Tuesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

–   For the Church, that it may not replace the gospel with rites and laws of human invention but bring to people the freedom, the gentleness and the light of Christ, we pray:

–   For those who do not know Christ, that they may discover God’s law written in their hearts and find salvation by the integrity of their lives and the love of their neighbor, we pray:

–   For all who share in the Lord’s table, that they may learn from Jesus that love is the heart of the law and that true love knows how to serve, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts [Year A]

Lord our God,
we bring before you our readiness
to respond to your love.
Strengthen us with the body and blood
of your Son Jesus Christ,
that with him we may be dedicated to you
with our whole mind and heart,
and that we may be capable
of communicating your love and justice
to all those around us.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion [Year A]

Lord our God,
your Son has shared himself with us
in this eucharistic celebration.
Gives us his Spirit of discernment,
that we may also share in his attitude
of openness to your will
and to the needs of people.
May we thus fulfill more than the law
and serve you as your free sons and daughters,
in whom you recognize Jesus Christ,
your Son and our Lord for ever.

Blessing

Let us put our hearts into seeking in the commandments not our whims and will but the will of God himself. May God’s Spirit give you this wise insight and may God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

REFLECTIONS 

Matthew 14:22-36

“Come to me!”

Matthew is describing, with biblical language, the situation of the Christian communities of his time. They were "tormented" by many trials. He literally used the term “tortured”, or “tormented”. He had used the same word previously, where the men possessed by the evil spirits asked Jesus:  Have you come here before the time to torture us? [Matthew 8:29]; in other Jewish writings, this term has been used to refer to political torture and oppression.  Matthew had in mind the tortures, confronting believers in his community.

Pope Francis had described this passage as a beautiful icon of the faith of Apostle Peter. In the voice of Jesus who tells him: “Come!”, he recognizes the echo of the first encounter he had with Jesus on the shore of that very lake, and right away, once again, he leaves the boat and goes toward the Teacher. And this time around, he walks on the waters! A faithful and ready response to the Lord’s call always enables one to achieve extraordinary things. Remember, Jesus himself had told us that we are capable of performing miracles with faith in Him, faith in his word, faith in his voice.

Peter however begins to sink when he allows himself to be overwhelmed by the hardships around him. The character of Peter, with his passion and his weaknesses, can describe our own faith: ever fragile and impoverished, anxious and frightened and yet victorious amid the storms and dangers of the world, the Christian community walks in faith to meet the Risen Lord.

Jesus had let them battle alone on the boat in the dark.  Only when it was early in the morning did he approach them. Matthew is giving clear references to the liberating presence and action of God. The fourth watch of the night had been the time when God had liberated the fleeing Israelites from their oppression under Pharaoh, going ahead of them and leading them across the waters.

When Jesus got into the boat, the wind ceased. A boat which braves the storms and sometimes seems on the point of sinking is an image of the Church. What saves her is not the skill and courage of her crew members, but the faith that the Lord would walk through the storms to take his place in the boat. Faith gives us the certainty of Jesus’ presence always beside us, of his hand which grasps us to pull us out and lift us up from the dangers of the evil around.

St John Viannney

Matthew 15:1-2, 10-14

 Honouring God in heart, not tradition alone

Today, the Church celebrates the memorial of St. John Vianney, a French Parish Priest. He was ridiculed by his fellow priests as not very useful, but that did not stop him from being humble before God and spending long hours every day in the ministry of reconciling people to God. He is venerated in the Church today as the patron saint of parish priests. In his small parish of Ars, he broke the bread of Christ's mercy daily—through confession, Eucharist, and tireless love. Like the disciples in the Gospel, he offered what little he had, and God made it fruitful. Let us not forget to pray for our priests, especially today through the intercession of St. John Maria Vianney.

Today’s Gospel begins with a dispute about hand-washing: the Pharisees ask why Jesus’ disciples “break the tradition of the elders” (Matt 15:2). Jesus does not despise tradition; he rejects a religion that has become surface. He calls the crowd to listen and reminds us that defilement is not primarily an external matter of what enters the mouth, but what issues from the heart (Matt 15:10-14).

Late Pope Francis repeatedly urged a different focus: “return to me with all your heart,” not a superficial conversion. He warned that over time religious practices can “corrode” into hypocrisy, when piety is done “to be seen,” and when people forget the interior “weeping of the heart”—the gift of tears that makes prayer authentic. The Lord wants gestures, but gestures born from truth.

Pope Leo XIV, in turn, speaks of a Church marked by tenderness and the capacity to listen. Communion, he says, is built “primarily ‘on our knees,’” through prayer and constant conversion, so that we may hear the Spirit and then recognise others as brothers and sisters rather than as obstacles.

Therefore, let Jesus teach us that authentic religion is inner purity expressed in compassionate love. Pope Francis highlighted Christ’s “compassion” that “draws near to every person in pain” and “reinstates the marginalised.” Lord, purify our hearts and make our worship true.