Priest
Biographical Information about St. Peter Claver
Readings for Tuesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11
St. Paul encourages the Christian community at Corinth to deal with litigious issues internally rather than take their cases to the pagan courts. He asks why there are cases brought between members at all proposing the same idea as Jesus in St. Matthew’s “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5:39-43). This passage concludes with a catalogue of sins that will result in a fall from grace and must be excluded from the faith community (see also Romans 1:26-27; 1 Tim 1:10).
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
Psalm 149 is a communal song of praise. This passage rejoices in God’s kingship and invites the faithful to celebrate his saving works.
Gospel: Luke 6:12-19
This passage is the call of the Twelve Disciples from St. Luke’s Gospel. It is noteworthy that Jesus began this process with a prayer of discernment. In addition to giving the names, we are told that once the choice had been made he immediately continued his teaching and healing ministry with renewed vigor. All “wished to touch him” because of his power to heal mind and body.
Homily:
It would have been so much easier for us to live perfect lives as God wants if had been created without free will. We would never have to worry about temptation. We would never loose our tempers. We would always choose to love our neighbor and remain in a perfect state of grace with the Lord. But God did not make us slaves. He made us in his own image and likeness; free to choose good or bad.
Choice is an important gift. Without it, while our path might be easier (remember when you were a child and all the choices were made for you – how easy life was back then). But where is the merit of loving God because we have no choice? There is no triumph for the Father if a race of slaves does his will.
Today we have heard how Jesus chose the twelve disciples; his special students and heirs to his mission. He did not do this casually even though he knew them only as God must know his children. Rather he went to a mountain and spent the night in prayer before making his selection.
What does that say to us about making important decisions in our lives? Do we say a quick “Hail Mary” and hope that everything works out? Or do we accept the Lord’s example and spend a night in prayer; listening to God’s guidance reflecting upon how our choice is bringing glory to God because the choice is not only right ethically but also furthers the cause of Jesus’ mission on earth.
The most important lesson we take away from today’s scripture is the absolute need to ask God for guidance through prayer when decisions need to be made. Our challenge is to separate the voices we hear because there is another who whispers in the dark.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used today is “Praying Monks” by Alessandro Magnasco, c.1709
Biographical Information about St. Peter Claver
Readings for Tuesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11
St. Paul encourages the Christian community at Corinth to deal with litigious issues internally rather than take their cases to the pagan courts. He asks why there are cases brought between members at all proposing the same idea as Jesus in St. Matthew’s “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5:39-43). This passage concludes with a catalogue of sins that will result in a fall from grace and must be excluded from the faith community (see also Romans 1:26-27; 1 Tim 1:10).
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
Psalm 149 is a communal song of praise. This passage rejoices in God’s kingship and invites the faithful to celebrate his saving works.
Gospel: Luke 6:12-19
This passage is the call of the Twelve Disciples from St. Luke’s Gospel. It is noteworthy that Jesus began this process with a prayer of discernment. In addition to giving the names, we are told that once the choice had been made he immediately continued his teaching and healing ministry with renewed vigor. All “wished to touch him” because of his power to heal mind and body.
Homily:
It would have been so much easier for us to live perfect lives as God wants if had been created without free will. We would never have to worry about temptation. We would never loose our tempers. We would always choose to love our neighbor and remain in a perfect state of grace with the Lord. But God did not make us slaves. He made us in his own image and likeness; free to choose good or bad.
Choice is an important gift. Without it, while our path might be easier (remember when you were a child and all the choices were made for you – how easy life was back then). But where is the merit of loving God because we have no choice? There is no triumph for the Father if a race of slaves does his will.
Today we have heard how Jesus chose the twelve disciples; his special students and heirs to his mission. He did not do this casually even though he knew them only as God must know his children. Rather he went to a mountain and spent the night in prayer before making his selection.
What does that say to us about making important decisions in our lives? Do we say a quick “Hail Mary” and hope that everything works out? Or do we accept the Lord’s example and spend a night in prayer; listening to God’s guidance reflecting upon how our choice is bringing glory to God because the choice is not only right ethically but also furthers the cause of Jesus’ mission on earth.
The most important lesson we take away from today’s scripture is the absolute need to ask God for guidance through prayer when decisions need to be made. Our challenge is to separate the voices we hear because there is another who whispers in the dark.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used today is “Praying Monks” by Alessandro Magnasco, c.1709
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