Biographical Information about St. John Mary Vianney
Readings for Monday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Jeremiah 28:1-17
The reading from the book of the Prophet Jeremiah is a stern warning against false prophets. This reading (the complete chapter 28) tells the story of Hananiah, a false prophet and Jeremiah. The story is biographical and attributed once again to Baruch. Hananiah gives the people a very sugar coated vision that within two years the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar (the Babylonian King who conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and exiled the people) would come to an end and the temple wealth, the exiled leader, and the people would be restored. This prediction contradicts Jeremiah’s own oracle (see Jeremiah 27).
Jeremiah laments to the people that he too would hope for such an outcome (“May he fulfill the things you have prophesied…”). He goes on to warn them that prophets who predict pleasing futures can only be validated as “truly sent by the Lord” when their oracles are seen to come true (see Deuteronomy 18: 21-22).
In response to this pleasing prediction, Jeremiah is given a true vision from God. The reign of Nebuchadnezzar will not be broken, it will be strengthened (“By breaking a wooden yoke, you forge an iron yoke!”). Because Hananiah told the people he was hearing God’s voice when he was simply predicting things the leaders of the time wanted to hear, he was told (in an oracle that was fulfilled – proving that Jeremiah was a true prophet), that he would die within a year.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 119:29, 43, 79, 80, 95, 102
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Psalm 119 is an individual lament asking for God’s support in times of difficulty. From this, the longest of the psalms the strophes ask for the psalmist to be strengthened in the truth and given wisdom that comes from the law.
Gospel Matthew 14:22-36
This passage from St. Matthew’s Gospel follows the feeding of the five thousand. The disciples return to the boat that brought them to this remote site while Jesus stays alone to pray (recall he had just gotten word of the murder of St. John the Baptist by Herod and had come to this place to mourn him).
The events that follow; Jesus approach to the boat, walking on the water supports the Lord’s earlier demonstration that he has power over the sea and elements (see Matthew 8:26). St. Peter’s response to the Lord is to try to do as the Lord wishes but his fear prevents him from accomplishing what the Lord has called him to do. This entire episode has one purpose – to allow the readings to share in the awe of the disciples as they make their profession of faith “Truly, you are the Son of God." This is account stands in stark contrast to St. Mark’s account of their response (see Mark 6:51)
Reflection:
If you were introduced to Christianity for the first time as an adult, never having been introduced to the idea of a deity (God), these readings might be used to provide proofs that God exists and Jesus was his Son. It is a difficult thing, to convince a person who is at best unfamiliar with God and at worst has been brought up to actively reject the concept of the Trinitarian God as atheists do.
What we are asked to believe is embodied in our creed and from a purely rational point of view (one that demands physical, unequivocal proof) the claims are outlandish. God’s gift of life is constantly challenged as being accidental, purely random (we can challenge that idea easily enough by simply looking at how much randomness would have had to occur to create even the simplest single cell organism – the odds are literally astronomical against randomness). When push comes to shove on the issue of creation, even the hardest core neo-Darwinians start talking about aliens and extra-terrestrial origins of life (Why can’t they admit God?).
Scripture tells us the story today of Jeremiah’s battle in his time with people who claimed to be given God’s gift of prophecy, but who in fact were simply playing the part for political gain. Hananiah was such a person. He predicted a quick end to the hardships imposed by King Nebuchadnezzar, a speedy return to normalcy. In short he contradicted the more pessimistic oracle of Jeremiah. The validation of Jeremiah comes at the end of the story as Hnaniah himself is made the object of another oracle of the Prophet and is given less than a year to live. If a prophet is truly a prophet, his predictions should come true! In this case Jeremiah is shown to be the real thing – Hananiah is dead within five months.
Similarly, the early Christian community was given proofs that Jesus was who he said he was – the Son of God with all the power and compassion that went along with it. His power over the elements is once more demonstrated as his disciples get into trouble with a bad storm and Jesus saves them. This story has so many levels of lessons we do not have the time to go into detail. We could talk about St. Peter’s flagging faith that caused him to sink. We could marvel at the ease with which the Lord simply reached out with his hand and saved him. We could talk about the amazement of the disciples and how they responded with “Truly, you are the Son of God." But in the end, what really matters is we once more hear and believe.
All of these proofs and lessons come down to a clear purpose. To strengthen our faith so that as we go into the world to bring the “Good News” to those we meet though our words and actions, we might not loose heart when we are rebuffed. The words give us hope because even St. Peter, the Lord’s chosen instrument of faith, sank when he became afraid. Above all, today we give thanks to God for his help in all things.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used today is “St. Peter Walking on the Water”, Alessandro Allori, 1590s
Readings for Monday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Jeremiah 28:1-17
The reading from the book of the Prophet Jeremiah is a stern warning against false prophets. This reading (the complete chapter 28) tells the story of Hananiah, a false prophet and Jeremiah. The story is biographical and attributed once again to Baruch. Hananiah gives the people a very sugar coated vision that within two years the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar (the Babylonian King who conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and exiled the people) would come to an end and the temple wealth, the exiled leader, and the people would be restored. This prediction contradicts Jeremiah’s own oracle (see Jeremiah 27).
Jeremiah laments to the people that he too would hope for such an outcome (“May he fulfill the things you have prophesied…”). He goes on to warn them that prophets who predict pleasing futures can only be validated as “truly sent by the Lord” when their oracles are seen to come true (see Deuteronomy 18: 21-22).
In response to this pleasing prediction, Jeremiah is given a true vision from God. The reign of Nebuchadnezzar will not be broken, it will be strengthened (“By breaking a wooden yoke, you forge an iron yoke!”). Because Hananiah told the people he was hearing God’s voice when he was simply predicting things the leaders of the time wanted to hear, he was told (in an oracle that was fulfilled – proving that Jeremiah was a true prophet), that he would die within a year.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 119:29, 43, 79, 80, 95, 102
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Psalm 119 is an individual lament asking for God’s support in times of difficulty. From this, the longest of the psalms the strophes ask for the psalmist to be strengthened in the truth and given wisdom that comes from the law.
Gospel Matthew 14:22-36
This passage from St. Matthew’s Gospel follows the feeding of the five thousand. The disciples return to the boat that brought them to this remote site while Jesus stays alone to pray (recall he had just gotten word of the murder of St. John the Baptist by Herod and had come to this place to mourn him).
The events that follow; Jesus approach to the boat, walking on the water supports the Lord’s earlier demonstration that he has power over the sea and elements (see Matthew 8:26). St. Peter’s response to the Lord is to try to do as the Lord wishes but his fear prevents him from accomplishing what the Lord has called him to do. This entire episode has one purpose – to allow the readings to share in the awe of the disciples as they make their profession of faith “Truly, you are the Son of God." This is account stands in stark contrast to St. Mark’s account of their response (see Mark 6:51)
Reflection:
If you were introduced to Christianity for the first time as an adult, never having been introduced to the idea of a deity (God), these readings might be used to provide proofs that God exists and Jesus was his Son. It is a difficult thing, to convince a person who is at best unfamiliar with God and at worst has been brought up to actively reject the concept of the Trinitarian God as atheists do.
What we are asked to believe is embodied in our creed and from a purely rational point of view (one that demands physical, unequivocal proof) the claims are outlandish. God’s gift of life is constantly challenged as being accidental, purely random (we can challenge that idea easily enough by simply looking at how much randomness would have had to occur to create even the simplest single cell organism – the odds are literally astronomical against randomness). When push comes to shove on the issue of creation, even the hardest core neo-Darwinians start talking about aliens and extra-terrestrial origins of life (Why can’t they admit God?).
Scripture tells us the story today of Jeremiah’s battle in his time with people who claimed to be given God’s gift of prophecy, but who in fact were simply playing the part for political gain. Hananiah was such a person. He predicted a quick end to the hardships imposed by King Nebuchadnezzar, a speedy return to normalcy. In short he contradicted the more pessimistic oracle of Jeremiah. The validation of Jeremiah comes at the end of the story as Hnaniah himself is made the object of another oracle of the Prophet and is given less than a year to live. If a prophet is truly a prophet, his predictions should come true! In this case Jeremiah is shown to be the real thing – Hananiah is dead within five months.
Similarly, the early Christian community was given proofs that Jesus was who he said he was – the Son of God with all the power and compassion that went along with it. His power over the elements is once more demonstrated as his disciples get into trouble with a bad storm and Jesus saves them. This story has so many levels of lessons we do not have the time to go into detail. We could talk about St. Peter’s flagging faith that caused him to sink. We could marvel at the ease with which the Lord simply reached out with his hand and saved him. We could talk about the amazement of the disciples and how they responded with “Truly, you are the Son of God." But in the end, what really matters is we once more hear and believe.
All of these proofs and lessons come down to a clear purpose. To strengthen our faith so that as we go into the world to bring the “Good News” to those we meet though our words and actions, we might not loose heart when we are rebuffed. The words give us hope because even St. Peter, the Lord’s chosen instrument of faith, sank when he became afraid. Above all, today we give thanks to God for his help in all things.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used today is “St. Peter Walking on the Water”, Alessandro Allori, 1590s
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