Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time

• First Reading – Judges 6:11-24a: Gideon is called by God to save Israel from the Midianites. Despite his doubts, he receives a sign confirming God’s presence and builds an altar in response.
• Responsorial Psalm – 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.
• Gospel – Matthew 19:23-30: It is hard for the rich to enter heaven, but with God, all is possible. Those who follow Jesus will be rewarded greatly.

Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 19:23

The readings for Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 offer insights into God’s guidance and the challenges of following Him. They teach about trust in God’s plan and the sacrifices needed to follow Christ.

• God’s Calling: God calls Gideon to save Israel from their enemies. This shows how God often chooses ordinary people for His work.
• Trust in God: Gideon is afraid and unsure. God reassures him, teaching us to trust in God even when we feel weak.
• Sacrifice for God: The Gospel tells us about the difficulty for the rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. This shows the need to let go of earthly attachments to follow Christ.
• God’s Power: Gideon’s story shows that God can use anyone to achieve His purposes. Even the weakest among us can be strong with God’s help.
• Humility: The Gospel emphasizes humility. The first will be last, and the last will be first in God’s Kingdom.
• Rewards in Heaven: Jesus promises rewards to those who give up everything for Him. This encourages us to keep our eyes on heavenly rewards.
• Obedience to God: Gideon obeys God’s command despite his fear. His obedience shows the importance of following God’s will.
• God’s Presence: God assures Gideon of His presence. This reminds us that God is always with us, especially in difficult times.

These themes help us understand the importance of trusting and obeying God. They remind us that following Christ may be difficult, but it leads to eternal rewards.

The readings for Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 offer us deep lessons about God’s call, His power in our weakness, and the importance of humility. Through the story of Gideon and Jesus’ teachings, we learn how God works through ordinary people, strengthens us in our weakness, and values humility over worldly success.

God Chooses Ordinary People

On Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, we read about Gideon. God calls Gideon, an ordinary man, to save Israel from their enemies. Gideon is afraid and unsure of himself. He feels weak and wonders why God chose him.

This story shows us that God often chooses ordinary people for His work. God does not look for the strongest or the most talented. He looks for those who are willing to trust and obey Him. Gideon’s fear and doubt are normal human feelings, but God reassures him and gives him the strength he needs.

We can relate to Gideon’s feelings of fear and inadequacy. Sometimes, we may feel that we are not good enough or strong enough to do what God asks of us. But Gideon’s story teaches us that God is with us. When we trust Him, He can use us to do great things.

Gideon’s example encourages us to say yes to God, even when we feel afraid. God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. By trusting in God and following His call, we can accomplish more than we ever thought possible.

On Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, let us remember that God calls ordinary people like Gideon and us. We do not need to be perfect or fearless. We only need to trust in God and be willing to follow His call.

Strength in Weakness

On Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, we see how God uses Gideon to achieve His purposes. Gideon feels weak and unimportant, yet God chooses him to lead Israel. Gideon’s story shows that God can use anyone, even the weakest among us.

Gideon’s weakness is not a problem for God. Instead, it is an opportunity for God to show His power. God’s reassurance to Gideon is a reminder that with God’s help, we can be strong. Jesus also says that with God, all things are possible.

When we feel weak or inadequate, we can look to Gideon’s story for encouragement. God does not need us to be strong on our own. He wants us to rely on His strength. Gideon’s success was not because of his own abilities, but because he trusted in God.

In our own lives, we may face challenges that seem too big for us. We may feel too weak to overcome them. But just as God helped Gideon, He will help us too. We need to remember that God is with us and that His strength is greater than any challenge.

On Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, let us take comfort in knowing that our weakness can become strength with God’s help. We can face our challenges with confidence, knowing that with God, all things are possible.

The Last Will Be First

The Gospel reading for Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 emphasizes humility. Jesus tells us that the first will be last, and the last will be first in God’s Kingdom. This teaching challenges our usual way of thinking about success and status.

In our world, being first is often seen as most important. People strive to be the best, the richest, or the most powerful. But Jesus turns this idea upside down. He teaches that true greatness comes from humility and serving others.

Gideon’s story fits this teaching well. He did not see himself as important or strong. He saw himself as weak and unimportant. Yet, God chose him for a great task. Gideon’s humility and willingness to follow God’s call made him great in God’s eyes.

We can apply this lesson to our own lives. Instead of seeking our own glory, we should seek to serve others. We should be humble and willing to do even the smallest tasks for God. True greatness comes from putting others first and trusting in God’s plan.

On Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, let us remember Jesus’ words and strive to be humble. Let us serve others and put them first, knowing that in God’s Kingdom, the last will be first.

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These reflections for Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 teach us valuable lessons about God’s call, His strength in our weakness, and the importance of humility. By learning from Gideon and Jesus’ teachings, we can better understand how to live out our faith in everyday life.

Prayer

Lord, help us to trust in Your call, even when we feel weak and afraid. Strengthen us with Your power and teach us to be humble. May we always seek to serve others and follow Your will. Amen.

Reflection Questions

• How can Gideon’s story encourage you to trust in God when you feel weak or unworthy?
• What challenges in your life seem too big to handle, and how can you rely on God’s strength to face them?
• How can Jesus’ teaching about the last being first inspire you to practice humility in your daily life?
• In what ways can you serve others and show humility, even in small, everyday tasks?

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.

Bishop 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.

What date is Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

The next date is Tuesday August 19, 2025.

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. For even numbered years see Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2.

What are the Mass readings for Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

The Mass readings for Tuesday August 19, 2025 are:
First Reading – Judges 6:11-24a: Commissioning of Gideon
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 85: Proclamation of Peace and Salvation
Gospel – Matthew 19:23-30: Promise of Eternal Rewards

Who is Gideon in the first reading for Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

Gideon is an ordinary man chosen by God to save Israel from their enemies. He feels weak and unsure but trusts in God’s guidance.

Why is Gideon afraid?

Gideon is afraid because he thinks he is not strong enough to save Israel. God reassures him, teaching us to trust in God’s strength, not our own.

How can we apply Gideon’s story to our lives?

Gideon’s story shows that God can use anyone, no matter how weak they feel. Trust in God’s plan and be willing to follow His call.

Why does God choose Gideon despite his fear?

God chooses Gideon to show that He can work through anyone. God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.

How does God reassure Gideon?

God reassures Gideon by telling him He will be with him. This teaches us that God is always with us, even in tough times.

What does Jesus mean by saying it is hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven?

Jesus means that people who love money and possessions may find it hard to follow Him fully. We should focus on God, not on wealth.

Why does Jesus say the first will be last and the last will be first?

Jesus teaches that humility and serving others are important in God’s Kingdom. Earthly status does not matter to God.

What is the main lesson from the Gospel reading for Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

The main lesson is to prioritize God over material things. This can mean making sacrifices and trusting in God’s promises.

What does Jesus promise to those who leave everything for Him?

Jesus promises that they will receive eternal life and many blessings. This encourages us to focus on heavenly rewards.

What does it mean to trust in God?

Trusting in God means believing in His plan and relying on His strength. It means letting go of our fears and doubts.