Readings for Wednesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time [1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Philippians 2:12-18
So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been,
not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent,
work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
For God is the one who, for his good purpose,
works in you both to desire and to work.
Do everything without grumbling or questioning,
that you may be blameless and innocent,
children of God without blemish
in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,
among whom you shine like lights in the world,
as you hold on to the word of life,
so that my boast for the day of Christ may be
that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
But, even if I am poured out as a libation
upon the sacrificial service of your faith,
I rejoice and share my joy with all of you.
In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Phil 2:12-18
Having just exhorted the community to follow Christ’s example of humility, he now continues with his fourth council – obedience and selflessness. He begins his exhortation in classic biblical terms “…with fear and trembling” not out fear like the pagans of some capricious deity but out of humility before the God upon whom they depend for salvation (see Exodus 15:16, Isaiah 19:16, and Psalm 2:11). He tells them to allow God’s grace to work through them, even when it is difficult.
It is clear that there is anticipated resistance from the secular community whom they are told they must invite without joining – they are to “shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life”. Obedience to the Gospel and selfless service to its call are summed up in St. Paul’s invitation to join him in sacrificial service.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14
R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom do I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom am I afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the LORD'S house
all the days of my life,
To gaze on the LORD'S beauty,
to visit his temple.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
But I believe I shall enjoy the LORD'S goodness
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD, take courage;
be stouthearted, wait for the LORD!
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14
Psalm 27 is an individual lament. Here the signer expresses faith in God who is the refuge of the faithful, longing to find the ultimate safety and bounty of God’s heavenly kingdom. This passage from the psalm captures the two major themes of the song, hope in God’s mercy and complete trust in his goodness.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Luke 14:25-33
Great crowds were traveling with him (Jesus),
and he turned and addressed them,
“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother,
wife and children, brothers and sisters,
and even his own life,
he cannot be my disciple.
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me
cannot be my disciple.
Which of you wishing to construct a tower
does not first sit down and calculate the cost
to see if there is enough for its completion?
Otherwise, after laying the foundation
and finding himself unable to finish the work
the onlookers should laugh at him and say,
‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’
Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down
and decide whether with ten thousand troops
he can successfully oppose another king
advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?
But if not, while he is still far away,
he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.
In the same way,
everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Lk 14:25-33
The Lord, perhaps in an action intended to identify those who had the zeal to be true disciples, tells the crowd of the necessity of total dedication to the call to discipleship. They had seen his recent miracles of healing and were no doubt hoping to learn wisdom from him.
He tells them that they must place their love of God first, in front of family and even their own lives. He tells them, through two examples – the construction of the tower and the evaluation of the battle, that they must measure the sacrifice needed to be his follower. He punctuates his statement by telling them they must “renounce” all their possessions to follow him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
Do you ever marvel that the words of Holy Scripture can be so applicable to current life situations, even though they were written thousands of years ago? In my local situation (In the United States of America, in the State of Michigan) the civic minded have just finished voting for a variety of political candidates for office as well as some proposals, including a proposed constitutional amendment to our State Constitution that would allow “unregulated” research using embryonic stem cells. Our Governor, Jennifer Grandholm, professes to be a Catholic but clearly disregards the teaching of the Church on a consistent ethic of respect for human life, has campaigned for the passage of this amendment even though similar language was defeated in the state congress.
Today, even though the Church vigorously opposed this effort, the constitution has been amended by popular mandate. Michigan has now taken a serious step down the slippery slope that will lead to the dehumanization of the powerless in the service of what supporters of this legislation call “science” but what is in reality one more way to use the powerless to satisfy the hedonistic and selfish desires of the powerful.
First, let me say I am not fanatical on pro-life issues. I support the Church’s teaching on a seamless life ethic and try to govern myself accordingly. I say this so the readership will not interpret these comments as simply another rant.
Those who have supported this fundamental change in the law of our state have opened a door (and because it is now illegal for the government to step in and change this amendment without going back to the population with yet another amendment) have wedged it open. The people who will benefit are not those shown on the TV ads claiming the poor little child with type 1 diabetes would be denied a cure because of the restrictions on this specific (embryonic stem cell) research. The people who will ultimately benefit will be first the researchers who will be able to engage in this type of research unencumbered by pesky ethics. Next will come the pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies who will commercialize any viable research that comes from these publicly funded (that’s our money) efforts. The rhetorical question is this – who will be able to afford any future benefits this research may uncover? Unless one has absolutely phenomenal insurance, the curative process (if one is found and so far, even in the three other states where this is legal, none has) will likely be out of reach for the neediest of patients.
On top of everything else, this destructive process will almost certainly open itself to other abuses. One of the main arguments used by proponents was that this research material (they call human embryos “material”) would come from fertility clinics that would throw out the embryos anyway because they had reached an arbitrary “shelf life”. The next complaint will be that this “material” was not viable enough and a waiver should be allowed in such clinics so all un-needed embryos could be used. If there are not enough of these, and there almost certainly will not be, volunteers should be able to enlist (for a fee of course) so that embryonic new material could harvested and then embryos could then be “made” in the labs (the argument will almost certainly be something like – “Embryos with certain factors present are needed to provide better test results for specific applications.”).
In case there are concerns here, the University of Michigan, one of the top research universities in the world, does have an ethics statement governing this type of work. - If research involves the combination of human genetic material with that of a non-human organism, the characteristics of the resulting creature must be predicted.
St Paul wrote to the Philippians that “in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life”. We who have tried to be that light have suffered a defeat but the call to discipleship is not an easy one. We continue to preserver – to be that light so that darkness may never cover the world.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used today is “Care of the Sick”(detail) by Domenico Di Bartolo, 1441-42
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Psalm Response is from Printed source United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1194 November 11, 2002 Copyright (c) by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Philippians 2:12-18
So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been,
not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent,
work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
For God is the one who, for his good purpose,
works in you both to desire and to work.
Do everything without grumbling or questioning,
that you may be blameless and innocent,
children of God without blemish
in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,
among whom you shine like lights in the world,
as you hold on to the word of life,
so that my boast for the day of Christ may be
that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
But, even if I am poured out as a libation
upon the sacrificial service of your faith,
I rejoice and share my joy with all of you.
In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Phil 2:12-18
Having just exhorted the community to follow Christ’s example of humility, he now continues with his fourth council – obedience and selflessness. He begins his exhortation in classic biblical terms “…with fear and trembling” not out fear like the pagans of some capricious deity but out of humility before the God upon whom they depend for salvation (see Exodus 15:16, Isaiah 19:16, and Psalm 2:11). He tells them to allow God’s grace to work through them, even when it is difficult.
It is clear that there is anticipated resistance from the secular community whom they are told they must invite without joining – they are to “shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life”. Obedience to the Gospel and selfless service to its call are summed up in St. Paul’s invitation to join him in sacrificial service.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14
R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom do I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom am I afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the LORD'S house
all the days of my life,
To gaze on the LORD'S beauty,
to visit his temple.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
But I believe I shall enjoy the LORD'S goodness
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD, take courage;
be stouthearted, wait for the LORD!
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14
Psalm 27 is an individual lament. Here the signer expresses faith in God who is the refuge of the faithful, longing to find the ultimate safety and bounty of God’s heavenly kingdom. This passage from the psalm captures the two major themes of the song, hope in God’s mercy and complete trust in his goodness.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Luke 14:25-33
Great crowds were traveling with him (Jesus),
and he turned and addressed them,
“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother,
wife and children, brothers and sisters,
and even his own life,
he cannot be my disciple.
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me
cannot be my disciple.
Which of you wishing to construct a tower
does not first sit down and calculate the cost
to see if there is enough for its completion?
Otherwise, after laying the foundation
and finding himself unable to finish the work
the onlookers should laugh at him and say,
‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’
Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down
and decide whether with ten thousand troops
he can successfully oppose another king
advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?
But if not, while he is still far away,
he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.
In the same way,
everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Lk 14:25-33
The Lord, perhaps in an action intended to identify those who had the zeal to be true disciples, tells the crowd of the necessity of total dedication to the call to discipleship. They had seen his recent miracles of healing and were no doubt hoping to learn wisdom from him.
He tells them that they must place their love of God first, in front of family and even their own lives. He tells them, through two examples – the construction of the tower and the evaluation of the battle, that they must measure the sacrifice needed to be his follower. He punctuates his statement by telling them they must “renounce” all their possessions to follow him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
Do you ever marvel that the words of Holy Scripture can be so applicable to current life situations, even though they were written thousands of years ago? In my local situation (In the United States of America, in the State of Michigan) the civic minded have just finished voting for a variety of political candidates for office as well as some proposals, including a proposed constitutional amendment to our State Constitution that would allow “unregulated” research using embryonic stem cells. Our Governor, Jennifer Grandholm, professes to be a Catholic but clearly disregards the teaching of the Church on a consistent ethic of respect for human life, has campaigned for the passage of this amendment even though similar language was defeated in the state congress.
Today, even though the Church vigorously opposed this effort, the constitution has been amended by popular mandate. Michigan has now taken a serious step down the slippery slope that will lead to the dehumanization of the powerless in the service of what supporters of this legislation call “science” but what is in reality one more way to use the powerless to satisfy the hedonistic and selfish desires of the powerful.
First, let me say I am not fanatical on pro-life issues. I support the Church’s teaching on a seamless life ethic and try to govern myself accordingly. I say this so the readership will not interpret these comments as simply another rant.
Those who have supported this fundamental change in the law of our state have opened a door (and because it is now illegal for the government to step in and change this amendment without going back to the population with yet another amendment) have wedged it open. The people who will benefit are not those shown on the TV ads claiming the poor little child with type 1 diabetes would be denied a cure because of the restrictions on this specific (embryonic stem cell) research. The people who will ultimately benefit will be first the researchers who will be able to engage in this type of research unencumbered by pesky ethics. Next will come the pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies who will commercialize any viable research that comes from these publicly funded (that’s our money) efforts. The rhetorical question is this – who will be able to afford any future benefits this research may uncover? Unless one has absolutely phenomenal insurance, the curative process (if one is found and so far, even in the three other states where this is legal, none has) will likely be out of reach for the neediest of patients.
On top of everything else, this destructive process will almost certainly open itself to other abuses. One of the main arguments used by proponents was that this research material (they call human embryos “material”) would come from fertility clinics that would throw out the embryos anyway because they had reached an arbitrary “shelf life”. The next complaint will be that this “material” was not viable enough and a waiver should be allowed in such clinics so all un-needed embryos could be used. If there are not enough of these, and there almost certainly will not be, volunteers should be able to enlist (for a fee of course) so that embryonic new material could harvested and then embryos could then be “made” in the labs (the argument will almost certainly be something like – “Embryos with certain factors present are needed to provide better test results for specific applications.”).
In case there are concerns here, the University of Michigan, one of the top research universities in the world, does have an ethics statement governing this type of work. - If research involves the combination of human genetic material with that of a non-human organism, the characteristics of the resulting creature must be predicted.
St Paul wrote to the Philippians that “in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life”. We who have tried to be that light have suffered a defeat but the call to discipleship is not an easy one. We continue to preserver – to be that light so that darkness may never cover the world.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used today is “Care of the Sick”(detail) by Domenico Di Bartolo, 1441-42
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Psalm Response is from Printed source United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1194 November 11, 2002 Copyright (c) by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
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