Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 11, 2018
First Reading: Habakkuk 1.12 – 2.4
12Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.13Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?14And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?15They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.16Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.17Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?
1I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.2And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.3For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.4Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Psalm 9
1I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.2I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.3When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.4For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.5Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.6O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.7But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.8And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.9The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.10And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.11Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.12When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.13Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:14That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.15The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.16The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.17The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.18For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.19Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.20Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.
Gospel: Matthew 17.14-20
14And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,15Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.16And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.17Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.18And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.19Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?20And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on faith and trust in God's plan. The first reading from Habakkuk portrays the prophet's anguish as he questions God about the prevalence of injustice and suffering. Habakkuk seeks assurance that justice will prevail, and God's response emphasizes patience and faith, promising that the vision of justice will unfold in its appointed time. This context, set amidst the turmoil of the Jewish people facing oppression, reminds us to trust in God's timing even when circumstances seem dire.
The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to a father's desperate plea for his afflicted son. Despite the disciples' inability to heal the boy, Jesus demonstrates the transformative power of faith, healing the child and teaching the disciples about the necessity of unwavering belief. This passage underscores the idea that even a mustard seed of faith can move mountains, encouraging us to trust in God's power and presence in our lives.
These readings together guide us in navigating life's challenges with patience and faith. Just as Habakkuk waited for God's justice and the father trusted in Jesus' healing power, we are called to remain steadfast in our faith. In our daily struggles, we find comfort in knowing that God's timing is perfect and that our faith, however small, is a potent force. Let us embrace this lesson, trusting that through faith, we can overcome any obstacle, and in patience, we will see God's plan unfold.