Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A 2023

Title

It May Be You Cannot Serve the Lord

Outline

The interesting part of our Joshua reading is his saying serving the Lord is too hard

It is because there is an either-or, “fear the LORD and serve him completely and sincerely. Cast out the gods your ancestors served.” Then he goes on to say, “You may not be able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God; he is a passionate God who will not forgive your transgressions or your sins.”

The people insisted on their total commitment, made a covenant, and broke the covenant as soon as Joshua was dead.

But that has been the problem with serving Jesus down the ages: he requires total allegiance and people like to remake him into their image and to ignore his “hard sayings.”

Today’s saying does not look hard but it is hard

Jesus has just stated that marriage is indissoluble, a saying that his disciples (!) found too hard.

Now people bring the “fruit” of their marriage, children - the term is not the term for babies, but for children from weaning to sexual maturity. The people want these children blessed, a blessing of their family future.

But in the honor-shame society of that day children had zero honor status, even below women. They betokened a future for the parents, in particular the father, for they would carry on the family name and support (while still obeying) the parent in the parent’s old age (should they reach old age). Yet children could be, if need be, sold; a wayward child could be executed; a child who had reached marriageable age could be used to the advantage of the family (i.e. the parents) by arranging an appropriate marriage. Children were for the good of the parents not vice versa. And in particular children must follow the religion of the family father.

So Jesus is saying that children are important, worth his time. He is saying that they can come to him in their own right, not just because the parents want them to or because his blessing is a blessing on the whole family. He is saying that in their openness and readiness to trust (if they have not been abused) “to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

So it is not innocence or goodness that he sees in children (teachers of children know that that is mythical), but in their willingness to trust, their openness to Jesus on terms.

This is too hard for the disciples, for it both turns their idea of children on its head and it turns their idea of Jesus on its head: they want Jesus to bring the kingdom as they understand it, not accept the kingdom as he proclaims it, which includes a cross.

So remember next time you interact with a child

It is hard to serve the Lord; he makes statements and demands we do not like, that set us against our culture. We have to become like children who are still open, we have to put our trust in Jesus and take him on his terms. And among those terms are that we must accept children as he did and lead them to Jesus, for he wants to bless them.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 8-19-2023: Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

Joshua 24:14–29

14 “Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve him completely and sincerely. Cast out the gods your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 If it is displeasing to you to serve the LORD, choose today whom you will serve, the gods your ancestors served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

16 But the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods. 17 For it was the LORD, our God, who brought us and our ancestors up out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. He performed those great signs before our very eyes and protected us along our entire journey and among all the peoples through whom we passed. 18 At our approach the LORD drove out all the peoples, including the Amorites who dwelt in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.”

19 Joshua in turn said to the people, “You may not be able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God; he is a passionate God who will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve strange gods, he will then do evil to you and destroy you, after having done you good.”

21 But the people answered Joshua, “No! We will serve the LORD.” 22 Joshua therefore said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD.” They replied, “We are witnesses!” 23 “Now, therefore, put away the foreign gods that are among you and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.” 24 Then the people promised Joshua, “We will serve the LORD, our God, and will listen to his voice.”

25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem. 26 Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the terebinth that was in the sanctuary of the LORD. 27 And Joshua said to all the people, “This stone shall be our witness, for it has heard all the words which the LORD spoke to us. It shall be a witness against you, should you wish to deny your God.” 28 Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to their own heritage.

29 After these events, Joshua, son of Nun, servant of the LORD, died at the age of a hundred and ten,

Catholic Daily Readings 8-19-2023: Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 16:5a

5 LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,

you have made my destiny secure.

PSALM

Psalm 16:1–2a, 5, 7–8, 11

1 A miktam of David.

Keep me safe, O God;

in you I take refuge.

2 I say to the LORD,

you are my Lord,

you are my only good.

5 LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,

you have made my destiny secure.

7 I bless the LORD who counsels me;

even at night my heart exhorts me.

8 I keep the LORD always before me;

with him at my right hand, I shall never be shaken.

11 You will show me the path to life,

abounding joy in your presence,

the delights at your right hand forever.

Catholic Daily Readings 8-19-2023: Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Matthew 11:25

25 At that time Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.

GOSPEL

Matthew 19:13–15

13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 8-19-2023: Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 2023 | ORDINARY TIME

SATURDAY OF THE NINETEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR 1 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

On the same date: Saint John Eudes, Priest

First Reading Joshua 24:14–29

Response Psalm 16:5a

Psalm Psalm 16:1–2a, 5, 7–8, 11

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 11:25

Gospel Matthew 19:13–15

GREEN or WHITE for St John Eudes