Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Biographical Information about Memorial of St. Alphonsus Liguori[1]
Readings for Friday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Jeremiah 26:1-9
The opening comment in this selection sets the date of this incident at about 609 B.C. Most scholars agree the narrative is a third party (probably Baruch). The prophet causes a scandal in the Temple by calling on those who consider themselves devout to repent and return to following the Law of Moses. According to Jeremiah, if they do not, the Lord’s anger will be unleashed against them and Judah will be decimated.
The specific mention of Shiloh is significant in that Shiloh was once a high place, central to the worship of Yahweh (see Joshua 18:1 and Judges 18:31)[3], but was destroyed; a reminder that God will not spare even places where he is worshiped if the people turn away from his desired path. As a result of this vitriolic discourse, Jeremiah is accused of blasphemy and seized by the leadership of the temple.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 69:5, 8-10, 14
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Psalm 69 is a lament in which the psalmist sings of being unjustly accused of crimes and forced to make restitution. “The psalm, which depicts the suffering of the innocent just person vividly, is cited often by the New Testament especially in the passion accounts, e.g., Psalm 69:5 in John 15:25”[4].
Gospel Matthew 13:54-58
This story from Matthew’s Gospel focuses on the people most familiar with Jesus the boy growing up among them. They are seeking the “Royal Messiah”, one coming with great power and majesty and are disappointed because of the Lord’s familiar and humble beginnings. Matthew’s story tells us that because of their lack of faith, the Lord did not perform any signs in their midst, ending the passage with the often quoted “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house."
Reflection:
The very uncomfortable theme from yesterday, that those who bring the Word of God to even supposedly devout people will be persecuted for their actions is emphasized in scripture (even including the psalm) today. In the reading from Jeremiah we see the prophet given explicit instructions. He is to go to the central place of worship for those in Judah, into the temple itself, and announce to all the people coming to worship that God is displeased with their conduct and can barely contain his anger at them. If they do not turn away from their transgressions against Mosaic Law, God will unleash his anger and destroy them, even the temple will be destroyed as he demonstrated when he destroyed Shiloh.
The best modern analogy would be if say the Bishop of Washington D.C. walked into a joint session of Congress and said “If you (Senators and Congressmen) do not turn away from your graft and corruption and return to values of your predecessors the US will be destroyed.” Can you imagine how quickly security would be called and the outcry that would cause? (Of course the ACLU would scream that it was a violation of the separation between Church and State but still not a bad idea.).
We follow that passage with the story of Jesus returning to his home town of Nazareth. He comes home after having demonstrated his power and authority in other parts of the region. While in St. Matthew’s version of this story their reaction was not violent when he began to teach them what they must do to follow him, he was still rejected. In this case because they did not understand how God was changing things. They could not accept that Jesus was who they been taught to expect through the very prophecy he fulfilled.
We take away two valuable lessons from these examples of the Word rejected. First, we must recognize that our efforts will not be appreciated by all we meet. This may be especially true of those with whom we are most familiar, our own families. Second, it is through faith that God’s will is accomplished and that in those where faith is lacking, even the best intentions do not produce the result most desired or needed. There is something much deeper at work.
Today our prayer is to be given the gift of fidelity and strength; so that we might continue to bring the Word of God to those we meet with our actions and our words (when we must). We ask God to keep us strong in the face of inevitable resistance and safe from all harm.
Pax
[1] The picture used is “St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori” Artist and Date are UNKNOWN
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
[3] McKenzie, John L., Dictionary of the Bible, Macmillan Publishing, 1965, pp. 807
[4] See NAB footnote on Psalm 69
Biographical Information about Memorial of St. Alphonsus Liguori[1]
Readings for Friday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Jeremiah 26:1-9
The opening comment in this selection sets the date of this incident at about 609 B.C. Most scholars agree the narrative is a third party (probably Baruch). The prophet causes a scandal in the Temple by calling on those who consider themselves devout to repent and return to following the Law of Moses. According to Jeremiah, if they do not, the Lord’s anger will be unleashed against them and Judah will be decimated.
The specific mention of Shiloh is significant in that Shiloh was once a high place, central to the worship of Yahweh (see Joshua 18:1 and Judges 18:31)[3], but was destroyed; a reminder that God will not spare even places where he is worshiped if the people turn away from his desired path. As a result of this vitriolic discourse, Jeremiah is accused of blasphemy and seized by the leadership of the temple.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 69:5, 8-10, 14
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Psalm 69 is a lament in which the psalmist sings of being unjustly accused of crimes and forced to make restitution. “The psalm, which depicts the suffering of the innocent just person vividly, is cited often by the New Testament especially in the passion accounts, e.g., Psalm 69:5 in John 15:25”[4].
Gospel Matthew 13:54-58
This story from Matthew’s Gospel focuses on the people most familiar with Jesus the boy growing up among them. They are seeking the “Royal Messiah”, one coming with great power and majesty and are disappointed because of the Lord’s familiar and humble beginnings. Matthew’s story tells us that because of their lack of faith, the Lord did not perform any signs in their midst, ending the passage with the often quoted “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house."
Reflection:
The very uncomfortable theme from yesterday, that those who bring the Word of God to even supposedly devout people will be persecuted for their actions is emphasized in scripture (even including the psalm) today. In the reading from Jeremiah we see the prophet given explicit instructions. He is to go to the central place of worship for those in Judah, into the temple itself, and announce to all the people coming to worship that God is displeased with their conduct and can barely contain his anger at them. If they do not turn away from their transgressions against Mosaic Law, God will unleash his anger and destroy them, even the temple will be destroyed as he demonstrated when he destroyed Shiloh.
The best modern analogy would be if say the Bishop of Washington D.C. walked into a joint session of Congress and said “If you (Senators and Congressmen) do not turn away from your graft and corruption and return to values of your predecessors the US will be destroyed.” Can you imagine how quickly security would be called and the outcry that would cause? (Of course the ACLU would scream that it was a violation of the separation between Church and State but still not a bad idea.).
We follow that passage with the story of Jesus returning to his home town of Nazareth. He comes home after having demonstrated his power and authority in other parts of the region. While in St. Matthew’s version of this story their reaction was not violent when he began to teach them what they must do to follow him, he was still rejected. In this case because they did not understand how God was changing things. They could not accept that Jesus was who they been taught to expect through the very prophecy he fulfilled.
We take away two valuable lessons from these examples of the Word rejected. First, we must recognize that our efforts will not be appreciated by all we meet. This may be especially true of those with whom we are most familiar, our own families. Second, it is through faith that God’s will is accomplished and that in those where faith is lacking, even the best intentions do not produce the result most desired or needed. There is something much deeper at work.
Today our prayer is to be given the gift of fidelity and strength; so that we might continue to bring the Word of God to those we meet with our actions and our words (when we must). We ask God to keep us strong in the face of inevitable resistance and safe from all harm.
Pax
[1] The picture used is “St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori” Artist and Date are UNKNOWN
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
[3] McKenzie, John L., Dictionary of the Bible, Macmillan Publishing, 1965, pp. 807
[4] See NAB footnote on Psalm 69
2 comments:
Today in the Traditional Catholic Calendar of 1962 is the Holy Feast of the Holy Maccabean Martyrs. Orate pro nobis!
Matthew,
Thanks for your comment. The Deacon's Bench Blog is written using the General Calendar of the Roman Rite. In cases where the General Calendar differs from the Calendar for Dioceses in the United States I have attempted to mention both options. In general I am guided by The Order of Prayer in the iturgy of the hours and Celebration of the Eucharist published by Paulist Press Ordo with imprimater by John Joseph Myers, D.D. Archbishop of Newark.
I am not sure why the Feast of teh Maccabean Martyrs is no logner part of the current calendar. I did find a very good article published a year ago at http://cathcon.blogspot.com/2007/08/feast-of-maccabean-martyrs.html by Donald Winslow. If you have information about why the Feast was removed from the calander I'd be interested in hearing.
Pax,
Dcn Jim
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