Saturday, June 09, 2007

Saturday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time


And Saint Ephraem, Deacon, Doctor

Biographical Information about St. Ephraem[1]

Readings for Saturday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Commentary:

Reading 1 Tb 12:1, 5-15, 20

At this point in the story of Tobit, the prophet asks his son to pay the “man” that had accompanied him not realizing that who they thought was a man was really Raphael, the Archangel. When they approach him to give a generous reward, Raphael unmasks himself and instructs them to give praise to God for the saving acts.

Special emphasis is made in Raphael’s instruction to act in accordance with the Law of Moses (righteousness) and acts of charity (almsgiving). These two actions are better even than prayer and fasting, private worship of God. The recurring statement: “A king’s secret it is prudent to keep, but the works of God are to be declared and made known.”

Responsorial Psalm Tobit 13:2, 6efgh, 7, 8
R. Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

The psalm response is also taken from the Book of Tobit. It is the response to Raphael’s instruction, a hymn of praise and thanksgiving.

Gospel Mk 12:38-44

In this passage from Mark, Jesus warns against scribes (holy men) who wear their faith on the outside and accept homage for their religious acts. Their acts of charity are missing. In contrast to those who flaunt their faith and their wealth the Lord praises the poor widow who gives alms from her need not from her excess as the wealthy did.

Reflection:

The scripture today is in complete accord, our faith must be supported by acts of charity and service to others or it is empty. In the first instance today the Archangel Raphael is enjoining Tobit and his son Tobiah to praise God loudly, that while prayer and fasting are good things, God wishes his love for people to be known through acts of charity and righteousness performed in his name.

The same them is the subject in the passage we are given from the Gospel of St. Mark. Jesus takes aim at the practices of the scribes who proclaim their faith by dressing in distinct ways and accepting the accolades for following scrupulously the letter of Mosaic Law as it applies to individual piety. He is emphatic in his rejection of this practice saying “They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers.”

St. Mark goes on relating Christ’s observance of the rich members of the faith community placing alms in the temple treasury (making sure, we are told, that their acts of generosity are observed.) The Lord contrasts this practice to a poor widow who gives a fraction of the material wealth deposited by the rich but her contribution amounts to all she had. Hers was a gift from the heart, the rich gave from their excess.

The message today is to the point and emphatic. We who are called to be the adopted sons and daughters of God are called to be a people who proclaim God’s love to humanity through our acts of service and charity. Nothing proclaims the glory of God more loudly and publicly than our actions in his name. The more anonymously these actions are performed the louder the praise to God who made the blessing possible.

Pax


[1] The icon of St. Ephraem used today is by and UNKNOWN artist.
[2] After Links Expire

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