Readings for the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Isaiah 55:1-3
The post exilic author offers God’s invitation to the heavenly banquet in the New Jerusalem, God’s Kingdom. All that is necessary for admittance is a thirst for the Lord. The theme of gift is emphasized as it is made clear that it is without cost or merit that eternal life is offered. The promise of the Messiah is alluded to as the prophet recalls that God’s covenant with David – the continuation of his line, is assured.
The imagery set forward in this passage recalls the promise of adoption through living water in Baptism (“All you who are thirsty, come to the water!”) and continued grace offered through the Eucharist (“Why spend your money for what is not bread”)
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 145:8-9, 15-16, 17-18
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
Psalm 145 is a hymn of praise. These strophes (because it is in the acrostic form – each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet) although loosely assembled, praise God for his mercy and compassion and give thanks for His creation and redemption. There is also a subtle link to the Eucharistic banquet as the promise of food is once more extended.
Reading II Romans 8:35, 37-39
The premise that the love of God assures salvation to the faithful is strengthened as the evangelist asks the rhetorical question “What will separate us from the love of Christ?” Over all obstacles (human, physical, and metaphysical – “height and depth” probably referred to ancient astrological terms indicating the closest proximity and the most distant star from the zenith.) were the love of God expressed in Christ is the unshakable foundation Christian life and hope.
Gospel Matthew 14:13-21
St. Matthew’s account of the feeding of the multitudes framed with Jesus’ grief over hearing of the death of his cousin, St. John the Baptist. He hopes to grieve in solitude and so takes a boat to “a deserted place by himself.” While it is not said explicitly we assume at least some of the disciples accompanied him in the boat. When the crowds catch up with him (Jesus is well established as an important teacher now.), he does not turn them away but continues his work among them.
Possibly continuing his formation process with the disciples, Jesus tells them to feed the hungry people rather than dismiss them. The miracle occurs with significant symbolic numbers associated with it (five loaves and two fish would add up to seven – in Hebrew numerology the perfect or most complete number. The fragments filled twelve baskets enough for the twelve tribes of Israel. Five thousand men was a representation for a huge number and probably not meant as a census of the participants.)
For the early Christian there would have been even more subtle symbolism as the loaves would represent the “Bread of Life” – the Eucharist and the fish – the Christian symbol that identified themselves to each other as a consequence Greek letters used. Taken in its larger context the story is preparatory to Jesus final trip to Jerusalem.
Homily:
“What will separate us from the love of Christ?” St. Paul uses this as a rhetorical question with his Roman audience of Christian faithful. They are being challenged by the civil government like St. Paul himself. He goes on to answer his own question by indicating that there is nothing that can take away the gift of love and hope Jesus brought us.
This is an important message for many in our own faith community right now. In spite of official statements that indicate the economy has simply “slowed down”; and even some who say the current situation is “all in our heads”, there is real pain for many of our brothers and sisters who face the reality of higher costs for food and energy while at the same time seeing their employment situation become tenuous (or even non-existent) and the value of their principle assets, their homes, erode. The question “What will separate us from the love of Christ?” for some may no longer be rhetorical. When hope is threatened many ask a different question –“Why is God letting this happen to us?”
It is at this very time we need to reach out for the Lord rather than push him away. God did not create a weak dollar, fueling skyrocketing oil prices. God did not create Adjustable Rate Mortgages or predatory lending practices. But he did send us His Son to show us the depth of His love for us. He did issue an invitation to place our faith in him.
I have a strong interest in history and once in a while I will sit down with the History Channel. Recently the host of a program was recounting the Battle of Sterling Bridge, one of battles fought between the English and the Scotts under Richard Wallace (of Braveheart fame). As he described the likely emotions of both sides during the battle, he mentioned that when the Scotts saw they were clearly winning, their attitude became even more enthusiastic and they exerted even more effort. At the same time, the narrator said, as the English troops saw they were loosing and defeat was inevitable, they lost heart and the tide of battle turned even more decisively.
This same emotional state can exist within us if we allow it. It is easy, is it not, to give thanks and praise to God when things are going well and all our plans for the future seem to be going in the right direction. We may even surprise ourselves at the enthusiasm with which we embrace God. The challenge comes when things begin to go wrong. Especially when events we cannot control, like the economy or our health, take a serious negative turn, it is much more difficult to find that same enthusiastic embrace.
Ironically, it is at just such times as these that we should be reaching out even more emphatically to God. We cannot, we must not forget the depth of his love for us. We hear that historical echo from the Prophet Isaiah; “Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life.” From our earliest experience of God, he offers love and hope for those without hope, without love. These words were spoken to a people who had seen Jerusalem destroyed, who had been sent as slaves to the remotest parts of the Babylonian empire. God offers his love and hope.
We fortunate Christians see the invitation issued more forcefully. Jesus was sent to us to show us what it means to have hope in God. He came to show us what Isaiah meant when he said “You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat.” He came to show us what he meant when he told his disciples “…give them some food yourselves.” How can we be separated from Christ whose body nourishes our soul? How can we loose something that is part of us, in us and infuses us?
He showed us his love, the Father’s love in the gift of the Eucharist, the bread of life. He feeds our spirits that we might not loose hope in times when it seems the world conspires against us. What in deed will separate us from the love of Christ? Our answer, like St. Paul’s is “nothing!” We can allow the difficulties we face to turn us away if we let them, like the English troops who, in feeling defeated, defeated themselves. But God’s love is always there for us; His hand is always outstretched offering the love and support of God. We have already won the great prize. “What will separate us from the love of Christ?”
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture today is “The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes” by Tintoretto, 1579-81
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Isaiah 55:1-3
The post exilic author offers God’s invitation to the heavenly banquet in the New Jerusalem, God’s Kingdom. All that is necessary for admittance is a thirst for the Lord. The theme of gift is emphasized as it is made clear that it is without cost or merit that eternal life is offered. The promise of the Messiah is alluded to as the prophet recalls that God’s covenant with David – the continuation of his line, is assured.
The imagery set forward in this passage recalls the promise of adoption through living water in Baptism (“All you who are thirsty, come to the water!”) and continued grace offered through the Eucharist (“Why spend your money for what is not bread”)
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 145:8-9, 15-16, 17-18
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
Psalm 145 is a hymn of praise. These strophes (because it is in the acrostic form – each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet) although loosely assembled, praise God for his mercy and compassion and give thanks for His creation and redemption. There is also a subtle link to the Eucharistic banquet as the promise of food is once more extended.
Reading II Romans 8:35, 37-39
The premise that the love of God assures salvation to the faithful is strengthened as the evangelist asks the rhetorical question “What will separate us from the love of Christ?” Over all obstacles (human, physical, and metaphysical – “height and depth” probably referred to ancient astrological terms indicating the closest proximity and the most distant star from the zenith.) were the love of God expressed in Christ is the unshakable foundation Christian life and hope.
Gospel Matthew 14:13-21
St. Matthew’s account of the feeding of the multitudes framed with Jesus’ grief over hearing of the death of his cousin, St. John the Baptist. He hopes to grieve in solitude and so takes a boat to “a deserted place by himself.” While it is not said explicitly we assume at least some of the disciples accompanied him in the boat. When the crowds catch up with him (Jesus is well established as an important teacher now.), he does not turn them away but continues his work among them.
Possibly continuing his formation process with the disciples, Jesus tells them to feed the hungry people rather than dismiss them. The miracle occurs with significant symbolic numbers associated with it (five loaves and two fish would add up to seven – in Hebrew numerology the perfect or most complete number. The fragments filled twelve baskets enough for the twelve tribes of Israel. Five thousand men was a representation for a huge number and probably not meant as a census of the participants.)
For the early Christian there would have been even more subtle symbolism as the loaves would represent the “Bread of Life” – the Eucharist and the fish – the Christian symbol that identified themselves to each other as a consequence Greek letters used. Taken in its larger context the story is preparatory to Jesus final trip to Jerusalem.
Homily:
“What will separate us from the love of Christ?” St. Paul uses this as a rhetorical question with his Roman audience of Christian faithful. They are being challenged by the civil government like St. Paul himself. He goes on to answer his own question by indicating that there is nothing that can take away the gift of love and hope Jesus brought us.
This is an important message for many in our own faith community right now. In spite of official statements that indicate the economy has simply “slowed down”; and even some who say the current situation is “all in our heads”, there is real pain for many of our brothers and sisters who face the reality of higher costs for food and energy while at the same time seeing their employment situation become tenuous (or even non-existent) and the value of their principle assets, their homes, erode. The question “What will separate us from the love of Christ?” for some may no longer be rhetorical. When hope is threatened many ask a different question –“Why is God letting this happen to us?”
It is at this very time we need to reach out for the Lord rather than push him away. God did not create a weak dollar, fueling skyrocketing oil prices. God did not create Adjustable Rate Mortgages or predatory lending practices. But he did send us His Son to show us the depth of His love for us. He did issue an invitation to place our faith in him.
I have a strong interest in history and once in a while I will sit down with the History Channel. Recently the host of a program was recounting the Battle of Sterling Bridge, one of battles fought between the English and the Scotts under Richard Wallace (of Braveheart fame). As he described the likely emotions of both sides during the battle, he mentioned that when the Scotts saw they were clearly winning, their attitude became even more enthusiastic and they exerted even more effort. At the same time, the narrator said, as the English troops saw they were loosing and defeat was inevitable, they lost heart and the tide of battle turned even more decisively.
This same emotional state can exist within us if we allow it. It is easy, is it not, to give thanks and praise to God when things are going well and all our plans for the future seem to be going in the right direction. We may even surprise ourselves at the enthusiasm with which we embrace God. The challenge comes when things begin to go wrong. Especially when events we cannot control, like the economy or our health, take a serious negative turn, it is much more difficult to find that same enthusiastic embrace.
Ironically, it is at just such times as these that we should be reaching out even more emphatically to God. We cannot, we must not forget the depth of his love for us. We hear that historical echo from the Prophet Isaiah; “Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life.” From our earliest experience of God, he offers love and hope for those without hope, without love. These words were spoken to a people who had seen Jerusalem destroyed, who had been sent as slaves to the remotest parts of the Babylonian empire. God offers his love and hope.
We fortunate Christians see the invitation issued more forcefully. Jesus was sent to us to show us what it means to have hope in God. He came to show us what Isaiah meant when he said “You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat.” He came to show us what he meant when he told his disciples “…give them some food yourselves.” How can we be separated from Christ whose body nourishes our soul? How can we loose something that is part of us, in us and infuses us?
He showed us his love, the Father’s love in the gift of the Eucharist, the bread of life. He feeds our spirits that we might not loose hope in times when it seems the world conspires against us. What in deed will separate us from the love of Christ? Our answer, like St. Paul’s is “nothing!” We can allow the difficulties we face to turn us away if we let them, like the English troops who, in feeling defeated, defeated themselves. But God’s love is always there for us; His hand is always outstretched offering the love and support of God. We have already won the great prize. “What will separate us from the love of Christ?”
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture today is “The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes” by Tintoretto, 1579-81
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