Saint Laurence of Brindisi, Priest, Doctor
Biographical Information about Saint Laurence of Brindisi[1]
Readings for Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Micah 6:1-4, 6-8
We hear in these verses from the Prophet Micah a lament by God against the impious of Israel. His complaint (often read as part of the Stations of the Cross) reminds the listener first of the great love God has shown in delivering the people from cruel bondage in Egypt. The prophet switches to the voice of the people to ask what it is that will please the Lord, listing greater and greater sacrifices culminating in the sacrifice asked of Abraham – the sacrifice of the supplicant’s fist born. The passage ends with God’s response; for the listener to repent from evil and love what is good; closing with the phrase made popular in song “…and to walk humbly with your God.” This is one of the best expressions of the prophetic teaching on religion, the preparation for such New Testament passages as James 1:27.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 50:5-6, 8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
Psalm 50 is a “covenant lawsuit”, that is a lament against those who have violated God’s law and the covenant made with Him upon which it was based. Echoing the charges leveled against Israel by the Prophet Micah (above) the psalmist condemns empty ritual and sacrifice not reflective of external actions and internal faith.
Gospel Matthew 12:38-42
In this passage from Matthew’s Gospel the Scribes and Pharisees demand a sign. even though the Lord has been performing cures and exorcisms in front of them. Jesus reply and tells them in no uncertain terms that no sign will be given to them. Using a reference first to Jonah, then to the covenant of Moses and finally to the wisdom of Solomon, he calls them unfaithful (literally adulterous) in their failure to understand that he is sent by God and his mission.
Reflection:
“…to walk humbly with your God.”
These words reach out from the Prophet Micah and grab us. We are all servants (defined as “One who expresses submission, recognizance, or debt to another”) of the Lord. As such we are required to do what is asked of us by our Lord and Master. In other words his will becomes our command.
We have all seen at least theatrical representations of domestic servants. There are numerous examples of the actions of individuals from old classic movies like Sabrina to the more modern representation of Alfred, Batman’s butler. In these representations we notice a couple of things. First we note that the servant never presumes to place their own will in front of their employer’s instructions. While they are working, they attempt to comply completely with the one to whom they have pledged their allegiance. Loyalty, unflinching and self deprecating service is one of the hallmarks of these personas.
The second thing we notice in these portrayals is that the good servant anticipates the needs and wants of their employer. They know the person for whom they work so well that they can provide for what their master wants in every circumstance without explicit orders. They operate as an extension of their employer; often behaving as if the employer was present with them.
We use these examples because we are reminded once more that we are to “walk humbly with our God.” As his servants we must listen carefully to his instructions (If we are “domestic servants” or servants in the house of God, these instructions are very explicit.). We must always put God’s will in front of our own, even when such obedience is not in our personal best interests. That is were the “humbly” part comes in. We are called, through our faith, to serve others because that was and is the mission of the one we serve. Our only boast (as St. Paul would say) must be in the elevation in standing of the one we serve, not our own.
Finally, we must get to know the Lord. We must do our very best to learn his mind so we may anticipate his desires in all things. We do this through reading his written instructions (the Word of God), listening to his spoken instructions (in prayer); and lastly, learning from other, more experienced and wise servants (the saints and Holy Ones who have gone before us). For those of use who serve through the Catholic Church this also means we listen to the Servant of the Servants of God, the Pontiff who, with the apostolic successors of St. Peter, the Bishops, provide leadership in difficult and turbulent times.
Alas, the life of a servant is difficult. There is so much to learn and so much to do when our Lord is the salvation of the world. Thankfully we are not alone and it is Jesus who is Lord and not us. All we are to do is to walk humbly with him.
Pax
[1] The picture today is “Saint Laurence of Brindisi” Artist and Date are UNKNOWN
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
Biographical Information about Saint Laurence of Brindisi[1]
Readings for Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Micah 6:1-4, 6-8
We hear in these verses from the Prophet Micah a lament by God against the impious of Israel. His complaint (often read as part of the Stations of the Cross) reminds the listener first of the great love God has shown in delivering the people from cruel bondage in Egypt. The prophet switches to the voice of the people to ask what it is that will please the Lord, listing greater and greater sacrifices culminating in the sacrifice asked of Abraham – the sacrifice of the supplicant’s fist born. The passage ends with God’s response; for the listener to repent from evil and love what is good; closing with the phrase made popular in song “…and to walk humbly with your God.” This is one of the best expressions of the prophetic teaching on religion, the preparation for such New Testament passages as James 1:27.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 50:5-6, 8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
Psalm 50 is a “covenant lawsuit”, that is a lament against those who have violated God’s law and the covenant made with Him upon which it was based. Echoing the charges leveled against Israel by the Prophet Micah (above) the psalmist condemns empty ritual and sacrifice not reflective of external actions and internal faith.
Gospel Matthew 12:38-42
In this passage from Matthew’s Gospel the Scribes and Pharisees demand a sign. even though the Lord has been performing cures and exorcisms in front of them. Jesus reply and tells them in no uncertain terms that no sign will be given to them. Using a reference first to Jonah, then to the covenant of Moses and finally to the wisdom of Solomon, he calls them unfaithful (literally adulterous) in their failure to understand that he is sent by God and his mission.
Reflection:
“…to walk humbly with your God.”
These words reach out from the Prophet Micah and grab us. We are all servants (defined as “One who expresses submission, recognizance, or debt to another”) of the Lord. As such we are required to do what is asked of us by our Lord and Master. In other words his will becomes our command.
We have all seen at least theatrical representations of domestic servants. There are numerous examples of the actions of individuals from old classic movies like Sabrina to the more modern representation of Alfred, Batman’s butler. In these representations we notice a couple of things. First we note that the servant never presumes to place their own will in front of their employer’s instructions. While they are working, they attempt to comply completely with the one to whom they have pledged their allegiance. Loyalty, unflinching and self deprecating service is one of the hallmarks of these personas.
The second thing we notice in these portrayals is that the good servant anticipates the needs and wants of their employer. They know the person for whom they work so well that they can provide for what their master wants in every circumstance without explicit orders. They operate as an extension of their employer; often behaving as if the employer was present with them.
We use these examples because we are reminded once more that we are to “walk humbly with our God.” As his servants we must listen carefully to his instructions (If we are “domestic servants” or servants in the house of God, these instructions are very explicit.). We must always put God’s will in front of our own, even when such obedience is not in our personal best interests. That is were the “humbly” part comes in. We are called, through our faith, to serve others because that was and is the mission of the one we serve. Our only boast (as St. Paul would say) must be in the elevation in standing of the one we serve, not our own.
Finally, we must get to know the Lord. We must do our very best to learn his mind so we may anticipate his desires in all things. We do this through reading his written instructions (the Word of God), listening to his spoken instructions (in prayer); and lastly, learning from other, more experienced and wise servants (the saints and Holy Ones who have gone before us). For those of use who serve through the Catholic Church this also means we listen to the Servant of the Servants of God, the Pontiff who, with the apostolic successors of St. Peter, the Bishops, provide leadership in difficult and turbulent times.
Alas, the life of a servant is difficult. There is so much to learn and so much to do when our Lord is the salvation of the world. Thankfully we are not alone and it is Jesus who is Lord and not us. All we are to do is to walk humbly with him.
Pax
[1] The picture today is “Saint Laurence of Brindisi” Artist and Date are UNKNOWN
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
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