09.27.12~Catholic Matters for Sunday September 30, 2012

SUNDAY READINGS - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time FIRST READING: Numbers 11: 25-29. The Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was upon him and put it upon the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did so no more. Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested upon them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses. "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." And Joshua the son of Nun, the minister of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, "My lord Moses, forbid them." But Moses said to, him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!" EXPLANATION: Moses, appointed by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, found this task more difficult as time went on. Three days after setting out from Mount Sinai---where they had spent some years. and notwithstanding that God had provided them with water and food in the form of manna, the people "set up a lament that was offensive to Yahweh's ears." They blamed God for bringing them out of Egypt, where they had fish to eat as well as melons, onions and garlic, here in this desert they had none of these things---only the monotonous manna! Moses appealed to God saying he alone was unable to manage such a mass of people. God heard his plea and told him to select seventy elders---experienced men from among the tribes, whom God would appoint as leaders of the people under Moses. Moses selected the seventy men and brought them to the tent of Yahweh. There God gave them part of the spirit of Moses and they began to prophesy---a sign to the people that God had appointed them as his representatives. At the same moment, two other men who had not come to the tent of Yahweh received the spirit from God and began to prophesy. Joshua, who was Moses' right-hand man and later his successor, objected to these two receiving the free gift from God. He wanted Moses to prevent them from speaking in God's name, but Moses would not---the more believers who had the spirit of God among the people the better it would be for all, was his answer. His task would be so easy: "if only the whole people of Yahweh were prophets." Lord...cloud: This was God's way of manifesting his presence in his special tent or tabernacle. upon the seventy elders: They were given some of the spirit---the power and grace which God had given to Moses in Egypt, so that they would assist Moses in ruling and directing the people. did so no more: They immediately spoke as God's representatives, perhaps with great religious enthusiasm, ecstasy, chanting and dancing as in 1 Sm. 10: 11 and 19: 20-24, but these external signs were no longer necessary once the people knew that they were God's representatives. Eldad...Medad: These two men were among the seventy selected by Moses but for some reason---perhaps they felt themselves unworthy of this honor?---they did not come to the tent of Yahweh. However, this did not prevent Yahweh from giving them his spirit. Joshua: This loyal helper of Moses must have felt that getting the spirit of prophecy, while apparently disobeying Moses by not coming to the tent, they would be in some way in opposition to him, instead of being his helpers. jealous...sake: Moses had no such fears. He looked upon Eldad and Medad as his helpers and wished he had more. APPLICATION: The close personal interest of God in his Chosen People---not only when bringing them from Egypt to Canaan, but all through their history---must strike even a casual reader of the Old Testament. He was a true Father to them, even though more often than not they proved themselves to be unworthy children. At times he had to chastize them as has any true father to chastize the children he loves, but his anger against them never lasted long. His constant aim was to make of them a loving and obedient family. In the desert, on their journey from Egypt to Canaan, he provided for their bodily and spiritual needs; while in Canaan he helped them to overcome their enemies and establish themselves in the land he had promised their patriarchs; and through his prophets he tried to protect them from the idolatrous practices of their pagan neighbors. If one had read only the Old Testament story, and had never heard of the New Testament, one would surely find it difficult to understand why God---the God of the universe and of all nations---gave so much of his loving care to this one nation, while practically excluding all others. Such a reader would be like a man who read only the preface to a book while omitting the book itself. The Old Testament is in fact an introduction, a preface to the story of God's real love for all men. God picked Abraham and his descendants to prepare the way for the coming of his Son as man, in order to make all men sons of God and candidates for heaven. While favoring the Israelites then, he was preparing a far greater favor for all nations---he had not forgotten or neglected them. Through the Israelites they would receive the blessings he had planned from all eternity for the whole human race. The incident described in today's reading shows God's interest in the temporal and spiritual welfare of the Chosen People in their desert wanderings. It is also a foreshadowing of the power of the Spirit which Christ would give to the new Chosen People---the Church, for its spiritual government and guidance. Moses and his assistants were types of Peter and the other Apostles. They and their successors would do for the Church of Christ what Moses and his helpers did for the Israelites---they would teach and guide it on the way of truth, they would lead it on its journey through this life to the gates of eternity. The scene in Jerusalem on the first Pentecost day, when the Holy Spirit descended with visible signs and effects on the Apostles, was a replica of what happened in the desert to the Chosen People after they had left Mount Sinai; but the Jerusalem event had a meaning and a value which would extend through all time into eternity. The Church was to be taught the full knowledge of God as seen in the incarnation. It was to be taught the true destination of man. That destination was not Canaan or any other earthly kingdom, but unending life in God's kingdom. The Church was to be taught how to reach that goal. Peter and his assistants were given all the necessary helps which the members of the Church would need for their spiritual life. God was good to the Israelites and near to them, he is much nearer to us and greater are the divine gifts he has given us. He did not visit us in a cloud, he came in the person of his divine Son and lived among us. That divine Son suffered torments and death in his human nature so that we could live forever. He founded for us a Church, a living institution in which we have all the helps we need, including infallible guidance, when necessary, from the leaders he has appointed for us. They are the successors of Peter and the Apostles. While we live loyally in the Church, striving in all sincerity to carry out its laws, we need have no fear for our eventual salvation. Among the Israelites were some who resisted the authority of Moses and his assistants even though God had given his spirit to them. In Christ's Church also are some who challenge the authority of the divinely appointed leaders---the successors of Peter and the Apostles; the disobedient Israelites died in the desert, they did not see nor enter the Promised Land. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SECOND READING: James 5:1-6. Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days. Behold the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the harvester have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have killed the righteous man: he does not resist you. EXPLANATION: In these six verses from St. James' epistle, we have a very vivid description and strong denunciation of the unscrupulous rich. While depriving their workmen of their justly earned wages they have "fattened their hearts" on what did not belong to them. Worse still, because of the position of power which their ill-gotten gains secured for them, they are responsible for the deaths of innocent people. However, when they come to judgement the treasures they have laid up will be used as evidence against them and will bring their eternal condemnation. weep...miseries: St. James tells them that miseries are coming on them which will make them weep and howl but not with repentance. riches...garments: In antiquity, costly garments were usually the external signs of riches. However, both the riches and the garments will come to nothing very soon. St. James sees this already as having happened so he uses the prophetic perfect tense---so common in the prophets. evidence against you: On the "dies illa," the day of wrath, this wealth or their ill-use of it, and the evil way it was amassed, will give testimony of their wickedness to the examining Judge. It will cause them to be condemned to "Gehenna," the place of torment and burning---according to the apocalyptic language of that time. treasure...days: They have wasted their time collecting earthly treasures which will have no value on the judgement day---the day of the coming of the Lord as Judge, which was then expected at any moment. wages of the laborers: This was one of the worst crimes that could be committed and one that cried to heaven for justice. luxury and in pleasure: They had made this short life their heaven---getting every personal pleasure and selfish satisfaction out of it. in a day of slaughter: Copying the image of Jeremiah (12: 13), he says the unjust rich have prepared themselves as sheep are fattened for butchering, for the day of slaughter, or judgement day. condemned...killed: The unscrupulous rich in the ancient world not only deprived laborers of their just wages, thus condemning them to starvation, but often they had the righteous man condemned to death---just because he was righteous and his way of living made their consciences uneasy. APPLICATION: The unscrupulous rich to whom St. James is referring most likely were not Christians. He is, nevertheless, warning all Christians to beware of the danger of concentrating on the accumulation of earthly wealth, especially if that wealth is acquired through injustice to the poor and helpless who labor for them. At the same time, he is consoling his fellow-Christians who are suffering and are without hope of redress at the hands of the unscrupulous ones. The sufferings of the Christians will bring them an eternal reward, while the wealth collected by the rich will be as additional instruments in the punishment which judgement so very soon will inflict on them. There is a reminder for all of us in these words of St. James. We have not here a lasting city; our purpose in life is not to collect the goods of this world in order to spend our years in luxury and pleasure, but to use this world as a stepping-stone toward our real goal in the life hereafter. Unfortunately, this earth with its wealth and pleasures, has a certain attraction for all of us. For some they become so alluring that they obscure, and sometimes exclude, the real purpose of life. While far from approving of this foolish mentality, we can nevertheless understand it. We are creatures of this earth, our life began here and here it would all have ended if God in his goodness had not planned otherwise. If this earth were the sole stage on which our life's drama was to run its course, then any sane man would try to get all he could out of this life. If death were the end, then surely we should try to pack all the pleasure and luxury possible into our few years on earth. As Christians we know the true purpose of our life on earth. We know God's loving plan for us. An eternity of happiness awaits us after death, if we live according to the rules he has laid down for us. With such a future awaiting us, God is not asking too much of us when he demands of us to be relatively detached from the things of earth. "Relatively," we say, because we may acquire within reason the goods of this world according to our needs, and we may enjoy the pleasures of this life that are according to our state in life, not against the commandments. For many the difficulty is to control "within reason" the acquisition of worldly goods and to see that these goods are acquired within the laws of justice. Today, in our Western world, because of the solidarity of laborers through their unions and associations, it is not quite so easy for employers to deprive their employees of just wages. What is often forgotten, however, is that the employees can and do at times act unjustly by failing, through idleness and unjustified abstention from work, to earn the wages given them. The worker, as well as the employer, is bound by the laws of justice. It is perhaps in the underdeveloped countries today that the words of St. James are still literally fulfilled. There the unscrupulous are amassing wealth at the expense, and by the exploitation, of the poor and helpless natives. To our shame, many of these oppressors of the poor are Christian at least in name, but they have forgotten Christian justice and their true purpose in life. As individuals, we cannot do much to right such shameful wrongs, but there are groups formed or being formed in the Western world to promote world justice and peace; by joining such groups and helping them financially, if possible, we can do much to stop such seriously sinful violations of the Christian code and the code of simple human justice. Today, let us examine our consciences in relation to this world's goods. Are we acquiring more than we need? Are we acquiring these goods justly? If we are employers: are we paying our workers a just wage? Are we treating them as fellowman, fellow-Christians, fellow-travelers to heaven? If we are employees: are we earning justly the wages we collect? Have we an interest in our employer's business and property? Do we act justly toward all our fellow-workers? If each of us can answer "yes" to our questions we are laying up "treasure for ourselves in heaven where neither moth nor woodworm destroy them nor can thieves break in and steal them" (Mt. 6: 21). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOSPEL: Mark 9:38-43; 45; 47-48. John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward. "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched." EXPLANATION: In today's excerpt from St. Mark we have the incident of the exorcist who was not a follower of Jesus. The Apostles did not approve of this man, but Jesus said to let him be for "he that is not against us is for us"; the power of exorcism was from God. Mark then adds a collection of sayings on charity, avoiding scandal and the necessity of giving up what is most dear to us in life if it impedes us from entering eternal life. casting...name: Although not as yet a follower of Jesus, the man was exorcizing, casting out demons in the name, that is, by the power of Jesus. John, one of the Apostles, thought this was wrong, that this exorcist was usurping power which was not his, but Jesus did not agree with this interpretation. mighty...name: Any man who has this power, has it from God and therefore he is not an opponent of Christ; he will not be able to speak evil, condemn the activity of Jesus. cup...Christ: Even a much smaller act of kindness than that of exorcism done to a fellowman because of Christ will have its heavenly reward---and a non-Christian could perform such an act. causes...sin: Anyone who weakens the faith of Christ's followers, his "little ones" (see last Sunday's Gospel), would be better off if he had been drowned before he committed this sin of scandal. A shortening of one's earthly life is of little importance when compared with the loss of ones eternal life. hand...eye: Not only must one avoid scandal---causing others to sin---but each true follower of Christ must be ready to sacrifice what is nearest and dearest to him rather than commit a personal sin. The cutting off of one's foot or hand or the plucking out of ones eye is not to be taken literally, this is a metaphorical way of stressing and indelibly impressing upon us that the kingdom of God, the future eternal life, is worth any sacrifice (see the parables of the pearl of great price and the hidden treasure). The thought here in terms of sacrificing part of the body rather than losing the whole life is similar to the idea expressed in Mark 8: 34 ff, under the images of taking up one's cross and of dying in order to live. thrown...hell: Gehenna---the word is translated: "hell," was a valley west of Jerusalem which was, at the time of Christ, the refuse dump for the city. This explains the imagery of "the worm"---the maggots eating the offal; and the "fire" which was perpetually smoldering for the destruction of the refuse. APPLICATION: There are two very practical lessons we must learn from today's Gospel: the grave obligation we have of not causing scandal to our fellow-Christians or indeed to any man or woman and secondly, the willingness we should have to sacrifice any earthly possession which is a cause of sin to us. Scandal, the sin of being a cause or an occasion of another's sin, is doubly sinful involving one's own sin and the sin of the person scandalized. Scandal can be caused by word---that is, by teaching or propagating wrong doctrine or by giving sinful advice, and it can be caused by one's own sinful deeds which may be imitated by others. Those in positions of authority such as parents whose duty it is to bring up their children in the Christian faith, are especially liable to give scandal if they fail to live truly Christian lives. Christian parents who fail to live according to their faith will be held accountable not only for their own sins, but for the sins of their children and perhaps their children's children for generations to come. Much, if not all of today's moral laxity and permissiveness can be blamed on parents who have failed to give the example of true Christian living in the home and in dealings with their neighbors. To children of such parents, Christianity is only a label; it does not inform or inspire their lives, hence they are only nominal Christians. It is true that there may be "black sheep" in the best of Christian homes. When, however, all the children of a home are "black sheep" the whiteness, the sincerity, of the parents of such a home must certainly be called into question. There may be many bad influences at work outside the home but the good example of truly Christian parents can counteract these influences. Let parents see to it that they will not be a cause of scandal and a cause of eternal loss to the children God put into their charge. The second lesson for all of us in today's Gospel is that we should ever realize that eternal life is worth any sacrifice which we may be called on to make. The road we have to travel in life is not an easy one. As our Lord says in another place: "Enter by the narrow gate for the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. But the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Mt. 7: 13). We wish to reach heaven, therefore we must be prepared to follow Christ; we must not allow others to lead us astray but be prepared and determined to conquer and resist our own evil inclinations also. The world and our own human nature will put many obstacles in our way. For that reason God gave us the Ten Commandments which spell out for us what we are to avoid and what we are to do if we wish to have eternal life. For many, keeping these commandments is no easy task---they make severe demands at times, but our Lord makes it crystal clear that we must endure the hardship because the prize, the reward, is everlasting happiness. When he said that we must be ready to deprive ourselves of a foot or a hand or an eye if they should be obstacles to us, he was speaking metaphorically: to stress that we must be ready if necessary to give up what is nearest and dearest to our nature. The less of earthly luggage we carry with us and the less of earthly attachments we give way to, the easier and safer will be our journey.-b394 Click to return to our Home page

RE: 09.27.12~Readings for Sunday, September 30, 2012

USCCB » Bible » Daily Readings September 30, 2012 « September 29 | October 1 » Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 137 Reading 1 Nm 11:25-29 The LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses. Taking some of the spirit that was on Moses, the LORD bestowed it on the seventy elders; and as the spirit came to rest on them, they prophesied. Now two men, one named Eldad and the other Medad, were not in the gathering but had been left in the camp. They too had been on the list, but had not gone out to the tent; yet the spirit came to rest on them also, and they prophesied in the camp. So, when a young man quickly told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp, " Joshua, son of Nun, who from his youth had been Moses?aide, said, "Moses, my lord, stop them." But Moses answered him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets! Would that the LORD might bestow his spirit on them all!" Responsorial Psalm Ps 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14R. (9a) The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart. The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul; the decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are true, all of them just. R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart. Though your servant is careful of them, very diligent in keeping them, Yet who can detect failings? Cleanse me from my unknown faults! R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart. From wanton sin especially, restrain your servant; let it not rule over me. Then shall I be blameless and innocent of serious sin. R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart. Reading 2 Jas 5:1-6 Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten, your gold and silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire. You have stored up treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter. You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous one; he offers you no resistance. Gospel Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 At that time, John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us." Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us. Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward. "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'"

09.20.12~Catholic Matters for Sunday, September 23, 2012

SUNDAY READINGS - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time FIRST READING: Wisdom 2:12; 17-20. The ungodly said to themselves: "Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against our training. Let us see if his words are true, and let us test what will happen at the end of his life; for if the righteous man is God's son, he will help him, and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries. Let us test him with insult and torture, that we may find out how gentle he is, and make trial of his forbearance. Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for, according to what he says, he will be protected." EXPLANATION: On the book of Wisdom, see the thirteenth Sunday of the year. Today's extract describes the "ungodly" as planning to torture some righteous, just man, because he has condemned their mode of living. These "ungodly," as appears from the context, were apostate Jews: there were many such in Egypt where the book of Wisdom was written, and they probably represented to the author the wicked in general. The "righteous," or just man as described here has much in common with the Suffering Servant of God---depicted by Isaiah, especially in the fourth Servant Song: 52:13---53:12. The "ungodly" are going to put him and God to the test. Will God fulfill his promise and stand by his Servant? He...righteous: The ungodly plan to capture the just man. inconvenient...actions: Their reasons are clear. The just man is an embarrassment to them, he condemns their evil deeds. sins...law: He reproaches them for their abandonment of the Law and therefore of God. sins...training: That is, their apostasy from the faith of their fathers. Let...happen: They have heard the just man claim that God is his protector; that he is God's son; that he is very dear to God. They want to put this to the test; will God save him from his adversaries when the climax comes? insult torture...he is: He has claimed to be meek and gentle; insults and tortures will test that meekness; will he bear these tortures and insults with patience and equanimity? condemn...death: It is God whom they are now putting to the test. Will God save his just one from their clutches? They have planned to put this righteous man to a cruel and shameful death---will God save him from it? Naturally, they could see no other alternative. APPLICATION: St. Augustine says: "corruptio optimi pessima"---the best when corrupted becomes the most corrupt. The Jews who abandoned the true God and his law became worse than the pagans who never knew God. They also became the most bitter opponents of the observant Jews. The same holds today: the Christian who abandons his faith, as a general rule becomes a bitter opponent of Christianity---the deserting soldier always condemns his army! When the book of Wisdom was written there were renegade Jews in Egypt, and elsewhere. They despised and hated the God-fearing Jews, because they reminded them of their own apostasy; they would do all in their power to humiliate and exterminate them. When they got one such Jew in their clutches they plotted to jeer at him and mock him saying: "he claimed to be a son of God, let us see if God will deliver him from (us) his adversaries." That this could have happened there can be no doubt, and it may be that it is of some such incident or incidents that the words of Wisdom are to be understood in their literal sense. The similarity of the ideas here expressed with the fourth Song of the Suffering Servant in second-Isaiah (52-53), which refers to Christ are so close that most of the Fathers of the Church saw in these words a typical prophecy giving the reasons for, and the fact of, the sufferings and death of Christ. He was the perfect Jew par excellence. He was an inconvenience and embarrassment to the Scribes and Pharisees and opposed their actions. He reproached them for sins against the law and against the true tradition (see Mk. 7: 1-23 and Gospel for 22nd Sunday). He claimed to be the Son of God: this was the principal charge made against him at his trial (Mk. 14: 61-64). "Let us condemn him to a shameful death," they say, "he will be protected" (by God). While he hung on the cross the passers-by and the chief priests and Scribes jeered him also: "he puts his trust in God," they said : "now let God rescue him if he wants him." For he did say: "I am the Son of God " (Mt. 27: 42-43). While some loyal Jews may have suffered injury and maybe death at the hands of Jewish apostates in Egypt, the words of the author of Wisdom were certainly fulfilled to the letter in Christ, the true Son of God, the perfect loyal Jew. The opposition of the Scribes and Pharisees which was manifest all through his public life and which culminated on Calvary arose from their jealous pride. In their proud estimation of themselves they alone were the true sons of Abraham. They heartily despised the tax-gatherers, the uneducated in the law and human traditions, and those guilty of human failings. All of these were sinners to be avoided at any cost. Christ who came to save sinners associated freely with these people, thus openly "opposing the Pharisees' action", hence their plotting and their final resolve to get rid of him. They thought they had succeeded on Good Friday but Easter Sunday proved how wrong they were. He was indeed the Son of God. Our Lord warned his disciples, and through them all of us, to beware of the leaven---the pride---of the Pharisees. Of all sins pride is the most injurious to the sinner and the most offensive to God. It was the first human sin and the source of all other sins. There is an inclination to pride in all men so we must be on our guard against it. If we try to remember always that everything we are, and everything we have is from God this would remove any cause for pride. If, furthermore, we remember that we are Christians, followers of the humble Christ, we can hardly be tempted, must less yield to the temptation, to be proud; for a proud Christian is a contradiction in terms. If we are Christians we cannot be proud, if we are proud we are no longer Christians. Let us ever strive to imitate, in our own way, him "whose state was divine, but who emptied himself of his divine glory to assume the condition of a slave . . . and, being as all men are, he was humbler yet even to accepting death, death on a cross" (Ph. 2: 6-8). He, Christ, is our leader and model, let us strive daily to follow him. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SECOND READING: James 3:16-4:3. Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity. And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. What causes wars, and what causes fightings among you? Is it not your passions that are at war in your members? You desire and do not have; so you kill. And you covet and cannot obtain; so you fight and wage war. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. EXPLANATION: St. James, whose whole epistle is one of practical advice to his fellow-Jewish converts on how to live their newly-found Christian faith, has some eminently practical points in today's lesson for all Christians of all races and ages. Christianity is synonymous with unselfishness; we are not individuals in opposition to one another, we are members of the one body cooperating for the good of that body. Between such members there can be no jealousy, no hatred, no fighting, no coveting. Each member will live in peace, in sincerity, in justice, in truthfulness, in active helpfulness with all the other members. This is the rule of life for true Christians. jealousy...ambition: The basic violation of the Christian code is concentration on self to the exclusion of fellow-Christians and fellowman. The Christian who wants his fellowman to prosper will not be jealous if they should so prosper; but the Christian whose first thought is for himself and his own welfare is moved by unchristian selfish ambition which makes him forget, and eventually despise his neighbor. wisdom from above: Selfishness is worldly wisdom in its worst sense, but the wisdom from God---which we have in the Christian law---brings to the man who lives according to it: peace, security, gentleness, sincerity, mercy for all and kind deeds. those...peace: "Blessed are the peacemakers." Those who live according to the Christian code must be men of peace; peace is the fruit of their Christian unselfishness, and by their example and peace among men; and this Christian word they will spread this Christian peace is the nursery of all good works, of all righteousness. what...fightings: St. James pinpoints the cause of all wars and fightings whether they be family feuds, village quarrels, or global confrontations. It is the sinful cupidity, the covetousness on the part of an individual of something which another person has and which he lacks : "You desire and do not have, so you kill." you covet...war: If unchecked this sinful, selfish ambition will and does lead the individual or group to violations of "peace," to war and killing in order to fulfill the unlawful desires. wrongly...passions: They do not seek in vain the necessities of life---such a seeking would be just and fair---but the satisfaction of their "passion," of their covetousness by which they allow themselves to be driven. Their prayer, if it can be called prayer, is unheard by God because their requests are sinful, unjust (see Mt. 7: 7-11 on prayer). APPLICATION: The gospel of Christ is a gospel which preaches peace and harmony between man and God, and between man and man. Christ, the Son of God, who took our human nature made all men adopted sons of God. All men are therefore members of the same family---the family of God. Therefore, they should reverence and honor God their Father at all times and they should respect and love one another as brothers, which they are. Above all others, Christians should put this gospel truth into practice among themselves and then among all men. They know, from Christ's own lips, that love of God and love of neighbor are the two basic essential commands of Christianity. The man who keeps these two commandments keeps the "whole law and the prophets"---the whole of revealed religion. Had Christians done this down through the twenty centuries of Christianity what a different world ours would be today! The vast majority of the peoples of this earth would be Christians. It is a religion, in practice so divine, and yet so rationally human: God, loved and obeyed by a family united in love. This would have convinced all heathens and would have kept Christians closely united and made the rise of agnosticism and atheism impossible. However, there were lax, half-hearted and selfish Christians in the Church from the very beginning. They were there already in St. James' day which was less than a generation after the death and resurrection of Christ. Because of jealousy and selfish ambition, there existed disorder and every vile practice among those Christians to whom he was writing. The jealous and selfish ones resented others for having certain worldly goods or positions---goods or positions they lawfully gained. Why, say the jealous ones, should we not have these benefits? Let us take them; hence followed "wars and fightings" among fellow-Christians. What a scandal for their pagan neighbors and what a violation of the basic Christian law! Unfortunately, St. James' letter did not eradicate these human weaknesses from human nature. There have been and there will be jealous and selfish people and nations who envy the success of others and, as is often the case, successful but selfish people who do not want others to equal them. Our own century has witnessed two world wars on a scale never seen before, and for what reason? Was there a just side in these wars? History will have difficulty in finding it. It is not always the invader, or so-called aggressor, who starts the evil of war. Jealousies and selfish interests have aroused hatred and animosity for years before ever the first gun-fire is heard. Our world was never so divided and so lacking in true Christian brotherhood as it is today. Too many are lacking the necessities of life, while the well-to-do are smothering, in excesses and luxuries, their humanity and any brotherly love they have. The wealthy nations, jealous, ambitious and afraid of each other's ambitions, are squandering on war machines wealth that could save millions from starvation and slavery. Not only are professed atheists but ex-Christians also, forgetful that God is their Father and therefore they can no longer see all men as their brothers. This is a time when true Christians must try to make their voices heard above the din and noise of the warmongers, who will remain safely at home filling their coffers, when war comes to claim millions of innocent lives. We want peace not war; we want to live in charity and unity with all men, not in enmity and hatred. Let us begin at home, by our charity and brotherly love. Let us make our own neighborhood a haven of peace and happiness and let us pray God to fill the hearts of all men with the same Christian spirit. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOSPEL: Mark 9:30-37. Jesus and his disciples passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise." But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to ask him. And, they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?" But they were silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, "If any one would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." And he took a child, and put him in the midst of them; and taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives, me, receives not me but him who sent me." EXPLANATION: In St. Mark's gospel for last Sunday, we read of the disciples' profession of faith in Jesus as the promised Messiah. Jesus then went on immediately to give them his first prophecy concerning his sufferings and death. Today's reading from St. Mark gives us Christ's second prediction of his passion, death and resurrection. Between the two predictions he had given Peter, James and John in the scene of the Transfiguration a glimpse of the glory that was to be his after the resurrection. The reason for this would appear to be to encourage the Apostles, through their leaders, to bear the "scandal" which his passion and death would be for them sometime in the near future. A third prediction of the passion is given by St. Mark in 10: 32-34. Although there could scarcely be any doubt in the minds of the Apostles as to what Jesus meant, yet we know that they did not grasp his meaning. His arrest and death on the cross came as a shattering blow to them. There were two reasons for this: firstly, their belief in a Messiah, glorious on this earth, who would subdue all enemies, and secondly, they thought Jesus would use the marvelous powers he had from God, proved by his miracles, to defend himself against all enemies. Furthermore, Mark's gospel written long after the passion and death of Christ gave an emphasis and a lucidity to Christ's prophecies which they had not for the Apostles at the time he uttered them. It was seen in its proper perspective as part of God's plan for us. went...mountain: Jesus and his disciples left the Mount of Transfiguration---Mount Thabor according to an ancient Christian tradition---and went through Galilee. he was...disciples: He did not want the usual crowds to know of his where-abouts, because he was trying to impress on his disciples that it was necessary that he should be put to death, but that he would rise again from the dead. not understand the saying: Because of the reasons mentioned above, their minds could not grasp the possibility of any enemy overcoming him. That this should be part of God's plan "for us men and for our salvation," they did not yet know. were...ask him: They were either ashamed to admit their slowness of intellect, or afraid that he should spell out in explicit detail a truth they had not the heart to hear. There have always been, and there always will be people who refuse to hear an unwelcome forecast. who was the greatest: This shows how worldly, how earthly-minded his disciples still were. They dismissed his disturbing prophecy very quickly, and became engaged in arguing which of themselves was the most important and who would hold the principal post in the earthly messianic kingdom which they still expected him to set up. Later---29th Sunday of the year---we shall hear of James and John asking for the chief positions in his kingdom. if anyone...first: Christ did not reprove them for their worldliness; he knew their hearts, but he told them his kingdom would be one of service. The higher one's position was in it the more would he have to be the servant of others. child...them: He made the child a symbol of his followers---they were as "little ones," as he said later in 9: 42. receives...my name: Whoever accepts his disciples and followers and listens to their message, will be accepting Christ himself---and not only Christ: but him who sent me: He would be accepting his Father who sent him on earth. Matthew, Luke and John express this saying more explicitly "anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me" (Mt. 10: 40 see Lk. 10: 16; Jn. 13: 20). APPLICATION: The Apostles were still very worldly-minded, they were full of the hope that Christ would establish an earthly messianic kingdom, that he would not only free their holy land from the hated pagan rulers but that he would set up a worldwide empire for the people of God. Many of the messianic prophecies of the Old Testament spoke of a worldwide kingdom; all nations would submit to the descendant of David; Jerusalem would be the magnet which would attract all peoples. The prophets, however, were speaking of the true messianic kingdom, the spiritual kingdom that Christ would establish. The Apostles were as yet unable to see the true meaning of these prophecies. They took them as referring to a worldly kingdom. They had come to believe that Christ was the promised Messiah, therefore he would overcome all enemies and all opposition and set up this kingdom. How, therefore, could his enemies overpower him much less put him to death before he had accomplished his task? Thus they refused to believe his prophecies concerning his coming tortures and death. Now, either in trying to understand what he had so plainly told them, or maybe in putting this disturbing thought far from their minds, they began disputing with one another as to which of them would have the highest post of honor in the earthly messianic kingdom which they had envisaged. How worldly but how human they were! We must not forget though, that they were not yet really Christians---they needed the death and resurrection of Christ to make them what they became---his true followers and loyal disciples. There was in the unformed Apostles a desire to turn Christ's kingdom into an earthly welfare state, rather than into a preparation for heaven? All Christians know that Christ suffered and died for their salvation, and that he asked his followers to take up their cross and follow him if they wished to be his disciples. The first generations of Christians fully understood this and faithfully followed him even to martyrdom. However, as time went on and opposition to the Christian faith disappeared, so too did the zeal and fervor of many Christians. For centuries we have had nominal Christians in Christ's Church: men and women who tried to make their paradise in this world, and forgot the everlasting heaven. Our own age has seen an unprecedented increase in this falling away of Christians. Leaving aside the parts of Europe which are professedly atheist---but where in spite of the leaders there are many sincere and devout Christians---the number of lapsed and nominal Christians in the other Western countries is frightening. These non-practicing Christians, unwilling to carry their crosses, have decided to make this earth their paradise. They want prosperity, comfort and happiness in this world. The vast majority of them, of course, refuse to look to the future; it could be an unpleasant thought, yet they must see that in every town and village there is a mortician, an undertaker who makes a good living disposing of human "remains." Die they must; "and what then?" should be a question which overshadows their lives. Many of these people who in practice have abandoned Christianity, try to salve their consciences by devoting any time they can spare to making this planet a better place in which to live. It is an excellent aim with a possibility of success---if the Fatherhood of God and the true brotherhood of man are upheld. But otherwise its a vain Utopia. If God, and Christ's teaching are left out of our reckoning, we shall ever have jealousies, enmities, hatred and wars. Christians have made war on Christians because neither side in the struggle was truly Christian. What chance then has the world when Christ and Christianity are banished from it? Today's thought for each one of us is this: Christ became man, suffered and died as man, for our sakes. By his resurrection he conquered death and opened heaven for us. Heaven is our true destiny. Loving God and our neighbor and carrying our cross is the only way to reach heaven. Forget this "heaven on earth" doctrine; it does not and never will exist! Accept Christ and you are accepting the Father who sent him. He in turn will accept you.-b386 Click to return to our Home page

RE: 09.20.12~Readings for Sunday, September 23, 2012

September 23, 2012 Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Wis 2:12, 17-20 The wicked say: Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. For if the just one be the son of God, God will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture let us put the just one to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him. Responsorial Psalm Ps 54:3-4, 5, 6 and 8 R. (6b) The Lord upholds my life. O God, by your name save me, and by your might defend my cause. O God, hear my prayer; hearken to the words of my mouth. R. The Lord upholds my life. For the haughty men have risen up against me, the ruthless seek my life; they set not God before their eyes. R. The Lord upholds my life. Behold, God is my helper; the Lord sustains my life. Freely will I offer you sacrifice; I will praise your name, O LORD, for its goodness. R. The Lord upholds my life. Reading 2 Jas 3:16-4:3 Beloved: Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace. Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask. You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. Gospel Mk 9:30-37 Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, "The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise." But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him. They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." Taking a child, he placed it in the their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, "Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me."

RE: 09.13.12~Readings for Sunday, September 16, 2012

Prayer and Worship Liturgical CalendarPrayersBlessingsDevotionalsLiturgical ResourcesResources for the EucharistSacramentsRoman MissalBeliefs and Teachings Who We TeachHow We TeachWhat We BelieveDialogue With OthersVocationsIssues and Action Get InvolvedTake Action NowReligious LibertyFaithful CitizenshipMarriage and FamilyCultural DiversityHuman Life and DignityChild and Youth ProtectionMedia AudioBlogs and ColumnsCatholic News ServiceMedia RelationsMovie ReviewsNews ReleasesVideoBible Today's ReadingBooks of the BibleUnderstanding the BibleApproved TranslationsLiturgyPermissionsCatholic Giving Opportunities for GivingWays to Get InvolvedAbout USCCB Strategic PlanPriority PlanLeadershipBishops and DiocesesUSCCB OfficesContact USCCBFinancial ReportingUSCCB EmploymentPrint | Share | Calendar | Diocesan Locator Calendar« September 2012 » Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 Items of InterestDaily Readings — Audio Daily Reflections — Video Today's Reading Readings - AudioReflections - Video Books of the BibleUnderstanding the Bible Frequently Asked QuestionsRevised Edition InformationStudy Materials Articles Approved TranslationsLiturgyPermissions USCCB » Bible » Daily Readings September 16, 2012 « September 15 | September 17 » Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 131 Reading 1 Is 50:5-9aThe Lord GOD opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting. The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame. He is near who upholds my right; if anyone wishes to oppose me, let us appear together. Who disputes my right? Let that man confront me. See, the Lord GOD is my help; who will prove me wrong? Responsorial Psalm Ps 114:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9R. (9) I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. or: R. Alleluia. I love the LORD because he has heard my voice in supplication, Because he has inclined his ear to me the day I called. R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. or: R. Alleluia. The cords of death encompassed me; the snares of the netherworld seized upon me; I fell into distress and sorrow, And I called upon the name of the LORD, "O LORD, save my life!" R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. or: R. Alleluia. Gracious is the LORD and just; yes, our God is merciful. The LORD keeps the little ones; I was brought low, and he saved me. R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. or: R. Alleluia. For he has freed my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. I shall walk before the Lord in the land of the living. R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. or: R. Alleluia. Reading 2 Jas 2:14-18What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well, " but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Indeed someone might say, "You have faith and I have works." Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works. Gospel Mk 8:27-35Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" They said in reply, "John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets." And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said to him in reply, "You are the Christ." Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it."

RE: 09.16.12~Catholic Matters

SUNDAY READINGS - 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time FIRST READING: Isaiah 50 - 5-9. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I turned not backward. I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I hid not my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been confounded; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty? EXPLANATION: In second-Isaiah we have a series of prophetic poems which describe the future Messiah (Is. 40-55). He is depicted as the faithful Servant of God (Ebed Yahweh). He is chosen by God before his birth; he has the "spirit" of God; he will instruct the nations in God's "justice"; he will do more than merely restore Israel---he will be a light for all nations so that God's salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. Because he is God's faithful, obedient Servant he will suffer death in the execution of his duty, but God will reward him. God will bring him back to life and bestow on him numerous spiritual offspring (53:10-12). Part of the sufferings which the Servant endured are mentioned in today's reading: but for the incredible tortures the Servant voluntarily endured "for us" see 52:13-53: 12. Lord...ear: The Servant is speaking; he says that the Lord has made him his disciple---he has opened his ear to learn the words of instruction. I was not rebellious: The Servant was obedient in all things to God: "Thy will not mine be done." I...backward: He did not run away in the face of difficulty or danger. my back...smiters: He allows his enemies to maltreat him; he submits to their scourges. pulled...beard: This was one of the greatest insults offered a man, humiliating as well as painful. shame and spitting: He does not try to avoid these humiliations, for: the Lord...me: He knows he is working for God and God is giving him aid to undergo them. therefore...flint: He will courageously face his sufferings and will not flinch from them. not...shame: All the enemies' calumnies will be in vain, his justice will shine forth. God his vindicator is with him. contend...adversary: He is so certain of final success that he challenges his opponents to do their utmost. who will... guilty: Knowing that he is God's faithful servant and carrying out God's will, who can convict him of any evil? His case is safe in God's hands. APPLICATION: Five hundred and fifty years before Christ came on earth, a prophet whom we call the second-Isaiah encouraged the Jewish exiles in Babylon with his descriptions of the great blessings which the Messiah would bring them (see chapters 43:44; 47; 51; 52). These blessings would be bought at a great price, bought for us by the shame, humiliations and death of the future Messiah. The prophet calls the Messiah the Servant of God----a servant faithful and obedient unto death, and because of his perfect obedience and fidelity he would be raised from the grave in glory and be given numerous off spring. This suffering and obedient Servant was Christ. Christ himself applied these prophecies to himself (see today's Gospel: also Lk. 24: 26 etc.). He fulfilled these prophecies to the letter, and he did so for us and for our salvation. Our Creed says: "Who (the Son of God) came down from heaven for us men and for our salvation . . . suffered under Pontius Pilate, was put to death and was buried. The third day he arose from the dead, ascended to heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father." This reading has been chosen for us to recall to our minds all that Christ has done for us in carrying out the Father's plan for our eternal welfare. God does not need us, he has infinite perfection and happiness in the community of the Blessed Trinity, but because his nature is goodness itself, he wants to share his perfection and his happiness with us his creatures. For that reason he decreed the incarnation of his divine Son from all eternity. Because sin had entered the world and man had rebelled against God, Christ when he came met with opposition, disbelief and hatred from the leaders of those who had been prepared for centuries to receive him---the Chosen People. Thus his life among us was a life of humiliations, persecutions and opposition which culminated in the death on the cross. But faithful and obedient Servant of the Father that he was, he bore it all in patience and in submission even unto death; but death could not hold him. He was raised in glory and returned triumphant to heaven to reassume the glory of his divinity of which he had "emptied himself" while on earth, as St. Paul tells us. With his glorified human nature he now occupies the chief place in heaven after that of God the Father. We all know what meaning for us the incarnation has and the humiliations and sufferings it implied for Christ. The crucifix over the altar, the stations of the cross, the sacrifice of the Mass recall to our minds what Christ has done for us; but do we always react as we should to this sacred remembrance? Our first reaction should be sincere acts of gratitude to our Father in heaven and to his divine Son, for going to such lengths to give us eternal life. Christ died so that we should live eternally; he stretched out his arms on the cross in order to gather all men to his Father in heaven. We can do something in return. It should be our second reaction to remembrance of what the incarnation means: we can bear our own daily crosses patiently and gladly, for compared to the cross of Christ they are light indeed. A third way of showing our appreciation of Christ's suffering for us is to help our neighbor to carry his cross. We can all, and we all should, if we appreciate what the incarnation means, help to spread its fruits as widely as possible. As true apostles of Christ's faith we need never fear of becoming apostates. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SECOND READING: James 2:14-18. What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. But some one will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. EXPLANATION: Today's reading from St. James' letter is a continuation of the practical guidance we heard two Sundays ago. Christians must "be doers of the word not hearers only." The Christian faith is not a series of theoretical truths, but a practical way of living based on Christ's revelation to us. faith...works: Faith alone, that is, a mental acceptance of all revealed truths, is of no avail toward eternal life unless a man follows Christ in his daily living. This will demand the carrying out of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. St. James stresses the corporal works today. ill-clad...food: He mentions two of the corporal works of mercy: to clothe the naked and feed the hungry. These two necessities cannot be supplied by a theoretical command: "go in peace, be warmed and filled"---that is all a Christian who has faith without good works does for his needy neighbor. What does this profit the unfortunate needy brother or sister? Nothing. faith...dead: That kind of faith, therefore, is as good as dead, it produces no good effect. It does not carry out the Christian law of charity and so does not help the neighbor. Nor does it help the so-called Christian whose faith begins and ends in his own intellect. some...say: The RSV reading here is obscure. The J.B. reads: "This is the way to talk to people of that kind: 'you say you have faith and I have good deeds. I will prove to you that I have faith by showing you my good deeds---now you prove to me that you have faith without any good deeds to show.'" The Christian who puts his faith into practice especially by works of charity toward a needy neighbor, proves that he is a true Christian. The man who claims to have the Christian faith but does not practice a most essential part of it---good deeds---is not really a Christian. APPLICATION: A pagan can recite the Creed from beginning to end from: "I believe in God the Father almighty" down to: "life everlasting, Amen," but he cannot recite it sincerely and with conviction and remain a pagan. To say: "I believe in God" and do nothing whatsoever about it means that I am not stating the truth; I am lying, when I say: "I believe in God." The "Apostles' Creed" is a brief synopsis of the Christian religion. When a true Christian recites this Creed he is affirming the central truths of his religion, and at the same time accepting the consequences which flow from these truths. This is what St. James means when he says that Christians must be "doers of the word and not hearers only." They must, he says, put their Christian faith into practice. A Christian must live his faith as well as believe it. There is no need to labor this point; all who are sincere Christians know this; but most, if not all, of us can profit from a look at our daily actions in the light of St. James' words today. Is our faith really alive? Does it produce "good works," works of charity toward our needy neighbors? If it does not it is "dead," it produces nothing in this life and it will produce nothing, no reward for us in the next. There are Christians whose Christian faith is completely self-centered, it begins and ends with themselves. They say their prayers; they attend their Sunday Mass; they avoid grave sins or think they do; but they exclude all other men from their thoughts; they are blind and deaf to any appeals for spiritual or material help from any neighbor or charitable cause. They will try to justify their behavior by saying that they have enough to do to look after their own bodily and spiritual needs. They act as if they never heard that the spiritual and corporal works of mercy were an essential part of the Christian code. Such Christians are rare among us, thank God, but they are not "doers of the word," and will meet some questions on their judgement day to which they will have no answers. However, before we clap ourselves on the back and say: "thank God, we are not like the other Christians," we would all do well to look again at our own fulfillment of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Are we really doing all that our Christian faith expects of us to help our needy neighbors? To keep to the two corporal works of mercy mentioned by St. James, let each one of us ask himself or herself: "What have I done to clothe the naked and feed the hungry during the past month?" There are ill-clad and hungry people in the ghettoes and slums of every city in our land. There are millions of such unfortunate people in Asia, Africa and South America. These are calling on us, and beseeching us to come to their aid. Associations to help them have been set up by charitable Christians and charitable non-Christians in all the Western nations. These good men and women moved by the spirit of Christ and the brotherhood of men, depend on you and me to continue their good work. How much have we given to suffering neighbors or to these associations? There may be some among us today who are struggling hard to keep off the bread-line themselves---God will excuse them from giving a helping hand, when their two hands are tied by their own poverty. But there may be others who should and could help, but do not. To these I would say: Limit severely your luxuries in food, drink and clothing while there are millions of hungry and half-naked brothers of yours---adopted sons of God. God is appealing to your Christian heart and conscience today, through these words of St. James. To refuse to listen to his plea will be to risk your eternal salvation. Remember Christ's own description of the judgement scene: "He will say to those on his left hand, I was hungry and you gave me no food . . . I was naked and you did not clothe me . . . depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Mt. 24: 42-45). "Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOSPEL: Mark 8: 27-35. Jesus went with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that I am?" And they told him, "John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others one of the prophets." And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ." And he charged them to tell no one about him. And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter, and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men." And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the Gospel's will save it." EXPLANATION: In today's Gospel, St. Mark gives us two incidents in our Lord's public mission--both are intimately connected. Jesus had gone to the north-eastern corner of Palestine and on questioning his disciples as to whom the people thought him to be, received the various conjectures of the people. He then asked the disciples what they themselves thought, and Peter, acting as spokesman for all of them, declared that Christ was the Messiah. Jesus admitted the truth of Peter's declaration, but said he did not yet want this knowledge to be spread abroad among the people. Then to dampen any wrong political messianic enthusiasm, which this knowledge might arouse among the disciples, he went on to give the first prophecy of the passion and death which awaited him at the hands of his enemies. Later he told the multitude, and the disciples, that anyone who would truly be his follower must be prepared to suffer and even lose his earthly life if necessary, in order to gain eternal life. Caesarea Philippi: This was a town just on the border of the extreme north-eastern corner of Palestine. The Tetrarch Philip had rebuilt the town (already called after Caesar) and added his own name to distinguish it from another Caesarea on the west coast of Palestine. who...I am: After a year or more of preaching and miracles, he knew they were forming some idea as to who he was. They had various ideas. John the Baptist: Some of the people who evidently had not seen John, thought Jesus was the Baptist risen from the dead. Herod, whose conscience bore the guilt of John's murder---in fear and trembling one would expect---agreed with this opinion (Mk. 6: 14-16). Elijah: This man was the great prophet of Israel (c 900-850 B.C.), who had been taken up to heaven according to legend, and who would return again to prepare the way for the Messiah (see Mal. 3: 1-21; Jn. 1: 21-25). one...prophets: Others thought that he was one of the prophets who had preached God's law to their ancestors. But...you say?: Up to now only the demons had recognized him as the Messiah. Now the Apostles, through their leader Peter, proclaim their belief in him as the promised Messiah. to tell no one: Even though the disciples declared that he was the Messiah, they had no clear idea yet as to what it meant---the title had political undertones for them also. Therefore, Christ ordered them to remain silent about who he was until the crucifixion and resurrection would make everything clear to them. Then they could and would preach the full truth to others. Son of man...suffer: Christ's first prediction of his passion was made in this context in order to correct any wrong ideas of the Messiah that the disciples were forming in their minds. He was not to reign on earth as a glorious, triumphant king. Rather, he was to suffer many things and finally be put to death. He was the Suffering Servant of God, foretold by Isaiah. after...again: Eventually he would triumph. His enemies would have a momentary victory, they would torture him and condemn him to death, but death would not hold him; he would rise again after three days. said this plainly: Although this announcement of his sufferings, death and resurrection was crystal clear, it did not really register with the disciples. How could he who bad such power from God be put to death and how could a dead man rise? Peter...him: Peter, as always the leader, would not hear of anyone putting his Master to death. Later, in the garden of Gethsemani, he drew a sword to prevent Jesus' arrest. He "rebuked" him, that is: he told Jesus he could not admit the prediction he bad made. Get...Satan: The original meaning of Satan was an adversary or opponent. Later, it became the name of the chief opponent of men's salvation. not...God: Peter, by wishing to prevent Christ's suffering and death, was opposing God's plan as laid down in the prophets, especially in the prophecies of the second-Isaiah (40-55; see today's first reading). Peter and his companions had as yet only a very human outlook on God's purpose in sending the Messiah. called...multitude: Mark now adds some of the dispositions his true followers must have. deny himself: The true Christian life demands that one is ever ready to sacrifice one's own convenience and pleasure if the gospel law so demands. take up his cross: This can be taken metaphorically as: following Jesus on the road of suffering. From the very beginning, the Christian Church saw the cross as the symbol of Christ's redemptive action---something every Christian should be ready to imitate. save...lose it: The contradistinction here is between temporal, earthly life and eternal life hereafter. He who will give his life, if called on, for Jesus and his gospel will receive eternal life; while the man who gains a few extra years of life here on earth by denying Jesus and his gospel, will lose eternal life. APPLICATION: We need not be surprised at the slowness of the Apostles in grasping the messiahship of Jesus. He did not want the crowds who flocked to him to know this until later---after his resurrection---because they had the idea that the Messiah would be a political leader who would set them free from their subjection to pagan Rome. It was not until this occasion, near Caesarea Philippi, somewhat over a year after he had called them, that he admitted to his Apostles that he was the Messiah. He charged them not to make this fact known outside of their own limited circle. To forestall and erase any wrong ideas of a political leader which some of the Apostles might have, he immediately foretold the sufferings and death he would have to endure at the hands of the leaders of the Jews. He would be conquered and humiliated by his enemies but their victory would be short-lived---death would not hold him---he would rise triumphant on the third day. To the Apostles this seemed incredible and Peter, their spokesman, told him so. This outlook of the Apostles is also very understandable. They had seen him work many miracles, God was evidently very near to him: how could God let his enemies humiliate and kill him? They did not know God's plan, they were fishermen and knew little if anything of the Old Testament messianic prophecies. Had they read of the Suffering Servant in second-Isaiah they would not have disbelieved the prophecy of his forth-coming sufferings, death and resurrection. And his mention of his resurrection after three days, which would prove that it was he and not his enemies who conquered, fell on deaf cars, because the idea of a resurrection of that kind was incomprehensible to them. We know how slow they were to accept his resurrection even after it had happened. Although the message was only vaguely and dubiously grasped, Christ had forewarned his Apostles (he repeated this twice later: Mk. 9: 9-10; 31-32 and 10: 32-34), so as to prepare them for the scandal of the cross. While it did not really prepare them because they were still too worldly-minded, it did help to strengthen their faith once the facts convinced them of the resurrection. They then realized that their beloved Master was more than Messiah, that he was in fact the Son of God, who with knowledge aforethought freely accepted his humiliations and shameful death for their sakes and ours. They gladly gave their lives to bringing this news of God's great love for men to all nations. From being a scandal the cross became the emblem and the proud standard of God's love for mankind. We are in the happy position of the Apostles after the resurrection of Jesus. We know how much God loves us; we appreciate the humiliation that the incarnation brought on his beloved Son and the sufferings and cruel death which the sins of the world, ours included, brought on the Son of God. All of this took place because God wished to make us his adopted sons and worthy of the inheritance he had planned for us. For a faithful and grateful Christian, however, theoretical appreciation is not enough. Atonement has been made for our sins, but we have still a very important part to play. Our sins can be forgiven but we must truly repent of them before God will forgive them. St. Mark adds some words of Christ which illustrate what practical form our appreciation and gratitude for Christ's sufferings should take. We must be ready to follow him on the road to Calvary. We must deny ourselves---deprive ourselves not only of sinful pleasure or gain, but even of lawful things at times, in order to be Christ-like. We must take up our cross and follow him. This does not mean that we must search for crosses---there are plenty of them in any good Christian's life---but we must gladly accept the crosses life brings us and see in them God's means of keeping us close to him. Life on earth is very short, eternal life is endless. No thinking man, and certainly no true Christian, would risk losing the eternal life for the sake of a few paltry gains or a few extra years here below.-b379 Click to return to our Home page

RE: 09.06.12~Readings For Sunday, September 9th-2012

USCCB » Bible » Daily Readings September 9, 2012 « September 8 | September 10 » Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 128 Reading 1 Is 35:4-7a Thus says the LORD: Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing. Streams will burst forth in the desert, and rivers in the steppe. The burning sands will become pools, and the thirsty ground, springs of water. Responsorial Psalm Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul! or: R. Alleluia. The God of Jacob keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets captives free. R. Praise the Lord, my soul! or: R. Alleluia. The LORD gives sight to the blind; the LORD raises up those who were bowed down. The LORD loves the just; the LORD protects strangers. R. Praise the Lord, my soul! or: R. Alleluia. The fatherless and the widow the LORD sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts. The LORD shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia. R. Praise the Lord, my soul! or: R. Alleluia. Reading 2 Jas 2:1-5My brothers and sisters, show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For if a man with gold rings and fine clothes comes into your assembly, and a poor person in shabby clothes also comes in, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say, "Sit here, please, " while you say to the poor one, "Stand there, " or "Sit at my feet, " have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil designs? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him? Gospel Mk 7:31-37 Again Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man's ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, "Ephphatha!"-- that is, "Be opened!" -- And immediately the man's ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, "He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak." Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.