The Word Among Us: A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Tuesday, 18 August 2015

The Word Among Us: A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Tuesday, 18 August 2015

Meditation: Judges 6:11 Then the angel of Adonai came and sat under the pistachio tree in ‘Ofrah that belonged to Yo’ash the Avi‘ezri. His son Gid‘on was threshing wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from Midyan. 12 The angel of Adonai appeared to him and said to him: “You valiant hero! Adonai is with you!” 13 “Excuse me, sir,” answered Gid‘on, “but if Adonai is with us, then why is all this happening to us? And where are all his miracles our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Didn’t Adonai bring us up from Egypt?’ For now Adonai has abandoned us and handed us over to Midyan.” 14 Adonai turned to him and said, “Go in this strength of yours and save Isra’el from the hands of Midyan. Haven’t I sent you?” 15 But Gid‘on answered him, “Forgive me, my Lord, but with what am I to save Isra’el? Why, my family is the poorest in M’nasheh, and I’m the youngest person in my father’s house!” 16 Adonai said to him, “Because I will be with you, you will strike down Midyan as easily as if they were just one man.” 17 Gid‘on replied, “If indeed you favor me, would you mind giving me a sign that it is really you talking with me? 18 Please don’t leave until I go and return with a gift and present it to you.” He replied, “I’ll wait till you come back.”19 Gid‘on went in, cooked a young goat and made matzot from a bushel of flour. He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, brought them out to him under the pistachio tree and presented them. 20 The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and matzot, lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” Gid‘on did so. 21 Then the angel of Adonai reached out with the stick he was holding, touched the meat and matzot, and fire shot up out of the rock and burned up the meat and matzot. Then the angel of Adonai disappeared before his eyes. 22 Gid‘on realized that he was the angel of Adonai and said, “Oh no! My Lord! Adonai! Because I’ve seen the angel of Adonai face-to-face!” 23 But Adonai reassured him, “Shalom to you, don’t be afraid, you won’t die!” 24 Then Gid‘on built an altar there to Adonai and called it “Adonai-Shalom”; to this day it remains in ‘Ofrah of the Avi‘ezri.
20th Week in Ordinary Time
The Lord is with you, O champion! (Judges 6:12)
Put yourself in Gideon’s sandals for a moment. As a child, you grew up with stories of God rescuing his people from oppression. Years later, you watched the nation of Midian overpower Israel, and your faith in God suffered a major blow. He doesn’t fight for us anymore, you thought. Then one day, a messenger from God shows up. He tells you to go save Israel, because the Lord is with you! Doubts begin to flood your mind, and instead of stepping forward, you turn your gaze backward. Where was God when … ?
What do you do when God nudges you forward? If you’re like most of us, you may find yourself contemplating the past instead of dreaming about the future. You may dwell on the times when it didn’t work out and forget all the times God was with you.
“I don’t know if anyone I’ve ever prayed for has been healed, so what’s the point?” “Peace with that person would be wonderful, but our relationship is beyond repair.” “I’ve never been able to overcome this habit; why should this time be any different?” “I don’t think they’ll ever come back to church, so there’s not much use in inviting them.”
Nevertheless, God is overflowing with patience and kindness toward us! He knows how quickly we can doubt. He also knows that we can be genuinely uncertain as to whether or not we’re hearing his voice correctly. That’s why he will sometimes confirm his message. He did this with Gideon, not just once, but three separate times!
What’s more, he assures us that as we step forward, he is going to be with us. The angel’s first words to Gideon were “The Lord is with you” (Judges 6:12). This ultimately allowed Gideon to turn his focus from his strength—small as it was—to God’s strength. Indeed, nothing is impossible for God. Eventually, of course, Gideon answered the Lord’s call, and God rescued his people again.
Today, when you sense God nudging you forward, don’t let your gaze shift backwards! Keep looking to him for confirmation and courage. Working with him step-by-step, there’s no limit to what he can accomplish through you.
“I can do anything through Christ who gives me strength!” Amen!Psalms 85:9 (8) I am listening. What will God, Adonai, say?
For he will speak peace to his people,
to his holy ones —
but only if they don’t relapse into folly.
11 (10) Grace and truth have met together;
justice and peace have kissed each other.
12 (11) Truth springs up from the earth,
and justice looks down from heaven.
13 (12) Adonai will also grant prosperity;
our land will yield its harvest.
14 (13) Justice will walk before him
and make his footsteps a path.
Matthew 19:23 Then Yeshua said to his talmidim, “Yes. I tell you that it will be very hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 24 Furthermore, I tell you that it is easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” 25 When the talmidim heard this they were utterly amazed. “Then who,” they asked, “can be saved?” 26 Yeshua looked at them and said, “Humanly, this is impossible; but with God everything is possible.” 27 Kefa replied, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. So what will we have?” 28 Yeshua said to them, “Yes. I tell you that in the regenerated world, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Isra’el. 29 Everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times more, and he will obtain eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
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