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Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1 : Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19
The way of the just is smooth;
the path of the just you make level.
Yes, for your way and your judgments, O LORD,
we look to you;
Your name and your title
are the desire of our souls.
My soul yearns for you in the night,
yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you;
When your judgment dawns upon the earth,
the world’s inhabitants learn justice.
O LORD, you mete out peace to us,
for it is you who have accomplished all we have done.
O LORD, oppressed by your punishment,
we cried out in anguish under your chastising.
As a woman about to give birth
writhes and cries out in her pains,
so were we in your presence, O LORD.
We conceived and writhed in pain,
giving birth to wind;
Salvation we have not achieved for the earth,
the inhabitants of the world cannot bring it forth.
But your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise;
awake and sing, you who lie in the dust.
For your dew is a dew of light,
and the land of shades gives birth.
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 102:13-14ab and 15, 16-18, 19-21
R. (20b) From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.
You, O LORD, abide forever,
and your name through all generations.
You will arise and have mercy on Zion,
for it is time to pity her.
For her stones are dear to your servants,
and her dust moves them to pity.
R. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.
The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and not despised their prayer.
R. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.
Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the LORD:
“The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die.”
R. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.
Alleluia : Matthew 11:28
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel : Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus said:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
Message from the Readings
Today’s readings proclaim a powerful and timely message:
God humbles the proud, defends the oppressed, and reveals Himself to the humble.
- Assyria’s downfall shows that human pride collapses when it forgets God.
- The psalm assures us that God sees injustice clearly and will restore righteousness.
- Jesus teaches that divine wisdom is given to the humble, not the self‑reliant.
The message is clear: Humility opens the heart to God’s truth; pride closes it.
Reflection for the Day
Isaiah confronts Assyria’s arrogance with sharp clarity. Assyria believed its victories were the result of its own brilliance, strategy, and strength. But God reminds them:
“Shall the axe boast against the one who swings it?”
Assyria forgot that it was merely an instrument in God’s hands. This is the danger of pride — it blinds us to the truth that every gift, every success, every ability comes from God.
The psalm continues this theme by exposing another form of pride: the arrogance of those who believe God does not see injustice. But the psalmist responds with piercing truth:
“He who formed the eye, does He not see?”
God is not distant. He is not indifferent. He sees every injustice, every burden, every cry — and He will not abandon His people.
Then Jesus brings the message to its fulfillment. He praises the Father for revealing divine mysteries to the childlike — those who are humble, receptive, and dependent on God.
The proud, the self‑sufficient, and the spiritually closed miss the very revelation standing before them.
On this day, many also honor Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a model of humility and contemplation. Mary teaches us that true greatness is found in surrender, listening, and trust.
Today’s readings invite us to three movements:
- Reject pride and self‑reliance.
Recognize that everything you have is a gift from God. - Trust God’s justice.
He sees what others overlook and defends those who are forgotten. - Become childlike before God.
Approach Him with humility, openness, and a heart ready to receive.
Let today be a day of humility, clarity, and renewed trust in God’s wisdom.
Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, free my heart from pride and teach me the beauty of humility.
Help me see Your hand in every blessing and every challenge.
Open my eyes to Your justice, my ears to Your voice, and my heart to Your truth.
Through the intercession of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, may I grow in wisdom, holiness, and childlike trust in You.
Amen
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