Servant of the Word: Monday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Optional Memorial for Saint Pontian, Pope and Martyr and Saint Hippolytus, Priest and Martyr)

"The Tax Collectors" by Marinus van Reymerswaele, 1540's.

Readings for Monday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time [1]

Commentary:

The Prophet Ezekiel’s vision of God is presented, written before the Babylonian exile (593 BC). "As is usual in the prophetical books, the heading identifies the author and indicates when and where he exercised his ministry. Ezekiel was a priest, and there is evidence of this throughout the book - for example, in the stress he puts on precepts to do with divine worship and in his frequent use of the teaching techniques used by people who held temple positions." [4] The four winged creatures symbolize the cherubim (see also Ezekiel 10:1-2 (20-21)). The descriptive elements are similar to those provided in other Old Testament sources (see Exodus 24:9-10 and Exodus 33:18-23. They are also closely aligned with those described in St. John's Revelation as participants in the heavenly liturgy (see Revelation 4:2, 8)

CCC: Ez 1:26-28 1137

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14

R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Commentary on Ps 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14

Psalm 148 is a hymn of praise. In this selection, we find the psalmist (presumably King David) singing of the omnipotence of God, his power and majesty, and his promise of salvation. This poem is related to the Benedicite, or “Song of the Three Children,” in Daniel 3:52-90. In both, we find catalogs of natural phenomena praising God.[5]

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Gospel: Matthew 17:22-27

Commentary on Mt 17:22-27

This passage from St. Matthew’s Gospel begins with the second passion prediction (the first immediately followed the feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 16:21). The first time Jesus made this prediction there was argument from the disciples; in this instance they are overwhelmed with grief. (This can be contrasted with St. Mark’s statement that they did not understand. Mark 9:32)

The second element of the reading deals with Jesus and Peter (again we note the special emphasis on Peter as leader of the disciples) and the payment of the temple tax. According to Exodus 30:13-15, each adult male Jew owed a half-shekel each year for the maintenance of the temple. Jesus uses the example of “tolls or census tax” to indicate that they should be exempt from paying the tax. (Roman taxes were for those who were not Roman citizens; hence Roman taxes were for those who were aliens or allies. Claiming the same logic, since Jesus is of God’s family, Jesus (with his disciples) was exempt from the temple tax.)

Yet, the Lord instructs Peter that the tax should be paid regardless, “that we may not offend them.” This implies Christ’s compassion for those who do not understand his identity. God provides what is needed in these situations. (The fish with a coin would be symbolic to the early Christian community of Christ (symbolized by the fish) providing all that was needed.)

CCC: Mt 17:23 554; Mt 17:24-27 586

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Reflection:

A few years ago I attended a retreat given by Fr. Dennis Brown who pointed out an important fact related to the Gospel today. Fr. Dennis notes that the Lord never speaks of the passion without also including the resurrection. There is never suffering without salvation. After Jesus tells his disciples (for the second time in this Gospel) that he will undergo both passion and resurrection, they are “overwhelmed with grief.”

This tells us something important, not just about the disciples, but ourselves as well. Matthew tells us that the disciples did not hear or understand the meaning of God’s design. They heard only that the Lord would be killed. They could see from the resistance he was encountering that Jesus was envisioning what would shortly come to pass. What they could not understand was that the Lord was not talking about the resurrection as the Pharisees believed (the Lord said in three days, not at the final judgment).

This idea is especially important to us because of the Lord’s great consolation. When we encounter adversity (or even face death as we all must), we often behave just as the disciples did: we are “overwhelmed with grief.” We fail to see that our merciful Father does not offer the passion without the resurrection to those who have faith in him.

It is a critical understanding we can take away from St. Matthew’s story today. It is that we should remember our Heavenly Father loves and cherishes each of us. He would not allow us to endure suffering without offering us his love and salvation when we are faced with distress. This promise was guaranteed by the Blood of the Lamb!

Pax

[1] The picture is "The Tax Collectors" by Marinus van Reymerswaele, 1540's.

[2] S.S. Commemoratio