Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 63:1-19 Community Rank
Mass: Ezk 28:1-10; Resp Ps (Dt 32); Mt 19:23-30

It is I who deal death and give life.

TURN YOUR EYES, O GOD, OUR SHIELD; AND LOOK ON THE FACE OF YOUR ANOINTED ONE; ONE DAY WITHIN YOUR COURTS IS BETTER THAN A THOUSAND ELSEWHERE.

(Entrance Antiphon, Mass)

Psalm 37 was proclaimed at Vigils this morning: Do not be provoked by evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong ... (Ps 37:1). You might check out your favorite translation. The psalmist's song turns out to be a pretty good commentary on the "haughty of heart" (Ezk 28:1) of today's first reading, and Jesus' words in today's Gospel: Many who are first will be last, and the last will be first (Mt 19:30). As the footnote in my New American Bible says, Psalm 37 "responds to the problem of evil, which the Old Testament often expresses as a question: why do the wicked prosper and the good suffer?" Some good news is that "the psalm answers that the situation is only temporary. God will reverse things, rewarding the good and punishing the wicked here on earth." So be it. A good course for the present moment is to do some good now, on earth: Commit your way to the Lord; trust that God will act And make your integrity shine like the dawn, your vindication like noonday (Ps 37:5-6). Don't forget to pray to the Lord for strength, courage, and perseverance though, for this way does not come without persecution and harassment, just when we don't expect it. We must always go with the Lord: For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible (Mt 19:28). Keep going!

Today's photo: Something new to my eyes. Pasqueflower seed heads at Mount Rainier National Park, WA.

© Gertrude Feick 2020