Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Seeing Signs, Conversion
Other Celebrations for this Day:
Liturgical Cycle: A | Lectionary Cycle: II
Introduction
Year II. God had assured the house of David that he would protect it. We hear Isaiah scold the king and the people, saying they do not have enough trust in him and do not see the signs of God’s nearness; even in the face of a great threat from the powerful nation of Assyria, they should keep relying on God.
Gospel. The poor and the oppressed are often more open to salvation than the self-satisfied, sophisticated city dwellers; the latter are often in the Bible the image of rationalistic and corrupt people, also among the Jews. As they are more individualistic, they do not easily form a community of salvation. In the noise and bustle of a busy life, they do not see the signs of God’s presence.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
We are often blind and insensitive
to the wonderful things you do among us
and to the love people show us.
Open our minds and hearts
to see the signs of your presence
in the good people do to one another and to us.
Make us also see the presence of our crucified Lord
in people who suffer.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
First Reading
THE BOOK OF EMMANUEL
First Warning to Ahaz
When Ahaz, son of Jotham and grandson of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Pekah, son of Remaliah, king of Israel, laid siege to Jerusalem but could not capture it.
When the news reached the house of David: “Aram’s troops are encamped in Ephraim.” The king’s heart and the people’s hearts trembled like the forest’s trees do before the wind.
The Lord then said to Isaiah: “Go with your son, A-remnant-will-return, and meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Washerman’s Field.”
Say to him:“Stay calm and fear not; do not lose courage before these two stumps of smoldering firebrands—the fierce anger of Rezin the Aramean and the blazing fury of the son of Remaliah. You know that
Aram, Ephraim, and Remaliah’s son have plotted against Judah, saying:
Let us invade and scare it, seize it, and put the son of Tabeel king over it.”
But the Lord God says: It shall not be so; it shall not come to pass.
8aFor Damascus is only the head of Aram and Rezin the lord of Damascus.
9aSamaria is only the head of Ephraim and Remaliah’s son is only the lord of Samaria.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (see 9d) God upholds his city for ever.
Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, fairest of heights,
is the joy of all the earth.
R. God upholds his city for ever.
Mount Zion, “the recesses of the North,”
is the city of the great King.
God is with her castles;
renowned is he as a stronghold.
R. God upholds his city for ever.
For lo! the kings assemble,
they come on together;
They also see, and at once are stunned,
terrified, routed.
R. God upholds his city for ever.
Quaking seizes them there;
anguish, like a woman’s in labor,
As though a wind from the east
were shattering ships of Tarshish.
R. God upholds his city for ever.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
He Reproves the Cities of Galilee
Then Jesus started to condemn the cities where he had done most of his miracles because the people there did not repent:
“Alas for you, Chorazin and Bethsaida! If the miracles performed in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
But I assure you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? You will be brought down to the realm of the dead! For if the miracles performed in you had been done in Sodom, it would still be standing today!
But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than it will be for you.”
Prayers of the Faithful
– For men and women who have lowly and depressing jobs, that we may appreciate them, we pray:
– For all who have been baptized in the saving waters of baptism, that they may remain faithful to their baptismal promises, we pray:
– For all those who see the good deeds done by believing people, that they may discover the Lord Jesus who inspires these good people, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
let this bread and wine we bring before you
become clear to us
of how you make yourself near to us
in Jesus Christ your Son.
Give us a deep faith to discover
the love you constantly show us in him
and to respond eagerly to it
with deeds of compassion and service
for all those who need us.
Grant us this through Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord God,
we deserve the harsh words
which Jesus spoke to us today
to prompt us to seek conversion.
Make us accept these words
spoken out of deep concern
for those he loves.
Give us an open attitude
That makes us see how you care for us
and how you are near to us in everyday life.
Help us to respond to your loving care
through Christ our Lord.
Blessing
Repent. Perhaps we think that these words of the Lord do not apply to us. If we are open-minded, we will probably notice that there are many things in us that we wish to change. Perfection is not of this world. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
Matthew 11:20-24
There is no doubt that God performs miracles in our lives. Our life is a miracle of God, every moment of it! Yes, absolutely! It's more important to determine how we respond to God's miracles. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus performed signs and wonders for a purpose: to elicit a response from the people, a change of behaviour, or a conversion of hearts. Whenever Jesus heals lepers or paralyzed people, he says, "Don't sin again." He never worked miracles to impress others but only to convert hearts back to God.
Even in the Old Testament, God performed signs and wonders to arouse Israel's faith and trust. However, Israel's people and Jesus' listeners became accustomed to these signs, losing sight of their purpose. As a result, today in the Gospel we hear Jesus calls on people to pay attention to God's message, change their behaviour and return to God. Jesus seems frustrated over the time and energy he invested on them going to waste, just as a gardener gets frustrated when his fig tree fails to bear fruit - we read in Luke 13:6-9.
Jesus' words were intended to shock his hearers and encourage their conversion. As Matthew wrote his Gospel, he kept in mind those synagogues of Antioch that had rejected the Christian message. By quoting Jesus, he encourages his community to persevere in faith and discourages laxity or negligence.
The Gospel is a reminder of our responsibility to recognise and embrace opportunities for conversion, change, and growth rather than to hold on to a closed-minded, unrepentant attitude. Examples of cities like Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum illustrate the consequences of refusing to accept personal flaws.
There is no sin, however serious it may be, which God cannot forgive! The Word of God invites us to pay attention to His voice and His signs, and to amend our ways to move closer to Him.
COFFEE WITH GOD 15 July 2025 - The miracles in our life and the call to change