And Saint Elizabeth of Portugal
Biographical Information about Saint Elizabeth of Portugal[1]
Readings for Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Gn 21:5, 8-20a
We have been following the saga of Abraham (Abram) as he strives to follow God’s will. In this passage his wife Sarah (Sarai) has demanded that Hagar and Ishmael be cast out of their family group. This is truly the beginning of the split in Abraham’s descendents as through his son Isaac the Jewish people would arise and through his son Ishmael the followers of Islam develop. The same God (whose Only Son is the Messiah) that favored the early Jewish people, in this passage shows his love for Hagar and Ishmael and their decendents.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 34:7-8, 10-11, 12-13
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
In this selection from Psalm 34, the singer rejoices in God’s love and compassion, especially for those in need (“the poor”). God saves those who love him and shares in their delight during good times.
Gospel Mt 8:28-34
Jesus comes to a region about five miles southeast of the Sea of Galilee and encounters the two demoniacs (people taken over by demons). He drives them out into a herd of swine (the symbolism here for the Jewish audience would be powerful as swine were unclean animals and even they preferred death to the presence of evil.). The gentle population, probably very superstitious, was afraid of Christ’s power over evil and did not want any more damage as a result of his presence.
Reflection:
The message from all three pieces of scripture today tells us that God is the God of all, not just a select group. In the first reading we find Sarah, Abraham’s wife demanding that Hagar, Abraham’s slave, and mother of his first born son, be excommunicated from their family group. Abraham followed the guidance of God who promised that both his sons (Abraham’s) would prosper and “become great nations”. The Father clearly accepted this obligation to look out for Ishmael and demonstrated that in the wilderness when he and his mother were dying of thirst.
In the Gospel, Jesus cures two possessed people of the gentile community through which he was passing. These were not Jews, presented to him for healing by members of the faithful. They were gentiles in serious straights. The Lord demonstrated his love for all peoples in his healing act.
What does this message say to us? We call ourselves disciples of the Christ, the only Son of God who was God of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael. Do we follow the example set for us by reaching out to our brothers and sisters of diverse faith backgrounds? This message today is extremely important to us in the light of tensions in the world. It is so easy for us to look at those who follow Abraham’s older son with fear and distrust because of a minority of militants and extremists have twisted the words of the Holy Quran to their own hatful purpose and under that banner (which generally is a mask for greed or lust for personal power) justifies the murder of innocent people. We must remember that in times past there were those who took Holy Scripture in similar directions.
Today we pray that, following the example of God the Father and Christ His Son, we too can show the face of love to all peoples of all nations. We ask God the Father to give us the Spirit of peace that we might reach out to the world and, in doing so, advance the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.
Pax
[1] The picture of St. Elizabeth of Portugal is by Francisco de Zurbarán, 1627-33
[2] After Links Expire
Biographical Information about Saint Elizabeth of Portugal[1]
Readings for Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Gn 21:5, 8-20a
We have been following the saga of Abraham (Abram) as he strives to follow God’s will. In this passage his wife Sarah (Sarai) has demanded that Hagar and Ishmael be cast out of their family group. This is truly the beginning of the split in Abraham’s descendents as through his son Isaac the Jewish people would arise and through his son Ishmael the followers of Islam develop. The same God (whose Only Son is the Messiah) that favored the early Jewish people, in this passage shows his love for Hagar and Ishmael and their decendents.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 34:7-8, 10-11, 12-13
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
In this selection from Psalm 34, the singer rejoices in God’s love and compassion, especially for those in need (“the poor”). God saves those who love him and shares in their delight during good times.
Gospel Mt 8:28-34
Jesus comes to a region about five miles southeast of the Sea of Galilee and encounters the two demoniacs (people taken over by demons). He drives them out into a herd of swine (the symbolism here for the Jewish audience would be powerful as swine were unclean animals and even they preferred death to the presence of evil.). The gentle population, probably very superstitious, was afraid of Christ’s power over evil and did not want any more damage as a result of his presence.
Reflection:
The message from all three pieces of scripture today tells us that God is the God of all, not just a select group. In the first reading we find Sarah, Abraham’s wife demanding that Hagar, Abraham’s slave, and mother of his first born son, be excommunicated from their family group. Abraham followed the guidance of God who promised that both his sons (Abraham’s) would prosper and “become great nations”. The Father clearly accepted this obligation to look out for Ishmael and demonstrated that in the wilderness when he and his mother were dying of thirst.
In the Gospel, Jesus cures two possessed people of the gentile community through which he was passing. These were not Jews, presented to him for healing by members of the faithful. They were gentiles in serious straights. The Lord demonstrated his love for all peoples in his healing act.
What does this message say to us? We call ourselves disciples of the Christ, the only Son of God who was God of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael. Do we follow the example set for us by reaching out to our brothers and sisters of diverse faith backgrounds? This message today is extremely important to us in the light of tensions in the world. It is so easy for us to look at those who follow Abraham’s older son with fear and distrust because of a minority of militants and extremists have twisted the words of the Holy Quran to their own hatful purpose and under that banner (which generally is a mask for greed or lust for personal power) justifies the murder of innocent people. We must remember that in times past there were those who took Holy Scripture in similar directions.
Today we pray that, following the example of God the Father and Christ His Son, we too can show the face of love to all peoples of all nations. We ask God the Father to give us the Spirit of peace that we might reach out to the world and, in doing so, advance the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.
Pax
[1] The picture of St. Elizabeth of Portugal is by Francisco de Zurbarán, 1627-33
[2] After Links Expire
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