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| “Meeting of Isaac and Rebecca” by Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, c. 1640 |
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
Readings and Commentary: [3]
Reading 1: Genesis 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67
The span of Sarah’s life was one hundred and twenty-seven years.
She died in Kiriatharba (that is, Hebron)
in the land of Canaan,
and Abraham performed the customary mourning rites for her.
Then he left the side of his dead one and addressed the Hittites:
“Although I am a resident alien among you,
sell me from your holdings a piece of property for a burial ground,
that I may bury my dead wife.”
After the transaction, Abraham buried his wife Sarah
in the cave of the field of Machpelah,
facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
Abraham had now reached a ripe old age,
and the Lord had blessed him in every way.
Abraham said to the senior servant of his household,
who had charge of all his possessions:
“Put your hand under my thigh,
and I will make you swear by the Lord,
the God of heaven and the God of earth,
that you will not procure a wife for my son
from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live,
but that you will go to my own land and to my kindred
to get a wife for my son Isaac.”
The servant asked him:
“What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land?
Should I then take your son back to the land from which you migrated?”
“Never take my son back there for any reason,” Abraham told him.
“The Lord, the God of heaven,
who took me from my father’s house and the land of my kin,
and who confirmed by oath the promise he then made to me,
‘I will give this land to your descendants’–
he will send his messenger before you,
and you will obtain a wife for my son there.
If the woman is unwilling to follow you,
you will be released from this oath.
But never take my son back there!”
A long time later, Isaac went to live in the region of the Negeb.
One day toward evening he went out . . . in the field,
and as he looked around, he noticed that camels were approaching.
Rebekah, too, was looking about, and when she saw him,
she alighted from her camel and asked the servant,
“Who is the man out there, walking through the fields toward us?”
“That is my master,” replied the servant.
Then she covered herself with her veil.
The servant recounted to Isaac all the things he had done.
Then Isaac took Rebekah into his tent;
he married her, and thus she became his wife.
In his love for her, Isaac found solace
after the death of his mother Sarah.
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Commentary on Gn 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67
The various excerpts from Chapters 23 and 24 of Genesis tell the story of the death of Sarah and Abraham’s successful plan to obtain a wife for his son Isaac from the Hebrew community. This passage explains how Rebekah (Rebecca) comes to be Isaac’s wife, and how God’s promise to Abraham, that his line would endure, is fulfilled as Isaac continues to enjoy God’s graces and favor.
CCC: Gn 23:4 145
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 106:1b-2, 3-4a, 4b-5
R. (1b) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Who can tell the mighty deeds of the Lord,
or proclaim all his praises?
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Blessed are they who observe what is right,
who do always what is just.
Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Visit me with your saving help,
That I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones,
rejoice in the joy of your people,
and glory with your inheritance.
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
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Commentary on Ps 106:1b-2, 3-4a, 4b-5
Psalm 106 is a song of thanksgiving. In this selection the singer thanks God for his saving mercy and favor to his chosen people. This hymn of praise rejoices over God’s gracious help to those who trust in him. We see clearly the hand of God guiding the faithful as the psalmist proclaims “That I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones, rejoice in the joy of your people, and glory with your inheritance.”
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Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13
As Jesus passed by,
he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, “Follow me.”
And he got up and followed him.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners came
and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples,
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
He heard this and said,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
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Commentary on Mt 9:9-13
The journey of Jesus continues with the Lord’s encounter with Matthew (Levi in St. Mark’s Gospel), the tax collector. The Pharisees are scandalized because this renowned teacher (Jesus) has chosen to associate with “sinners,” who clearly violate some of the numerous laws about ritual purity (Matthew 5:46). Jesus’ response, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” makes it clear that interior faith is more highly prized than purely ritualistic rigor.
CCC: Mt 9:12 581; Mt 9:13 589, 2100
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Reflection:
We were given the Reader’s Digest version of Abraham’s response to the death of Sarah, his first wife, and the procurement of Rebecca as wife for his son Isaac. What was left out of the story was the fact that those involved (the servant, Rebecca and Rebecca’s family) were all guided by God and gave praise to him at each new stage of the story. We were not shown the faith of the servant who prayed for a sign from God, that the girl Rebecca was the one sent for Isaac by God, nor were we shown the faith of Rebecca, as she prayed for guidance in going with the servant. The entire saga, with the parts we did not hear today, is a story of faith and submission to the will of God.
The psalm used paints the larger picture of God’s gracious mercy to those who follow him. It essentially pulls the moral from the story for us, and leads to the Gospel, as Jesus chooses to dine with the “sinners” rather than eat in the ritualistically pure environment of the Pharisees. The Lord makes it clear that it is more important for him to reach out to those who need his spiritual example than it is for him to follow the ritually complex rules of the Pharisaic laws. That he calls Matthew should be great news for us who, though unworthy of God’s grace, also are called to serve the Lord.
By these examples we see the importance of our own interior faith and how it must be developed and applied in the world. Is the implication here the one that so many of the “unchurched” use to rationalize their lack of participation in organized religion? Is the message that the formal celebration of the faith is unimportant?
No, that is not the message. The message, which was intended for and can only be truly understood by the organized community of faith represented by the Church, tells us that our call must be to reach out as well as maintain an interior faith, strengthened by the sacraments.
Pax
[1] The picture is “Meeting of Isaac and Rebecca” by Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, c. 1640.
[2] S.S.Commemoratio
[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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