THE DAILY GOSPEL
August 16, 2016 (Tuesday) 20th Week in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 4 / (Green/White)
St. Stephen of Hungary Dt 32:26-27ab, 27cd-28, 30, 35cd-36ab
It is I who deal death and give life. 1st Reading: Ez 28:1-10
The word of Yahweh came to me in these terms, “Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre:
You are very proud and self-satisfied: ‘I am a god, Is it like a god in the heart of the sea.’ Yet you are man and not a god; would you hold yourself as wise as God? You consider yourself wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you.
Your wisdom and know-how have earned you a fortune, gold and silver flowed to your treasury. Clever in trade, you became wealthy and, as your fortune increased, your heart became prouder.
But now, Yahweh has spoken to you, to the one who is like God: I am bringing foreigners against you, the most feared of all the nations. Their sword will challenge your wisdom and debase your refined culture.
They will bring you down to the pit and you will die in the depths of the sea. Will you be able to say ‘I am a god’ when your murderers are killing you? You are a man and not a god. You will die the death of the uncircumcised and perish at the hands of aliens, for I have spoken word of Yahweh.” Gospel: Mt 19:23-30
Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I say to you: it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, believe me: it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than for the one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.”
On hearing this, the disciples were astonished and said, “Who, then, can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and answered, “For human beings it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
Then Peter spoke up and said, “You see, we have given up everything to follow you. What, then, will there be for us?”
Jesus answered, “You, who have followed me, listen to my words: on the Day of Renewal, when the Son of Man sits on his throne in glory, you, also, will sit, on 12 thrones, to judge the 12 tribes of Israel. As for those who have left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or property for my Name’s sake, they will receive a hundredfold, and be given eternal life. Many who are now first, will be last, and many who are now last, will be first. Reflection:
The saint we are remembering today is quite special: he is the only saint who was canonized along with his son! This happened in 1083.
Born a pagan sometime between 970 and 975 in Hungary, Stephen was baptized in his early youth and married Gisela, sister of the future Emperor Henry II. In 1001, Stephen was crowned king of Hungary. The seminomadic people of Hungary were then mostly pagan, and as a fervent Christian and a staunch supporter of the Church, Stephen worked hard to convert the Hungarians and to organize the Hungarian Church.
Since he was aware that his seminomadic people could survive only if they embraced Christianity and gave up their feudal divisions, Stephen eliminated everything which belonged to the old pagan order and transformed the tribal state into a “modern” state of Western pattern, independent of its neighbors.
As the years passed, Stephen wanted to entrust a greater part of the government to his only son, Emeric, a young man of deep piety, but in 1031 the 24-year-old prince was killed while hunting. Stephen had raised his son with such Christian care that the latter was eventually canonized with his father. What loving father could ask for more?