And Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Information about Our Lady of Mount Carmel[1]
Readings for the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Ex 1:8-14, 22
Last week we concluded the story of Joseph in Genesis. The salvation history of the Jewish people continues in Exodus with their fall into slavery under the Pharaoh’s of Egypt and the great infanticide that leads Moses to his fate.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 124:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
This lament turns to praise as the hymn remembers the saving effort of God. It anticipates the end of the slavery described in Exodus.
Gospel Mt 10:34—11:1
The final remarks of Jesus to the Apostles as they go out to preach and heal are given in this passage from St. Matthew’s Gospel. He reminds them that even though the word they spread reflects God’s love, they will be received by many badly, dividing households and families.
He goes on to tell them that those who will fully accept him and his word will undergo persecution because of him and, even if they loose their lives on His account, they will be saved. The reward given to those who accept this word and follow in his way will be great in heaven.
This discourse, recalled many years after Christ’s death and resurrection has the advantage of seeing the persecution of those who spread the word and embodies a fuller understanding of the meaning of Christ’s teaching.
Reflection:
“…whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.”
When these words are spoken in the context of sending his Apostles into the world, they refer to the resistance, in some cases physically harsh resistance, to the conversion process.
If we go to Mass on a particular day and later in that day find that it is not convenient or in our best interests to hold our faith in Jesus uppermost in our minds are we worthy of him?
If we profess a faith in Christ, but when we are asked to do something that is contrary to His teaching we cave in, are we worthy of Christ?
And if we deny our faith through cruel actions and turn our face from God’s love, are we worthy of Christ?
Thank God we are not held so rigorously to that standard that we are eternally judged according to it. Thank God we can participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and feel the mercy of God’s love. Thank God we have the ability to say “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you. But only say the word and I shall be healed.”
We have recalled God’s mercy, but that does not mean we should not continue to strengthen our resolve to follow the path of the Apostles more closely each day. We are called to that same Apostolate. We are invited down that difficult path. God’s mercy will forgive us when we fail, but it only works if we are trying. That is our prayer today, that God gives us strength to carry our cross and be worthy of Him who gave everything that we might have life.
Pax
[1] The picture today is “Our Lady of Mount Carmel” by Pietro Novelli, 1641
[2] After Links to the Readings Expire
Information about Our Lady of Mount Carmel[1]
Readings for the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Ex 1:8-14, 22
Last week we concluded the story of Joseph in Genesis. The salvation history of the Jewish people continues in Exodus with their fall into slavery under the Pharaoh’s of Egypt and the great infanticide that leads Moses to his fate.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 124:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
This lament turns to praise as the hymn remembers the saving effort of God. It anticipates the end of the slavery described in Exodus.
Gospel Mt 10:34—11:1
The final remarks of Jesus to the Apostles as they go out to preach and heal are given in this passage from St. Matthew’s Gospel. He reminds them that even though the word they spread reflects God’s love, they will be received by many badly, dividing households and families.
He goes on to tell them that those who will fully accept him and his word will undergo persecution because of him and, even if they loose their lives on His account, they will be saved. The reward given to those who accept this word and follow in his way will be great in heaven.
This discourse, recalled many years after Christ’s death and resurrection has the advantage of seeing the persecution of those who spread the word and embodies a fuller understanding of the meaning of Christ’s teaching.
Reflection:
“…whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.”
When these words are spoken in the context of sending his Apostles into the world, they refer to the resistance, in some cases physically harsh resistance, to the conversion process.
If we go to Mass on a particular day and later in that day find that it is not convenient or in our best interests to hold our faith in Jesus uppermost in our minds are we worthy of him?
If we profess a faith in Christ, but when we are asked to do something that is contrary to His teaching we cave in, are we worthy of Christ?
And if we deny our faith through cruel actions and turn our face from God’s love, are we worthy of Christ?
Thank God we are not held so rigorously to that standard that we are eternally judged according to it. Thank God we can participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and feel the mercy of God’s love. Thank God we have the ability to say “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you. But only say the word and I shall be healed.”
We have recalled God’s mercy, but that does not mean we should not continue to strengthen our resolve to follow the path of the Apostles more closely each day. We are called to that same Apostolate. We are invited down that difficult path. God’s mercy will forgive us when we fail, but it only works if we are trying. That is our prayer today, that God gives us strength to carry our cross and be worthy of Him who gave everything that we might have life.
Pax
[1] The picture today is “Our Lady of Mount Carmel” by Pietro Novelli, 1641
[2] After Links to the Readings Expire
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