Saturday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
To The Promised Land!
Liturgical Cycle: A | Lectionary Cycle: II
Introduction
Year II. The prophet Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah, scolds those who have exploited the poor. God will punish them by having their possessions divided among the pagan invaders.
Gospel. Jesus is presented today as the servant of God who brings healing to people without drawing attention to himself: He brings God’s tender care. He respects and heals what is little and brittle.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
You gave us Jesus, your Son,
as the wise and perfect servant
of you and of the people.
Put your Spirit on us too,
that like him and with him
We may bring your healing and justice
to the weak and the dispossessed,
without calling attention to ourselves,
that people may see what we give them
is your tender care as taught us
by Jesus Christ our Lord.
First Reading
First Denunciation
Woe to those who scheme wickedness and plot evil even in their beds! When morning arrives, they do it as soon as they can.
If they desire fields, they take them. Do they want houses? They seize them. They capture the owner and his household, along with both the man and his property.
This is why the Lord says: “I am plotting evil against this whole brood, from which your necks cannot escape. No longer will you walk with your head held high, for it will be an evil time.”
On that day, they will sing a mocking song against you; and a bitter lament will be heard: “We have been robbed of our property in our homeland. Who will save us from the wicked who seize our fields?”
Truly, no one will be found in the assembly of the Lord to defend your land.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (12b) Do not forget the poor, O Lord!
Why, O LORD, do you stand aloof?
Why hide in times of distress?
Proudly the wicked harass the afflicted,
who are caught in the devices the wicked have contrived.
R. Do not forget the poor, O Lord!
For the wicked man glories in his greed,
and the covetous blasphemes, sets the LORD at nought.
The wicked man boasts, "He will not avenge it";
"There is no God," sums up his thoughts.
R. Do not forget the poor, O Lord!
His mouth is full of cursing, guile and deceit;
under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.
He lurks in ambush near the villages;
in hiding he murders the innocent;
his eyes spy upon the unfortunate.
R. Do not forget the poor, O Lord!
You do see, for you behold misery and sorrow,
taking them in your hands.
On you the unfortunate man depends;
of the fatherless you are the helper.
R. Do not forget the poor, O Lord!
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Then the Pharisees went out and plotted to eliminate Jesus.
Since Jesus knew their plans, he left that place.
Jesus, the Servant of God
Many people followed him, and he healed everyone who was sick.
But he gave them strict orders not to let him be known.
Thus, Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled:
Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
the one I love and with whom I am pleased.
I will put my spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim my judgment
to the nations.
He will not argue or shout,
nor will his voice be heard in the streets.
The bruised reed he will not crush,
nor snuff out the smoldering wick
until he brings justice to victory.
And in him, all the nations
will put their hope.
Prayers of the Faithful
– That we may learn from Jesus to be discreet in our love and service to the poor, we pray:
– That we may learn from Jesus to be very respectful of people and care especially for those wounded in life, we pray:
– That Jesus may give us his Holy Spirit to work for justice and righteousness in our world, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
This bread and wine we bring before you
will become among us
Your beloved Son Jesus Christ.
Let your and his Spirit rest on us too
and let him renew us
as people who live without compromise
the message of justice and love
and the very life of your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
You have called us to be brothers and sisters
of Jesus, your Son,
and to share in his task
of serving and healing
Fill us with his compassion
and his discreet and tender love
that lifts up those broken in life
and those wounded by sin.
Help us to restore people in their human dignity
and to make them aware that they are
sons and daughters you love
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
We have heard God say about Jesus that he is the servant he likes. Jesus makes us servants with him. May we too be pleasing to God, and may almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
Matthew 12:14-21
Self-emptying act of the Cross
How do we achieve success and victory in our lives? In everyone's life, there are key moments or turning points that hinge on their life. Today's Gospel depicts Jesus as a healer who prefers to work in silence, a role reminiscent of Isaiah's servant of the Lord.
Without drawing attention to himself, he quietly fulfils his mission of delivering a message of salvation to the ailing. He brings healing to the sick, yet he aims to avoid any unwanted attention. Despite his efforts, there are instances where avoiding recognition was impossible. But pursuing accolades and seeking self-promotion are contrary to the Lord's values.
The mounting confrontation between the Pharisees and Jesus was 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: the only way to glory in God's kingdom is through 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 can 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.