Readings for Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 1 Kings 21:17-29
Following Jezebel’s successful plot to murder Naboth and seize his vineyard, Elijah is sent by God to pronounce judgment. He comes to Ahab who is found taking possession of the spoils of the plot and Elijah, speaking for God, promises him the same punishment as that given to the families of Jeroboam I (1 Kings 14:9-11) and Baasha (1 Kings 16:2-4).
It appears that the punishment promised is for the sin of Idolatry (“…He became completely abominable by following idols”). The punishment for Ahab may also have had its roots earlier in 1 Kings 20:35-42. Jezebel for her part does not escape God’s notice although the fulfillment of this sentence does not take place until 2 Kings 9:30-37. It is also clear that following stoning, the bodies of those killed are left for the animals.
When Ahab demonstrates true repentance, the Lord relents, postponing the judgment and leveling it against his sons. This too finds fulfillment later in 2 Kings 9:7-10.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 11 and 16
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Psalm 51 is an individual lament imploring God for mercy and forgiveness. We not the request is coupled with an explicit understanding that the singer has sinned in the eyes of God and complete dependence on His mercy for the expiation of those offenses.
Gospel Matthew 5:43-48
The Lord continues extending the understanding of Mosaic Law. He first quotes Leviticus 19:18. Jesus tells the disciples once more that their behavior must be reflected in how they treat others and must go beyond what was customarily understood. He tells his friends directly to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them (not curse them as was customary).
He goes on to contrast the response expected from is disciples to the response customarily given (e.g. loving those who love you, greeting only one’s friends), asking “Do not the pagans do the same?” The passage concludes with “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Only in St. Matthew’s Gospel is the word “perfect” used. In St. Luke’s Gospel the word is “merciful”.
Reflection:
Given the Gospel passage today one might think the obvious reflection would be on the Great Commandment as Christ interprets the Law and commends us to be “perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect.” It is this concluding line rather that directs our thoughts to the topic presented in the first reading from 1 Kings and Psalm 51 – forgiveness.
How inextricably love and forgiveness are linked. With Jesus telling us we must love those who hate us and pray for those who persecute us we depend upon his forgiveness because we are not “perfect”. If we say we love someone (even a member of our family for whom our love has been demonstrated time and again) we must first learn forgiveness. It is like training wheels on a bicycle. We cannot truly love a person (except God) unless we first learn to forgive them. Even a child’s love for its parents must be coupled with forgiveness. What parent (except of course our Heavenly Father who is perfect) did not, at some point, fail to show love and respect for their child? What father or mother did not renege on a promise or place unnecessary burdens of guilt on their children? Yes, even the love of a child for its parents (and vice versa) must be coupled with forgiveness.
Forgiveness is ultimately charity of the heart. Forgiveness is not a word to be spoken, although it is a reality that must be expressed. Forgiveness is a state of mind, true acceptance that others, like us, are flawed, and that while their intentions may at times be misguided, they too are God’s children and deserve the respect due all of God’s creation. It is not for us to judge.
As we contemplate the love and forgiveness of Christ it strikes us we may be trying to unravel a paradox like “Which came first the chicken or the egg?” Love and forgiveness are united at the heart of God and must, therefore be united in us as well.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used today is “Jezebel” by John Byam Liston Shaw, 1896
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 1 Kings 21:17-29
Following Jezebel’s successful plot to murder Naboth and seize his vineyard, Elijah is sent by God to pronounce judgment. He comes to Ahab who is found taking possession of the spoils of the plot and Elijah, speaking for God, promises him the same punishment as that given to the families of Jeroboam I (1 Kings 14:9-11) and Baasha (1 Kings 16:2-4).
It appears that the punishment promised is for the sin of Idolatry (“…He became completely abominable by following idols”). The punishment for Ahab may also have had its roots earlier in 1 Kings 20:35-42. Jezebel for her part does not escape God’s notice although the fulfillment of this sentence does not take place until 2 Kings 9:30-37. It is also clear that following stoning, the bodies of those killed are left for the animals.
When Ahab demonstrates true repentance, the Lord relents, postponing the judgment and leveling it against his sons. This too finds fulfillment later in 2 Kings 9:7-10.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 11 and 16
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Psalm 51 is an individual lament imploring God for mercy and forgiveness. We not the request is coupled with an explicit understanding that the singer has sinned in the eyes of God and complete dependence on His mercy for the expiation of those offenses.
Gospel Matthew 5:43-48
The Lord continues extending the understanding of Mosaic Law. He first quotes Leviticus 19:18. Jesus tells the disciples once more that their behavior must be reflected in how they treat others and must go beyond what was customarily understood. He tells his friends directly to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them (not curse them as was customary).
He goes on to contrast the response expected from is disciples to the response customarily given (e.g. loving those who love you, greeting only one’s friends), asking “Do not the pagans do the same?” The passage concludes with “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Only in St. Matthew’s Gospel is the word “perfect” used. In St. Luke’s Gospel the word is “merciful”.
Reflection:
Given the Gospel passage today one might think the obvious reflection would be on the Great Commandment as Christ interprets the Law and commends us to be “perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect.” It is this concluding line rather that directs our thoughts to the topic presented in the first reading from 1 Kings and Psalm 51 – forgiveness.
How inextricably love and forgiveness are linked. With Jesus telling us we must love those who hate us and pray for those who persecute us we depend upon his forgiveness because we are not “perfect”. If we say we love someone (even a member of our family for whom our love has been demonstrated time and again) we must first learn forgiveness. It is like training wheels on a bicycle. We cannot truly love a person (except God) unless we first learn to forgive them. Even a child’s love for its parents must be coupled with forgiveness. What parent (except of course our Heavenly Father who is perfect) did not, at some point, fail to show love and respect for their child? What father or mother did not renege on a promise or place unnecessary burdens of guilt on their children? Yes, even the love of a child for its parents (and vice versa) must be coupled with forgiveness.
Forgiveness is ultimately charity of the heart. Forgiveness is not a word to be spoken, although it is a reality that must be expressed. Forgiveness is a state of mind, true acceptance that others, like us, are flawed, and that while their intentions may at times be misguided, they too are God’s children and deserve the respect due all of God’s creation. It is not for us to judge.
As we contemplate the love and forgiveness of Christ it strikes us we may be trying to unravel a paradox like “Which came first the chicken or the egg?” Love and forgiveness are united at the heart of God and must, therefore be united in us as well.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used today is “Jezebel” by John Byam Liston Shaw, 1896
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