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| “Christ in the Garden” by Caravaggio, 1603 |
Readings for Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time [1]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Ephesians 2:12-22
Brothers and sisters:
You were at that time without Christ,
alienated from the community of Israel
and strangers to the covenants of promise,
without hope and without God in the world.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off
have become near by the Blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, he made both one
and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his Flesh,
abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims,
that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two,
thus establishing peace,
and might reconcile both with God,
in one Body, through the cross,
putting that enmity to death by it.
He came and preached peace to you who were far off
and peace to those who were near,
for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
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Commentary on Eph 2:12-22
St. Paul addresses the former division between Gentile and Jew (the uncircumcised and the circumcised). In the opening verses, he refers to the Gentiles as being cut off from God’s salvation (“alienated from the community of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise”).
This alienation was symbolized by the “dividing wall” in the temple beyond which Gentiles could not pass on pain of death. The apostle uses this symbol, saying that, through Christ’s sacrifice, he “broke down the dividing wall of enmity.” In essence, he unified the Jew and Gentile and brought peace to the community of faith. By removing the burden of the law (“abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims,” here referring to dietary and minor commandments), he brought them together in the Spirit.
CCC: Eph 2:14 2305; Eph 2:16 2305; Eph 2:19-22 756; Eph 2:20 857; Eph 2:21 797
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 85:9ab-10, 11-12, 13-14
R. (see 9) The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for he proclaims peace.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
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Commentary on Ps 85:9ab-10, 11-12, 13-14
Psalm 85 is a communal lament that focuses on the woes of the nation. These strophes reflect the joy of salvation at the restoration of the land following the destruction of the temple and the Diaspora. Those faithful to God see the reward, a land restored, justice returned, and the salvation of God.
CCC: Ps 85:11 214; Ps 85:12 2795
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Gospel: Luke 12:35-38
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.”
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Commentary on Lk 12:35-38
This selection from St. Luke’s Gospel emphasizes the need for fidelity and faithfulness to Christ’s teachings because the hour and the day of the Lord’s return are not known. The image used to describe this preparedness, “Gird your loins and light your lamps,” instructs the faithful to be prepared for a journey from darkness into light. Similar ideas are presented in Matthew 25 1-13, in the parable of the Ten Virgins (see commentary on Matthew 25:1ff). To gird one’s loins refers to the practice of tucking the long, oriental style robes into a belt in order to move more rapidly (see Exodus 12:11; 1 Peter 1:13). The evangelist makes it clear that the time of the Parousia is unknown and the need for continual preparedness is expressed in the statement, “And should he come in the second or third watch.” The Hebrews divided the evening hours into three watches (the Romans into four). The third watch would have lasted until the night ended.
CCC: Lk 12:35-40 2849
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Reflection:
Heavenly Father, we humbly pray that those suffering from the coronavirus be returned quickly to full health by the power of your Son’s healing presence, and those in fear be calmed through the Holy Spirit.
In Christ’s name we pray. – Amen.
There were once two sisters who became estranged at the death of their father (their mother had already died). The source of their intense animosity stemmed from the disposition of the estate and it should be noted that the estate was humble as estates go. Yet the two argued, accused, and at length, the older disowned the younger.
Sometime later, the younger sibling recognized how foolish the argument had been and reached out to her older sister, expressing a wish to put differences aside. The older sister embraced her anger and hatred and rejected any attempt to reconcile. This went on for years and the older sister became desperately ill. Still clinging to her perceived injury, she instructed her family to make sure her younger sister was informed she would not be welcome at the funeral; seeing this action as her final attempt to cause pain or injury to her sister.
There is no happy ending to this story. The older sister will endure what must be endured by those who foster hatred in this life. She will be required to atone for her conscious failure to love – seen by a loving Savior as sin. The irony of the story is that in her earlier life, the elder sister had been a stalwart of the church. She had been involved with and led numerous activities that fostered faith and community within her local parish.
We ask these questions – did her earlier works on the Lord’s behalf earn her a place in the Kingdom of God? Did she forfeit her claim because of her later fall from grace? Did the disunity she created with her attitude sever her unity with Christ?
Ultimately, we are reminded of St. Augustine’s famous quote: “Resentment is like taking poison and hoping the other person dies.”
The Gospel tells us we must remain vigilant, even to the second or third watch. The story of the two sisters points out what can happen when pride enters in, especially (and ironically) in families. St. Paul calls us to unity in Christ, and this union, like the love witnessed in a sacramental marriage is unbreakable. We pray today that we will be constantly vigilant and work always for the unity of all peoples in Christ Jesus, thereby coming at last to the great banquet.
In this strange year where many of us will not be able to receive the Blessed Sacrament or celebrate as a community in our houses of worship, we must be prepared to receive spiritual communion in prayer:
My Jesus,
I believe that You
are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.
Pax
[1] The picture used today is “Christ in the Garden” by Caravaggio, 1603.
[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
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