Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles Mass During the Day

 

Mass at the Vigil

“Saints Peter and Paul”
by Guido Reni, c. 1600

 
Catechism Links [1]
 
CCC 153, 424, 440, 442, 552, 765, 880-881: Saint Peter
CCC 442, 601, 639, 642, 1508, 2632-2633, 2636, 2638: Saint Paul
 
Readings for the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul [2]
 
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [3]
 
Readings and Commentary:[4][5]
 
Reading 1: Acts 12:1-11
 
In those days, King Herod laid hands upon some members of the Church to harm them.
He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword,
and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews
he proceeded to arrest Peter also.
-It was the feast of Unleavened Bread.-
He had him taken into custody and put in prison
under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each.
He intended to bring him before the people after Passover.
Peter thus was being kept in prison,
but prayer by the Church was fervently being made
to God on his behalf.
 
On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial,
Peter, secured by double chains,
was sleeping between two soldiers,
while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison.
Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him
and a light shone in the cell.
He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying,
"Get up quickly."
The chains fell from his wrists.
The angel said to him, "Put on your belt and your sandals."
He did so.
Then he said to him, "Put on your cloak and follow me."
So he followed him out,
not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real;
he thought he was seeing a vision.
They passed the first guard, then the second,
and came to the iron gate leading out to the city,
which opened for them by itself.
They emerged and made their way down an alley,
and suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter recovered his senses and said,
"Now I know for certain
that the Lord sent his angel
and rescued me from the hand of Herod
and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting."
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Commentary on Acts 12:1-11
 
The Christian Jews in Jerusalem have fallen from favor, probably due to St. Stephen’s teaching and the subsequent backlash. The execution of St. James marks the beginning of the third persecution of the early Church in Jerusalem, this one from a more formal source.
 
The liberation of Peter from prison echoes many events of Jewish history (the deliverance of Joseph, Genesis 39:21-41:57; the three young men, Daniel 3; and Daniel himself, Daniel 6) that consciously reflect the paschal liberation (Exodus 12:42). Peter now undergoes the same trial and deliverance as his Master and in his own person becomes a sign of God’s deliverance of his people.
 
CCC: Acts 12:5 2636; Acts 12:6-11 334
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
 
R. (5) The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
 
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
 
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
 
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
 
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
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Commentary on Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
 
Psalm 34 is a song of thanksgiving and a favorite for celebrating the heroic virtue of the saints. The psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued (Psalm 34:5, 7), can teach the "poor," those who are defenseless, to trust in God alone. This psalm, in the words of one being unjustly persecuted, echoes hope for deliverance and freedom. The Lord in his faithful love always hears those who call to him for help and salvation.
 
CCC: Ps 34:3 716; Ps 34:8 336
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Reading II: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18
 
I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well; I have finished the race;
I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me,
but to all who have longed for his appearance.
 
The Lord stood by me and gave me strength,
so that through me the proclamation might be completed
and all the Gentiles might hear it.
And I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat
and will bring me safe to his heavenly Kingdom.
To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.
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Commentary on 2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18
 
Paul is writing from prison at the end of his life. The only deliverance he can expect is death, and he confidently proclaims that it is the greatest deliverance of all. The death of the Christian who has lived and worked in union with the death of Christ, through baptism, is truly release to freedom and glory. The apostle views this deliverance as an act of worship. At the close of his life Paul could testify to the accomplishment of what Christ himself foretold concerning him at the time of his conversion: "I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name" (Acts 9:16).
 
CCC: 2 Tm 4 2015
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Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19
 
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter said in reply,
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
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Commentary on Mt 16:13-19
 
"The passage is a classic portrayal of one of the essential characteristics of Christian revelation: namely, that God has chosen to communicate his truth and life to the world through the mediation of human beings." [6]
 
St. Matthew’s story of how Jesus asked about what people were saying about him has a profound impact on the Church. Here, when challenged by Jesus with the question, “But who do you say that I am?”, Simon answers, “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.” The second title is not present in St. Mark’s version of this encounter. The title adds an understanding that Jesus is not just the Messiah, but also the Son of God.
 
Given this response, Jesus confers upon Simon a new name “Kephas” which comes from the root Aramaic word kepa or “rock.” When translated into Greek it is petros, and from there to Peter. The name, however, becomes the foundation for the Church. As a consequence of this exchange, Peter is given Christ’s authority, an authority that is passed down through papal succession to the pope who sits on the Chair of Peter today.
 
CCC: Mt 16-18 1969; Mt 16:16-23 440; Mt 16:16 424, 442; Mt 16:17 153, 442; Mt 16:18-19 881; Mt 16:18 424, 442, 552, 586, 869; Mt 16:19 553, 1444
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Reflection:
 
Where would we be without St. Peter and St. Paul? Peter was given the keys to the kingdom to pass down to us while Paul was sent to proclaim that kingdom to non-Jewish people. Without Peter, there would be no first pontiff; without Paul, Christianity might have been nothing more than an insignificant scandalous offshoot of Judaism.
 
While they were both critical to God’s plan, how differently they are painted by Scripture. Peter was so very human. He could suddenly be open to the Holy Spirit and then just as suddenly fall prey to doubt. We saw it many times in the Gospel.
 
Remember the time in the boat on the Sea of Galilee when he saw Jesus and got out of the boat and actually began walking on the water? (Matthew 14:22-36) We are reminded of a child learning to ride a bike. The parent patiently takes the child out onto the sidewalk, tells the child to begin pedaling as the parent walks next to them holding on to the back. At some point the parent lets go and the child rides on. Until, that is, they realize the parent is not there and then they generally lose faith (and concentration) and crash. Peter was like that; he started walking on water and as soon as he realized that it was impossible, he started to sink. The Lord rescued him, of course, like he always does for all of us. And he chastised Peter for his lack of faith.
 
Remember that awful night in the garden when Jesus was taken? How earlier in the evening when they were reclining at table Peter told Jesus how he would follow Jesus down any road? Remember how the Lord told him that before that night was out he would deny him three times? Again Peter was caught up in the spirit and said the noble thing only to fall prey to his own human weakness later. (Matthew 26:14—27:66) I love him for that weakness; it gives me hope for myself.
 
Then we have Paul who was a melodramatic firebrand. Paul, it seemed to me, threw himself into situations he knew would be spectacular. It was his style. Once there, with the predictable outcome (usually that meant he was either in jail or on the verge of being executed), he would lament his troubles (like today: "I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation"). He wanted us to see graphically that being Christian and following Christ in our lives would be difficult, should be difficult. He had a keen intellect and enjoyed matching wits with the best philosophical minds in Rome. Like so many in the Church today, Paul, as a convert, was the most fervent in his faith.
 
Two very different tools in the Lord’s toolbox are celebrated today. We, his modern-day followers, will do well if we can emulate either of them in their love of God and their dedication to the faith. We celebrate the fact that both followed Christ in life and death and sit now in the heavenly kingdom with all the angels and saints. We ask for their intercession on our behalf.
 
Pax
 
In other years on this date: Monday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

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[1] Catechism links are taken from the Homiletic Directory, published by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 29 June 2014.
[2] The picture used is “Saints Peter and Paul” by Guido Reni, c. 1600.
[3] S.S. Commemoratio
[4] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[5] In part, from the commentary from Fr. Tom Welbers at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Berkeley, California.
[6] Leiva-Merikakis, Erasmo. Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word: Vol. 1 (Ignatius Press. Kindle Edition), 508.

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Catechism Links [1]
 
CCC 2232-2233: To follow Christ is first vocation of a Christian
CCC 537, 628, 790, 1213, 1226-1228, 1694: Baptism, to die to self, to live for Christ
CCC 1987: Grace justifies through faith and baptism

“Christ Carrying His Cross”
by El Greco, 1580’s

Readings for the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time [2]
 
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [3]
 
Readings and Commentary: [4]
 
Reading 1: 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16a
 
One day Elisha came to Shunem,
where there was a woman of influence, who urged him to dine with her.
Afterward, whenever he passed by, he used to stop there to dine.
So she said to her husband, "I know that Elisha is a holy man of God.
Since he visits us often, let us arrange a little room on the roof
and furnish it for him with a bed, table, chair, and lamp,
so that when he comes to us he can stay there."
Sometime later Elisha arrived and stayed in the room overnight.
 
Later Elisha asked, "Can something be done for her?"
His servant Gehazi answered, "Yes!
She has no son, and her husband is getting on in years."
Elisha said, "Call her."
When the woman had been called and stood at the door,
Elisha promised, "This time next year
you will be fondling a baby son.
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Commentary on 2 Kgs 4:8-11, 14-16a
 
The passage provides a picture of the itinerant nature of Elisha, who travels about providing prophetic guidance to the people from his base at Mount Carmel (2 Kings 2:25). The woman of the story shows deference to Elisha, recognizing his status as being sent by God. In return, Elisha repays her generosity seeking God’s help in providing her material support in the form of a son.
 
"The main thing to be learned from this passage (as also from 1 Kings 17:6) is the power of the prophet's prayer and indeed anyone else's prayer when done with faith. But we also learn that when God gives a gift, no matter how surprisingly and unexpectedly (such as the gift of a son to this woman), he also gives the grace to conserve it and make it bear fruit. The Lord does not leave us to our own devices when he gives us, for example, personal talents, or a vocation even if we may not have sought one." [5]
 
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RESPONSORIAL PSALM
 
Psalm 89:2-3, 16-17,18-19
 
R. (2a) Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
 
The promises of the LORD I will sing forever,
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your
faithfulness.
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever";
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
 
Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;
in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.
At your name they rejoice all the day,
and through your justice they are exalted.
R. Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
 
You are the splendor of their strength,
and by your favor our horn is exalted.
For to the LORD belongs our shield,
and to the Holy One of Israel, our king.
R. Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
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Commentary on Ps 89:2-3, 16-17,18-19
 
Psalm 89 is a communal lament. The first strophe recalls God’s faithfulness expressed in his unbreakable covenant with King David. The focus next moves to the people of God: “in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.” The righteous are upheld by the Lord. The passage concludes reiterating God’s promised help and protection.
 
CCC: Ps 89 709
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Reading 2: Romans 6:3-4, 8-11
 
Brothers and sisters:
Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death?
We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death,
so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead
by the glory of the Father,
we too might live in newness of life.
 
If, then, we have died with Christ,
we believe that we shall also live with him.
We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more;
death no longer has power over him.
As to his death, he died to sin once and for all;
as to his life, he lives for God.
Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as dead to sin
and living for God in Christ Jesus.
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Commentary on Rom 6:3-4, 8-11
 
This reading from Romans reminds the Christian that all who have been joined to Christ in baptism are also joined to his death. Without the inevitable death of the body, there is no resurrection. St. Paul teaches that, since Christ came so his followers could be absolved from sin, the great promise is that those baptized in the faith will rise with him, free from all sin.
 
CCC: Rom 6:3-9 1006; Rom 6:3-4 1214, 1227, 1987; Rom 6:4-5 790; Rom 6:4 537, 628, 648, 654, 658, 730, 977, 1697; Rom 6:8-11 1987
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GOSPEL: Matthew 10:37-42
 
Jesus said to his apostles:
"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,
and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
and whoever does not take up his cross
and follow after me is not worthy of me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
 
"Whoever receives you receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet
will receive a prophet's reward,
and whoever receives a righteous man
because he is a righteous man
will receive a righteous man's reward.
And whoever gives only a cup of cold water
to one of these little ones to drink
because the little one is a disciple—
amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward."
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Commentary on Mt 10:37-42
 
This passage from St. Matthew’s Gospel parallels Mark 8:34-35 and Luke 9:24-25 (also cf. Luke 14:26-27; 17:33) in directing the Christian disciple to place their faith above everything else in their lives, including family. The author softens the language used in St. Luke’s Gospel from “hate” to “love less,” indicating the kind of divisions that may occur when the Gospel of Christ is proclaimed in families. The disciple is enjoined to “take up his cross” in the sense that the Christian discipline requires the follower to take positions in society which are frequently unpopular and will cause discrimination and persecution. A more accurate translation of this instruction is to take up the Cross of Christ (as was demonstrated in the Passion of Simon of Cyrene) and follow “after” Jesus.  The disciple is instructed to take up the mission of Jesus and carry it forward.
 
In the second section of this passage, St. Matthew reminds the faithful of their own obligation to support others in the Christian community, especially the “little ones,” indicating the apostles, who depend upon the support of the community to continue their work.
 
CCC: Mt 10:37 2232; Mt 10:38 1506; Mt 10:40 858
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Reflection:
 
For some of us who are older, we will remember the great classic story Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain (Samuel L. Clemens). In that iconic tale, Tom tricked a friend of his, “Ben Rogers” into whitewashing a fence for him. As a homilist, after reviewing the Scripture for today, I wondered if I could do something like that got make you think the message today was light and uplifting.  But as we look through the Gospel and St. Paul’s message what we are given is our great commissioning as emissaries of our Lord, and that requires work on our part.
 
In contemplating the Sacred Scripture you have heard today, I would like to start by saying, thank you for coming here to this house of God and gate of heaven.  Thank you for your faith in Jesus Christ that brought you here to be with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Today you are with Simon of Cyrene.  It was Simon who carried the Cross of Christ.  It is in Simon’s place we who are his emissaries in today’s word are asked to stand, carrying the Cross of Jesus.
 
In doing so we are saying to society that we reject the hedonism and narcissism at the heart of secular values.  We are saying, by our presence here, that we choose to follow behind Jesus and to accept his mission as a major part of our lives. 
 
We say thank you because it is difficult, this faith we share.  Some of us may have been taken by surprise to hear the St. Paul ask his Roman audience: “Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” Yet, we all know that we will not live forever.  St. Paul reminds us that in baptism we were adopted by God.  We became members of his household and share in the inheritance of God’s household, which is resurrection following our physical death.
 
We are given grace, grace to carry the cross which sometimes seems limited to our own lives, our own redemptive suffering, but in carrying that burden without complaint and in good spirits we show others the power of our faith, the power of our savior who took all of our burdens of sin upon himself.
 
The Gospel message from St. Matthew is a challenging one.  But it does help to put it into context.  The passage proclaimed today was part of a longer dialogue with his disciples.  It began with his commissioning them, explaining where they were to go and what they were to take with them.  He then warned them about coming persecutions.  He warned them that the message they were bringing would not be popular and would cause division.  And with that dire warning, he told them what strength of character they would need to follow behind him, taking the mission he gave them forward.
 
It becomes clear that he is establishing a needed priority.  He is not telling them that they (and we) should not love our parents, our families, our friends.  No, he is saying that their priority must be to love God.  The decision was theirs and is now ours. 
 
My favorite author, Fr. Simeon, wrote the following about this passage:
 
“We read that Elijah, during his struggle with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, ‘stepped forward and said to the people, ‘How long will you go in both directions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him’ (1 Kings 18:21). This is the fundamental purpose of the sword of division brought by Christ to compel each of us to decide whether to adhere to him or to any one of a multitude of false gods. In the present passage, Jesus proclaims one of the indispensable conditions for following him, and his tone is just as solemn and full of prophetic authority as the utterance of Elijah.” [6]
 
Thank you.  By being present today, you have made this choice.  You have chosen to follow behind Jesus and to carry his cross as Simon did, proclaiming to all who see you that you follow Christ. You have made this choice knowing that it is not easy, it is not popular, and it can even cause divisions with those you love.
 
This decision we have made must be a public witness.  That does not mean we need to stand on street corners proclaiming the Lord.  It means we are called to do what Jesus asked of his disciples, to be in the world and demonstrate the love of God to those we meet.  That was Jesus’ great message, that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son.
 
Thank God we have the help of the Holy Spirit (also given in baptism). All we need to do is walk behind the carpenter’s son and carry his cross.
 
Pax
 
In other years on June 28^th: Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr

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[1] Catechism links are taken from the Homiletic Directory, published by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 29 June 2014.
[2] The picture is “Christ Carrying His Cross” by El Greco, 1580’s.
[3] S.S. Commemoratio
[4] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[5] The Navarre Bible, Joshua-Kings (Scepter Publishers, Princeton, NJ, © 2003), 529.
[6] Leiva-Merikakis, Erasmo. Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word: Vol. 1 (Ignatius Press. Kindle Edition), 750.

Saturday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

Optional Memorial for Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
 
Proper readings for the Memorial of St. Cyril of Alexandria
 
Biographical information about St. Cyril of Alexandria
 
(Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
 
On Saturdays in Ordinary Time when there is no obligatory memorial, an optional memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary is allowed.[1] Mass texts may be taken from the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, from a Votive Mass, or from the special collection of Masses for the Blessed Virgin Mary. Recommended for this date: #44 The Blessed Virgin Mary, Health of the Sick.

“Faith”
by Giuseppe Angeli, c. 1754

Readings for Saturday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time [2]
 
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [3]
 
Readings and Commentary:[4]
 
Reading 1: Lamentations 2:2, 10-14, 18-19
 
The Lord has consumed without pity
all the dwellings of Jacob;
He has torn down in his angerac
the fortresses of daughter Judah;
He has brought to the ground in dishonor
her king and her princes.
 
On the ground in silence sit
the old men of daughter Zion;
They strew dust on their heads
and gird themselves with sackcloth;
The maidens of Jerusalem
bow their heads to the ground.
 
Worn out from weeping are my eyes,
within me all is in ferment;
My gall is poured out on the ground
because of the downfall of the daughter of my people,
As child and infant faint away
in the open spaces of the town.
 
In vain they ask their mothers,
“Where is the grain?”
As they faint away like the wounded
in the streets of the city,
And breathe their last
in their mothers’ arms.
 
To what can I liken or compare you,
O daughter Jerusalem?
What example can I show you for your comfort,
virgin daughter Zion?
For great as the sea is your downfall;
who can heal you?
 
Your prophets had for you
false and specious visions;
They did not lay bare your guilt,
to avert your fate;
They beheld for you in vision
false and misleading portents.
 
Cry out to the Lord;
moan, O daughter Zion!
Let your tears flow like a torrent
day and night;
Let there be no respite for you,
no repose for your eyes.
 
Rise up, shrill in the night,
at the beginning of every watch;
Pour out your heart like water
in the presence of the Lord;
Lift up your hands to him
for the lives of your little ones
Who faint from hunger
at the corner of every street.
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Commentary on Lam 2:2, 10-14, 18-19
 
The reading from Lamentations begins with the author’s sorrow at the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple (587 BC). The prophets who promised prosperity were wrong (“Your prophets had for you false and specious visions”). The sorrow and humble repentance of the faithful are expressed, as is the plight of the people who remain. They are afflicted with famine and drought. But hope remains as they continue to reach out to the Lord who has not completely forsaken them.
 
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 74:1b-2, 3-5, 6-7, 20-21
 
R. (19b) Lord, forget not the souls of your poor ones.
 
Why, O God, have you cast us off forever?
Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
Remember your flock which you built up of old,
the tribe you redeemed as your inheritance,
Mount Zion, where you took up your abode.
R. Lord, forget not the souls of your poor ones.
 
Turn your steps toward the utter ruins;
toward all the damage the enemy has done in the sanctuary.
Your foes roar triumphantly in your shrine;
they have set up their tokens of victory.
They are like men coming up with axes to a clump of trees.
R. Lord, forget not the souls of your poor ones.
 
With chisel and hammer they hack at all the
paneling of the sanctuary.
They set your sanctuary on fire;
the place where your name abides they have razed and profaned.
R. Lord, forget not the souls of your poor ones.
 
Look to your covenant,
for the hiding places in the land and the plains are full of violence.
May the humble not retire in confusion;
may the afflicted and the poor praise your name.
R. Lord, forget not the souls of your poor ones.
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Commentary on Ps 74:1b-2, 3-5, 6-7, 20-21
 
“A communal lament sung when the enemy invaded the temple; it would be especially appropriate at the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. Israel's God is urged to look upon the ruined sanctuary and remember the congregation who worshiped there.” [5]
 
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Gospel: Matthew 8:5-17
 
When Jesus entered Capernaum,
a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying,
“Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.”
He said to him, “I will come and cure him.”
The centurion said in reply,
“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof;
only say the word and my servant will be healed.
For I too am a man subject to authority,
with soldiers subject to me.
And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes;
and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes;
and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him,
“Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
I say to you, many will come from the east and the west,
and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven,
but the children of the Kingdom
will be driven out into the outer darkness,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”
And Jesus said to the centurion,
“You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.”
And at that very hour his servant was healed.
 
Jesus entered the house of Peter,
and saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever.
He touched her hand, the fever left her,
and she rose and waited on him.
 
When it was evening, they brought him many
who were possessed by demons,
and he drove out the spirits by a word and cured all the sick,
to fulfill what had been said by Isaiah the prophet:
 
He took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.
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Commentary on Mt 8:5-17
 
This selection describes the second and third healing episodes (out of nine) found in St. Matthew’s Gospel. Once again, these encounters serve as proofs of the Lord’s identity as the Messiah. Clear evidence is given of this purpose with the use of the quote: “He took away our infirmities and bore our disease,” taken from the "suffering servant" oracle in Isaiah 53:4.
 
This didactic passage also contains the centurion's humble profession of faith used in the liturgy of the Mass: "'Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant [soul] will be healed.'"
 
"Centurion": an officer of the Roman army in control of one hundred men. This man's faith is still an example to us. At the solemn moment when a Christian is about to receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, the Church's liturgy places on his lips and in his heart these words of the centurion, to enliven his faith: Lord, I am not worthy." [6]
 
CCC: Mt 8:8 1386; Mt 8:10 2610; Mt 8:11 543; Mt 8:17 517, 1505
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Reflection:
 
The lament of the first reading may be seen as a metaphor for all of those who suffer from war, hunger, disease, and poverty. The people of Judah and Israel, at the time the author recorded this poem, were facing all of these things; the tone of their pain comes through in the words, and is echoed by the earth’s populations today who face hopelessness (ironically not far from modern-day Israel).
 
“The centurion and Jesus [in the Gospel today] have much in common: a current of recognition passes between them. Not only are they each men of power and authority at their respective levels; they are also men of compassion. The way the centurion describes his servant’s suffering reveals his caring heart. He approaches Jesus and asks him for nothing for himself: someone else’s misery is uppermost in his mind, and the mere presence of Jesus makes him bare the most urgent concerns of his heart. How moved Jesus is, not only by the centurion’s unquestioning trust in who he is and what he can do, but first of all by this officer’s sorrow over another’s suffering.” [7]
 
Into this time of testing and pain comes Jesus who takes away our infirmities and accepts all of our suffering. He comes, as the Prophet Isaiah foretold, bringing hope to the hopeless and comfort to those in pain.
 
What then, we ask, prevents those burdened with the pain of the world from rejoicing in God’s salvation, personified in his Son? It is a lack of knowledge or of belief. They are like the miner trapped in a cave who does not know if a rescue party is coming. It is like the story of Romeo and Juliet. When they thought each other dead, they despaired and followed their partner in death. Hope is only kindled when there is faith that salvation will come, when there is a light in the terrible darkness of despair.
 
The Gospel becomes a tool and a remedy. It is to be used by those of us who have seen and have faith. We carry the light, as St. Luke says, “to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.” The healing presence of Christ is proclaimed once more, and we are given this torch to carry forward. Let us pledge to be instruments of Christ’s healing this day.
 
 
Pax

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[1] Obligatory Memorial or higher, a Mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary may be celebrated. This is indicated in the calendar by “BVM.” The readings and prayers may be selected from the Collection of Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”
[2] The picture is “Faith” by Giuseppe Angeli, c. 1754.
[3] S.S. Commemoratio
[4] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL).  This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[5] NAB footnote for Psalm 74.
[6] The Navarre Bible, “Gospels and Acts”, Scepter Publishers, Princeton, NJ, © 2002, p. 101.
[7] Leiva-Merikakis, Erasmo. Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word, Vol 1 (Ignatius Press. Kindle Edition), 407.

Friday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

“Jesus Heals the Leper”
by Jean-Marie Melchior Doze, 1864

Readings for Friday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time [1]
 
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
 
Readings and Commentary: [3]
 
Reading 1: 2 Kings 25:1-12
 
In the tenth month of the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign,
on the tenth day of the month,
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and his whole army
advanced against Jerusalem, encamped around it,
and built siege walls on every side.
The siege of the city continued until the eleventh year of Zedekiah.
On the ninth day of the fourth month,
when famine had gripped the city,
and the people had no more bread,
the city walls were breached.
Then the king and all the soldiers left the city by night
through the gate between the two walls
that was near the king’s garden.
Since the Chaldeans had the city surrounded,
they went in the direction of the Arabah.
But the Chaldean army pursued the king
and overtook him in the desert near Jericho,
abandoned by his whole army.
 
The king was therefore arrested and brought to Riblah
to the king of Babylon, who pronounced sentence on him.
He had Zedekiah’s sons slain before his eyes.
Then he blinded Zedekiah, bound him with fetters,
and had him brought to Babylon.
 
On the seventh day of the fifth month
(this was in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar,
king of Babylon),
Nebuzaradan, captain of the bodyguard,
came to Jerusalem as the representative
of the king of Babylon.
He burned the house of the Lord,
the palace of the king, and all the houses of Jerusalem;
every large building was destroyed by fire.
Then the Chaldean troops who were with the captain of the guard
tore down the walls that surrounded Jerusalem.
 
Then Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard,
led into exile the last of the people
remaining in the city,
and those who had deserted to the king of Babylon,
and the last of the artisans.
But some of the country’s poor, Nebuzaradan,
captain of the guard,
left behind as vinedressers and farmers.
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Commentary on 2 Kgs 25:1-12
 
This reading from 2 Kings details the final destruction of the temple and Jerusalem in 587 B.C. by the Babylonians. The actual event occurred after the city had been besieged and invested (meaning blockade or siege) for three years. All of the major buildings in the city were destroyed, its walls torn down, and the people killed or taken into captivity. Much of what is documented here is predicted by the Prophet Jeremiah (see Jeremiah 38:2-3ff). There is also a more detailed description of the event in  Ezekiel 17:11-21.
 
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6
 
R. (6ab) Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
 
By the streams of Babylon
we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion.
On the aspens of that land
we hung up our harps.
R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
 
Though there our captors asked of us
the lyrics of our songs,
And our despoilers urged us to be joyous:
“Sing for us the songs of Zion!”
R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
 
How could we sing a song of the Lord in a foreign land?
If I forget you, Jerusalem,
may my right hand be forgotten!
R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
 
May my tongue cleave to my palate
if I remember you not,
If I place not Jerusalem
ahead of my joy.
R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
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Commentary on Ps 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6
 
The sadness that drove Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem to rebuild is reflected in this communal lament. The people of God, dispersed throughout the region, recall the joys of being in God’s presence in Zion (Jerusalem). We feel in this hymn our own anticipation of being together in God’s presence as a community of faith.
 
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Gospel: Matthew 8:1-4
 
When Jesus came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.
And then a leper approached, did him homage, and said,
“Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”
He stretched out his hand, touched him, and said,
“I will do it. Be made clean.”
 
His leprosy was cleansed immediately.
Then Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one,
but go show yourself to the priest,
and offer the gift that Moses prescribed;
that will be proof for them.”
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Commentary on Mt 8:1-4
 
Following the first great discourse from St. Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus has attracted a large crowd. In the following chapters, we see ten miracles. The cure of the leper is the first of these. This action on the part of Jesus is proof of his identity as the Messiah; hence the usual formula “Your faith has cured you” is missing (Mark 10:52; Luke 7:50). The language and demeanor of the leper demonstrates his absolute certainty of Jesus' identity and authority over his condition. 
 
The final instruction by Jesus to the cured leper is in accordance with Mosaic Law (see Leviticus 14:2-9) His instruction to tell no one about this was probably to insure that the priest who had to examine him would not reject the cure and the man.
 
CCC: Mt 8:2 448; Mt 8:4 586
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Reflection:
 
The story of the cure of the leper in St. Matthew’s Gospel reminds us that Jesus did not come just to heal that one person of faith who said “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”  He came because of God’s great love for us and the recognition that every person, born of woman, needs to be made clean.  Without Christ’s sacrifice, without Jesus seeing the cross and saying: “I will do it. Be made clean,” there would be no help for us, no path to the Father’s Heavenly Kingdom, no peace for us on earth.
 
While we can never fully understand God’s intense love for us nor can we completely understand his purpose, we can imagine the internal debate that must have taken place before Jesus chose incarnation.  We can imagine God who sees, not as we see, but feels internally all of the hopes, fears, loves and thoughts of all his creation at once.  Since they were created, humankind had been his favorites, created in his own image and likeness.  He had tried repeatedly to guide his children.  He had done signs to insure they knew of his existence.  He had inspired members of their communities to speak of the wonders of the Father who had adopted them.  He gave them prophets and kings to try to show them a path to happiness, but they would not grasp that this was done out of love for them.  They insisted on seeing only the hand that punished, never the hand that embraced.
 
A great decision was made in Heaven.  God would make himself present to the human race in the form of a man; a man like them begotten of woman, but in the essence of this man was God himself.  And this man who was God would walk among them and show them the hand that embraced, the love of God.  He would show them that if they would do what this Only Begotten Son of God would do, to love each person completely, they could share in the joy of the Heavenly Kingdom.
 
Of course, God knew.  He knew before he sent his Son.  He knew from before time because time does not exist for the one who was, is, and will be.  He knew his Son would be rejected by those who love earthly things.  His Son would only have a short time, literally milliseconds of historical time, to show God’s children what they must embrace, the love that they must share. 
 
So Jesus said: “I will do it. Be made clean.”  He exposed the loving hand of God, not just for this one person, but so we would see and know that it was God’s love, not vengeance, not punishment (which is what the people thought leprosy was, a punishment from God) that was his will.
 
With his will, Jesus has opened the way to the Heavenly Father.  He has done it through his will which is God’s will.  Our choice is before us.  Do we accept the healing hand of Christ?  Or do we cling to death?  Stated so clearly, it seems to be an easy choice; but so many do not see it.  Therein lies our mission, we are asked to share that choice with others.  Our prayer today is that the Holy Spirit gives us the grace and strength to make that offer through our actions and words.
 
Pax
 

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[1] The picture is “Jesus Heals the Leper” by Jean-Marie Melchior Doze, 1864.
[2] S.S. Commemoratio
[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.