Memorial of Saint Scholastica, virgin
Biographical Information about St. Scholastica
Readings for Saturday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time
Commentary:
Reading 1 Gn 3:9-24
Today we hear God’s punishment placed upon mankind for violating the law God had given them. It is clear from the text what parts of man’s existence was viewed as harsh by the early authors.
God first punished the serpent, placing hostility between man and the snake in perpetuity. The snake or serpent in later theology actually became representative of evil, ultimately destroyed by the Son of God.
God next punished the woman by intensifying the pain of delivering children and made it even more severe by saying that in spite of the pain, woman would still be drawn to have more children (“Yet your urge shall be for your husband”)
Finally, God punished man for his role. No longer could he just reach up and take fruit to eat, rather he was forced to till the land to get food, hard work in uncertain conditions for all his life.
The final punishment was the most difficult to bear, man’s immortality was taken away. Through sin, death came into the world and man was forbidden to eat from the tree of live and man was cast out of the Garden of Eden.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 90:2, 3-4abc, 5-6, 12-13
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
The song of lament in Psalm 90 reminds us of the dust to which we must return. The psalmist calls us back to God’s law and grace. Most interesting in this passage is the recognition that God’s time and man’s time are different (“For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night.”) This psalm files in the face of those who believe God created earth in seven 24 hour days. (“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.”)
Gospel Mk 8:1-10
Today we have one of the “Wow” miracles, the multiplication of loaves and fishes. There are actually two accounts; (Mark 8:1-10; which we hear today and Mark 6:31-44). It is proposed that by scholars that this is actually the same event told from two different traditions, but regardless, the implication is Eucharistic.
Much can be speculated about this event. The number of the loaves being 7 would seem to indicate, through Hebrew numerology, the fullness of loaves was present. The fact that they all ate until they were satisfied (spiritually?) would indicate that the meal was complete. The fragments left over filled 7 baskets, again that perfect number is used.
Reflection:
The readings from Genesis and the Gospel from Mark clash today. In the Genesis story we hear of the Hebrew experience of a God of Justice. He hands out punishment to mankind for violating his law thereby condemning man and beast to lives of enmity, pain and toil. This punishment was handed out in God’s time, as the psalmist reminds us, not man’s time.
Juxtaposed with the God of Justice, the Lord Jesus Christ comes in the Gospel as the God of Mercy and Compassion. He sees the multitude that look to him for salvation through his words and gives them nourishment for the flesh as well.
We wonder, which is the true face of God? Then we remember that before the coming of the Messiah man was wandering without a shepherd. He looked at the physical world and saw there what he supposed was the punishment for sins against God. The people of the Old Testament knew the Law of Moses. It was a strict and detailed law and violation of it merited the punishment like that given to Adam and Eve. Even if they did not recall what sin they had committed, if misfortune befell them, it must be punishment from the God of Justice, omnipotent and omnipresent.
Than came Jesus in fulfillment of the recorded prophecy of God’s intent. His only Son revealed to us the true face of the Father, a loving God who was not vindictive. A Merciful Father who does not punish out of some whim. Yes, he created man in his own image and likeness. But that creation was given God’s own free will; a free will that lead Eve to accept the apple from the Serpent and lead mankind to death through sin.
Now comes the Lord, freeing us from that same death through his own sacrifice. Today we give thanks to God who, through his infinite love for us, gave us his Son so we might know his will for us and give us food for the journey he has planed for us.
Pax
Biographical Information about St. Scholastica
Readings for Saturday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time
Commentary:
Reading 1 Gn 3:9-24
Today we hear God’s punishment placed upon mankind for violating the law God had given them. It is clear from the text what parts of man’s existence was viewed as harsh by the early authors.
God first punished the serpent, placing hostility between man and the snake in perpetuity. The snake or serpent in later theology actually became representative of evil, ultimately destroyed by the Son of God.
God next punished the woman by intensifying the pain of delivering children and made it even more severe by saying that in spite of the pain, woman would still be drawn to have more children (“Yet your urge shall be for your husband”)
Finally, God punished man for his role. No longer could he just reach up and take fruit to eat, rather he was forced to till the land to get food, hard work in uncertain conditions for all his life.
The final punishment was the most difficult to bear, man’s immortality was taken away. Through sin, death came into the world and man was forbidden to eat from the tree of live and man was cast out of the Garden of Eden.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 90:2, 3-4abc, 5-6, 12-13
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
The song of lament in Psalm 90 reminds us of the dust to which we must return. The psalmist calls us back to God’s law and grace. Most interesting in this passage is the recognition that God’s time and man’s time are different (“For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night.”) This psalm files in the face of those who believe God created earth in seven 24 hour days. (“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.”)
Gospel Mk 8:1-10
Today we have one of the “Wow” miracles, the multiplication of loaves and fishes. There are actually two accounts; (Mark 8:1-10; which we hear today and Mark 6:31-44). It is proposed that by scholars that this is actually the same event told from two different traditions, but regardless, the implication is Eucharistic.
Much can be speculated about this event. The number of the loaves being 7 would seem to indicate, through Hebrew numerology, the fullness of loaves was present. The fact that they all ate until they were satisfied (spiritually?) would indicate that the meal was complete. The fragments left over filled 7 baskets, again that perfect number is used.
Reflection:
The readings from Genesis and the Gospel from Mark clash today. In the Genesis story we hear of the Hebrew experience of a God of Justice. He hands out punishment to mankind for violating his law thereby condemning man and beast to lives of enmity, pain and toil. This punishment was handed out in God’s time, as the psalmist reminds us, not man’s time.
Juxtaposed with the God of Justice, the Lord Jesus Christ comes in the Gospel as the God of Mercy and Compassion. He sees the multitude that look to him for salvation through his words and gives them nourishment for the flesh as well.
We wonder, which is the true face of God? Then we remember that before the coming of the Messiah man was wandering without a shepherd. He looked at the physical world and saw there what he supposed was the punishment for sins against God. The people of the Old Testament knew the Law of Moses. It was a strict and detailed law and violation of it merited the punishment like that given to Adam and Eve. Even if they did not recall what sin they had committed, if misfortune befell them, it must be punishment from the God of Justice, omnipotent and omnipresent.
Than came Jesus in fulfillment of the recorded prophecy of God’s intent. His only Son revealed to us the true face of the Father, a loving God who was not vindictive. A Merciful Father who does not punish out of some whim. Yes, he created man in his own image and likeness. But that creation was given God’s own free will; a free will that lead Eve to accept the apple from the Serpent and lead mankind to death through sin.
Now comes the Lord, freeing us from that same death through his own sacrifice. Today we give thanks to God who, through his infinite love for us, gave us his Son so we might know his will for us and give us food for the journey he has planed for us.
Pax
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