible for the good or evil one does. And so he calls the people out of their fatalistic attitude. As God’s sons and daughters, we should renew ourselves and personally commit ourselves to all that is good.

First Reading: Ezk 18:1-10, 13, 30-32

The word of Yahweh came to me in these terms, "Why are you applying this proverb to the land of Israel: 'The parents have eaten sour grapes and the children's teeth are set on edge?'

As I live, word of Yahweh, this proverb will no longer be quoted in Israel. All life is in my hands, the life of the parent and the life of the child are mine. The lives of both are in my hands, so the one who sins will die.

Imagine a man who is righteous and practices what is just and right. He does not eat in the mountain shrines, or look towards the filthy idols of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife, or have intercourse with a woman during her period; he molests no one, pays what he owes, does not steal, gives food to the hungry and clothes to the naked, demands no interest on a loan and doesn't lend for interest, refrains from injustice, practices true justice, man to man, follows my decrees and obeys my laws in acting loyally. Because such a man is truly righteous, he will live, word of Yahweh.

But perhaps this man has a son who steals and sheds blood, committing crimes which his father never did demands interest on a loan, even practices usury. Will such a man live? No, he will not! Because he has committed all these abominations he will die: his guilt will fall upon him.

That is why I will judge you, Israel, each one according to his ways, word of Yahweh. Come back, turn away from your offenses, that you may not deserve punishment.

Free yourselves from all the offenses you have committed and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, Israel? I do not want the death of anyone, word of Yahweh, but that you be converted and live!"

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 51:12-15, 18-19

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, then you will delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Gospel Introduction:
         Few people today take Jesus’ words seriously when he says: “To such as these little children the kingdom of heaven belongs.” Many, for example, discredit the spirituality of the little way of St Therese of Lisieux. We speak of adulthood in Christ, of a human and spiritual maturity. And yet, true adulthood consists in what God wanted us to be in Jesus Christ, in being receptive to the gospel. To the disciples, who have no use for children and who want to cut the gospel to the measure of their petty ideas, Jesus holds up the child not as a sign of innocence but as a model of openness to God and to the good news of his Son. It is the entrance ticket to the kingdom.

Gospel: Mt 19:13-15

Little children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them with a prayer. But the disciples scolded those who brought them. Jesus then said, "Let them be! Do not stop the children from coming to me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to people such as these." So Jesus laid his hands on them and went his way.

(Gospel Commentary)

General Intercessions

That all of us may love and respect children and all that is little and brittle, we pray:

That those who have promised fidelity in marriage may remain faithful to each other, we pray:

That out of gratitude for all God has given us we may be faithful in our love for him and for people, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

God, our Father,
we remember that when you appeared among us,
you came in your Son as a little child
dependent on people.
May we accept you with a child’s heart,
trusting in you and your love,
admiring you for all the great things
you do among us
and loving you in return
with the spontaneous, uncomplicated love of children.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God,
we thank you for letting Jesus come among us
in the simplicity of a family meal.
This is an occasion for us to pray
for our children and their parents.
Dispose parents to let their children
feel and taste in their care and love
that you, God, care and love
all that is fragile and little.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Blessing

Let us stand before God in all humility, aware of how much we owe him. And ask God to bless you, and especially your children: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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Gospel Commentary (Saturday)

Popes, kings, presidents, all visiting dignitaries are welcomed and welcome children. It is the natural way to get in touch with the very essence of a society. Jesus goes further when he says that only becoming like a child will make us ready to enter his Kingdom. We realize that the child we all have inside makes us open, alive, trusting and loving persons, at the same time vulnerable and happy. Look at the world from your inner child's perspective and you will get close to God's vision, your optimism and creativity will flourish. God and people will love you more, making your heart fill up with joy. But avoid crying and disturbing when adults need silence and rest; think of others otherwise you will be left abandoned in the "nursery school" forever.

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