Readings for Wednesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1: Proverbs 30:5-9
This passage from Proverbs, part of the oracle of Agur (likely the name of the oracle rather than a person) focuses on humility and trust. Trust in God; make the lived Word of God your protection from pride and sin. This is followed with an exhortation never to forget that it is through God’s bounty all things come. The oracle prays that great wealth and abundance never come lest the recipient forget God and worship the bounty given.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119:29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163
R. Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
Psalm 119, in this section, 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: Luke 9:1-6
“Armed with the power and authority that Jesus himself has been displaying in the previous episodes, the Twelve are now sent out to continue the work that Jesus has been performing throughout his Galilean ministry:”[3] They are to rely completely on the Lord, being part of the world but set apart from it.
Reflection:
We ask this question; if nothing we own has a hold on us how much better disciples would we be? Today, secular society places such emphasis on having “things” that we see people from whom those things are taken completely broken mentally, even to the point of taking their own lives. Today we see Jesus sending his disciples into the world and we note he tells them not to take anything with them.
We consider for a moment why he did this. If they have nothing; if they are completely dependent upon the good will of others for their sustenance, they will certainly be humble (we at this point marvel at the Lord’s humility – him to whom all things from all time belong yet so humble.). Nothing will hold them back from doing the right things. No robber can threaten them; no angry mob could take anything from them. The treasure they carry is in their hearts and souls.
We hear an echo of the need for humility in the reading from Proverbs. The oracle says “…give me neither poverty nor riches; provide me only with the food I need; Lest, being full, I deny you,” Great wealth, great bounty, distracts the faithful if it is allowed to do so. Consider for the moment what many of us consider a basic necessity – our house or home. With homeownership comes responsibility. One must dedicate time to upkeep, to maintain the house; the roof, the paint, the utilities and appliances within the house. All of these things require time, effort, and money that must be made in some occupation.
There is a good reason religious brothers and sisters take vows of poverty. They pray that nothing may tempt or distract them from service to God. For most of us, poverty is an accident if it occurs and we are somewhat encumbered by “things”. Our challenge is to maintain an attitude where the things we need to contribute to our own upkeep do not distract us to the point were we become arrogant or consumed by the material world. Our prayer today is that we might focus our efforts on God’s glory and not simply the things of the world.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used today is “The Twelve Sent Out” by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, 1851-60
[3] see NAB footnote on Luke 9:1-6
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1: Proverbs 30:5-9
This passage from Proverbs, part of the oracle of Agur (likely the name of the oracle rather than a person) focuses on humility and trust. Trust in God; make the lived Word of God your protection from pride and sin. This is followed with an exhortation never to forget that it is through God’s bounty all things come. The oracle prays that great wealth and abundance never come lest the recipient forget God and worship the bounty given.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119:29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163
R. Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
Psalm 119, in this section, 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: Luke 9:1-6
“Armed with the power and authority that Jesus himself has been displaying in the previous episodes, the Twelve are now sent out to continue the work that Jesus has been performing throughout his Galilean ministry:”[3] They are to rely completely on the Lord, being part of the world but set apart from it.
Reflection:
We ask this question; if nothing we own has a hold on us how much better disciples would we be? Today, secular society places such emphasis on having “things” that we see people from whom those things are taken completely broken mentally, even to the point of taking their own lives. Today we see Jesus sending his disciples into the world and we note he tells them not to take anything with them.
We consider for a moment why he did this. If they have nothing; if they are completely dependent upon the good will of others for their sustenance, they will certainly be humble (we at this point marvel at the Lord’s humility – him to whom all things from all time belong yet so humble.). Nothing will hold them back from doing the right things. No robber can threaten them; no angry mob could take anything from them. The treasure they carry is in their hearts and souls.
We hear an echo of the need for humility in the reading from Proverbs. The oracle says “…give me neither poverty nor riches; provide me only with the food I need; Lest, being full, I deny you,” Great wealth, great bounty, distracts the faithful if it is allowed to do so. Consider for the moment what many of us consider a basic necessity – our house or home. With homeownership comes responsibility. One must dedicate time to upkeep, to maintain the house; the roof, the paint, the utilities and appliances within the house. All of these things require time, effort, and money that must be made in some occupation.
There is a good reason religious brothers and sisters take vows of poverty. They pray that nothing may tempt or distract them from service to God. For most of us, poverty is an accident if it occurs and we are somewhat encumbered by “things”. Our challenge is to maintain an attitude where the things we need to contribute to our own upkeep do not distract us to the point were we become arrogant or consumed by the material world. Our prayer today is that we might focus our efforts on God’s glory and not simply the things of the world.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used today is “The Twelve Sent Out” by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, 1851-60
[3] see NAB footnote on Luke 9:1-6
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