Friday of the Second Week of Lent &
Saint Frances of Rome
Biographical Information about St. Frances of Rome[1][2]
Readings for Friday of the Second Week of Lent[3]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis
Commentary:
Reading 1 Gn 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a
The story from Genesis is that of Joseph, the son of Israel, being taken and sold into slavery by his brothers. The story is actually told by both authors of Genesis the Yahwist and the Elohist and there are some inconsistencies as a result (specifically which brother tried to save him). On the main points they agree – instead of killing Joseph as they had initially intended they sold him to Ishmaelites (Arabs) who took him as a slave to Egypt.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 105:16-17, 18-19, 20-21
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
Psalm 105 recalls the Genesis story, speaking also of the fate of Joseph in Egypt and how God rescued and supported in his slavery.
Gospel Mt 21:33-43, 45-46
The Parable of The Wicked Husbandmen from Matthew is the Gospel today. Placed with the story of Joseph’s capture and exile because of jealousy, we feel the same emotions in the tenants who wish to first withhold what they owe and then kill the son of the land owner so they can take his inheritance.
The symbolism that runs through the parable is rich and we will not try to capture it in this short commentary (see the Deacon-Sailor Archive for more complete analysis).
Reflection:
The scripture today seems to bring us back to were we were on Wednesday of this week, that those who choose to follow the Lord will meet with resistance and possibly death at the hands of those who oppose God’s will. We see it in Genesis – an oral tradition that was handed down from some four thousand years before Christ walked the earth. We hear it from Christ who related his parable two thousand years ago. We see it around us today.
It is hard for us to understand why people have such impulses. The brothers of Joseph were jealous of his favored status with their father, we can see that. And the tenants in the parable Jesus told were driven from greed. That too is a human emotion we can understand. Where we find difficulty is in those who attack us and our beliefs because of what we represent. In case you are wondering where this thought came from, I direct your attention to the New York Times Best Seller List.
When doing some research yesterday I went to a web source called Science News Online. There in the banner at the top of the page was a flashing advertisement from a publisher (aptly) named Prometheus Books promoting their most recent best seller: “God: The Failed Hypothesis “ subtitled “How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist”
We must wonder why a person (the author claims to be a physicist) first would wish to attack belief in God (a God coincidently that loves him in spite of himself) and second, why a publisher would take such a work to the public and finally why a publication claiming to be an objective source would advertise it.
If, as we follow our own blissful spirituality of Lent, feel that the evil one has ignored us, we only need to look at things like this to know that he has taken a more insidious approach. I am sure zealous people of faith will refute the “science” this person chooses to support his claims. And the atheistic community will rise up and squeal “See how the Christians try to suppress logic and degrade true science with their superstitions.” They will twist the truth and, perhaps for a day, gain some strength. Our best defense is to continue to proclaim, in a humble and compassionate way, the love of God; a love so great that he gave his only Son, knowing that the people he loved would deny him and the claim he did not exist.
Pax
Saint Frances of Rome
Biographical Information about St. Frances of Rome[1][2]
Readings for Friday of the Second Week of Lent[3]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis
Commentary:
Reading 1 Gn 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a
The story from Genesis is that of Joseph, the son of Israel, being taken and sold into slavery by his brothers. The story is actually told by both authors of Genesis the Yahwist and the Elohist and there are some inconsistencies as a result (specifically which brother tried to save him). On the main points they agree – instead of killing Joseph as they had initially intended they sold him to Ishmaelites (Arabs) who took him as a slave to Egypt.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 105:16-17, 18-19, 20-21
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
Psalm 105 recalls the Genesis story, speaking also of the fate of Joseph in Egypt and how God rescued and supported in his slavery.
Gospel Mt 21:33-43, 45-46
The Parable of The Wicked Husbandmen from Matthew is the Gospel today. Placed with the story of Joseph’s capture and exile because of jealousy, we feel the same emotions in the tenants who wish to first withhold what they owe and then kill the son of the land owner so they can take his inheritance.
The symbolism that runs through the parable is rich and we will not try to capture it in this short commentary (see the Deacon-Sailor Archive for more complete analysis).
Reflection:
The scripture today seems to bring us back to were we were on Wednesday of this week, that those who choose to follow the Lord will meet with resistance and possibly death at the hands of those who oppose God’s will. We see it in Genesis – an oral tradition that was handed down from some four thousand years before Christ walked the earth. We hear it from Christ who related his parable two thousand years ago. We see it around us today.
It is hard for us to understand why people have such impulses. The brothers of Joseph were jealous of his favored status with their father, we can see that. And the tenants in the parable Jesus told were driven from greed. That too is a human emotion we can understand. Where we find difficulty is in those who attack us and our beliefs because of what we represent. In case you are wondering where this thought came from, I direct your attention to the New York Times Best Seller List.
When doing some research yesterday I went to a web source called Science News Online. There in the banner at the top of the page was a flashing advertisement from a publisher (aptly) named Prometheus Books promoting their most recent best seller: “God: The Failed Hypothesis “ subtitled “How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist”
We must wonder why a person (the author claims to be a physicist) first would wish to attack belief in God (a God coincidently that loves him in spite of himself) and second, why a publisher would take such a work to the public and finally why a publication claiming to be an objective source would advertise it.
If, as we follow our own blissful spirituality of Lent, feel that the evil one has ignored us, we only need to look at things like this to know that he has taken a more insidious approach. I am sure zealous people of faith will refute the “science” this person chooses to support his claims. And the atheistic community will rise up and squeal “See how the Christians try to suppress logic and degrade true science with their superstitions.” They will twist the truth and, perhaps for a day, gain some strength. Our best defense is to continue to proclaim, in a humble and compassionate way, the love of God; a love so great that he gave his only Son, knowing that the people he loved would deny him and the claim he did not exist.
Pax
[1] If your Lenten reading list has grown short, there is a free ebook about St. Frances of Rome at Project Gutenberg
[2] The image presented today is “Madonna and Child with St. Frances of Rome” by Orazio Gentileschi
[3] After 04/07
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