And Saint Henry
Biographical Information about St. Henry[1]
Readings for Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Reading form the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Gn 46:1-7, 28-30
After being told that his son, Joseph, had been killed (and shown the bloodied coat he had given Joseph), Jacob (Israel) and his son are reunited and the promise of God is fulfilled. Jacob travels to Egypt on God’s instruction that he will not only be returned to the land he had been given but that Joseph would “close his eyes”, a burial ritual.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
A didactic Selection from Psalm 37 promises the salvation of those who hear God’s voice and trust in Him. This supports the passage from Genesis in which Israel (Jacob) trust God in spite of what he believes about Joseph, his son.
Gospel Mt 10:16-23
Jesus concludes his instruction to the Apostles in this selection from Matthew’s Gospel. Here also we begin to hear about the persecutions that attend the spreading of the Gospel. Those who spread that Good News are encouraged not to worry about an apologetic but rather to trust in the Holy Spirit, the Father “speaking through you.”
Matthew’s final statement, referring to the coming of the Son of Man, has a couple of possible explanations. First it could be referring to the return of Christ after his crucifixion; it could also mean the punishment of the unbelieving Jewish people by the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in 70 AD
Reflection:
All week we have been told to go into the world and proclaim the “Kingdom of God”. Almost as an afterthought, we are reminded that this Good News will not be received well by others. The selection we hear today from Matthew’s Gospel reminds us that even members of our own families will reject the message.
Anyone who has tried to follow this call seriously knows the truth of these words. Simply behaving in accordance with the Commandments is likely to earn you the title “fanatic” or “Bible Pounder”. The even more unfortunate part of this is, in the current political environment, our faith has been liked to a unilateral political agenda and most non-Christians in the world cannot separate the authentic practice of the faith from the twisted version that backs a political group.
We cannot be deterred by this unfortunate state of affairs. The “Christian Right” seems to be in decline where it comes to its political strength and perhaps that will make it easier for those of us who are living the faith without a political purpose behind our actions to have some impact.
Biographical Information about St. Henry[1]
Readings for Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Reading form the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Gn 46:1-7, 28-30
After being told that his son, Joseph, had been killed (and shown the bloodied coat he had given Joseph), Jacob (Israel) and his son are reunited and the promise of God is fulfilled. Jacob travels to Egypt on God’s instruction that he will not only be returned to the land he had been given but that Joseph would “close his eyes”, a burial ritual.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
A didactic Selection from Psalm 37 promises the salvation of those who hear God’s voice and trust in Him. This supports the passage from Genesis in which Israel (Jacob) trust God in spite of what he believes about Joseph, his son.
Gospel Mt 10:16-23
Jesus concludes his instruction to the Apostles in this selection from Matthew’s Gospel. Here also we begin to hear about the persecutions that attend the spreading of the Gospel. Those who spread that Good News are encouraged not to worry about an apologetic but rather to trust in the Holy Spirit, the Father “speaking through you.”
Matthew’s final statement, referring to the coming of the Son of Man, has a couple of possible explanations. First it could be referring to the return of Christ after his crucifixion; it could also mean the punishment of the unbelieving Jewish people by the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in 70 AD
Reflection:
All week we have been told to go into the world and proclaim the “Kingdom of God”. Almost as an afterthought, we are reminded that this Good News will not be received well by others. The selection we hear today from Matthew’s Gospel reminds us that even members of our own families will reject the message.
Anyone who has tried to follow this call seriously knows the truth of these words. Simply behaving in accordance with the Commandments is likely to earn you the title “fanatic” or “Bible Pounder”. The even more unfortunate part of this is, in the current political environment, our faith has been liked to a unilateral political agenda and most non-Christians in the world cannot separate the authentic practice of the faith from the twisted version that backs a political group.
We cannot be deterred by this unfortunate state of affairs. The “Christian Right” seems to be in decline where it comes to its political strength and perhaps that will make it easier for those of us who are living the faith without a political purpose behind our actions to have some impact.
However, the words of Jesus have never been truer. The pendulum has not stopped swinging and the un-churched and avowed atheists will seize the opportunity to drive their own agenda. We will once more be caught in the backlash. We take hope in the Lord’s promise that if we are faithful to him, His promise will be kept and we will attain the reward he promises.
Pax
[1] The image is of Henry II by William Henry Worthington, (c.1790-1819)
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
Pax
[1] The image is of Henry II by William Henry Worthington, (c.1790-1819)
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
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