Readings for Tuesday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 1 Tm 3:1-13
St. Paul gives instructions in this passage on the character of Presbyter-Bishops (episkopos) and Deacons (diakonos) in the early Church. Both are required to be faith filled and moderate in their habits. Bishops additionally are to have the ability to teach and reputations and temperament respected both inside the Christian community and out.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 101:1b-2ab, 2cd-3ab, 5, 6
R. I will walk with blameless heart.
Psalm 101 is a pledge of faithfulness. The strophes used today tie nicely back to the Timothy reading in describing the character and temperament of those elect who walk the path of service to the Lord.
Gospel Lk 7:11-17
The NAB Footnote does a good job of describing this passage and the link to the cure of the Gentile yesterday. “In the previous incident Jesus' power was displayed for a Gentile whose servant was dying; in this episode it is displayed toward a widowed mother whose only son has already died. Jesus' power over death prepares for his reply to John's disciples in Luke 7:22: "the dead are raised." This resuscitation in alluding to the prophet Elijah's resurrection of the only son of a widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-24) leads to the reaction of the crowd: "A great prophet has arisen in our midst" (Luke 7:16).”
Reflection:
The reading from 1 Timothy and the support provided by Psalm 101 provides us with inspiration today. The character of those called to discipleship is outlined in some detail and we are struck by the fact that it as necessary and that the character elements identified could be absent and a person could still keep Mosaic Law.
The character elements identified which include chastity, moderation, and temperament are values we all need to strive toward. We suppose that a person could have fits of temper and lash out at people and still love God, but what of the great commandment? How can we love one another yet cruelly lash out at another? Yes, we would not have violated any Mosaic Laws but we would have failed in the eyes of Christ.
What about the drinking part? Could we fall into the abuse of alcohol and still not violate Mosaic Law. A state of drunkenness would make it difficult but nothing is said about over-indulgence in the Decalogue. But again we fail in front of the Lord who tells us that we are to uphold the dignity of all persons. The Church has refined this instruction in the following passage from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
1809 Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will's mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable. The temperate person directs the sensitive appetites toward what is good and maintains a healthy discretion: "Do not follow your inclination and strength, walking according to the desires of your heart."72 Temperance is often praised in the Old Testament: "Do not follow your base desires, but restrain your appetites."73 In the New Testament it is called "moderation" or "sobriety." We ought "to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world."74
To live well is nothing other than to love God with all one's heart, with all one's soul and with all one's efforts; from this it comes about that love is kept whole and uncorrupted (through temperance). No misfortune can disturb it (and this is fortitude). It obeys only [God] (and this is justice), and is careful in discerning things, so as not to be surprised by deceit or trickery (and this is prudence).75”[3]
What this comes down to is that our conduct, not as Bishops, Priests, or Deacons but as disciples of Christ, must be as St. Paul says “irreproachable”. That is our goal because it drives us toward the model Christ left us. For those of us called to serve as Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, we are held to an even higher standard so that our example of a lived faith might inspire those who follow to Glorify God through their own shining example.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used is The Triumph of Virtue over Vice by Paolo Veronese, 1554-56
[3] The references cited in the quote above are: 72 Sir 5:2; cf. 37:27-31.73 Sir 18:30.74 Titus 2:12. 75 St. Augustine, De moribus eccl. 1,25,46:PL 32,1330-1331.
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 1 Tm 3:1-13
St. Paul gives instructions in this passage on the character of Presbyter-Bishops (episkopos) and Deacons (diakonos) in the early Church. Both are required to be faith filled and moderate in their habits. Bishops additionally are to have the ability to teach and reputations and temperament respected both inside the Christian community and out.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 101:1b-2ab, 2cd-3ab, 5, 6
R. I will walk with blameless heart.
Psalm 101 is a pledge of faithfulness. The strophes used today tie nicely back to the Timothy reading in describing the character and temperament of those elect who walk the path of service to the Lord.
Gospel Lk 7:11-17
The NAB Footnote does a good job of describing this passage and the link to the cure of the Gentile yesterday. “In the previous incident Jesus' power was displayed for a Gentile whose servant was dying; in this episode it is displayed toward a widowed mother whose only son has already died. Jesus' power over death prepares for his reply to John's disciples in Luke 7:22: "the dead are raised." This resuscitation in alluding to the prophet Elijah's resurrection of the only son of a widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-24) leads to the reaction of the crowd: "A great prophet has arisen in our midst" (Luke 7:16).”
Reflection:
The reading from 1 Timothy and the support provided by Psalm 101 provides us with inspiration today. The character of those called to discipleship is outlined in some detail and we are struck by the fact that it as necessary and that the character elements identified could be absent and a person could still keep Mosaic Law.
The character elements identified which include chastity, moderation, and temperament are values we all need to strive toward. We suppose that a person could have fits of temper and lash out at people and still love God, but what of the great commandment? How can we love one another yet cruelly lash out at another? Yes, we would not have violated any Mosaic Laws but we would have failed in the eyes of Christ.
What about the drinking part? Could we fall into the abuse of alcohol and still not violate Mosaic Law. A state of drunkenness would make it difficult but nothing is said about over-indulgence in the Decalogue. But again we fail in front of the Lord who tells us that we are to uphold the dignity of all persons. The Church has refined this instruction in the following passage from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
1809 Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will's mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable. The temperate person directs the sensitive appetites toward what is good and maintains a healthy discretion: "Do not follow your inclination and strength, walking according to the desires of your heart."72 Temperance is often praised in the Old Testament: "Do not follow your base desires, but restrain your appetites."73 In the New Testament it is called "moderation" or "sobriety." We ought "to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world."74
To live well is nothing other than to love God with all one's heart, with all one's soul and with all one's efforts; from this it comes about that love is kept whole and uncorrupted (through temperance). No misfortune can disturb it (and this is fortitude). It obeys only [God] (and this is justice), and is careful in discerning things, so as not to be surprised by deceit or trickery (and this is prudence).75”[3]
What this comes down to is that our conduct, not as Bishops, Priests, or Deacons but as disciples of Christ, must be as St. Paul says “irreproachable”. That is our goal because it drives us toward the model Christ left us. For those of us called to serve as Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, we are held to an even higher standard so that our example of a lived faith might inspire those who follow to Glorify God through their own shining example.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used is The Triumph of Virtue over Vice by Paolo Veronese, 1554-56
[3] The references cited in the quote above are: 72 Sir 5:2; cf. 37:27-31.73 Sir 18:30.74 Titus 2:12. 75 St. Augustine, De moribus eccl. 1,25,46:PL 32,1330-1331.
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