8th Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading: Isaiah 49:14-15
Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me." Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.
Responsorial Psalm: 62:2-3.6-7.8-9
Response: Rest in God alone, my soul.
Only in God is my soul at rest; from him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all. (Response)
Only in God be at rest, my soul, for from him comes my hope. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed. (Response)
With God is my safety and my glory, he is the rock of my strength; my refuge is in God. Trust in him at all times, O my people! Pour out your hearts before him. (Response)
Response: Rest in God alone, my soul.
Only in God is my soul at rest; from him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all. (Response)
Only in God be at rest, my soul, for from him comes my hope. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed. (Response)
With God is my safety and my glory, he is the rock of my strength; my refuge is in God. Trust in him at all times, O my people! Pour out your hearts before him. (Response)
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Brothers
and sisters: Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Now it is of course required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. It does not concern me in the least that I be judged by you or any human tribunal; I do not even pass judgment on myself; I am not conscious of anything against me, but I do not thereby stand acquitted; the one who judges me is the Lord. Therefore, do not make any judgment before the appointed time, until the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts, and then everyone will receive praise from God.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 6:24-34
Jesus
said to his disciples: "No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?' All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil."
There are people who present the world as a place of sadness, suffering and with all sorts of negative feelings one can attach to it. When Jesus said not to worry about food and drinks and clothes, he was not meaning to make us all beg or go about ugly. He wanted us to have right priorities. What he said was this: put the world first then you will end up miserable, but put God first then you get the whole world thrown in. Happiness, joy, peace, beauty, excitement, celebration and all come in our way when we put God first.
Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
The passage that we have for reflection today presents a different picture of Jesus. When he said to his followers not to worry about tomorrow or not to be anxious; he taught them by example. He lived the present moment so well that he celebrated the Goodness of God in his life. And this in fact made him happy. He was not talking about a God who was distant from the world. He was talking about a God who was interested in the beauty of things, involved in the lives of the people.There are people who present the world as a place of sadness, suffering and with all sorts of negative feelings one can attach to it. When Jesus said not to worry about food and drinks and clothes, he was not meaning to make us all beg or go about ugly. He wanted us to have right priorities. What he said was this: put the world first then you will end up miserable, but put God first then you get the whole world thrown in. Happiness, joy, peace, beauty, excitement, celebration and all come in our way when we put God first.
