Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 102 (NAB Translation)
Reading 1
This week’s first reading is from the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament near the end of the book. The people of Israel and Judah have suffered much since their time in exile in Babylon and now the prophet wants to give them hope. The prophet uses maternal images to express the consolation and joy that the people will one day experience from the hand of God. Jerusalem will one day be their mother and the children of God will flock to her to receive comfort as she nurtures and feeds them. This imagery also prefigures Christ’s future Church which will be His children’s home. There he will restore His people, rebuild their ruins, and purify them.
Responsorial Psalm
The response for this Psalm is: “Let all the earth cry out with joy.”
Reading 2
In this week’s reading from Saint Paul’s letter to the Galatians, Paul is responding to the a faction of believers known as “Judaizers” who were encouraging members of the Galatian community to undergo circumcision and other Jewish practices. Some even boasted about their circumcision being part of their identity as a sign of the Old Covenant. However, for Paul, our true identity is in Christ given to us by faith. By virtue of our faith we can all claim the he privileges of being children of God in Christ Jesus with no need for these distinctions. In fact the only thing to boast of is Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross which has made us new creatures.
Gospel
In this week’s Gospel from St. Luke, we hear of the famous “mission of the seventy-two.” Jesus is preparing His evangelization team for their first great missionary journey and is giving them practical and specific instructions. In order to faithfully carry out their calling, Jesus insists on total detachment from material items and a complete trust in God to provide all their needs. His instructions enable their mission to be carried out with a sense of urgency, and also helps ensure that concerns about physical things does not distract them from providing others with eternal things. When the seventy-two return from their mission they rejoice at their power in performing miracles. However, Jesus makes clear that their mission is not about the miracles themselves but about obedience to God and their ultimate salvation.
Reflection question from Bishop Vásquez
Gospel meditation
When we prepare for a trip we pack supplies and make plans for lodging and transportation. Jesus sends the disciples with nothing so that they rely upon God to supply all their needs. Their focus is entirely on their mission to make present the Kingdom of God. Where do you make the Kingdom of God present? What concerns hinder your focus that you need to give to God?
Cuando nos preparamos para un viaje, empacamos lo necesario y hacemos planes sobre el hotel y la transportación. Jesús envía a sus discípulos sin nada para que puedan confiar en que Dios suplirá para sus necesidades. Su enfoque es totalmente en su misión de hacer presente el Reino de Dios ¿Dónde hace usted que el Reino de Dios esté presente? ¿Qué preocupaciones le quitan el enfoque que usted necesita tener puesto en Dios?
Bishop Vásquez’ prayer request
Please consider Bishop Vásquez’ prayer request for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (July 3):
That as faithful disciples we will trust in the goodness of God to provide for our needs so that we may focus entirely on making the presence of God known in our families, our relationships, our work and our play …
Por que, como discípulos fieles confiemos en que la bondad de Dios proveerá para nuestras necesidades para que podamos enfocarnos completamente en hacer que la presencia de Dios sea conocida en nuestras familias, relaciones, trabajo y lugares de entretenimiento…
