1ST READING
The Tabernacle of the Presence of God is built in the midst of His people. This reminds the people daily that God is with them; He is by their side. A flame by night and a cloud by day, the Shekinah (or the glory of God) is present with His people. We also have the constant presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, in every church all over the world. Let us drop by a chapel regularly and spend time with God.
Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38
16 Moses did exactly as the Lord had commanded him. 17 On the first day of the first month of the second year the Dwelling was erected. 18 It was Moses who erected the Dwelling. He placed its pedestals, set up its boards, put in its bars, and set up its columns. 19 He spread the tent over the Dwelling and put the covering on top of the tent, as the Lord had commanded him. 20 He took the commandments and put them in the ark; he placed poles alongside the ark and set the propitiatory upon it. 21 He brought the ark into the Dwelling and hung the curtain veil, thus screening off the ark of the commandments, as the Lord had commanded him. 34 Then the cloud covered the meeting tent, and the glory of the Lord filled the Dwelling. 35 Moses could not enter the meeting tent, because the cloud settled down upon it and the glory of the Lord filled the Dwelling. 36 Whenever the cloud rose from the Dwelling, the children of Israel would set out on their journey. 37 But if the cloud did not lift, they would not go forward; only when it lifted did they go forward. 38 In the daytime the cloud of the Lord was seen over the Dwelling; whereas at night, fire was seen in the cloud by the whole house of Israel in all the stages of their journey.
P S A L M
Psalm 84:3, 4, 5-6, 8, 11
R: How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!
2 [3] My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. (R) 3 [4] Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest in which she puts her young — Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my king and my God! (R) 4 [5] Blessed they who dwell in your house! Continually they praise you. 5 [6] Blessed the men whose strength you are! 7 [8] They go from strength to strength. (R) 10 [11] I had rather one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. (R)
GOSPEL
All societies are a mixture of good and bad. We are aware of the Church’s proclivity to sin in many different ways. We should not despair. Where the Holy Spirit abounds, there is hope. We must take responsibility for our decisions and ensure that we are doing the best we can to grow in holiness and obedience to God’s will. If we do this, the witness of the Church will be strengthened and be more effective.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son.
Matthew 13:47-53
47 Jesus said to his disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. 48 When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. 49 Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” 51 “Do you understand all these things?” They answered, “Yes.” 52 And he replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.” 53 When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there.
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