Biographical Information about Saint Benedict[1]
Readings for the Memorial of Saint Benedict[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Gn 41:55-57; 42:5-7a, 17-24a
We catch the story of Joseph, the youngest son of Jacob, in mid-stream. Joseph’s brothers who in this selection are in Egypt asking Joseph for rations, had sold him into slavery out of jealousy and told his father he was dead. Now they are forced to deal with their guilt as they must decide their own fate unknowingly at the feet of the brother they had wronged. For the first time, Joseph understands their motives and weeps. God’s justice plays out.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 33:2-3, 10-11, 18-19
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Psalm 33 is a song of thanksgiving and praise. In this passage we hear praise for God’s mercy to his people. This supports Joseph’s role as distributor of rations to those suffering from famine above.
Gospel Mt 10:1-7
Following yesterday’s instructions to the twelve, Jesus now sends them out. St. Matthew’s Gospel does not tell the stories of how they were called, but provides the names and mission. It is only in Matthew that the twelve are designated as Apostles reflecting the mission and role they fulfill.
Reflection:
In today’s Gospel the twelve Apostles are sent into the world to proclaim the Kingdom of God. This proclamation is made before Christ has been fully revealed as the Son of God in his ultimate sacrifice. We ask then, what does he mean when he tells them to proclaim God’s Kingdom?
It is important that we try to understand this because it was so important to Jesus that he gave up his life so his message could be heard. It was for proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God that he was murdered by the people he loved.
The Good News is this, that God so loved the world that He sent his only Son, that whoever believed in him should not parish but would have eternal life. The message the Apostles took to the world was that God loves his people and has made provision for them. He was not, as the scribes and Pharisees had understood him, simply a God of Justice, one who ruled over his people with an iron rod, punishing them for their least offences. No, the Good News of the Kingdom was that the Father is a God of Love. He cares for the poor and weak, not just the rich and mighty.
That message, when it was first heard broadly, must have caused the halls and temples of the mighty to tremble. They had claimed God as their own. They gave large sums of money to the temple so they could be assured a place of honor both on earth and in the after life. What audacity this young teacher from Nazareth showed, telling people that God cared for the poor and that money could not buy God’s favor. Those were dangerous words, the poor might get ideas; ideas like they actually mattered and deserved to be treated with dignity. Those ideas would need to be crushed. The Lord of Life had to die.
That, for us, was the news of the Kingdom of God. That was the Good News the Apostles spread and the Saints who followed would keep going. We have the Good News of the Kingdom of God handed off to us. We are to follow in their image.
Pax
[1] The image today is St. Benedict by Fr. Angelico, 1437-1446
[2] After Links to the Readings Expire
Readings for the Memorial of Saint Benedict[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Gn 41:55-57; 42:5-7a, 17-24a
We catch the story of Joseph, the youngest son of Jacob, in mid-stream. Joseph’s brothers who in this selection are in Egypt asking Joseph for rations, had sold him into slavery out of jealousy and told his father he was dead. Now they are forced to deal with their guilt as they must decide their own fate unknowingly at the feet of the brother they had wronged. For the first time, Joseph understands their motives and weeps. God’s justice plays out.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 33:2-3, 10-11, 18-19
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Psalm 33 is a song of thanksgiving and praise. In this passage we hear praise for God’s mercy to his people. This supports Joseph’s role as distributor of rations to those suffering from famine above.
Gospel Mt 10:1-7
Following yesterday’s instructions to the twelve, Jesus now sends them out. St. Matthew’s Gospel does not tell the stories of how they were called, but provides the names and mission. It is only in Matthew that the twelve are designated as Apostles reflecting the mission and role they fulfill.
Reflection:
In today’s Gospel the twelve Apostles are sent into the world to proclaim the Kingdom of God. This proclamation is made before Christ has been fully revealed as the Son of God in his ultimate sacrifice. We ask then, what does he mean when he tells them to proclaim God’s Kingdom?
It is important that we try to understand this because it was so important to Jesus that he gave up his life so his message could be heard. It was for proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God that he was murdered by the people he loved.
The Good News is this, that God so loved the world that He sent his only Son, that whoever believed in him should not parish but would have eternal life. The message the Apostles took to the world was that God loves his people and has made provision for them. He was not, as the scribes and Pharisees had understood him, simply a God of Justice, one who ruled over his people with an iron rod, punishing them for their least offences. No, the Good News of the Kingdom was that the Father is a God of Love. He cares for the poor and weak, not just the rich and mighty.
That message, when it was first heard broadly, must have caused the halls and temples of the mighty to tremble. They had claimed God as their own. They gave large sums of money to the temple so they could be assured a place of honor both on earth and in the after life. What audacity this young teacher from Nazareth showed, telling people that God cared for the poor and that money could not buy God’s favor. Those were dangerous words, the poor might get ideas; ideas like they actually mattered and deserved to be treated with dignity. Those ideas would need to be crushed. The Lord of Life had to die.
That, for us, was the news of the Kingdom of God. That was the Good News the Apostles spread and the Saints who followed would keep going. We have the Good News of the Kingdom of God handed off to us. We are to follow in their image.
Pax
[1] The image today is St. Benedict by Fr. Angelico, 1437-1446
[2] After Links to the Readings Expire
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