Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Sunday, 2 March 2014 - Catholic
Meditations
Meditation: Isaiah 49: 14 But Zion
said, “Yahweh has forsaken me,
and the Lord has
forgotten me.”
15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child,
that she should not
have compassion on the son of her womb?
Yes, these may forget,
yet I will not forget you!
8th Sunday in Ordinary Time
I will never forget you. (Isaiah 49:15)
Have you ever noticed how mothers have an unparalleled capacity
to love? No matter how tough a job she has raising her children, a mother will
pour herself into it with all her heart. She is always worried about the
welfare of her children. She makes countless sacrifices for them. She is
committed to forming her children and teaching them how to live. She tirelessly
protects and defends them, no matter what threats may come their way.
No wonder the prophet in today’s first reading uses the vocation
of motherhood to illustrate God’s love for us! We are so used to thinking of
God as our heavenly Father, but it’s good every now and then to be reminded how
much women—especially mothers—reflect God’s goodness, love, and devotion as
well.
Every time we see a mother comforting her child, we can get a
glimpse of the way God wants to comfort us. Every time we see a mother staying
up all night with a sick child, we can remember God’s promise to carve us in
the palm of his hand (Isaiah 49:16).
Whenever we see a mother worrying about choices her adult
children are making, we can recall Jesus’ words: “How many times I yearned to
gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings!”(Luke
13:34).
Every time we see a mother giving her child advice or
correction, we should think about the psalmist’s prayer, “Your hands made me
and fashioned me; give me insight to learn your commands” (Psalm 119:73).
It’s impossible to say where the world would be without a
mother’s love. And it is just as hard to imagine where we would be without our
loving God.
So every time you think about your mother today, think about
God. And rejoice in the love that surrounds you!
“Here I am, God. I am so grateful to be your child!” Amen!
Psalm 62: 2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress—
I will never be
greatly shaken.
3 How long will you assault a man,
would all of you throw
him down,
Like a leaning wall,
like a tottering fence?
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress.
I will not be shaken.
7 With God is my salvation and my honor.
The rock of my
strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people.
Pour out your heart
before him.
God is a refuge for
us.
Selah.
9 Surely men of low degree are just a breath,
and men of high degree
are a lie.
In the balances they will go up.
They are together
lighter than a breath
1 Corinthians 4: So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants,
and stewards of God’s mysteries. 2 Here, moreover, it is required of stewards,
that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I
should be judged by you, or by man’s judgment. Yes, I don’t judge my own self.
4 For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who
judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the
Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and
reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.
Matthew 6: 24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he
will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and
despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon. 25 Therefore I tell
you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink;
nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the
body more than clothing? 26 See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow,
neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t
you of much more value than they?
27 “Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment[a] to his
lifespan? 28 Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the
field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin, 29 yet I tell you
that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these. 30 But if
God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is
thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith?
31 “Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What
will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek
after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these
things. 33 But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these
things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore don’t be anxious for
tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is
sufficient.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 6:27 literally, cubit
Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion:
(Isaiah 49: 14 But Zion
said, “Yahweh has forsaken me,
and the Lord has
forgotten me.”
15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child,
that she should not
have compassion on the son of her womb?
Yes, these may forget,
yet I will not forget you!
Psalm 62: 2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress—
I will never be
greatly shaken.
3 How long will you assault a man,
would all of you throw
him down,
Like a leaning wall,
like a tottering fence?
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress.
I will not be shaken.
7 With God is my salvation and my honor.
The rock of my
strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people.
Pour out your heart
before him.
God is a refuge for
us.
Selah.
9 Surely men of low degree are just a breath,
and men of high degree
are a lie.
In the balances they will go up.
They are together
lighter than a breath
1 Corinthians 4: So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants,
and stewards of God’s mysteries. 2 Here, moreover, it is required of stewards,
that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I
should be judged by you, or by man’s judgment. Yes, I don’t judge my own self.
4 For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who
judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the
Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and
reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.
Matthew 6: 24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he
will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and
despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon. 25 Therefore I tell
you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink;
nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the
body more than clothing? 26 See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow,
neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t
you of much more value than they?
27 “Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment[a] to his
lifespan? 28 Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the
field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin, 29 yet I tell you
that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these. 30 But if
God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is
thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith?
31 “Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What
will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek
after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these
things. 33 But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these
things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore don’t be anxious for
tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is
sufficient.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 6:27 literally, cubit
1. In the first reading the Lord tells us, with very tender
words, that he will never forsake us or forget us.” These words also remind us
of the Lord’s words quoted in Hebrews 13:5, “I will never forsake you or
abandon you.” How easy is it for you to lose sight of these words when you are
experiencing a difficult situation?
2. In the responsorial psalm, the psalmist echoes the words of
the first reading calling on us to “Trust in Him at all times” and “Pour out
your hearts before Him.” What steps can you take to deepen your trust and
confidence in the Lord’s care for you? When you come before the Lord in prayer,
do you pour out your heart before him? If not, why not?
3. In the second reading, St. Paul tells us that we should be
regarded as “servants of Christ and stewards of his mysteries” and that we
should be “found trustworthy.” What do you think these words mean? How
“trustworthy” are you as a steward of the “mysteries” of God?
4. In the Gospel reading, Jesus tells us not to worry about what
we have and don’t have or what will happen in the future. Rather he says to
“seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will
be given you besides.” What are the ways in which you do this? What are the
circumstances that cause you to struggle in doing it. How can you overcome
them?
5. The meditation reminds us (see first reading) that a mother’s
love for her child is also a reflection of God’s love for us. How would you
describe the ways a mother’s love reflects God’s love? What, if any, are the
obstacles that keep you from experiencing God’s love?
6. Take some time to pray and thank the Lord that you are his
child and he loves you with an everlasting love. Also, ask him for the grace to
overcome any obstacles that keep you from experiencing this love in a deeper
way. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.
“Here I am, God. I am so grateful to be your child!” Amen!
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