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“St. John Vianney”
artist and date are unknown |
Readings for Thursday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time [1]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
Readings and Commentary: [3]
Reading 1: Jeremiah 31:31-34
The days are coming, says the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel
and the house of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers:
the day I took them by the hand
to lead them forth from the land of Egypt;
for they broke my covenant,
and I had to show myself their master, says the Lord.
But this is the covenant that I will make
with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord.
I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts;
I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
No longer will they have need to teach their friends and relatives
how to know the Lord.
All, from least to greatest, shall know me, says the Lord,
for I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more.
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Commentary on Jer 31:31-34
This passage is called by Scripture scholars “Jeremiah’s Spiritual Testament.” [4] In his announcement of the “new covenant,” he condenses his entire message into these few words. While in his day, he is speaking to the returning exiles about the re-establishment of the relationship with God, it can also be seen as predictive of the messianic covenant. This is especially clear given the language in the final verse regarding forgiveness: “All, from least to greatest, shall know me, says the Lord, for I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more.”
CCC: Jer 31 1611; Jer 31:31-34 64, 715, 762, 1965; Jer 31:33 368, 580, 2713
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19
R. (12a) Create a clean heart in me, O God.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners shall return to you.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
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Commentary on Ps 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19
Psalm 51 is the fourth and most famous of the penitential psalms. The psalmist sings, in these verses, that only God can reverse the awful effects of sin. Through this action, taken by the Holy Spirit, God’s salvation is made manifest in the repentant and contrite heart. We are also reminded of baptism, and the purifying effect of that bath.
CCC: Ps 51:12 298, 431; Ps 51:19 1428, 2100
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Gospel: Matthew 16:13-23
Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
and he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Then he strictly ordered his disciples
to tell no one that he was the Christ.
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly
from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
“God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.”
He turned and said to Peter,
“Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
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Commentary on Mt 16:13-23
St. Matthew’s story of how Jesus asked about what people were saying about him has a profound impact on the Church. Here, when challenged by Jesus with the question: “But who do you say that I am?” Simon answers: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The second title is not present in St. Mark’s version of this encounter. It adds an understanding that Jesus is not just the Messiah, but also the Son of God.
Given this response, Jesus confers upon Simon a new name, “Kephas,” which comes from the root Aramaic word Kepa or “Rock.” When translated into Greek it came out Petros and from there to Peter. The name, however, becomes the foundation for the Church, and Peter, as a consequence of this exchange, is given Christ’s authority that is passed down through papal succession to our pontiff today.
The passage continues with Jesus’ explanation of his coming passion. Jesus, using the title “Son of Man” (see Daniel 7:13-14), foresees his trials and passion. This frightens the disciples and probably confuses many of the entourage (remember, there were more than just the twelve following Jesus around), and Peter confronts him, asking him to take a different approach to what he tells his students. Seeing this request as an invitation to take an easier, less dangerous path, Jesus rebukes Peter.
CCC: Mt 16-18 1969; Mt 16:16-23 440; Mt 16:16 424, 442; Mt 16:17 153, 442; Mt 16:18-19 881; Mt 16:18 424, 442, 552, 586, 869; Mt 16:19 553, 1444; Mt 16:21-23 540, 607; Mt 16:21 554; Mt 16:22-23 554
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Reflection:
We ask a simple question today: How does one person get to know another? It sounds simple, but as many counselors will tell you, most people, even in committed relationships, do not know the other person in that relationship deeply. The reason for this is that most of us find it easier to talk about ourselves, our desires, our dislikes, and our experiences rather than listen to another person speak about themselves.
Think for a moment about the last time you met someone new. After you had exchanged a few pleasantries, what did you talk about? Perhaps you talked about a common interest, or the state of the weather, the nation, or the activity you shared. In the end, did you really know that person? Probably not, it takes a long time to get to know someone, and even when you have taken the time to really dig deeply into a person’s life, in the time you spend doing so, you change, or they change, and the relationship is altered.
It is the same with getting to know the Lord. Perhaps it is even more difficult, because until there is a very personal relationship, we may think of Jesus as abstract, like an object embodied in the crucifix, not like a real person with whom you walk in life. Getting to know Jesus requires the same level of commitment we expend in our other relationships, with our families and closest friends. The Lord asks St. Peter in the Gospel: “But who do you say that I am?” That same question is asked of us who claim to be Christian, followers of Jesus.
If we do not know him, his likes, his dislikes, his desires, how can we enjoy his company, or he ours? If we consider him only as some abstract force of nature with no personality, no corporeal existence, how can he touch us? Jeremiah said in the first reading: “All, from least to greatest, shall know me, says the Lord, for I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more.”
Our challenge today is to ask ourselves what we know of Jesus, and who do we say he is. If we cannot answer, we need to get to know him. We need to sit down with his Word and speak with him in prayer, and above all, we must spend time with him in the person of the Blessed Sacrament we now share.
Pax
[1] The picture is “St. John Vianney” artist and date are unknown.
[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.
[4] Jerome Biblical Commentary, Prentice Hall, Inc., © 1968, p.327, 89.
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