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Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 : Ezekiel 28:1-10

The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man,
say to the prince of Tyre:
Thus says the Lord GOD:

Because you are haughty of heart,
you say, “A god am I!
I occupy a godly throne
in the heart of the sea!”—
And yet you are a man, and not a god,
however you may think yourself like a god.
Oh yes, you are wiser than Daniel,
there is no secret that is beyond you.
By your wisdom and your intelligence
you have made riches for yourself;
You have put gold and silver
into your treasuries.
By your great wisdom applied to your trading
you have heaped up your riches;
your heart has grown haughty from your riches–
therefore thus says the Lord GOD:
Because you have thought yourself
to have the mind of a god,
Therefore I will bring against you
foreigners, the most barbarous of nations.
They shall draw their swords
against your beauteous wisdom,
they shall run them through your splendid apparel.
They shall thrust you down to the pit, there to die
a bloodied corpse, in the heart of the sea.
Will you then say, “I am a god!”
when you face your murderers?
No, you are man, not a god,
handed over to those who will slay you.
You shall die the death of the uncircumcised
at the hands of foreigners,
for I have spoken, says the Lord GOD.

Responsorial Psalm : Deuteronomy 32:26-27ab, 27cd-28, 30, 35cd-36ab

R. (39c) It is I who deal death and give life.
“I would have said, ‘I will make an end of them
and blot out their name from men’s memories,’
Had I not feared the insolence of their enemies,
feared that these foes would mistakenly boast.”
R. It is I who deal death and give life.
“‘Our own hand won the victory;
the LORD had nothing to do with it.’”
For they are a people devoid of reason,
having no understanding.
R. It is I who deal death and give life.
“How could one man rout a thousand,
or two men put ten thousand to flight,
Unless it was because their Rock sold them
and the LORD delivered them up?”
R. It is I who deal death and give life.
Close at hand is the day of their disaster,
and their doom is rushing upon them!
Surely, the LORD shall do justice for his people;
on his servants he shall have pity.
R. It is I who deal death and give life.

Alleluia : 2 Corinthians 8:9

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich
So that by his poverty you might become rich.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : Matthew 19:23-30

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich
to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Again I say to you,
it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,
“Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,
“For men this is impossible,
but for God all things are possible.”
Then Peter said to him in reply,
“We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age,
when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,
will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters
or father or mother or children or lands
for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,
and will inherit eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

 Message from the Readings

Today’s readings proclaim a piercing truth:
Pride blinds the heart, wealth can bind the soul, but God’s grace can free anyone who turns to Him.
• Ezekiel exposes the danger of self‑reliance and arrogance.
• The canticle reminds us that human strength cannot save.
• Jesus teaches that discipleship requires detachment—and promises abundant reward.
The message is clear: True security is found not in possessions or pride, but in surrender to God.

Reflection for the Day

The prince of Tyre in Ezekiel’s prophecy is a mirror for every human heart tempted by pride.
He is wealthy. He is powerful. He is admired. And slowly, he begins to believe a dangerous lie:
“I am a god.”
He trusts his riches. He glorifies his wisdom. He forgets the One who gave him breath.
God’s response is sobering: “You are a man, not a god.” Pride always leads to collapse because it builds life on the illusion of self‑sufficiency.
The canticle echoes this truth: Human strength cannot save. Human wisdom cannot sustain. Human pride cannot endure. But God— God vindicates, restores, and rescues His people.
Then Jesus brings the message into the heart of discipleship.
He says it plainly: “It is hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom.”
Not because wealth is evil, but because wealth can quietly become a substitute for God. It can create comfort without surrender, security without trust, identity without faith.
But Jesus also gives hope: “For God, all things are possible.”
Even the most attached heart can be freed. Even the most prideful soul can be humbled. Even the most burdened person can become a disciple.
And then comes the promise— one of the most beautiful in the Gospel:
Anyone who leaves behind what holds them back will receive far more— in this life and in the life to come.
Not necessarily wealth, but joy, freedom, purpose, peace, and eternal life.
Today’s readings invite us to three movements:

1. Examine your pride.
   Where do you rely on yourself more than God?
2. Loosen your attachments.
   What possessions, comforts, or habits keep you from deeper trust?
3. Trust God’s promise.
   Whatever you surrender for Christ will return to you in a greater, richer, eternal way.
   Let today be a day of humility, freedom, and renewed discipleship.

Prayer for Today

Lord Jesus, free my heart from pride and loosen any attachment that keeps me from following You fully.
Teach me to trust Your strength more than my own, and Your wisdom more than my plans.
Give me the courage to surrender whatever holds me back, and fill my life with the joy of walking closely with You.
May my security be in Your love and my hope in Your promise.
Amen.