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Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time

Tuesday August 20, 2024

Daily Mass Readings for Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time

Cycle 1 is used in odd numbered years and Cycle 2 is used in even numbered years. The gospel is the same for both years.

  • First Reading (Cycle 1) - Judges 6:11-24a: An angel of the Lord appears to Gideon. The angel commissions Gideon to deliver Israel from their oppression, reassuring him of God's presence and power through a miraculous sign involving a consumed meal and a burning fire.
  • First Reading (Cycle 2) - Ezekiel 28:1-10: A prophecy is made against the king of Tyre, condemning his pride and arrogance. The king mistakenly believes in his divinity and wisdom, ultimately foretelling his downfall and the judgment that will befall him.
  • Responsorial Psalm (Cycle 1) - Psalm 85: God proclaims peace to His people, showing kindness, truth, justice, and salvation. His benefits will be given, and the land will flourish under His just guidance.
  • Responsorial Psalm (Cycle 2) - Deuteronomy 32: God, who deals both life and death, refrains from destroying His people due to concern for the pride and boasting of their enemies. Their lack of reason and understanding leads them to wrongly attribute their victories to their own strength, unaware that it is God who allows their successes and will bring justice and pity upon His servants.
  • Gospel - Matthew 19:23-30: Jesus teaches his disciples about the difficulty for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven, using the metaphor of a camel passing through the eye of a needle. He emphasizes that with God, all things are possible, and promises that those who have left everything to follow him will receive eternal rewards in the kingdom.

Themes for the Daily Mass Readings for Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time

  • Wealth and the Kingdom: Jesus' analogy of a rich man entering the kingdom of heaven highlights the theme of the challenge that wealth can pose to spiritual growth. This emphasizes the need to recognize the potential pitfalls of material prosperity.
  • Relying on God: Jesus' statement that "with God all things are possible" underscores the theme of relying on God's intervention and the power of His grace. This highlights the idea that God's influence can overcome human limitations.
  • Sacrifice and Reward: The concept of leaving behind wealth and possessions for the sake of the kingdom introduces the theme of sacrifice and its connection to eternal rewards. This emphasizes the idea that self-denial for Christ's sake yields greater spiritual treasures.
  • Reversal of Expectations: Jesus' teaching about the first being last and the last being first challenges conventional societal norms. This theme emphasizes the nature of God's kingdom and its reversal of worldly values.
  • Eternal Inheritance: The promise of receiving "a hundred times as much" in the age to come reinforces the theme of God's abundant blessings and rewards for those who prioritize the kingdom.
  • Renewed Perspective: The passage encourages a shift in perspective from earthly gain to heavenly treasures. This theme underscores the need to align one's priorities with God's eternal plan.

Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.

Matthew 19:23-24

Thoughts for Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time

In the gospel for Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time, Jesus tries to explain how difficult it is for us to save ourselves! It is impossible. So who can be saved? Only those who rely on God.

The imagery of a camel passing through the eye of a needle is both striking and memorable. It's a lesson on how earthly wealth can be an obstacle in our spiritual journey. But it's not a rejection of wealth itself; rather, a warning about letting it govern our lives. For Catholics, it's an important reminder to prioritize faith and spiritual wealth over material possessions.

In response to the disciples' astonishment, Jesus reassures that while human effort may seem futile, with God, all is possible. This emphasizes that our salvation doesn't solely depend on our actions, but on God's grace. It's a comforting thought that God's mercy is always there, ready to guide and help us.

The promise of eternal rewards for sacrifices made in following Jesus is an acknowledgment that the path may not be easy. However, the struggles and sacrifices are not forgotten by God. This teaches us that our efforts have meaning, and the rewards are beyond anything we can imagine here on earth.

The notion that the last shall be first and the first shall be last is a reminder to live humbly. Success in God's Kingdom doesn't depend on earthly status or achievements. This call to humility and service to others helps us focus on what truly matters and aligns us with God's values.

Lastly, this passage encourages us to approach life with an eternal perspective. Recognizing that our choices now have lasting impact, and that our ultimate goal should be a relationship with Christ, is a guiding principle. The challenges and inspirations from this teaching continue to resonate, urging us towards a deeper commitment and trust in God's plan.

Prayer for Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time

Lord, keep pulling me close to you. Teach me to let go of the things which are obstacles to becoming closer to you. Only you can save me. Amen.

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Homilies and Reflections for Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time

Word On Fire: Relying on God's Possibilities

In this Gospel reflection for Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time, Bishop Robert Barron discusses Jesus' teaching that it's hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven, emphasizing that with God, all things are possible. Barron reminds us that when we fail in our spiritual journey, we must become beggars, relying on God rather than ourselves. He shares Thérèse of Lisieux's imagery of being a helpless child, needing to be carried by the heavenly Father. This reflection conveys the message that human efforts alone are not enough, but with God's grace, even the making of saints becomes possible.

USCCB Reflection: What's in Your Wallet?

This reflection for Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time focuses on what truly drives our lives, drawing an analogy to the contents of our wallets. It starts with the observation that one in ten verses in the gospel is about the just use of money. While people may not be addicted to money itself, they might be addicted to what money can buy, like popularity or athleticism. Jesus asks us to consider what's at the heart of our desires. The message emphasizes that with love of God and neighbor at the center of our lives, all things are possible.

Word On Fire: Detachment and Seeing Beauty in Reality

In this Gospel reflection for Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time, Bishop Robert Barron discusses the difficulty of a rich person entering the kingdom of heaven, defining richness not just as wealth but as a mindset. He explains that this mindset seeks joy in possessions and ego, contrasting it with Jesus' teaching that surrendering worldly attachments leads to eternal life. Barron emphasizes that Jesus' promise is not a mere capitalist calculation but a spiritual truth. When you let go of worldly possessions in a spirit of detachment, you begin to see them as beautiful realities rather than objects of manipulation or possession.

USCCB Reflection: Love Over Riches

This reflection for Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time explores Jesus' teaching from Matthew's gospel, highlighting the difficulty for a rich person to enter heaven. It emphasizes that the love of God should be at the center of life, surpassing all earthly attachments. A personal anecdote illustrates that selling a cherished car to help others was more fulfilling because love for family and God outweighed the love for material possessions. The central message encourages loving God more than anything else and being willing to prioritize that love in our actions and decisions.

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