Readings and Reflection for Mass

Saturday of the Nineteenth week in Ordinary Time   17 August 2013

Joshua 24:14-29.

Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, and addressed them, saying: "Fear the LORD and serve him completely and sincerely. Cast out the gods your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
If it does not please you to serve the LORD, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
But the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD for the service of other gods. For it was the LORD, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery. He performed those great miracles before our very eyes and protected us along our entire journey and among all the peoples through whom we passed. At our approach the LORD drove out (all the peoples, including) the Amorites who dwelt in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God."
Joshua in turn said to the people, "You may not be able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God who will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If, after the good he has done for you, you forsake the LORD and serve strange gods, he will do evil to you and destroy you."
But the people answered Joshua, "We will still serve the LORD."
Joshua therefore said to the people, "You are your own witnesses that you have chosen to serve the LORD." They replied, "We are, indeed!"
"Now, therefore, put away the strange gods that are among you and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel."
Then the people promised Joshua, "We will serve the LORD, our God, and obey his voice."
So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem, which he recorded in the book of the law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak that was in the sanctuary of the LORD.
And Joshua said to all the people, "This stone shall be our witness, for it has heard all the words which the LORD spoke to us. It shall be a witness against you, should you wish to deny your God."
Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to his own heritage.
After these events, Joshua, son of Nun, servant of the LORD, died at the age of a hundred and ten.

Ps 16(15):1-2a.5.7-8.11.

Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, "My Lord are you."
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.

I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
With him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.

You will show me the path to life,
Fullness of joys in your presence,
The delights at your right hand forever.

Mt 19:13-15.

Children were brought to Jesus that He might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

Commentary of the day :

I am so tempted to comment on this passage but you already know what I want to say, so I will leave you to read a commentary from Saint Maximus of Turin (?-c.420), Bishop, Homily 58, for Easter ; PL 57, 363

"Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these"

What a great and wonderful gift God has given us, my brethren! On this, the day of Easter, day of salvation, the Lord rises again and gives resurrection to the world... We are his body (1Cor 12,27)..., and his members rise with him; he makes us rise from death to life. In Hebrew the word “passover” means a passing over...: and what a passing! From sin to righteousness, from vice to virtue, from age to infancy. Yesterday, sins' decay set us on a decline but Christ's resurrection gives us rebirth in newborn innocence. Christian simplicity makes childhood its own. Children are without rancor, ignorant of deceit, not daring to strike. So this child that the christian has become does not fall into a rage if someone insults it, does not resist if something is taken from it, does not return blows if someone strikes it. Our Lord even demands us to pray for our enemies, give up our tunic and cloak to anyone who would steal it, turn the other cheek to those who would hit it (Mt 5,39). The childhood of Christ surpasses the childhood of men...To the apostles, who were already mature, adult men, the Lord said: “Unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 18,3). He returns them to the origin of their lives, encourages them to rediscover their childhood, so that these men, whose vigor is declining, may be born again to innocence of heart.