Saturday, December 26, 2015
Thursday, December 10, 2015
RE: 12.10.15~Readings for Sunday December 13th-2015
December 13, 2015
Third Sunday of Advent
Lectionary: 9
Reading 1ZEP 3:14-18A
Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!
Sing joyfully, O Israel!
Be glad and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
The LORD has removed the judgment against you
he has turned away your enemies;
the King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst,
you have no further misfortune to fear.
On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!
The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
he will sing joyfully because of you,
as one sings at festivals.
Sing joyfully, O Israel!
Be glad and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
The LORD has removed the judgment against you
he has turned away your enemies;
the King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst,
you have no further misfortune to fear.
On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!
The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
he will sing joyfully because of you,
as one sings at festivals.
Responsorial PsalmIS 12:2-3, 4, 5-6
R. (6) Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
R. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
R. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
R. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
R. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
R. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
R. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
Reading 2PHIL 4:4-7
Brothers and sisters:
Rejoice in the Lord always.
I shall say it again: rejoice!
Your kindness should be known to all.
The Lord is near.
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
“What should we do?”
He said to them in reply,
“Whoever has two cloaks
should share with the person who has none.
And whoever has food should do likewise.”
Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him,
“Teacher, what should we do?”
He answered them,
“Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.”
Soldiers also asked him,
“And what is it that we should do?”
He told them,
“Do not practice extortion,
do not falsely accuse anyone,
and be satisfied with your wages.”
Now the people were filled with expectation,
and all were asking in their hearts
whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, saying,
“I am baptizing you with water,
but one mightier than I is coming.
I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor
and to gather the wheat into his barn,
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Exhorting them in many other ways,
he preached good news to the people.
Rejoice in the Lord always.
I shall say it again: rejoice!
Your kindness should be known to all.
The Lord is near.
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
AlleluiaIS 61:1 (CITED IN LK 4:18)
R. Alleluia, alleluia.The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 3:10-18
The crowds asked John the Baptist,“What should we do?”
He said to them in reply,
“Whoever has two cloaks
should share with the person who has none.
And whoever has food should do likewise.”
Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him,
“Teacher, what should we do?”
He answered them,
“Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.”
Soldiers also asked him,
“And what is it that we should do?”
He told them,
“Do not practice extortion,
do not falsely accuse anyone,
and be satisfied with your wages.”
Now the people were filled with expectation,
and all were asking in their hearts
whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, saying,
“I am baptizing you with water,
but one mightier than I is coming.
I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor
and to gather the wheat into his barn,
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Exhorting them in many other ways,
he preached good news to the people.
Friday, November 27, 2015
RE: 11.27.15~Start of a new Liturgical Year "C" - 1st Sunday of Advent
November 27, 2015
Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 507
Reading 1DN 7:2-14
In a vision I, Daniel, saw during the night,
the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea,
from which emerged four immense beasts,
each different from the others.
The first was like a lion, but with eagle’s wings.
While I watched, the wings were plucked;
it was raised from the ground to stand on two feet
like a man, and given a human mind.
The second was like a bear; it was raised up on one side,
and among the teeth in its mouth were three tusks.
It was given the order, “Up, devour much flesh.”
After this I looked and saw another beast, like a leopard;
on its back were four wings like those of a bird,
and it had four heads.
To this beast dominion was given.
After this, in the visions of the night I saw the fourth beast,
different from all the others,
terrifying, horrible, and of extraordinary strength;
it had great iron teeth with which it devoured and crushed,
and what was left it trampled with its feet.
I was considering the ten horns it had,
when suddenly another, a little horn, sprang out of their midst,
and three of the previous horns were torn away to make room for it.
This horn had eyes like a man,
and a mouth that spoke arrogantly.
As I watched,
Thrones were set up
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was snow bright,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
His throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.
The court was convened, and the books were opened.
I watched, then, from the first of the arrogant words
which the horn spoke, until the beast was slain
and its body thrown into the fire to be burnt up.
The other beasts, which also lost their dominion,
were granted a prolongation of life for a time and a season.
As the visions during the night continued, I saw
One like a son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
He received dominion, glory, and kingship;
nations and peoples of every language serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.
the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea,
from which emerged four immense beasts,
each different from the others.
The first was like a lion, but with eagle’s wings.
While I watched, the wings were plucked;
it was raised from the ground to stand on two feet
like a man, and given a human mind.
The second was like a bear; it was raised up on one side,
and among the teeth in its mouth were three tusks.
It was given the order, “Up, devour much flesh.”
After this I looked and saw another beast, like a leopard;
on its back were four wings like those of a bird,
and it had four heads.
To this beast dominion was given.
After this, in the visions of the night I saw the fourth beast,
different from all the others,
terrifying, horrible, and of extraordinary strength;
it had great iron teeth with which it devoured and crushed,
and what was left it trampled with its feet.
I was considering the ten horns it had,
when suddenly another, a little horn, sprang out of their midst,
and three of the previous horns were torn away to make room for it.
This horn had eyes like a man,
and a mouth that spoke arrogantly.
As I watched,
Thrones were set up
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was snow bright,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
His throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.
The court was convened, and the books were opened.
I watched, then, from the first of the arrogant words
which the horn spoke, until the beast was slain
and its body thrown into the fire to be burnt up.
The other beasts, which also lost their dominion,
were granted a prolongation of life for a time and a season.
As the visions during the night continued, I saw
One like a son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
He received dominion, glory, and kingship;
nations and peoples of every language serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.
Responsorial PsalmDANIEL 3:75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
“Mountains and hills, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
“Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
“You springs, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
“Seas and rivers, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
“You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
“All you birds of the air, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
“All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
Stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
“Mountains and hills, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
“Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
“You springs, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
“Seas and rivers, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
“You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
“All you birds of the air, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
“All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
AlleluiaLK 21:28
R. Alleluia, alleluia.Stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 21:29-33
Jesus told his disciples a parable.
“Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.
When their buds burst open,
you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near;
in the same way, when you see these things happening,
know that the Kingdom of God is near.
Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away
until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.”
“Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.
When their buds burst open,
you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near;
in the same way, when you see these things happening,
know that the Kingdom of God is near.
Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away
until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.”
Thursday, November 19, 2015
RE: 11.19.15~Readings for Sunday, November 25th-2015
November 22, 2015
The Solemnity Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Lectionary: 161
Reading 1DN 7:13-14
As the visions during the night continued, I saw
one like a Son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
when he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.
one like a Son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
when he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.
Responsorial PsalmPS 93:1, 1-2, 5
R. (1a) The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
And he has made the world firm,
not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
from everlasting you are, O LORD.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed;
holiness befits your house,
O LORD, for length of days.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
And he has made the world firm,
not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
from everlasting you are, O LORD.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed;
holiness befits your house,
O LORD, for length of days.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
Reading 2RV 1:5-8
Jesus Christ is the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father,
to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.
Behold, he is coming amid the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him.
All the peoples of the earth will lament him.
Yes. Amen.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, " says the Lord God,
"the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty."
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
"Are you the King of the Jews?"
Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own
or have others told you about me?"
Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I?
Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me.
What have you done?"
Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world.
If my kingdom did belong to this world,
my attendants would be fighting
to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.
But as it is, my kingdom is not here."
So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?"
Jesus answered, "You say I am a king.
For this I was born and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth.
Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."
the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father,
to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.
Behold, he is coming amid the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him.
All the peoples of the earth will lament him.
Yes. Amen.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, " says the Lord God,
"the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty."
AlleluiaMK 11:9, 10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelJN 18:33B-37
Pilate said to Jesus,"Are you the King of the Jews?"
Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own
or have others told you about me?"
Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I?
Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me.
What have you done?"
Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world.
If my kingdom did belong to this world,
my attendants would be fighting
to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.
But as it is, my kingdom is not here."
So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?"
Jesus answered, "You say I am a king.
For this I was born and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth.
Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."
Thursday, October 22, 2015
RE: 10.22.15~Readings for Sunday, October 25th-2015
Beverly J. Anarumo, D.O., F.A.C.O.P
B. J. ANARUMO, D.O., P.A.
Pediatrics
18308 Murdock Circle, Unit 103
Port Charlotte, FL 33948-1025
941/629-3618 / FAX 941/629-9809
Patient - Bolyard, Grace DOB: 12/13/2005
October 22, 2015
***
***
To Whom This May Concern:
The mother of this patient wishes to cancel the bulk of this order, but only continue to receive diapers and pads.
Please note that the doctor moved from the Tamiami Trail address 7 years ago.
If there are any questions or concerns, then please contact my office.
Thanks,
B. J. ANARUMO, D.O., P.A.
Beverly J. Anarumo, D.O., F.A.C.O.P
Thursday, October 8, 2015
RE: 10.02.15~Readings for Sunday, October 11th-2015
Commentary – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
October 11, 2015
First Reading – Wisdom 7.7-11
I prayed, and prudence was given me;
I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
I preferred her to scepter and throne,
and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her,
nor did I liken any priceless gem to her;
because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand,
and before her, silver is to be accounted mire.
Beyond health and comeliness I loved her,
and I chose to have her rather than the light,
because the splendor of her never yields to sleep.
Yet all good things together came to me in her company,
and countless riches at her hands.
Commentary
Much of the text we have just heard could have been written by a non- believing Greek philosopher: “I preferred her (Wisdom) to scepter and throne, and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her, nor did I liken any priceless gem to her; because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand, and before her, silver is to be accounted mire.”
Of course, one does not need to have faith to express such thoughts. Humanity did not wait for the Bible and the religion of the God of Israel to discover that the treasures of the mind and the heart are better than all the gold and jewels of the world.
However, the point of this text is elsewhere. It is not a lesson on how to live the good life, even if it is a beneficial lesson. Its message is deciphered by reading between the lines. Allow me to explain: the book of Wisdom showcases King Solomon and it is he who is supposedly speaking these lines. To grasp what Solomon wants to tell us, we must recall a well-known episode of his life (1 Kings 3). It takes place at the very beginning of his reign. After some major court intrigues and the settling of accounts, Solomon is finally installed on the throne and all of his political enemies are removed. He will soon build the Temple of Jerusalem, but for now, it is in Gibeon, twelve kilometers north of Jerusalem that he is organizing the first major event of his reign. He plans to offer a sacrifice of a thousand animals, which would obviously have to be done over a number of days; therefore we can assume that he slept at Gibeon, since it is during the night that he has a dream that has remained famous. God appears to him and says, “Whatever you ask I shall give you.” Solomon replies, “I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act - I, your servant, among the people you have chosen, a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted. ... Give your servant, therefore, a listening heart to judge your people and to distinguish between good and evil. For who is able to give judgment for this vast people of yours?” The Bible account continues: “The Lord was pleased by Solomon’s request. So God said to him: Because you asked for this—you did not ask for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies—but you asked for discernment to know what is right— I now do as you request. I give you a heart so wise and discerning that there has never been anyone like you until now, nor after you will there be anyone to equal you. In addition, I give you what you have not asked for: I give you such riches and glory that among kings there will be no one like you all your days” (1 Kings 3.4-13; 2 Chronicles 1.7-13)
If, nine hundred years later, the Book of Wisdom recalls this episode (in today’s reading), it is not in order to give a history lesson on Solomon; it is because its author has something very important to say to his contemporaries. He devotes several chapters to his message. When he cites Salomon saying “I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me”, he is aiming his words at the powerful of this world: from time immemorial those in power have somewhat tended to believe that they have innate wisdom ... and even that they alone know what is wise! This text reminds them that even kings are not born with wisdom ... One must humbly ask for it in prayer. Even the great King Solomon who was renowned for his wisdom, knew very well that he had received it from God after he had humility asked for it.
However, the text is more than a warning against the arrogance of those in power: it is a revelation. Once again, we see how the Bible has something in common with neighboring literatures and at the same time has something absolutely new; and it is in this difference that revelation dwells: for other peoples, and for Egypt in particular, the well established belief is that the king is an exceptional being, endowed by birth with divine wisdom. (All the court rituals aimed at reinforcing that belief!)
The Bible on the other hand showcases a very famous king, whose greatness, success and wealth no one disputes, yet who acknowledges that he is simply a human being and no more. In the following chapter of the Book of Wisdom, Solomon says: “I was a well-favored child ... and knowing that I could not otherwise possess her (wisdom) unless God gave it” (Wis 8.21). King Solomon further explains: “I too am a mortal, the same as all the rest, and a descendant of the first one formed of earth. And in my mother’s womb I was molded into flesh… And I too, when born, inhaled the common air, and fell upon the kindred earth; wailing, I uttered that first sound common to all. In swaddling clothes and with constant care I was nurtured. For no king has any different origin or birth; one is the entry into life for all, and in one same way they leave it” (7.1-6). And he adds, “Therefore I prayed and prudence was given me” (the first verse of today’s text).
Therefore, the first lesson of this text is that kings are mere mortals, no different than other human beings. God alone is God; the king is neither a god nor a demigod. The second lesson is that all wisdom comes from God; it is a gift from God. No human can claim to possess wisdom on his or her own. But then the Book of Wisdom says something else, which is already implicit in today’s reading; it says that this treasure, wisdom, accessible to mere mortal kings, can likewise be received by all - it is simply a matter of asking for it in prayer. “Passing into holy souls from age to age, she produces friends of God and prophets”, says a verse at the end of this chapter (Wis 7.27) - which is to say that all humanity is destined to share the wisdom of Solomon.
----------------------------
Addendum
On Solomon’s wisdom: if so many words and even books on true wisdom have been attributed to Solomon it is because he exemplifies the best and the worst of human nature, depending on whether one allows oneself to be led or not by God’s wisdom. Solomon’s life can be described as having had three phases: his ascension to the throne came on the heels of a rather dubious period in his life (he became king only through intrigues and the elimination of his eldest brothers). In a second phase of his life he is filled with great wisdom. This is followed by a period in which an elderly Solomon falls under the domination of power and the pagan influence of his wives.
Responsorial Psalm – 90.12-17
R/Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R/Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
Make us glad, for the days when you afflicted us,
for the years when we saw evil.
R/Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Let your work be seen by your servants
and your glory by their children;
and may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R/Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Second Reading – Hebrews 4.12-13
Brothers and sisters:
Indeed the word of God is living and effective,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow,
and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
No creature is concealed from him,
but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him
to whom we must render an account.
Gospel – Mark 10.17-30
As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up,
knelt down before him, and asked him,
"Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me good?
No one is good but God alone.
You know the commandments: You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
you shall not defraud;
honor your father and your mother."
He replied and said to him,
"Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth."
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,
"You are lacking in one thing.
Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."
At that statement his face fell,
and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
"How hard it is for those who have wealth
to enter the kingdom of God!"
The disciples were amazed at his words.
So Jesus again said to them in reply,
"Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."
They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,
"Then who can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said,
"For human beings it is impossible, but not for God.
All things are possible for God."
Peter began to say to him,
"We have given up everything and followed you."
Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you,
there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or lands
for my sake and for the sake of the gospel
who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age:
houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands,
with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come."
Commentary
The question put to Jesus is full of good will, “What must I do to inherit …" And Jesus, at first responds in the same vein: to enter eternal life, here is what you must do: keep the commandments - you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not deceive others, you shall not wrong anyone, you will honor your father and your mother. And the man replies, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” He probably expected to be given the seal of approval for good behavior, which he deserves if indeed he has been faithful to all these commandments since his youth. But Jesus is not a teacher of doctrine: his purpose is more than simply affirming what one must do to remain within the norm; the commandments are but a step towards something greater. This man has just been given the chance of his life: Jesus loves him and invites him to follow him. In saying this, Jesus reveals that eternal life is not some future reward: it is life with Jesus in the here and now as well as forever. The young man is one of the first to be invited to participate in God's plan to gather all things in Christ.
But Jesus’ proposal uncovers the man’s pitfall: in order to follow Jesus and become part of his group of disciples, he would have to be free; “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have.” With these words he understands that his wealth is holding him back, that it has tied him up, as sure as if he were a drug addict. He goes away sad, thus admitting that this is the case. Jesus rightfully observes: “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God.” He who does not have a stone on which to rest his head is forced to admit that human beings prefer their bank accounts to the love he offers them.
Meanwhile, Mark tells us that the disciples are confused, stunned; they too are not on the same wavelength as Jesus. Traditionally, wealth was considered a gift from God. But Jesus insists: “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” This image always surprises us; but Jesus is neither the first nor the only one to have used such an image to express a near impossibility; for example, a Jewish saying contemporaneous with the Gospels (later transcribed in the Babylonian Talmud) spoke of an elephant passing through the eye of a needle.
This image must remain shocking, as Jesus wanted, so as to alert us: “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God.” Perhaps this is because we are too often possessed by our wealth; or perhaps because our wealth is what we ought to have shared with those poorer than us but did not; and even if we dislike this radical gospel saying we cannot do away with it; perhaps our wealth makes us self-sufficient, not knowing how to receive.
All this is too much for the disciples: “Then who can be saved?” Jesus' answer may not have reassured them right away: “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” Here, Christ is not out to discourage anyone; his purpose is to arouse awareness; and to speak the truth. For God, everything is possible; God has every means to save us. God alone is able to free us and wants to do so.
The rich man’s sadness is a good sign – it shows that he is becoming aware. Once he understands that he cannot earn his salvation through his own “doing”, he will be able to receive salvation as a gift from God. For the rich man, it was a question of earning one's own salvation and Jesus answers him from that viewpoint. However, with that understanding of salvation the rich man could not follow Jesus.
Jesus proposes a reversal of perspective: salvation is not earned; we receive it in humble thanksgiving; but to receive it we must be free, capable of leaving everything that hinders us.
The disciples’ perspective is also one of merit: “We have given up everything” (therefore we must surely deserve something). Jesus warns them not to expect to be applauded, but rather to expect persecution; more importantly, he promises them much more than all they will ever sacrifice: a hundredfold of everything. And he promises them eternal life, not as a reward, but as a gift.
Translated with permission by Simone Baryliuk, from: Commentaires de Marie Noëlle Thabut, 11 octobre, 2015
October 11, 2015
First Reading – Wisdom 7.7-11
I prayed, and prudence was given me;
I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
I preferred her to scepter and throne,
and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her,
nor did I liken any priceless gem to her;
because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand,
and before her, silver is to be accounted mire.
Beyond health and comeliness I loved her,
and I chose to have her rather than the light,
because the splendor of her never yields to sleep.
Yet all good things together came to me in her company,
and countless riches at her hands.
Commentary
Much of the text we have just heard could have been written by a non- believing Greek philosopher: “I preferred her (Wisdom) to scepter and throne, and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her, nor did I liken any priceless gem to her; because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand, and before her, silver is to be accounted mire.”
Of course, one does not need to have faith to express such thoughts. Humanity did not wait for the Bible and the religion of the God of Israel to discover that the treasures of the mind and the heart are better than all the gold and jewels of the world.
However, the point of this text is elsewhere. It is not a lesson on how to live the good life, even if it is a beneficial lesson. Its message is deciphered by reading between the lines. Allow me to explain: the book of Wisdom showcases King Solomon and it is he who is supposedly speaking these lines. To grasp what Solomon wants to tell us, we must recall a well-known episode of his life (1 Kings 3). It takes place at the very beginning of his reign. After some major court intrigues and the settling of accounts, Solomon is finally installed on the throne and all of his political enemies are removed. He will soon build the Temple of Jerusalem, but for now, it is in Gibeon, twelve kilometers north of Jerusalem that he is organizing the first major event of his reign. He plans to offer a sacrifice of a thousand animals, which would obviously have to be done over a number of days; therefore we can assume that he slept at Gibeon, since it is during the night that he has a dream that has remained famous. God appears to him and says, “Whatever you ask I shall give you.” Solomon replies, “I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act - I, your servant, among the people you have chosen, a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted. ... Give your servant, therefore, a listening heart to judge your people and to distinguish between good and evil. For who is able to give judgment for this vast people of yours?” The Bible account continues: “The Lord was pleased by Solomon’s request. So God said to him: Because you asked for this—you did not ask for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies—but you asked for discernment to know what is right— I now do as you request. I give you a heart so wise and discerning that there has never been anyone like you until now, nor after you will there be anyone to equal you. In addition, I give you what you have not asked for: I give you such riches and glory that among kings there will be no one like you all your days” (1 Kings 3.4-13; 2 Chronicles 1.7-13)
If, nine hundred years later, the Book of Wisdom recalls this episode (in today’s reading), it is not in order to give a history lesson on Solomon; it is because its author has something very important to say to his contemporaries. He devotes several chapters to his message. When he cites Salomon saying “I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me”, he is aiming his words at the powerful of this world: from time immemorial those in power have somewhat tended to believe that they have innate wisdom ... and even that they alone know what is wise! This text reminds them that even kings are not born with wisdom ... One must humbly ask for it in prayer. Even the great King Solomon who was renowned for his wisdom, knew very well that he had received it from God after he had humility asked for it.
However, the text is more than a warning against the arrogance of those in power: it is a revelation. Once again, we see how the Bible has something in common with neighboring literatures and at the same time has something absolutely new; and it is in this difference that revelation dwells: for other peoples, and for Egypt in particular, the well established belief is that the king is an exceptional being, endowed by birth with divine wisdom. (All the court rituals aimed at reinforcing that belief!)
The Bible on the other hand showcases a very famous king, whose greatness, success and wealth no one disputes, yet who acknowledges that he is simply a human being and no more. In the following chapter of the Book of Wisdom, Solomon says: “I was a well-favored child ... and knowing that I could not otherwise possess her (wisdom) unless God gave it” (Wis 8.21). King Solomon further explains: “I too am a mortal, the same as all the rest, and a descendant of the first one formed of earth. And in my mother’s womb I was molded into flesh… And I too, when born, inhaled the common air, and fell upon the kindred earth; wailing, I uttered that first sound common to all. In swaddling clothes and with constant care I was nurtured. For no king has any different origin or birth; one is the entry into life for all, and in one same way they leave it” (7.1-6). And he adds, “Therefore I prayed and prudence was given me” (the first verse of today’s text).
Therefore, the first lesson of this text is that kings are mere mortals, no different than other human beings. God alone is God; the king is neither a god nor a demigod. The second lesson is that all wisdom comes from God; it is a gift from God. No human can claim to possess wisdom on his or her own. But then the Book of Wisdom says something else, which is already implicit in today’s reading; it says that this treasure, wisdom, accessible to mere mortal kings, can likewise be received by all - it is simply a matter of asking for it in prayer. “Passing into holy souls from age to age, she produces friends of God and prophets”, says a verse at the end of this chapter (Wis 7.27) - which is to say that all humanity is destined to share the wisdom of Solomon.
----------------------------
Addendum
On Solomon’s wisdom: if so many words and even books on true wisdom have been attributed to Solomon it is because he exemplifies the best and the worst of human nature, depending on whether one allows oneself to be led or not by God’s wisdom. Solomon’s life can be described as having had three phases: his ascension to the throne came on the heels of a rather dubious period in his life (he became king only through intrigues and the elimination of his eldest brothers). In a second phase of his life he is filled with great wisdom. This is followed by a period in which an elderly Solomon falls under the domination of power and the pagan influence of his wives.
Responsorial Psalm – 90.12-17
R/Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R/Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
Make us glad, for the days when you afflicted us,
for the years when we saw evil.
R/Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Let your work be seen by your servants
and your glory by their children;
and may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R/Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Second Reading – Hebrews 4.12-13
Brothers and sisters:
Indeed the word of God is living and effective,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow,
and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
No creature is concealed from him,
but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him
to whom we must render an account.
Gospel – Mark 10.17-30
As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up,
knelt down before him, and asked him,
"Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me good?
No one is good but God alone.
You know the commandments: You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
you shall not defraud;
honor your father and your mother."
He replied and said to him,
"Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth."
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,
"You are lacking in one thing.
Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."
At that statement his face fell,
and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
"How hard it is for those who have wealth
to enter the kingdom of God!"
The disciples were amazed at his words.
So Jesus again said to them in reply,
"Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."
They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,
"Then who can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said,
"For human beings it is impossible, but not for God.
All things are possible for God."
Peter began to say to him,
"We have given up everything and followed you."
Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you,
there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or lands
for my sake and for the sake of the gospel
who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age:
houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands,
with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come."
Commentary
The question put to Jesus is full of good will, “What must I do to inherit …" And Jesus, at first responds in the same vein: to enter eternal life, here is what you must do: keep the commandments - you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not deceive others, you shall not wrong anyone, you will honor your father and your mother. And the man replies, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” He probably expected to be given the seal of approval for good behavior, which he deserves if indeed he has been faithful to all these commandments since his youth. But Jesus is not a teacher of doctrine: his purpose is more than simply affirming what one must do to remain within the norm; the commandments are but a step towards something greater. This man has just been given the chance of his life: Jesus loves him and invites him to follow him. In saying this, Jesus reveals that eternal life is not some future reward: it is life with Jesus in the here and now as well as forever. The young man is one of the first to be invited to participate in God's plan to gather all things in Christ.
But Jesus’ proposal uncovers the man’s pitfall: in order to follow Jesus and become part of his group of disciples, he would have to be free; “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have.” With these words he understands that his wealth is holding him back, that it has tied him up, as sure as if he were a drug addict. He goes away sad, thus admitting that this is the case. Jesus rightfully observes: “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God.” He who does not have a stone on which to rest his head is forced to admit that human beings prefer their bank accounts to the love he offers them.
Meanwhile, Mark tells us that the disciples are confused, stunned; they too are not on the same wavelength as Jesus. Traditionally, wealth was considered a gift from God. But Jesus insists: “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” This image always surprises us; but Jesus is neither the first nor the only one to have used such an image to express a near impossibility; for example, a Jewish saying contemporaneous with the Gospels (later transcribed in the Babylonian Talmud) spoke of an elephant passing through the eye of a needle.
This image must remain shocking, as Jesus wanted, so as to alert us: “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God.” Perhaps this is because we are too often possessed by our wealth; or perhaps because our wealth is what we ought to have shared with those poorer than us but did not; and even if we dislike this radical gospel saying we cannot do away with it; perhaps our wealth makes us self-sufficient, not knowing how to receive.
All this is too much for the disciples: “Then who can be saved?” Jesus' answer may not have reassured them right away: “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” Here, Christ is not out to discourage anyone; his purpose is to arouse awareness; and to speak the truth. For God, everything is possible; God has every means to save us. God alone is able to free us and wants to do so.
The rich man’s sadness is a good sign – it shows that he is becoming aware. Once he understands that he cannot earn his salvation through his own “doing”, he will be able to receive salvation as a gift from God. For the rich man, it was a question of earning one's own salvation and Jesus answers him from that viewpoint. However, with that understanding of salvation the rich man could not follow Jesus.
Jesus proposes a reversal of perspective: salvation is not earned; we receive it in humble thanksgiving; but to receive it we must be free, capable of leaving everything that hinders us.
The disciples’ perspective is also one of merit: “We have given up everything” (therefore we must surely deserve something). Jesus warns them not to expect to be applauded, but rather to expect persecution; more importantly, he promises them much more than all they will ever sacrifice: a hundredfold of everything. And he promises them eternal life, not as a reward, but as a gift.
Translated with permission by Simone Baryliuk, from: Commentaires de Marie Noëlle Thabut, 11 octobre, 2015
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