Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

As we continue our daily walk with Jesus, our Mass readings for the 12th Week of Ordinary Time come from the book of Genesis. Genesis, the first book of the Bible, contains many of our most beloved stories of the Old Testament. This week our focus is upon Abram, later to be called Abraham. The passage for today describes God’s communications with Abram regarding Abram’s future blessings, including both descendants and land for those descendants. The responsorial psalm draws out this theme of blessing: “Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own” (Ps. 33:12). Much of what makes Abram great in the eyes of the Lord is that he does what God asks, even though it requires moving an entire household – no small feat indeed. Abram also takes the opportunity to worship God by building altars along his journey and invoking the Lord’s name.

Now, not everyone is called as Abram is called. We are not singled out by God for such a monumental role. Most of us don’t have God appearing to us with the promise of land and descendants. But, on the other hand, we ARE called, in a way perhaps even more profound, for our blessing now comes not simply through Abraham but through Jesus, the historical descendant of Abraham.

In today’s gospel passage from Matthew, Jesus calls upon his disciples to stop judging and to be self-critical rather than accusing others. This might not sound like a blessing to us; it’s more like a nearly impossible task. Why does discipleship have to be so demanding? And how does following Jesus’ instructions lead to blessing?

One key might be in the phrase “see clearly.” Our faith in God and our discipleship ought to lead us to see clearly, to see the world for what it is, to see our brother for what he is, and to see ourselves for what we truly are, including our weaknesses. Abram was instructed by the Lord, and he followed those directions even when they didn’t make sense. Abram saw clearly, trusting in God, and worshiping and thanking God along the way.

Like Abram, we also must see clearly by trusting in God and never ceasing to thank him for our many blessings. Today, let us reflect on our call to discipleship given us by Jesus. It is through Jesus that we are truly blessed, first by his own life, death, and resurrection and secondly by our own opportunity to participate in this paschal mystery. Through Jesus, God chooses us. Let us answer this call and let it transform our lives.

- Maria Morrow