Proper Readings for the Memorial of St. Ephrem
Biographical information for St. Ephrem
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| “Cain and Abel” by Pietro Novelli, c. 1640’s |
Readings for Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time [1]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
Readings and Commentary: [3]
Reading 1: 1 Kings 18:41-46
Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink,
for there is the sound of a heavy rain.”
So Ahab went up to eat and drink,
while Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel,
crouched down to the earth,
and put his head between his knees.
“Climb up and look out to sea,” he directed his servant,
who went up and looked, but reported, “There is nothing.”
Seven times he said, “Go, look again!”
And the seventh time the youth reported,
“There is a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.”
Elijah said, “Go and say to Ahab,
‘Harness up and leave the mountain before the rain stops you.’”
In a trice the sky grew dark with clouds and wind,
and a heavy rain fell.
Ahab mounted his chariot and made for Jezreel.
But the hand of the Lord was on Elijah,
who girded up his clothing and ran before Ahab
as far as the approaches to Jezreel.
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Commentary on 1 Kgs 18:41-46
Elijah the prophet tells King Ahab that the three-year drought is about to end (“Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain”). He positions himself upon the top of Mt. Carmel in order to see the first signs of rain, and then assumes a position of humble prayer. In the fullness of time (symbolized by the servant’s “seventh” report), his prophecy is fulfilled, and under the impulse of God he runs ahead of the king’s chariot as a sign of his prophetic prowess.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 65:10, 11, 12-13
R. (2a) It is right to praise you in Zion, O God.
You have visited the land and watered it;
greatly have you enriched it.
God’s watercourses are filled;
you have prepared the grain.
R. It is right to praise you in Zion, O God.
Thus have you prepared the land:
drenching its furrows, breaking up its clods,
Softening it with showers,
blessing its yield.
R. It is right to praise you in Zion, O God.
You have crowned the year with your bounty,
and your paths overflow with a rich harvest;
The untilled meadows overflow with it,
and rejoicing clothes the hills.
R. It is right to praise you in Zion, O God.
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Commentary on Ps 65:10, 11, 12-13
Psalm 65 is a hymn of thanksgiving from an unworthy community. These strophes sing of the goodness of the Lord in providing a bountiful harvest as the agricultural year is described. This imagery is reminiscent of the ending of the drought in 1 Kings 18:41-46.
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Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that
of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
and whoever says to his brother,
‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,
and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”
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Commentary on Mt 5:20-26
This passage is the first of six examples in St. Matthew’s Gospel of conduct demanded of the Christian disciple. The first three, including this one, take a commandment of Mosaic Law and deepen the meaning. Here the Lord takes the commandment, “You shall not kill” (quoted from Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17), to a new level. He traces the logic from thought, to vulgar or abusive words, to violent action. In this translation, the Greek word "Raqa" is used to indicate deep insult. Where the Jewish law forbids the action, Christian law forbids the antecedents as well. The passage continues with the remedy for this action, and a foundation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He instructs us to be reconciled with a person with whom we have bad feelings, before coming to the altar. The consequences of failing to do so, he warns, are judgment and punishment.
CCC: Mt 5:20 2054; Mt 5:21-22 2054, 2257; Mt 5:21 2262, 2302; Mt 5:22-39 2262; Mt 5:22 678, 1034, 2302; Mt 5:23-24 2608, 2792, 2841, 2845; Mt 5:24 1424
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Reflection:
As we hear the Lord speak in the Gospel of St. Matthew, we wonder what it must be like to have the mind of Christ. The mind of Christ would accept injury, not with anger, but with regret for the person committing the injury. The mind of Christ would accept betrayal, not with anger or hatred, but with sorrow for the betrayer, who had consigned himself with his sin to incredible punishment.
As difficult as it may seem, taking on the mind of Christ is what we are asked to do. It is a process of spiritual growth that will take us a lifetime. Like a child who must first learn their ABCs, then learn to read, then learn to comprehend the subject matter they are reading, we too must go through stages of spiritual growth. When we were young, we memorized (or tried to memorize) the Ten Commandments. We were taught, when we were preparing for our first Reconciliation, to use those commandments to examine our behavior, to see if we had sinned.
As we grew older, our understanding of sin changed (along with the opportunity to sin, unfortunately), and we began to understand the ways of spiritual growth. However, just like young people who drop out of school, some people do not know there is growth beyond learning rote prayers, and knowing when to stand and when to kneel during Mass. To those who did not see the need to grow beyond that point, change, when it comes in the Church, is very painful. We saw this when the changes of Vatican II were implemented. We saw it again when the changes to the Roman Missal were recently implemented.
Putting on the mind of Christ, when we pray, when we act, and when we worship is something necessary and difficult for us. But we are called to always strive to be more generous in our praise of God; more compassionate with our brothers and sisters, and more disciplined in our attitudes. In this way, we are told, we will find entry into the Heavenly Kingdom.
Pax
[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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