Marialis Cultus - Apostolic Exhortation for the Right Ordering and Development of Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary [1]
Readings for Friday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
(for the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary #627)
Commentary:
Reading 1 Ezekiel 37:1-14
The prophet is in Babylon and has the mystical experience of being lead into the desert among bones (possibly those who died in battle). Rather than speaking of “the Resurrection” he is speaking of the restoration of Israel. His prophesying is intended to put a new spirit into the exiles that they might have hope in the Lord.
From the perspective of the Christian, the reference is to the resurrection promised by Christ and the spirit breathed into the flesh seems obviously the Holy Spirit.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 107:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. Give thanks to the Lord; his love is everlasting.
Psalm 107 is song of praise, “… inviting those who have been rescued by God to give praise. Four archetypal divine rescues are described, each ending in thanksgiving: from the sterile desert[3] “. The imagery strongly links to Ezekiel’s vision above.
Gospel Matthew 22:34-40
Jesus continues to teach in Jerusalem with his disciples and once again is confronted by members of the Jewish hierarchy, this time by Pharisees in this, the fourth of the “Controversy Stories”. Jesus responds to the question posed by the “scholar of the law”. This question would not have been surprising – rather a typical question asked between Rabbis. (Note: according to the Pharisaic tradition, there were 613 distinct commandments in the Law; 248 positive precepts and 365 prohibitions). These commandments were classified as either “light” or “heavy” depending upon the nature of the subject they addressed.
Jesus response, quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 was unique, not because he used both in his answer, but because he assigned them such that they had equal “weight” (“Heavy”). By linking love of God (the first line of the Shema) with love of neighbor, Jesus linked faith and actions into one “Great Commandment” and said this with underlying principals upon which the law and prophets were based.
Reflection:
In brief reflection we should never ask a question that would require volumes of theological texts and numerous apologetics to respond to but the Great Commandment demands that we do so today. The question is: “Does one’s salvation depend on simply having faith in Jesus as the only Son of the one True and Living God; or are we justified only if our actions support that faith?”
This is one of those questions that can be supported by scripture on either side. St. Paul says in his epistles that faith alone is justification for salvation (see Romans 3). The argument may be made that since we all fall into sin, salvation must be based solely on faith. If we are required to remain free of sin, how could we ever achieve salvation? Salvation is not, after all, earned but rather a gift of God. (This argument is made by the Lutherans- the main theological point that separates them from reconciliation with the Catholic Church.)
On the other side of our question it can be argued that faith must be accompanied by actions. St. James letters state this explicitly (see James 2:21). Logically, if a person truly believes that Jesus is the Christ then that person must follow the laws and precepts of their Lord and God. Simply saying “I believe” without acting on those beliefs was why Jesus condemned the hypocritical Pharisees. The Catechism of the Catholic Church goes into great depth to describe both the concept of justification and how we believe it is merited only through faith supported by actions (see Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1987-2011).
Today we hear Jesus proclaim the Great Commandment which joins faith and love of God with his command that we love our neighbor – giving them the same weight. We are called, by the indwelling Holy Spirit to faith in Christ and we are compelled by that same Spirit to act on our beliefs. Thank God for his great gift today, by faith and action we are lead to the new resurrection.
Pax
[1] The picture used today is “Madonna Crowned by Two Angles” by Albrecht Dürer, 1518
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
[3] See NAB note on Psalm 107
Readings for Friday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
(for the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary #627)
Commentary:
Reading 1 Ezekiel 37:1-14
The prophet is in Babylon and has the mystical experience of being lead into the desert among bones (possibly those who died in battle). Rather than speaking of “the Resurrection” he is speaking of the restoration of Israel. His prophesying is intended to put a new spirit into the exiles that they might have hope in the Lord.
From the perspective of the Christian, the reference is to the resurrection promised by Christ and the spirit breathed into the flesh seems obviously the Holy Spirit.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 107:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. Give thanks to the Lord; his love is everlasting.
Psalm 107 is song of praise, “… inviting those who have been rescued by God to give praise. Four archetypal divine rescues are described, each ending in thanksgiving: from the sterile desert[3] “. The imagery strongly links to Ezekiel’s vision above.
Gospel Matthew 22:34-40
Jesus continues to teach in Jerusalem with his disciples and once again is confronted by members of the Jewish hierarchy, this time by Pharisees in this, the fourth of the “Controversy Stories”. Jesus responds to the question posed by the “scholar of the law”. This question would not have been surprising – rather a typical question asked between Rabbis. (Note: according to the Pharisaic tradition, there were 613 distinct commandments in the Law; 248 positive precepts and 365 prohibitions). These commandments were classified as either “light” or “heavy” depending upon the nature of the subject they addressed.
Jesus response, quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 was unique, not because he used both in his answer, but because he assigned them such that they had equal “weight” (“Heavy”). By linking love of God (the first line of the Shema) with love of neighbor, Jesus linked faith and actions into one “Great Commandment” and said this with underlying principals upon which the law and prophets were based.
Reflection:
In brief reflection we should never ask a question that would require volumes of theological texts and numerous apologetics to respond to but the Great Commandment demands that we do so today. The question is: “Does one’s salvation depend on simply having faith in Jesus as the only Son of the one True and Living God; or are we justified only if our actions support that faith?”
This is one of those questions that can be supported by scripture on either side. St. Paul says in his epistles that faith alone is justification for salvation (see Romans 3). The argument may be made that since we all fall into sin, salvation must be based solely on faith. If we are required to remain free of sin, how could we ever achieve salvation? Salvation is not, after all, earned but rather a gift of God. (This argument is made by the Lutherans- the main theological point that separates them from reconciliation with the Catholic Church.)
On the other side of our question it can be argued that faith must be accompanied by actions. St. James letters state this explicitly (see James 2:21). Logically, if a person truly believes that Jesus is the Christ then that person must follow the laws and precepts of their Lord and God. Simply saying “I believe” without acting on those beliefs was why Jesus condemned the hypocritical Pharisees. The Catechism of the Catholic Church goes into great depth to describe both the concept of justification and how we believe it is merited only through faith supported by actions (see Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1987-2011).
Today we hear Jesus proclaim the Great Commandment which joins faith and love of God with his command that we love our neighbor – giving them the same weight. We are called, by the indwelling Holy Spirit to faith in Christ and we are compelled by that same Spirit to act on our beliefs. Thank God for his great gift today, by faith and action we are lead to the new resurrection.
Pax
[1] The picture used today is “Madonna Crowned by Two Angles” by Albrecht Dürer, 1518
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
[3] See NAB note on Psalm 107
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