17 August, 2019. Saturday of Week 19
(option: Our Lady of Knock, Readings from the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Lect II, 1421-1449)
1st Reading: Joshua 24:14-29
At the covenant ceremony at Shechem, the whole people promise loyalty to God
Joshua said to all the people: “Revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, 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 ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along 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, 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 that are among you, and incline your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.” The people said to Joshua, “The Lord our God we will serve, and him we will obey.”
So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem. Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of Go; and he took a large stone, and set it up there under the oak in the sanctuary of the Lord. Joshua said to all the people, “See, this stone shall be a witness against us; for it has heard all the words of the Lord that he spoke to us; therefore it shall be a witness against you, if you deal falsely with your God.” So Joshua sent the people away to their inheritances.
After these things Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being one hundred ten years old.
Responsorial: Psalm 15:1-2, 5, 7-8, 11
Response: You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.
I say to the Lord: ‘You are my God.’
O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup;
it is you yourself who are my prize. (R./)
I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel,
who even at night directs my heart.
I keep the Lord ever in my sight:
since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm. (R./)
You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand happiness for ever. (R./)
Gospel: Matthew 19:13-15
The kingdom of God belongs to hearts that are as pure as little children
Little children were being brought to Jesus so that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.
Fundamental Option
Today’s Scriptures describe a solemn decision to serve Lord, and also a childlike spirit before the mystery of life. The covenant ceremony at Shechem invites us to pledge ourselves anew to the Lord. Jesus commends the spontaneity of children, a spirit which adults ought never to lose.
The last chapter of Joshua describes a covenant ceremony held at Shechem, where the tribes recited their “credo” or confession of faith, and declared their intention of following God’s guidance, as a people. Today’s reading outlines the liturgy where this declaration was made. It was a dramatic interaction between the Levite and the people:
- Levite, “Decide today whom you will serve.”
- People, “We will serve the Lord. He is our God.”
- Levite, “So, put away the strange gods.”
- People, “We will serve the Lord, and obey him.”
After this dramatic interchange other formalities take place: recording the publicly stated decisions in the book of the Law and setting up a large memorial stone to commemorate the event. Then with a formal blessing the people were sent back to normal life. They went away with a serious, definite sense of personal responsibility towards God.
The gospel provides an invitation to us to renew our own commitment to God. After some argument, we hear Jesus say, “Let the children come to me. The kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” If we let today’s readings to be felt in our lives, we realize that our following of the Lord must be clear and simple, pure and spontaneous like that of a child.
Jesus and children
Some Jewish parents brought their children to Jesus for him to bless them. It’s just what people think and feel today, when they bring a child to be baptised. Parents instinctively want what is good for their children. Those villagers saw Jesus as one who had a life-giving effect, and so they brought their children to him. In our own time, parents who appreciate our Lord feel the same desire to bring their children to him. They recognize him as God’s personal gift to us and they want that gift for their own family. But when parents try to bring their children for baptism sometimes they meet with obstacles from the parish priest.
There was tension between those who wanted Jesus to bless their children and those who felt that children were a noisy distraction, who should be seen and not heard. When they blocked the parents from bringing their children to him, Jesus was not a merely impartial spectator. He insists that children MUST come to him. In our own efforts to bring our loved ones near to the Lord, or bring ourselves to him, he is on our side. His desire for us meet him and find life will overcome the various obstacles that may stand in our way. God will find a way of bringing us to him, in spite of any resistances of whatever kind.
