Biographical Information about St. Bernard[1]
Readings for the Memorial of St. Bernard[2]
Reading from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Jgs 2:11-19
In this passage from the book of Judges the chronicler recounts how the Children of Israel fell away from God and began to follow secular worship of Baal and Ashtaroth. This led them to destruction, all they attempted turned to disaster. Even when Judges (leaders of the faith) were appointed and who were faithful to God and the Law, the people ignored them. Even those who followed them would fall away once a particular judge died. Nothing was possible without God’s help.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 106:34-35, 36-37, 39-40, 43ab and 44
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
Psalm 104 is a historical psalm. Here it laments the failure of the people to follow God’s instruction to remain faithful and apart from the secular society into which they had come (in actuality they were to have destroyed those societies but did not).
Gospel Mt 19:16-22
In this story from Matthew’s Gospel we hear of the wealthy young man who wishes to gain eternal life. The response from Jesus is first he must be faithful to the Law of Moses, specifically the Decalogue (Ten Commandments). When the young man answers that he has done so the Lord invites him to become perfected by giving up all he owns and follow him. This the young man could not do – his possessions were to dear to him.
Reflection:
The unified theme in scripture today is follow God’s law, placing his will first in our lives and we will find prosperity in this life and receive the promise of the next. This focus is first treated by the reading from the Book of Judges which summarizes the message contained in that book which is: “…is to show that the fortunes of Israel depended upon the obedience or disobedience of the people to God's law.” (see Introduction to Judges from NAB).
The historical summary is reiterated in the selection from Psalm 106 and the final pragmatic instruction is provided by St. Matthew as he describes Christ’s encounter with the wealthy young man. In this story we see clearly the difficult road we as Christians must follow. Our fist and most basic task is to follow God’s Law. Note that the Lord uses this as a starting point. Then he takes us further. Although he is not calling most of us to lay down all we own to follow him (In the cases of those called to priestly or religious life he does just this) he invites us to place him first in our lives, ahead of material wealth.
For those of us who live in the secular world this is often difficult. We are measured by society by our “things”, how big a car we drive, how nice a house and neighborhood we live in, the toys we have. To abandon that life view and embrace Christ’s call to holiness is at the very heart of the scriptural message today.
Readings for the Memorial of St. Bernard[2]
Reading from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Jgs 2:11-19
In this passage from the book of Judges the chronicler recounts how the Children of Israel fell away from God and began to follow secular worship of Baal and Ashtaroth. This led them to destruction, all they attempted turned to disaster. Even when Judges (leaders of the faith) were appointed and who were faithful to God and the Law, the people ignored them. Even those who followed them would fall away once a particular judge died. Nothing was possible without God’s help.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 106:34-35, 36-37, 39-40, 43ab and 44
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
Psalm 104 is a historical psalm. Here it laments the failure of the people to follow God’s instruction to remain faithful and apart from the secular society into which they had come (in actuality they were to have destroyed those societies but did not).
Gospel Mt 19:16-22
In this story from Matthew’s Gospel we hear of the wealthy young man who wishes to gain eternal life. The response from Jesus is first he must be faithful to the Law of Moses, specifically the Decalogue (Ten Commandments). When the young man answers that he has done so the Lord invites him to become perfected by giving up all he owns and follow him. This the young man could not do – his possessions were to dear to him.
Reflection:
The unified theme in scripture today is follow God’s law, placing his will first in our lives and we will find prosperity in this life and receive the promise of the next. This focus is first treated by the reading from the Book of Judges which summarizes the message contained in that book which is: “…is to show that the fortunes of Israel depended upon the obedience or disobedience of the people to God's law.” (see Introduction to Judges from NAB).
The historical summary is reiterated in the selection from Psalm 106 and the final pragmatic instruction is provided by St. Matthew as he describes Christ’s encounter with the wealthy young man. In this story we see clearly the difficult road we as Christians must follow. Our fist and most basic task is to follow God’s Law. Note that the Lord uses this as a starting point. Then he takes us further. Although he is not calling most of us to lay down all we own to follow him (In the cases of those called to priestly or religious life he does just this) he invites us to place him first in our lives, ahead of material wealth.
For those of us who live in the secular world this is often difficult. We are measured by society by our “things”, how big a car we drive, how nice a house and neighborhood we live in, the toys we have. To abandon that life view and embrace Christ’s call to holiness is at the very heart of the scriptural message today.
Our prayer then is that we might remain faithful to Christ’s call today as did the Saint we memorialize, St. Bernard. We pray that, unlike the Children of Israel who were lured away from God by the secular world, we might keep God first in our minds and hearts and thereby come to the reward he promises, eternal life.
Pax
[1] The picture used today is from French Holy Card depiction of St. Bernard, artist is UNKNOWN
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
No comments:
Post a Comment