Saint Bruno, Priest
Biographical Information about St. Bruno[1]
Readings for Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1: Galatians 1:6-12
This reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians follows a very short introduction. Unlike other letters from St. Paul which give thanks to God for the faith of the community to which the letter is addressed, the apostle moves directly and emotionally to correct the Christians of this community whom he had converted from paganism.
Based upon fragmentary information, it seems that shortly after St. Paul had left them, other Christian evangelists had come to them (Probably from Jerusalem, possibly members of the austere Essene sect). These “Judaizers” twisted the “Gospel” St. Paul had taught and attempted to require a number of elements of Mosaic Law (including circumcision) to be adopted. St. Paul now defends his apostolic authority and re-emphasizes that Christ is the author of his message (“…through a revelation of Jesus Christ”)
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 111:1b-2, 7-8, 9 and 10c
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or: R. Alleluia.
Psalm 111 is a hymn of thanksgiving. In this selection we find the singer giving thanks for God’s guidance and His works of creation and salvation.
Gospel: Luke 10:25-37
We are given St. Luke’s account of the “Good Samaritan” which today supports St. Paul’s assertion that Christ and not Mosaic Law is the key to salvation. The Lord uses this story to explain to the pious man, obviously a Jew since he answered the Lord’s first question with the Shema, that God came for all people and that His love is to be extended to everyone.
Reflection:
In our society where the secular drive is toward being “politically correct” we sometimes get so caught up in our efforts to be inclusive that we loose sight of the one non-negotiable article of faith. We believe that Jesus Christ, who is the only begotten Son of God, is the true revelation of God and it is ONLY through him that we can achieve salvation. In the context of secularism that statement has been called elitist, exclusionary, and arrogant by other religious sects and, of course, the un-churched. It is, however, that which sets us apart from all other faith traditions.
St. Paul, in his address to the Galatians, was putting a fine point on that argument as he chided the Christians in the churches of Galatia. He had left them and traveled to Ephesus when he received word that apparently right on his heels came another group evangelizing in the name of Jesus. These “Judiaizers” were proclaiming a different Christology (belief in or understanding of Christ). They taught that in order to achieve salvation through Christ they must also adopt many of the trappings of Mosaic Law, including circumcision. They claimed that the “real apostles” who had walked with Christ were all Jews and since they all had been raised in that tradition, it was a requirement of all Christians to first adopt a belief in all of the tenets of Mosaic Law, essentially first converting to Judaism (hence the term “Judiazers”) in addition to their belief in Christ.
It was this two-fold attach that caused St. Paul to shorten his normal introduction, amazed at how quickly his converts had been convinced of a new version of the Good News. His amazement was mild though, when compared to the curse he laid upon those who challenged his teaching and authority.
This focus on the spirit of the law is also captured in St. Matthew’s Gospel (We note here the difference in the term “Gospel” used by St. Paul and that applied to the biblical books; Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The authors of these books told the story of Jesus, using the story to bring their audience to faith and using Jesus words to provide the practical application. St. Paul’s usage refers to pragmatic instructions on the “Way”). At first, when we hear the “Lawyer” or “scholar of the law” get upheld in his answer, based upon Mosaic Law, we might think St. Paul and St. Matthew’s accounts were at odds with each other. But Jesus goes on to clarify using the parable of the “Good Samaritan” a non-Jew whose love of Neighbor defined as a fellow human being was adhering to God’s law while others who were Jews did not.
The non-negotiable element of faith is that Jesus taught and witnessed the love of God. Through our belief in Christ and our application of his teaching we hope for the reward he promised. It is not a sin to reject teachings that counter our belief and our prayer today is that we are able to hold fast to our creed in the face of a world that would have us water it down.
Pax
[1] The picture used today is “St. Bruno of Cologne” by José de Ribera, 1643
[2] ALTRE
Biographical Information about St. Bruno[1]
Readings for Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1: Galatians 1:6-12
This reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians follows a very short introduction. Unlike other letters from St. Paul which give thanks to God for the faith of the community to which the letter is addressed, the apostle moves directly and emotionally to correct the Christians of this community whom he had converted from paganism.
Based upon fragmentary information, it seems that shortly after St. Paul had left them, other Christian evangelists had come to them (Probably from Jerusalem, possibly members of the austere Essene sect). These “Judaizers” twisted the “Gospel” St. Paul had taught and attempted to require a number of elements of Mosaic Law (including circumcision) to be adopted. St. Paul now defends his apostolic authority and re-emphasizes that Christ is the author of his message (“…through a revelation of Jesus Christ”)
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 111:1b-2, 7-8, 9 and 10c
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or: R. Alleluia.
Psalm 111 is a hymn of thanksgiving. In this selection we find the singer giving thanks for God’s guidance and His works of creation and salvation.
Gospel: Luke 10:25-37
We are given St. Luke’s account of the “Good Samaritan” which today supports St. Paul’s assertion that Christ and not Mosaic Law is the key to salvation. The Lord uses this story to explain to the pious man, obviously a Jew since he answered the Lord’s first question with the Shema, that God came for all people and that His love is to be extended to everyone.
Reflection:
In our society where the secular drive is toward being “politically correct” we sometimes get so caught up in our efforts to be inclusive that we loose sight of the one non-negotiable article of faith. We believe that Jesus Christ, who is the only begotten Son of God, is the true revelation of God and it is ONLY through him that we can achieve salvation. In the context of secularism that statement has been called elitist, exclusionary, and arrogant by other religious sects and, of course, the un-churched. It is, however, that which sets us apart from all other faith traditions.
St. Paul, in his address to the Galatians, was putting a fine point on that argument as he chided the Christians in the churches of Galatia. He had left them and traveled to Ephesus when he received word that apparently right on his heels came another group evangelizing in the name of Jesus. These “Judiaizers” were proclaiming a different Christology (belief in or understanding of Christ). They taught that in order to achieve salvation through Christ they must also adopt many of the trappings of Mosaic Law, including circumcision. They claimed that the “real apostles” who had walked with Christ were all Jews and since they all had been raised in that tradition, it was a requirement of all Christians to first adopt a belief in all of the tenets of Mosaic Law, essentially first converting to Judaism (hence the term “Judiazers”) in addition to their belief in Christ.
It was this two-fold attach that caused St. Paul to shorten his normal introduction, amazed at how quickly his converts had been convinced of a new version of the Good News. His amazement was mild though, when compared to the curse he laid upon those who challenged his teaching and authority.
This focus on the spirit of the law is also captured in St. Matthew’s Gospel (We note here the difference in the term “Gospel” used by St. Paul and that applied to the biblical books; Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The authors of these books told the story of Jesus, using the story to bring their audience to faith and using Jesus words to provide the practical application. St. Paul’s usage refers to pragmatic instructions on the “Way”). At first, when we hear the “Lawyer” or “scholar of the law” get upheld in his answer, based upon Mosaic Law, we might think St. Paul and St. Matthew’s accounts were at odds with each other. But Jesus goes on to clarify using the parable of the “Good Samaritan” a non-Jew whose love of Neighbor defined as a fellow human being was adhering to God’s law while others who were Jews did not.
The non-negotiable element of faith is that Jesus taught and witnessed the love of God. Through our belief in Christ and our application of his teaching we hope for the reward he promised. It is not a sin to reject teachings that counter our belief and our prayer today is that we are able to hold fast to our creed in the face of a world that would have us water it down.
Pax
[1] The picture used today is “St. Bruno of Cologne” by José de Ribera, 1643
[2] ALTRE
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