Daily Readings August 13, 2012

Monday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 413

Reading 1 Ez 1:2-5, 24-28c

On the fifth day of the fourth month of the fifth year,that is, of King Jehoiachin's exile,The word of the LORD came to the priest Ezekiel,the son of Buzi,in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar.--

God spoke to the Prophet Ezekiel, during the time when the Jews were exiled in Bablylonia when Jehoiachin, son of Jehoiakim, was King of Judah.

There the hand of the LORD came upon me.As I looked, a stormwind came from the North,a huge cloud with flashing fire enveloped in brightness,from the midst of which (the midst of the fire)something gleamed like electrum.

Electrum is a naturally occuring combination of gold and silver.  So, Ezekiel saw a vision of a bright metal gleaming in the midst of a huge fiery cloud.  This vision was inspired by God.

Within it were figures resembling four living creaturesthat looked like this: their form was human.

Within it he saw four creatures which had a basically human form.

Then I heard the sound of their wings,like the roaring of mighty waters,like the voice of the Almighty.

But they had wings which made a loud sound as he would expect God to sound.

When they moved, the sound of the tumult was like the din of an army.And when they stood still, they lowered their wings.

When they moved, the creatures made a sound as loud as an entire army.  And when they stood still, they lowered their wings.

Above the firmament over their headssomething like a throne could be seen,looking like sapphire.

There was a sort of cover (i.e. firmament) over their heads.  And above that cover was something which looked like a throne, gleaming like a blue gem.

Upon it was seated, up above, one who had the appearance of a man.

Upon that throne was seated one who looked like a man.  I assume this is the Son of man, Jesus.

Upward from what resembled his waist I saw what gleamed like electrum;

Above His waist, he was gleaming like silver and gold.

downward from what resembled his waist I saw what looked like fire;

Below His waist, He was gleaming like fire.

he was surrounded with splendor.Like the bow which appears in the clouds on a rainy daywas the splendor that surrounded him.

He was surrounded by splendor like that of a rainbow.

Such was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.

That was the vision which the Prophet Ezekiel saw of God.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14

Response. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights;
Praise him, all you his angels;
Praise him, all you his hosts.

R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Let the kings of the earth and all peoples,
the princes and all the judges of the earth,
Young men too, and maidens,
old men and boys,

R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
His majesty is above earth and heaven.

R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.

And he has lifted up the horn of his people.
Be this his praise from all his faithful ones,
from the children of Israel, the people close to him.
Alleluia.

R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.

I've always loved the word, "alleluia".  But for many years, I didn't know what it meant.  It means, "Praise God all you people!"

Gospel Mt 17:22-27

As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee,
Jesus said to them,
"The Son of Man is to be handed over to men,
and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day."

Jesus and His disci;les were in Galilee and He revealed to them that He, the Son of Man, would be killed and rise on the third day.

And they were overwhelmed with grief.

And they were beside themselves with grief.

When they came to Capernaum,the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said,

When they came to Capernaum, the tax collectors spoke to Peter

"Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?""Yes," he said.

"Does your teacher pay the temple tax?" they asked.

The temple tax is a tax instituted by God in the Old Testament (Exodus 30:12-16).
The Jewish tax collectors were asking whether Jesus paid the temple tax as all the Jews were supposed to do.

When he came into the house, before he had time to speak,Jesus asked him, "What is your opinion, Simon?

When he came into the house where they were staying, before he had time to say anything to Jesus, Jesus asked him his opinion on a certain question.

From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax?From their subjects or from foreigners?"

"From whom do the Kings of earth take taxes, from their own people or from foreigners?"

When he said, "From foreigners," Jesus said to him,

Peter answered, "From foreigners".  Jesus then said,

"Then the subjects are exempt.

And Jesus said, "Then their own people are exempt, correct?"

But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook,and take the first fish that comes up.Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax.Give that to them for me and for you."

Therefore, we should be exempt.  But in order not to offend, that is, to fulfill all righteousness, go to the sea and drop a hook.  The first fish you catch will contain a coin worth twice the amount of the tax they are asking for.  Give that to them for me and for you.

It is significant to me that Jesus paid for both He and Peter.  I believe it is because He had, in Matt 16:18-19, just assigned Peter as His representative over His Church.

Sincerely,

De Maria