Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
June 22, 2021
Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 372
Reading I
Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.
Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents,
so that the land could not support them if they stayed together;
their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together.
There were quarrels between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock
and those of Lot’s.
(At this time the Canaanites and the Perizzites
were occupying the land.)
So Abram said to Lot:
“Let there be no strife between you and me,
or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are kinsmen.
Is not the whole land at your disposal?
Please separate from me.
If you prefer the left, I will go to the right;
if you prefer the right, I will go to the left.”
Lot looked about and saw how well watered
the whole Jordan Plain was as far as Zoar,
like the LORD’s own garden, or like Egypt.
(This was before the LORD had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
Lot, therefore, chose for himself the whole Jordan Plain
and set out eastward.
Thus they separated from each other;
Abram stayed in the land of Canaan,
while Lot settled among the cities of the Plain,
pitching his tents near Sodom.
Now the inhabitants of Sodom were very wicked
in the sins they committed against the LORD.
After Lot had left, the LORD said to Abram:
“Look about you, and from where you are,
gaze to the north and south, east and west;
all the land that you see I will give to you
and your descendants forever.
I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth;
if anyone could count the dust of the earth,
your descendants too might be counted.
Set forth and walk about in the land, through its length and breadth,
for to you I will give it.”
Abram moved his tents and went on to settle
near the terebinth of Mamre, which is at Hebron.
There he built an altar to the LORD.
Responsorial Psalm
- (1b) He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
He who walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
By whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Alleluia
- Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine,
lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.
“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the Law and the Prophets.
“Enter through the narrow gate;
for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,
and those who enter through it are many.
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few.”
Reflection: NARROW GATE OF ETERNAL LIFE
Giving holy things to dogs and throwing pearls before swine are obviously stupid actions. Will anyone in their right mind, do them? It looks as if some do. That is why Jesus takes the trouble to tell his audience not to do so! On reflection we can see that we do them too. Time is more precious than gold, for time is life. In front of whom do we throw our lives - Money, sex, power, prestige? These values can actually trample our lives under their feet and then turn and maul us! Do we ever throw what is holy to the dogs? Of course, when we smoke, abuse our body, drink till we lose our liver, and eat till we become obese. Our body is holy, and we may be throwing it to the dogs! In the spiritual life too we can give our souls to pride, sloth, power. It is in line with what the Lord said - what is the use of gaining the world and losing your soul? The problem is that we think that these are the royal highways to happiness. The way to destruction is wide, and there are many who take it. Finding the narrow gate looks a foolish thing to do. But that is the only way to happiness. Look at the beatitudes of Jesus. They all point to narrow gates. They are the only ways to happiness, i.e., beatitude!