Daily Mass Readings – Tuesday, 17 August 2027

11 And an angel of the Lord came, and sat under an oak, that was in Ephra, and belonged to Joas the father of the family of Ezri. And when Gedeon his son was threshing and cleansing wheat by the winepress, to flee from Madian,

12 The angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said: The Lord is with thee, O most valiant of men.

13 And Gedeon said to him: I beseech thee, my lord, if the Lord be with us, why have these evils fallen upon us? Where are his miracles, which our fathers have told us of, saying: The Lord brought us Out of Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the bands of Madian.

14 And the Lord looked upon him, and said: Go in this thy strength, and then shalt deliver Israel out of the hand of Madian: know that I have sent thee.

15 He answered and said: I beseech thee, my lord, wherewith shall I deliver Israel? Behold my family is the meanest in Manasses, and I am the least in my father’s house.

16 And the Lord said to him: I will be with thee: and thou shalt cut off Madian as one man.

17 And he said: If I have found grace before thee, give me a sign that it is thou that speakest to me,

18 And depart not hence, till I return to thee, and bring a sacrifice, and offer it to thee. And he answered: I will wait thy coming.

19 So Gedeon went in, and boiled a kid, and made unleavened loaves of a measure of flour: and putting the flesh in a basket, and the broth of the flesh into a pot, he carried all under the oak, and presented to him.

20 And the angel of the Lord said to him: Take the flesh and the unleavened loaves, and lay them upon that rock, and pour out the broth thereon. And when he had done so,

21 The angel of the Lord put forth the tip of the rod, which he held in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened loaves: and there arose a fire from the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened loaves: and the angel of the Lord vanished out of his sight.

22 And Gedeon seeing that it was the angel of the Lord, said: Alas, my Lord God: for I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face.

23 And the Lord said to him: Peace be with thee: fear not, thou shalt not die.

24a And Gedeon built there an altar to the Lord, and called it the Lord’s peace, until this present day.

R. (9b) The Lord speaks of peace to his people.

9 I will hear what the Lord God will speak in me: for he will speak peace unto his people: And unto his saints: and unto them that are converted to the heart.

R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.

11 Mercy and truth have met each other: justice and peace have kissed.

12 Truth is sprung out of the earth: and justice hath looked down from heaven.

R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.

13 For the Lord will give goodness: and our earth shall yield her fruit.

14 Justice shall walk before him: and shall set his steps in the way.

R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

9 Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich so that by his poverty you might become rich.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples: Amen, I say to you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

24 And again I say to you: It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

25 And when they had heard this, the disciples wondered very much, saying: Who then can be saved?

26 And Jesus beholding, said to them: With men this is impossible: but with God all things are possible.

27 Then Peter answering, said to him: Behold we have left all things, and have followed thee: what therefore shall we have?

28 And Jesus said to them: Amen, I say to you, that you, who have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of his majesty, you also shall sit on twelve seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29 And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.

30 And many that are first, shall be last: and the last shall be first.

Gideon is threshing wheat in hiding when the Lord calls him “valiant.” His own assessment is very different: his family is the weakest, and he is the least in his father’s house. Yet God does not wait for Gideon to become impressive. He gives him a mission and promises, “I will be with thee.” The peace God speaks is born from this presence, even before the danger has passed.

The disciples face a similar discovery when Jesus speaks about the rich entering the kingdom. They ask, “Who then can be saved?” Human strength, status, and possessions cannot secure salvation. “With God all things are possible.” Christ, who became poor, teaches us to loosen our grasp on whatever makes us rely upon ourselves, so that we may receive the true riches of his kingdom. A converted heart hears God’s peace, trusts his promise, and follows when called. The last becoming first reminds us that discipleship is measured by surrender and faithfulness, not importance in the eyes of the world.

Lord God, speak your peace into the places where fear, doubt, or attachment have taken root. Give me Gideon’s courage to trust your call, even when I feel small or inadequate. Free my heart from dependence on possessions, recognition, or human strength. Teach me to receive everything as grace and to follow Jesus with a generous spirit. When salvation seems impossible, deepen my confidence in your power. Let your mercy and truth guide my choices, and help me remain faithful when the world’s order is overturned. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.