Saint Ephraem, Deacon, Doctor
Biographical Information about Saint Ephraem[1]
Readings for Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 1 Kings 17:1-6
This passage begins the section from 1 Kings called “Stories of the Prophets”. The NAB footnote introduces this section nicely; “Elijah the Tishbite: one of the most important figures in Old Testament history. As his name indicates ("Yahweh is my God"), Elijah was the successful leader in the struggle to preserve the knowledge and worship of Yahweh against the encroaching worship of Baal introduced into Israel by Jezebel, the Tyrian wife of Ahab.“
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 121:1bc-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121 is a hymn of blessing given prior to a long and difficult journey. These strophes explain that God is faithful and will protect the traveler from harm – God is always with us (“…he is beside you at your right hand. The sun shall not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.”)
Gospel Matthew 5:1-12
This section of the Sermon on the Mount begins the first of five great discourses in St. Matthew’s Gospel. He begins using a formula common in the Wisdom literature of the Old Testament with “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” This designation identifies those without material resources, completely dependent upon God. (This distinction is for the devout poor). The discourse continues blessing they who mourn, who are meek, who “hunger” for righteousness (to adopt the Lord’s law of love in their hearts), the merciful, the clean of heart (those who are reconciled to God), the peacemakers, the persecuted, and finally those who will be reviled because they profess faith in Christ.
Reflection:
Depending upon the year, we are offered the Beatitudes from St. Matthew or from St. Luke’s Gospel (Lk 6:17, 20-26) three or four times a year. While the Great Commandment is arguably the heart of Christ’s teaching, the beatitudes carry the intent of the good news to all mankind who are invited to his table. The Sermon on the Mount becomes an invitation and a promise to all those who feel God has forgotten them.
It is preceded today with the introduction of the great Prophet Elijah; one who would call out to the people to follow God’s Law and not to be lead astray. We see God’s favor to him expressed in the care the Prophet is given – he is feed by God’s will and given water through God’s mercy. The people of Elijah’s day saw the warning proclaimed by the prophet, not as a demonstration of the love of a heavenly parent, but as the warning of a stern disciplinarian.
Jesus’ expression of the love of the Father contrasts with that view of the God of Justice. In the Beatitudes he sees the crowd gathered and feels, with his great heart, all of the pain, anxiety, and fear they each bring to that place. His Spirit reaches out to them as it reaches out to us in our situations. He offers peace to those who are filled with worry and fear. He offers hope to those who have given up. He offers consolation to all who will faithfully follow his path to the heavenly kingdom.
He offers consolation – what a precious gift. Consolation is not sympathy; it is not empathy; consolation is a shared condition. Christ’s consolation means that we are never alone, that the Savior and Sacrifice stands with us, infusing us with the warmth of his love and buoying us up with his strength. If we need a hand to steady us when the ground shakes beneath our feet or when the world spins around us, he is there. When we cannot take another step, his hand is stretched out to keep us from falling. And when the pit of despair opens at our feet, he holds us safe on the precipice; his arms wrapped tightly around us, keeping us from harm.
Christ reaches out to us again today, reminding us of his intense love for us and offering hope and peace to those who will accept his outstretched hand. We conclude today with a summary from Psalm 121 –
“The Lord will guard you from all evil;
he will guard your life.
The Lord will guard your coming and your going,
both now and forever.”
It is his consolation.
Pax
[1] The picture used today is an icon of St. Ephraem, Artist and Date are UNKNOWN
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
Biographical Information about Saint Ephraem[1]
Readings for Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 1 Kings 17:1-6
This passage begins the section from 1 Kings called “Stories of the Prophets”. The NAB footnote introduces this section nicely; “Elijah the Tishbite: one of the most important figures in Old Testament history. As his name indicates ("Yahweh is my God"), Elijah was the successful leader in the struggle to preserve the knowledge and worship of Yahweh against the encroaching worship of Baal introduced into Israel by Jezebel, the Tyrian wife of Ahab.“
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 121:1bc-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121 is a hymn of blessing given prior to a long and difficult journey. These strophes explain that God is faithful and will protect the traveler from harm – God is always with us (“…he is beside you at your right hand. The sun shall not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.”)
Gospel Matthew 5:1-12
This section of the Sermon on the Mount begins the first of five great discourses in St. Matthew’s Gospel. He begins using a formula common in the Wisdom literature of the Old Testament with “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” This designation identifies those without material resources, completely dependent upon God. (This distinction is for the devout poor). The discourse continues blessing they who mourn, who are meek, who “hunger” for righteousness (to adopt the Lord’s law of love in their hearts), the merciful, the clean of heart (those who are reconciled to God), the peacemakers, the persecuted, and finally those who will be reviled because they profess faith in Christ.
Reflection:
Depending upon the year, we are offered the Beatitudes from St. Matthew or from St. Luke’s Gospel (Lk 6:17, 20-26) three or four times a year. While the Great Commandment is arguably the heart of Christ’s teaching, the beatitudes carry the intent of the good news to all mankind who are invited to his table. The Sermon on the Mount becomes an invitation and a promise to all those who feel God has forgotten them.
It is preceded today with the introduction of the great Prophet Elijah; one who would call out to the people to follow God’s Law and not to be lead astray. We see God’s favor to him expressed in the care the Prophet is given – he is feed by God’s will and given water through God’s mercy. The people of Elijah’s day saw the warning proclaimed by the prophet, not as a demonstration of the love of a heavenly parent, but as the warning of a stern disciplinarian.
Jesus’ expression of the love of the Father contrasts with that view of the God of Justice. In the Beatitudes he sees the crowd gathered and feels, with his great heart, all of the pain, anxiety, and fear they each bring to that place. His Spirit reaches out to them as it reaches out to us in our situations. He offers peace to those who are filled with worry and fear. He offers hope to those who have given up. He offers consolation to all who will faithfully follow his path to the heavenly kingdom.
He offers consolation – what a precious gift. Consolation is not sympathy; it is not empathy; consolation is a shared condition. Christ’s consolation means that we are never alone, that the Savior and Sacrifice stands with us, infusing us with the warmth of his love and buoying us up with his strength. If we need a hand to steady us when the ground shakes beneath our feet or when the world spins around us, he is there. When we cannot take another step, his hand is stretched out to keep us from falling. And when the pit of despair opens at our feet, he holds us safe on the precipice; his arms wrapped tightly around us, keeping us from harm.
Christ reaches out to us again today, reminding us of his intense love for us and offering hope and peace to those who will accept his outstretched hand. We conclude today with a summary from Psalm 121 –
“The Lord will guard you from all evil;
he will guard your life.
The Lord will guard your coming and your going,
both now and forever.”
It is his consolation.
Pax
[1] The picture used today is an icon of St. Ephraem, Artist and Date are UNKNOWN
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
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