Aug 17 2021

First reading Judges 6:11-24

‘Peace be with you; have no fear; you will not die’

The angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah which belonged to Joash of Abiezer. Gideon his son was threshing wheat inside the winepress to keep it hidden from Midian, when the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘The Lord is with you, valiant warrior!’ Gideon answered him, ‘Forgive me, my lord, but if the Lord is with us, then why is it that all this is happening to us now? And where are all the wonders our ancestors tell us of when they say, “Did not the Lord bring us out of Egypt?” But now the Lord has deserted us; he has abandoned us to Midian.’

At this the Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in the strength now upholding you, and you will rescue Israel from the power of Midian. Do I not send you myself?’ Gideon answered him, ‘Forgive me, my lord, but how can I deliver Israel? My clan, you must know, is the weakest in Manasseh and I am the least important in my family.’ The Lord answered him, ‘I will be with you and you shall crush Midian as though it were a single man.’ Gideon said to him, ‘If I have found favour in your sight, give me a sign that it is you who speak to me. I beg you, do not go away until I come back. I will bring you my offering and set it down before you.’ And he answered, ‘I will stay until you return.’

Gideon went away and prepared a young goat and made unleavened cakes with an ephah of flour. He put the meat into a basket and the broth into a pot, then brought it all to him under the terebinth. As he came near, the angel of the Lord said to him, ‘Take the meat and unleavened cakes, put them on this rock and pour the broth over them.’ Gideon did so. Then the angel of the Lord reached out the tip of the staff in his hand and touched the meat and unleavened cakes. Fire sprang from the rock and consumed the meat and unleavened cakes, and the angel of the Lord vanished before his eyes. Then Gideon knew this was the angel of the Lord, and he said, ‘Alas, my Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!’ The Lord answered him, ‘Peace be with you; have no fear; you will not die.’ Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it The-Lord-is-Peace.

Responsorial Psalm 84(85):9,11-14

The Lord speaks peace to his people.

I will hear what the Lord God has to say,

a voice that speaks of peace,

peace for his people and his friends

and those who turn to him in their hearts.

The Lord speaks peace to his people.

Mercy and faithfulness have met;

justice and peace have embraced.

Faithfulness shall spring from the earth

and justice look down from heaven.

The Lord speaks peace to his people.

The Lord will make us prosper

and our earth shall yield its fruit.

Justice shall march before him

and peace shall follow his steps.

The Lord speaks peace to his people.

Gospel Matthew 19:23-30

It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you solemnly, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.’ When the disciples heard this they were astonished. ‘Who can be saved, then?’ they said. Jesus gazed at them. ‘For men’ he told them ‘this is impossible; for God everything is possible.’

Then Peter spoke. ‘What about us?’ he said to him ‘We have left everything and followed you. What are we to have, then?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I tell you solemnly, when all is made new and the Son of Man sits on his throne of glory, you will yourselves sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name will be repaid a hundred times over, and also inherit eternal life.

‘Many who are first will be last, and the last, first.’

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Reflection
Judges 6:11-24, Matthew 19:23-30

“Happy are the poor, for they are rich in God’s sight”
“…it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for someone rich to enter the kingdom of Heaven.”, Jesus was not against money. Instead, He was against people who hoard money and make it to be their god. He was aware of the danger and temptation of having too many possessions. Wealth and material possessions can drive people to be proud and self-sufficient and live their lives without needing God. In Matthew 5:3, Jesus said, “Happy are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven”. The poor in spirit are the ones who recognize that they need God because He is the source of their daily strength.

Peter wondered,“Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied, “…for God everything is possible.’. Let us find comfort in these words because, in God’s perspective, nobody is hopeless. He is always at work in our lives to draw us into His loving presence. As long as we open a little to Him, it is enough for God to come and give us the riches of His love.

Question for reflection:
Do I live my life depending on God?

Renungan
Hakim 6:11-24, Matius 19:23-30

“Berbahagialah mereka yang miskin, kerana mereka kaya pada pandangan Allah”
“…lebih mudah seekor unta masuk melalui lubang jarum daripada seorang kaya masuk ke dalam kerajaan Syurga.” Yesus tidak menentang wang. Sebaliknya, Dia menentang orang-orang yang mengumpul wang dan menjadikannya tuhan mereka. Dia menyedari akan bahaya dan godaan memiliki banyak harta benda. Kekayaan dan harta benda boleh mendorong manusia menjadi sombong dan mementingkan diri sendiri dan menjalani hidup mereka tanpa memerlukan Tuhan. Dalam Matius 5:3, Yesus mengatakan, “Berbahagialah orang yang miskin di hadapan Allah, kerana merekalah empunya Kerajaan Syurga”. Mereka yang miskin di hadapan Allah adalah mereka yang menyedari bahawa mereka memerlukan Tuhan dalam hidup kerana Dia adalah sumber kekuatan mereka setiap hari.

Petrus tertanya-tanya, “jadi, siapakah yang dapat diselamatkan?” Yesus menjawab, “……bagi Allah segala sesuatu mungkin.” Marilah menemukan penghiburan melalui sabda ini kerana, menurut pandangan Allah tidak ada orang yang tidak mempunyai harapan. Dia sentiasa berkerja dalam hidup kita, menarik kita ke hadiratNya yang penuh kasih. Selagi kita membuka sedikit hati kita kepadaNya, sudah cukup bagi Tuhan untuk datang dan memberikan kekayaan kasihNya kepada kita.

Soalan renungan:
Adakah saya hidup bergantung kepada Tuhan?

*Tingganai ru Bansa’ 6:11-24; you Matius 19:23-30*
I Jisus pana indagu boo ra maamaya’-maamaya’ Nano, “Balain Ku akau: Mapagon tojojo sangulun langkaya’ masauk ra ulun ri Aki Kapuuno’.” Indagu poyo i Jisus, “Matasu’ poyo sanginan unta sumubol ra luang ru jarum intor ra sangulun langkaya’ makaumpos ra Tana’ Bagu ri Aki Kapuuno’.” Paat ra maamaya’-maamaya’ Nano nokorongog raginio, nangimuag ilo am indagu, “Amon ru koson raginio, osoi kia maalap kabayag?” Ponontong i Jisus risilo am indagu, “Kaayagan mantilayun ti kalo maalap ru ulun, i Aki Kapuuno’ ayuk makapanaak ra kolondo’ atan kon kalo mabaal Nano.” Taam boo i Pitrus, “Ilai’,” kono, “Tinatang mai ngaangai’ kasagaan mai am baya’ Rirun. Atan kia balos Muno ramon?” Indagu i Jisus risilo, “Pangintopot ayuk. Giu’ ra Tana’ Bagu, Anak ru Ulun mamarinta am manturung ra takhta Nano. Paat raginio akau mopor am ruo maamaya’ niayuk manturung ra tahkta am mangakim ra mopor am ruo bansa’ ru Israil! Osoi ayuk mangiruan ra baloi, kapoam pabukat nano ra ungkuyon, kapoam pabukat nano ra ruandu’, kapoam ina’ am ama’, kapoam anak nano, kapoam lanau am umo nano, ulun ragitio makaalap maatus ruli’ ra raino ti am niayuk aniin io poyo ra kaayagan mantilayun. Kaa’ masuang ulun ra maatamg raino ti masauk ra kalo maatang am ondo’ raino ti kalo maatang masauk ra maatang.”
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Pakaansuk noyo ulun ondo’ musikin, sabap ra langkaya’ ilo ra pagilangan ri Aki Kapuuno’
*”…Matasu’ poyo sanginan unta sumubol ra luang ru jarum intor ra sangulun langkaya’ makaumpos ra Tana’ Bagu ri Aki Kapuuno’.”* Kalo manggal i Jisus ra ruit. Kaa’, manggal Io ra ulun ondo’ mambuni’ ra ruit am baalon ginio ra koson ra tuan nilo. Nakaliman Io ra makalalaa’ am pangkinaman makatatangan ra masuang kaga’ kuliamos. Kalangkayaan am tatangan ra kuliamos mangkinibit ra ulun masauk ra masumbung am galama’ makaampos am maayag ilo ra kalo gumogot ri Aki Kapuuno’. Ralalom Matius 5:3, indagu i Jisus, *”Pakaansuk noyo ulun ondo’ makapandai ra ilo masuang tula, sabap ra ilo no ulun ri Aki Kapuuno’.”* Ulun ondo’ makapandai ra masuang tula iono ulun ondo’ makaliman ra gumogot ilo ri Aki Kapuuno’ sabap ra Io noyo puun ru ikang nilo moonong orou.
Mangimuag i Pitrus, “Amon ru koson raginio, osoi kia maalap kabayag?”

Renungan
Pengulu 6:11-24; Matthew 19:23-30

“Beberekat sida ti seranta, sida kaya raja ba mua Allah Taala.”
“…nyamai agi jelu unta tama nengah lubang jarum ari orang ke kaya tama ngagai Perintah Allah Taala.” Jesus enda nagang kitai bisi duit ringgit. Iya enda nyagi sida ti nambah ka pengaya sereta bejadi ka nya petara pengidup sida. Iya nemu penguji ti nyadi ari ngumpol kelalu mayuh pengaya. Pengaya reta tengkira ulih ngasoh mensia nyadi sumbong sereta enda betuai ka Allah Taala dalam pengidup sida. Ba Matthew 5:3, ko Jesus, “Beberekat sida ti seranta dalam roh, Perintah Serega enggi sida”. Sida ti seranta dalam roh ngaku diri beguna Allah Taala laban Iya meh pun pengering pengidup sida ninting hari.

Ko Peter lalu bejaku, “Enti pia, sapa ulih diselamatka?” Ko saut Jesus “…tang ba Allah Taala semua utai ulih magang”. Aram kitai bulih pemerindang dalam leka jako tu laban ba mua Allah Taala, kitai bulih pengandal. Iya seruran gawa dalam pengidup kitai awak kitai mansang dalam pengerindu Iya. Seagi-agi kitai meri awak ka Iya, Iya deka datai lalu meri kitai pengaya raja ari pengerindu Iya.

Bisi pengidup aku bepanggai ba Allah Taala?

省思
«民六:11-24»
«玛十九:23-30»

” 神贫的人是有福的，因为在天主眼中他们是富有的”
“……駱駝穿过針孔，比富人進天国还容易。”，耶稣并不反对钱。相反，祂反对那些囤积金钱并且把金钱当成他们的神。祂意识到当拥有太多是财产的危险和诱惑。财富和物质财富可以推动人们感到自豪和自给自足，过着不需要天主的生活。在玛5:3 耶稣说：“神贫的人是有福的，因為天国是他們的”。神贫的人是那些认识到他们需要天主，因为天主是他们每天力量的源泉。

伯多禄提问：“那么谁能得救呢？” 耶稣回答说：“……但为天主，一切都是可能的”。让我们在这些话中找到安慰，因为在天主的视角，没有人是绝望的。祂总是在我们的生活中工作和吸引我们进入祂慈爱的同在。只要我们向祂敞开心胸，天主所恩赐丰富的爱为我们就已足够了。

省思题：
我是否依赖天主在我的生活？

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr. Sandra Seow FMVD.