And Saint Apollinaris, Bishop, Martyr
Biographical Information about Saint Apollinaris[1]
Readings for Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Reading from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Ex 11:10—12:14
In this reading from Exodus we have jumped forward to the end of Moses’ contest of wills with Pharaoh. The first nine plagues have been visited upon Egypt and still the Pharaoh will not allow the people of Israel to leave. Now God gives instructions to Moses and Aaron about what later will be the Passover Feast. This is done in preparation for the repercussions from the slaughter of the first born of Egypt.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 116:12-13, 15 and 16bc, 17-18
R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
This selection from Psalm 116 recalls the Passover ritual referring to the “cup of salvation”. The psalm rejoices in God’s saving works in releasing the people from their bondage.
Gospel Mt 12:1-8
Following the comment by Jesus in yesterday’s Gospel about having those burdened by the Law come to him, we find a practical example as the Pharisees attack the disciples because they picked some grain to eat on the sabbath. In Pharisaic Law that act is considered work and is forbidden on the Lord’s Day. The Lord reinterprets their Law, sighting the First Book of Samuel (1 Sam 21:2-7) and Leviticus (Lev 24:8). The implication of his final statement in this passage is clear to us. “The ultimate justification for the disciples' violation of the sabbath rest is that Jesus, the Son of Man, has supreme authority over the law.” (NAB)
Reflection:
When ever we hear about Jesus reinterpreting the Law of Moses or Pharisaic Law we are forced to recall that in the Church today, similar laws, rituals and traditions exist. Our natural tendency is to apply this same rationale when these restrictions on our behavior become too inconvenient,
Let’s say, for example, that we are on a trip or family vacation and we are in an unknown town on Sunday. We could look around our vicinity and if we see no immediate signs of a Catholic Church we could make the argument that we tried but were unable to attend Mass thus granting ourselves at least rational absolution from the requirement that we attend Mass on Sunday.
In this example, of course, our logic is flawed. We did not make an earnest attempt to locate a Church and if we had known we were going to be in this place on a Sunday earlier, we could have made inquiries and gotten appropriate directions. The Laws that Jesus reinterpreted were so restrictive that reasonable activity was prohibited. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath and his work was permitted.
No we must be very careful when we decide to play “Jesus” with the Laws and Precepts of the Church. They contain provisions for most situations that would require practical accommodation. The key for us is to remember that it is the Lord we serve on a daily basis and that if we follow his Law scrupulously we cannot go wrong.
Pax
[1] Icon of Saint Apollinaris, artist UNKNOWN
[2] After Links to the Readings Expire
Biographical Information about Saint Apollinaris[1]
Readings for Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Reading from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Ex 11:10—12:14
In this reading from Exodus we have jumped forward to the end of Moses’ contest of wills with Pharaoh. The first nine plagues have been visited upon Egypt and still the Pharaoh will not allow the people of Israel to leave. Now God gives instructions to Moses and Aaron about what later will be the Passover Feast. This is done in preparation for the repercussions from the slaughter of the first born of Egypt.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 116:12-13, 15 and 16bc, 17-18
R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
This selection from Psalm 116 recalls the Passover ritual referring to the “cup of salvation”. The psalm rejoices in God’s saving works in releasing the people from their bondage.
Gospel Mt 12:1-8
Following the comment by Jesus in yesterday’s Gospel about having those burdened by the Law come to him, we find a practical example as the Pharisees attack the disciples because they picked some grain to eat on the sabbath. In Pharisaic Law that act is considered work and is forbidden on the Lord’s Day. The Lord reinterprets their Law, sighting the First Book of Samuel (1 Sam 21:2-7) and Leviticus (Lev 24:8). The implication of his final statement in this passage is clear to us. “The ultimate justification for the disciples' violation of the sabbath rest is that Jesus, the Son of Man, has supreme authority over the law.” (NAB)
Reflection:
When ever we hear about Jesus reinterpreting the Law of Moses or Pharisaic Law we are forced to recall that in the Church today, similar laws, rituals and traditions exist. Our natural tendency is to apply this same rationale when these restrictions on our behavior become too inconvenient,
Let’s say, for example, that we are on a trip or family vacation and we are in an unknown town on Sunday. We could look around our vicinity and if we see no immediate signs of a Catholic Church we could make the argument that we tried but were unable to attend Mass thus granting ourselves at least rational absolution from the requirement that we attend Mass on Sunday.
In this example, of course, our logic is flawed. We did not make an earnest attempt to locate a Church and if we had known we were going to be in this place on a Sunday earlier, we could have made inquiries and gotten appropriate directions. The Laws that Jesus reinterpreted were so restrictive that reasonable activity was prohibited. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath and his work was permitted.
No we must be very careful when we decide to play “Jesus” with the Laws and Precepts of the Church. They contain provisions for most situations that would require practical accommodation. The key for us is to remember that it is the Lord we serve on a daily basis and that if we follow his Law scrupulously we cannot go wrong.
Pax
[1] Icon of Saint Apollinaris, artist UNKNOWN
[2] After Links to the Readings Expire
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