Readings for Wednesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 2 Timothy 1:1-3, 6-12
This selection contains the formal beginning of the Second Letter of St. Paul to St. Timothy. Following the formula address, the Apostle exhorts his former student and traveling companion to be forthright, even outspoken in proclaiming the faith (“For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control”)
There is a clear reference that St. Timothy was ordained for this task by St. Paul as is shown in “…the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.” This passage also is foundational to the understanding that there is an indelible change affected in Holy Orders. The Apostle concludes his introduction summarizing the call they have both received and his faith in salvation through Christ (important here because he (St. Paul) is in prison and his physical well-being is in question.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 123:1b-2ab, 2cdef
R. To you, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.
Psalm 123 is an individual lament. In these strophes we hear the prayer of the psalmist who expresses faith in God’s love and compassion.
Gospel Mark 12:18-27
The Sadducees are approaching Jesus in this passage with a two-fold attack against his teaching on the resurrection (Sadducees, as a group, do not hold with the theology of resurrection of the dead). First they ask Jesus to solve the puzzle of who the widow of seven husbands would be married to in heaven. Jesus chides them for their lack of understanding telling them that life in the Kingdom of Heaven transcends life in the body. He then goes further attacking their disbelief in the resurrection by quoting Exodus 3; 6 telling them the Father is the God of the living not the dead.
Reflection:
How many times have we wilted in embarrassment when confronted with a situation where we should have boldly proclaimed our faith in Jesus Christ? Those of us called in a special way, through Holy Orders, are not exempt from this flaw. We want to fit in, be liked, be accepted as one of the guys or one of the girls. Most of us who have been active in the faith community for any periods of time actually feel uncomfortable in secular situations were we don’t know the people well.
Given the beginning of the Second Letter of St. Paul to St. Timothy, we see that this is nothing new. Apparently St. Timothy, either because of social circumstances or because of natural humility was not being as bold as St. Paul wanted him to be. The instruction points out another paradox of the Lord’s instructions to us.
What is the first and foremost teaching of Jesus about how he wants his disciples to lead? He told them just a few chapters earlier in St. Mark’s Gospel “…whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.” (Mark 10: 43-44) One of the hallmarks of Christianity is the idea of servant leadership. Yet, there is a fine line that must be observed between being a humble servant and an outspoken “Prisoner of Christ”. While the servant leader must not autocratically order people about, even in Christ’s name (especially not in Christ’s name), they must not be wishy-washy when it comes to standing up for his principles in the secular world.
Today we examine our own faith example. We hope that others see us and know we are Christians because we love one another as he loved us. Our faith shows in how we treat others, with love and respect. We also hope that when we encounter injustice, behaviors that go against what the Lord stands for, we are not embarrassed to stand up and say “This is not right.” Don’t we tell our children to do the same? We are reminded that we are to practice what we preach. We also know that being labeled as a Christian sometimes also labels us as uncomfortable people to be around or fanatics. If the party is going in a very wrong direction it’s better to be the death of the party than its life.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture today “Paul, a Prisoner of Jesus Christ” Artist and Date UNKNOWN
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 2 Timothy 1:1-3, 6-12
This selection contains the formal beginning of the Second Letter of St. Paul to St. Timothy. Following the formula address, the Apostle exhorts his former student and traveling companion to be forthright, even outspoken in proclaiming the faith (“For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control”)
There is a clear reference that St. Timothy was ordained for this task by St. Paul as is shown in “…the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.” This passage also is foundational to the understanding that there is an indelible change affected in Holy Orders. The Apostle concludes his introduction summarizing the call they have both received and his faith in salvation through Christ (important here because he (St. Paul) is in prison and his physical well-being is in question.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 123:1b-2ab, 2cdef
R. To you, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.
Psalm 123 is an individual lament. In these strophes we hear the prayer of the psalmist who expresses faith in God’s love and compassion.
Gospel Mark 12:18-27
The Sadducees are approaching Jesus in this passage with a two-fold attack against his teaching on the resurrection (Sadducees, as a group, do not hold with the theology of resurrection of the dead). First they ask Jesus to solve the puzzle of who the widow of seven husbands would be married to in heaven. Jesus chides them for their lack of understanding telling them that life in the Kingdom of Heaven transcends life in the body. He then goes further attacking their disbelief in the resurrection by quoting Exodus 3; 6 telling them the Father is the God of the living not the dead.
Reflection:
How many times have we wilted in embarrassment when confronted with a situation where we should have boldly proclaimed our faith in Jesus Christ? Those of us called in a special way, through Holy Orders, are not exempt from this flaw. We want to fit in, be liked, be accepted as one of the guys or one of the girls. Most of us who have been active in the faith community for any periods of time actually feel uncomfortable in secular situations were we don’t know the people well.
Given the beginning of the Second Letter of St. Paul to St. Timothy, we see that this is nothing new. Apparently St. Timothy, either because of social circumstances or because of natural humility was not being as bold as St. Paul wanted him to be. The instruction points out another paradox of the Lord’s instructions to us.
What is the first and foremost teaching of Jesus about how he wants his disciples to lead? He told them just a few chapters earlier in St. Mark’s Gospel “…whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.” (Mark 10: 43-44) One of the hallmarks of Christianity is the idea of servant leadership. Yet, there is a fine line that must be observed between being a humble servant and an outspoken “Prisoner of Christ”. While the servant leader must not autocratically order people about, even in Christ’s name (especially not in Christ’s name), they must not be wishy-washy when it comes to standing up for his principles in the secular world.
Today we examine our own faith example. We hope that others see us and know we are Christians because we love one another as he loved us. Our faith shows in how we treat others, with love and respect. We also hope that when we encounter injustice, behaviors that go against what the Lord stands for, we are not embarrassed to stand up and say “This is not right.” Don’t we tell our children to do the same? We are reminded that we are to practice what we preach. We also know that being labeled as a Christian sometimes also labels us as uncomfortable people to be around or fanatics. If the party is going in a very wrong direction it’s better to be the death of the party than its life.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture today “Paul, a Prisoner of Jesus Christ” Artist and Date UNKNOWN
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