Readings for the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1: Ezekiel 18:25-28
The theme of this section of Ezekiel is “The Lord’s way is just.” In these verses the prophet presents and apology of the fairness of the Law saying that those who sin against God die but those who turn from sin and repent live. This argument stresses individual responsibility and the ability of the faithful to choose life or death, fully informed.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Psalm 25 is an individual lament. The sinful psalmist prays that “Your ways” be made know. This request directs us to repentance and ultimately justice. These strophes repeat the repentance forgiveness theme.
Reading II: Philippians 2:1-11
Contained in this selection from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians are two specific instructions to the community. He begins exhorting them to unity and harmony (see below) and then continues with the Kenotic (emptying) Hymn which focuses on humility. Christ empties himself of the complete divinity that is his essence and accepts the human condition. As true man he suffers the ultimate humiliation of death (on the cross). The second section of the hymn focuses on God’s resulting actions of exaltation. The Christian sings to God’s great glory in Christ proclaiming him Lord and Savior.
Or: Philippians 2:1-5
St. Paul tells the community in essence “If you want to console me in Christ, complete my joy by paying attention to the advice I am now going to give you.”[3] He then tells them that what they should strive for is unity with Christ (en ChristÅ) which would bring harmony to the community. He defines the “mind of Christ” in a sense; “…solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy” then telling them they should be also of that mind but in humility.
Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32
This passage is the first of three parables concerning the judgment of the people of Israel. This parable could be taken simply as the difference between saying and doing (see also Matthew 7:21; 12:50). Presented as it is as a question to the Jewish leaders, they are forced to admit that the son who did the father’s will was the one justified. Jesus then clarifies his meaning by setting the analogy of the two sons against religious leaders, who disbelieved the message of St. John the Baptist and the sinners (tax collectors and prostitutes) who did. This characterization does not mean that St. John led a righteous life but pointed to how one might be lead. Ultimately that parable tells the Jewish leaders that those they look down upon are achieving the inheritance of God before them because of their acts of repentance and devotion.
Reflection:
Ezekiel and St. Paul set us up for the Gospel from St. Matthew. Ezekiel tells us that those of us who repent of our human rebellion against God will find life. In essence he tells us that the door to happiness and life is always open but we must turn away from sin. St. Paul then exhorts us to not just turn from sin but to embrace the mind of Christ who provides solace in love coupled with participation in the Holy Spirit and living lives of compassion and mercy. He follows this with the great Kenotic Hymn reminding us that Christ did this in humility “…taking the form of a slave”.
To all of this, as we pull the Word apart, we are saying “yes, yes! That is what I must do. Thank you Ezekiel, thank you St. Paul.” Then we come to the Parable of the Two Sons from St. Matthew’s Gospel. On the surface we see Ezekiel’s theme brought to life as Jesus uses the parable to tell the Jewish leaders how they have missed the boat by rejecting the repentance preached by St. John the Baptist.
We applaud Jesus for taking those hypocrites to task. Then we think about those two sons. We ask ourselves; “Which of them most closely resembles me?” Have I said to my Heavenly Father – Yes, I am here to do what you ask; but then fail? Or have I been brought to obedience through my errors and sins, as so many of those saints before me? There lies our trap, our conundrum. If we chose the latter answer and say we have found the right path – that we are walking the “Way”’, have we missed the point of the Kenotic Hymn whose attitude St. Paul tells us to adopt? Jesus emptied himself of all pride and, in spite of his perfection in love, allowed us to humiliate him and kill him, hanging him upon a tree.
Yet, on the other side, if we admit that we have said “yes” to the Father but not fulfilled our duty to him do we desperately need to undergo the conversion of heart necessary to put on the mind of Christ? Or are we acting out of the humility we are called to and indeed on the right path?
Of course the answer is that as hard as we try we shall never be able to completely personify the perfect love and ultimate humility of Christ. He may have emptied himself of pride but that was part of his perfect nature, a nature reflected dimly in us in a way befitting God’s creation. Our challenge as Christians is to work constantly toward that perfect goal. We do so firstly by never taking pride in the good we accomplish. It is Christ’s glory we proclaim not our own. Secondly, we recognize, through acts of contrition, that we have failed to answer our call but that God’s mercy is there for those who ask for it.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used today is “The Eberhard Brothers” by Johann Anton Alban, Ramoux, 1822
[3] cf St. Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Philippians
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1: Ezekiel 18:25-28
The theme of this section of Ezekiel is “The Lord’s way is just.” In these verses the prophet presents and apology of the fairness of the Law saying that those who sin against God die but those who turn from sin and repent live. This argument stresses individual responsibility and the ability of the faithful to choose life or death, fully informed.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Psalm 25 is an individual lament. The sinful psalmist prays that “Your ways” be made know. This request directs us to repentance and ultimately justice. These strophes repeat the repentance forgiveness theme.
Reading II: Philippians 2:1-11
Contained in this selection from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians are two specific instructions to the community. He begins exhorting them to unity and harmony (see below) and then continues with the Kenotic (emptying) Hymn which focuses on humility. Christ empties himself of the complete divinity that is his essence and accepts the human condition. As true man he suffers the ultimate humiliation of death (on the cross). The second section of the hymn focuses on God’s resulting actions of exaltation. The Christian sings to God’s great glory in Christ proclaiming him Lord and Savior.
Or: Philippians 2:1-5
St. Paul tells the community in essence “If you want to console me in Christ, complete my joy by paying attention to the advice I am now going to give you.”[3] He then tells them that what they should strive for is unity with Christ (en ChristÅ) which would bring harmony to the community. He defines the “mind of Christ” in a sense; “…solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy” then telling them they should be also of that mind but in humility.
Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32
This passage is the first of three parables concerning the judgment of the people of Israel. This parable could be taken simply as the difference between saying and doing (see also Matthew 7:21; 12:50). Presented as it is as a question to the Jewish leaders, they are forced to admit that the son who did the father’s will was the one justified. Jesus then clarifies his meaning by setting the analogy of the two sons against religious leaders, who disbelieved the message of St. John the Baptist and the sinners (tax collectors and prostitutes) who did. This characterization does not mean that St. John led a righteous life but pointed to how one might be lead. Ultimately that parable tells the Jewish leaders that those they look down upon are achieving the inheritance of God before them because of their acts of repentance and devotion.
Reflection:
Ezekiel and St. Paul set us up for the Gospel from St. Matthew. Ezekiel tells us that those of us who repent of our human rebellion against God will find life. In essence he tells us that the door to happiness and life is always open but we must turn away from sin. St. Paul then exhorts us to not just turn from sin but to embrace the mind of Christ who provides solace in love coupled with participation in the Holy Spirit and living lives of compassion and mercy. He follows this with the great Kenotic Hymn reminding us that Christ did this in humility “…taking the form of a slave”.
To all of this, as we pull the Word apart, we are saying “yes, yes! That is what I must do. Thank you Ezekiel, thank you St. Paul.” Then we come to the Parable of the Two Sons from St. Matthew’s Gospel. On the surface we see Ezekiel’s theme brought to life as Jesus uses the parable to tell the Jewish leaders how they have missed the boat by rejecting the repentance preached by St. John the Baptist.
We applaud Jesus for taking those hypocrites to task. Then we think about those two sons. We ask ourselves; “Which of them most closely resembles me?” Have I said to my Heavenly Father – Yes, I am here to do what you ask; but then fail? Or have I been brought to obedience through my errors and sins, as so many of those saints before me? There lies our trap, our conundrum. If we chose the latter answer and say we have found the right path – that we are walking the “Way”’, have we missed the point of the Kenotic Hymn whose attitude St. Paul tells us to adopt? Jesus emptied himself of all pride and, in spite of his perfection in love, allowed us to humiliate him and kill him, hanging him upon a tree.
Yet, on the other side, if we admit that we have said “yes” to the Father but not fulfilled our duty to him do we desperately need to undergo the conversion of heart necessary to put on the mind of Christ? Or are we acting out of the humility we are called to and indeed on the right path?
Of course the answer is that as hard as we try we shall never be able to completely personify the perfect love and ultimate humility of Christ. He may have emptied himself of pride but that was part of his perfect nature, a nature reflected dimly in us in a way befitting God’s creation. Our challenge as Christians is to work constantly toward that perfect goal. We do so firstly by never taking pride in the good we accomplish. It is Christ’s glory we proclaim not our own. Secondly, we recognize, through acts of contrition, that we have failed to answer our call but that God’s mercy is there for those who ask for it.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used today is “The Eberhard Brothers” by Johann Anton Alban, Ramoux, 1822
[3] cf St. Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Philippians
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