Catholic Daily Reading + Reflection, 14 August 2021
Mass Readings, Reflection – Homily for Saturday August 14, 2021
Weekday (19)
Vestment: Red
Today’s Rosary: The Joyful Mystery
ST MAXIMILIAN KOLBE, P.M. (MEMORIAL)
FIRST READING
“Choose this day whom you will serve.”
A reading from the Book of Joshua (Joshua 24: 14-29)
In those days: Joshua spoke to the people, saying, “Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if you be unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. ”Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods; for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, and who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; and the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land; therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.” But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the Lord; for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good.” And the people said to Joshua, “No; but we will serve the Lord.” Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” He said, “Then put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.” And the people said to Joshua, ‘The Lord our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.” So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem. And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a great stone, and set it up there under the oak in the sanctuary of the Lord. And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us; for it has heard all the words of the Lord which he spoke to us; therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God.” So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance. After these things Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being a hundred and ten years old.
The word of the Lord.
R/. It is you, O Lord, who are my portion.
Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord.”
O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup;
you yourself who secure my lot. R.
I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel,
Who even at night directs my heart.
I keep the Lord before me always;
With him at my right hand, I shall not be moved. R.
R/. It is you, O Lord, who are my portion.
You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand, bliss forever. R.
ALLELUIA Matthew 11:25
Alleluia. Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 19:13-15)
At that time: Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people; but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
Love is the first skill a leader requires. Joshua, leader of the people of Israel, demonstrated this love when he called the people of Israel to choose whom they wanted to serve. A leader expresses and exercises his love by allowing freedom of choice to those under his leadership, and that is what Joshua did. As the model of all leaders, Jesus applied tender loving care to the children who were coming to him. As a leader he showed this tender love in a special way to all those who were vulnerable, weak, outcasts and down trodden in society. He paid special attention to sinners, the sick and the sorrowful.
Today’s Saint and Quote: St Maximilian Kolbe – August 14th
The most deadly poison of our times is indifference. And this happens, although the praise of God should know no limits. Let us strive, therefore, to praise Him to the greatest extent of our powers.
Personal Devotional
O Lord, don’t punish me in your anger! You have wounded me with your arrows; you have struck me down… Do not abandon me, O Lord; do not stay away, my God! Help me now, O Lord my saviour! Psalm 38: 1, 2 and 20
– Pray for mercy for the times you have allowed envy to reign in your heart.
– Pray for victims of envy, that God would vindicate and restore them
– Pray for the grace to work in God’s vineyard trusting in his merciful judgement.
Let Us Pray
Lord help me, help my unbelief in Jesus name Amen.
Vigil of the Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary (Solemnity)
Vestment: White
Vespers I of the Assumption of B.V.M
This Mass is used on the evening of 14 August, either before or after First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) of the Solemnity.
Entrance Antiphon
Glorious things are spoken of you, O Mary, who today were exalted above the choirs of Angels into eternal triumph with Christ.
The Gloria in excels (Glory to God in the highest) is said.
Collect
O God, who, looking on the lowliness of the Blessed Virgin Mary, raised her to this grace, that your Only Begotten Son was born of her according to the flesh, and that, she was crowned this day with surpassing glory, grant through her prayers, that saved by the mystery of your redemption, we may merit to be exalted by you on high. Through our Lord. ..
FIRST READING
“They brought in the ark of God, and set it inside the tent which David had pitched for it.”
A reading from the first Book of Chronicles (1 Chronicles 15:3-4.15-16; 16:1-2)
In those days: David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place, which he had prepared for it. And David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites. And the Levites carried the ark of God upon their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord. David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brethren as the singers who should play loudly on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise sounds of joy. And they brought in the ark of God, and set it inside the tent which David had pitched for it; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 132:6-7.9-10.13—14(R.8)
R/. Go up, Lord, to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your strength.
At Ephrata we heard of it;
We found it in the plains of Yearim.
“Let us go to the place of his dwelling;
let us bow down at his footstool.” R.
Your priests shall be clothed with justice;
your faithful shall ring out their joy.
For the sake of David your servant,
do not reject your anointed. R.
R/. Go up, Lord, to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your strength.
For the Lord has chosen Sion;
he has desired it for his dwelling:
“This is my resting place from age to age;
here have I chosen to dwell.” R.
SECOND READING
“He gives us the victory through Jesus Christ.”
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 15:54b-57)
Brethren: When the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA Luke11:28
Alleluia. Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Blessed is the womb that bore you.”
A reading from the body Gospel according to Luke (Luke 11:27-28)
At that time: As Jesus was speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
The Gospel of the Lord.