Readings for Saturday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 2 Timothy 4:1-8
The Apostle begins this chapter with a solemn injunction to St. Timothy; “…perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry. “ St. Paul warns that the task will be difficult and that false teachers will arise with competing doctrines and “myths”.
He concludes this passage with a clear view that he will soon be martyred and feels he has done what the Lord has asked (“I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith”). Confident in God’s mercy he awaits his own judgment and resurrection.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 71:8-9, 14-15ab, 16-17, 22
R. I will sing of your salvation.
Psalm 71 is an individual lament (of an old person; “Cast me not off in my old age”). These strophes begin the second part of the psalm in which the singer proclaims the hope of the faithful and trust in God’s mercy.
Gospel Mark 12:38-44
In this passage from Mark, Jesus warns against scribes (holy men) who wear their faith on the outside and accept homage for their religious acts. Their acts of charity are missing. In contrast to those who flaunt their faith and their wealth the Lord praises the poor widow who gives alms from her need not from her excess as they wealthy did.
Reflection:
We are challenged today, to look at what we do in response to God’s call and ask ourselves “Am I doing these things because it looks good to others, or because it’s convenient?” St. Paul starts us down the road to that question as he gives St. Timothy a sharp kick to the backside with “…perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry. “ It’s sort of like that old military quote often used on complaining soldiers “Shut up and soldier, soldier!”
St. Paul warns his pupil that it will not be easy, this call to take Christ’s Gospel to the world. It is a hard path and others who claim teaching authority will offer easier roads to follow. We think of modern day Scientology the kind of thing he speaks of saying some, “…following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths.” (We enjoyed L. Ron Hubbard’s science fiction writing and are amazed that supposedly intelligent people cannot see how his creative genius created a philosophy that now passes itself off as a “religion”. But then, not too long ago we saw how some three hundred thousand people in the UK identified “Jedi” as their faith tradition.”)
The unvarnished point St. Paul makes is that “time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine” and then that happens those who proclaim the truth will be persecuted for it. With that our thoughts are immediately drawn to Jesus’ situation in the Gospel story. He is sitting with his disciples in the temple area watching as the religious and the rich make themselves known either through their apparel or through their pompous behavior as they present their gifts to the temple treasury. (We are sure his teaching just thrills the rich and powerful members of that Jewish community. They must love that this teacher from Galilee sits with his friends and makes them our as hypocrites in front of the very people they are trying to impress. (sarcasm incase you missed it))
Out of both the mouth of St. Paul (poured out like a libation for Jesus) and the Savior himself, we are challenged to do the right thing, without fanfare, even when it is difficult or inconvenient. We pray today that we are given the strength of character to challenge the status quo of our own society. We especially pray today for the young people – teenagers and young adults who face intense peer pressure to follow the path of “acceptability”, not realizing that the easy path is usually the wrong path. May they be given the strength of their convictions in Christ and feel the promise of the Savior.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used today is “The Widow’s Mite” by Gustave Doré, 1865
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 2 Timothy 4:1-8
The Apostle begins this chapter with a solemn injunction to St. Timothy; “…perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry. “ St. Paul warns that the task will be difficult and that false teachers will arise with competing doctrines and “myths”.
He concludes this passage with a clear view that he will soon be martyred and feels he has done what the Lord has asked (“I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith”). Confident in God’s mercy he awaits his own judgment and resurrection.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 71:8-9, 14-15ab, 16-17, 22
R. I will sing of your salvation.
Psalm 71 is an individual lament (of an old person; “Cast me not off in my old age”). These strophes begin the second part of the psalm in which the singer proclaims the hope of the faithful and trust in God’s mercy.
Gospel Mark 12:38-44
In this passage from Mark, Jesus warns against scribes (holy men) who wear their faith on the outside and accept homage for their religious acts. Their acts of charity are missing. In contrast to those who flaunt their faith and their wealth the Lord praises the poor widow who gives alms from her need not from her excess as they wealthy did.
Reflection:
We are challenged today, to look at what we do in response to God’s call and ask ourselves “Am I doing these things because it looks good to others, or because it’s convenient?” St. Paul starts us down the road to that question as he gives St. Timothy a sharp kick to the backside with “…perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry. “ It’s sort of like that old military quote often used on complaining soldiers “Shut up and soldier, soldier!”
St. Paul warns his pupil that it will not be easy, this call to take Christ’s Gospel to the world. It is a hard path and others who claim teaching authority will offer easier roads to follow. We think of modern day Scientology the kind of thing he speaks of saying some, “…following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths.” (We enjoyed L. Ron Hubbard’s science fiction writing and are amazed that supposedly intelligent people cannot see how his creative genius created a philosophy that now passes itself off as a “religion”. But then, not too long ago we saw how some three hundred thousand people in the UK identified “Jedi” as their faith tradition.”)
The unvarnished point St. Paul makes is that “time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine” and then that happens those who proclaim the truth will be persecuted for it. With that our thoughts are immediately drawn to Jesus’ situation in the Gospel story. He is sitting with his disciples in the temple area watching as the religious and the rich make themselves known either through their apparel or through their pompous behavior as they present their gifts to the temple treasury. (We are sure his teaching just thrills the rich and powerful members of that Jewish community. They must love that this teacher from Galilee sits with his friends and makes them our as hypocrites in front of the very people they are trying to impress. (sarcasm incase you missed it))
Out of both the mouth of St. Paul (poured out like a libation for Jesus) and the Savior himself, we are challenged to do the right thing, without fanfare, even when it is difficult or inconvenient. We pray today that we are given the strength of character to challenge the status quo of our own society. We especially pray today for the young people – teenagers and young adults who face intense peer pressure to follow the path of “acceptability”, not realizing that the easy path is usually the wrong path. May they be given the strength of their convictions in Christ and feel the promise of the Savior.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used today is “The Widow’s Mite” by Gustave Doré, 1865
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