Saturday of 15th Week in Ordinary Time
OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL Optional Memorial
The glories of Mount Carmel are sung in the bible, as the prophet Elijah had stood up there for the purity of Israel’s faith. In the twelfth century, hermits withdrew to this mountain and later founded the Carmelite order, which is devoted to the contemplative life under the patronage of Mary, the holy Mother of God.
First Reading: Micah 2:1-5
Doom to those who plot evil,
who go to bed dreaming up crimes!
As soon as it’s morning,
they’re off, full of energy, doing what they’ve planned.
They covet fields and grab them,
find homes and take them.
They bully the neighbor and his family,
see people only for what they can get out of them.
God has had enough. He says,
“I have some plans of my own:
Disaster because of this interbreeding evil!
Your necks are on the line.
You’re not walking away from this.
It’s doomsday for you.
Mocking ballads will be sung of you,
and you yourselves will sing the blues:
‘Our lives are ruined,
our homes and lands auctioned off.
They take everything, leave us nothing!
All is sold to the highest bidder.’”
And there’ll be no one to stand up for you,
no one to speak for you before God and his jury.
Gospel: Matthew 12:14-21
He replied, “Is there a person here who, finding one of your lambs fallen into a ravine, wouldn’t, even though it was a Sabbath, pull it out? Surely kindness to people is as legal as kindness to animals!” Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” He held it out and it was healed. The Pharisees walked out furious, sputtering about how they were going to ruin Jesus.
In Charge of Everything
Jesus, knowing they were out to get him, moved on. A lot of people followed him, and he healed them all. He also cautioned them to keep it quiet, following guidelines set down by Isaiah:
Look well at my handpicked servant;
I love him so much, take such delight in him.
I’ve placed my Spirit on him;
he’ll decree justice to the nations.
But he won’t yell, won’t raise his voice;
there’ll be no commotion in the streets.
He won’t walk over anyone’s feelings,
won’t push you into a corner.
Before you know it, his justice will triumph;
the mere sound of his name will signal hope, even
among far-off unbelievers.
Prayer
Lord our God,
Mary, the mother of your Son Jesus Christ,
was open to the word of God
with a believing, trusting mind and heart.
Like her, may we entrust ourselves to you
ponder your words and seek your will in them.
Make your will our will,
that you may lead us to your home
under the guidance of him
who sought your will in everything,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reflection:
16 July 2021
Matthew 12:14-21
Take up the cross of love.
The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is celebrated today on 16 July. It draws our attention to the way in which she is manifested to the Carmelite Order. The hermit brothers on Mount Carmel dedicated an oratory to St Mary early in the thirteenth century, declaring that she is their Patron who will look after them, and whom they in turn will serve. A significant Carmelite devotion to Our Lady is through the Brown Scapular which has been very popular since the fifteenth century. The scapular is a symbol of a relationship with Christ along with Mary, one of dependence and love. Wearing a scapular would be meaningful when it leads us into the contemplation of the divine mysteries. The scapular should also remind us that we are to be clothed with Christ, and further be able to realise Mary clothing us with her Son. The Brown Scapular has been seen as a sign of Mary’s care and help in moments of life’s dangers, and also at the time of death. On this day 172 years ago, in 1849, five diocesan priests in Spain came together under the leadership of Father Antony Mary Claret and began a small community to dedicate themselves for preaching the Gospel through ministries that are urgent, timely and effective; and called themselves “Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.” The Religious Congregation is also known after the name of its founder as Claretian Missionaries. The Community grew in numbers and ministries over the years and today, with over 3000 members, are serving in 70 countries around the world. Today, let us pray for the members of the Carmelite Order and the Claretian Missionaries. How do we achieve success and victory in our lives? In everyone’s life there are key moments or turning points on which the whole life hinges. The mounting confrontation between the Pharisees and Jesus was such a decisive moment of crisis. The religious leaders were driven by their prejudice against Jesus and therefore, they conspired, not simply to oppose Jesus but to eliminate him. Jesus uses this crisis to teach his disciples an important lesson that the only way to glory in God’s kingdom is the way of the cross. Matthew quotes from the “Suffering Servant” prophecies of Isaiah to explain how Jesus the Messiah would accomplish his mission – not through crushing power – but through love and sacrificial service (Isaiah 42:1-4) We are called to take up our cross every day – the cross of love, compassion and mercy. Loving others is not always easy; instead it could be painful. Mercy and compassion, generated from genuine love and affection for those around is our cross that we must carry as we follow the Lord.