Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Proper for the Memorial of St. Louis IX of France
Proper for the Memorial of St. Joseph Calasanz
Readings for Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time [1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
You yourselves know, brothers and sisters,
that our reception among you was not without effect.
Rather, after we had suffered and been insolently treated,
as you know, in Philippi,
we drew courage through our God
to speak to you the Gospel of God with much struggle.
Our exhortation was not from delusion or impure motives,
nor did it work through deception.
But as we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the Gospel,
that is how we speak,
not as trying to please men,
but rather God, who judges our hearts.
Nor, indeed, did we ever appear with flattering speech, as you know,
or with a pretext for greed–God is witness–
nor did we seek praise from men,
either from you or from others,
although we were able to impose our weight as Apostles of Christ.
Rather, we were gentle among you,
as a nursing mother cares for her children.
With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you
not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well,
so dearly beloved had you become to us.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Thes 2:1-8
In speaking of his previous stay with the Thessalonians, St. Paul emphasizes both the content of the Gospel message and the need to present it gently and with full sincerity. He concludes this selection reminding them of the deep affection with which he holds them.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 139:1-3, 4-6
R. (1) You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know the whole of it.
Behind me and before, you hem me in
and rest your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
too lofty for me to attain.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 139:1-3, 4-6
Psalm 139 is a hymn of meditation upon God’s presence in our lives. The selection carries the awe that one so great could love one so insignificant.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Matthew 23:23-26
Jesus said:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin,
and have neglected the weightier things of the law:
judgment and mercy and fidelity.
But these you should have done, without neglecting the others.
Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You cleanse the outside of cup and dish,
but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup,
so that the outside also may be clean.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 23:23-26
This reading from Matthew continues the dialogue of the “Seven Woes”. In this selection we hear how the Pharisees have extended the law of tithing down to the smallest of crops - herbs. The implication is they are lost in the minutia of the Law and have forgotten lager faith issues. The same reference is made when he says “Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!”
The final part of this section is concerned with “a metaphor illustrating a concern for appearances while inner purity is ignored (see also Mark 7:4)”.[4] There is a strong reference here to the lack of self-control shown by these leaders.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
“But these you should have done, without neglecting the others.
Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!”
Like so many little gems in scripture this one lesson falls into our laps today. It is a reminder that we must not become so focused on one element of our faith that we loose sight of the need for a holistic view.
In 1984, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin published a document on “A Consistent Ethic of Life”. He referred to this ethic as a “Seamless Garment” in reference to Jesus “seamless garment” for which the guards cast lots at his crucifixion. Putting it simplistically, the Cardinal stated that for us to authentically follow the teaching of the Church on the dignity of life, we must support that dignity at all stages of life and under all circumstances.
A short time later at a fairly conservative parish I delivered a homily on pro-life in which I summarized the Cardinal’s teaching. In that homily I said that if one is pro-life and opposed to abortion, one must also be pro-life and reject capitol punishment.
To my great surprise I was almost physically accosted by members of the Respect Life Committee following one of the Masses. They rhetorically asked me if I was trying to destroy their ministry by forcing people to link their objection to abortion with objection to capitol punishment. When I tried to explain, they would have none of it. They had their ideas about the greatest evil in the world and nothing anyone said was going to change their minds.
I use this anecdote to illustrate the point made today in the Gospel. These people were so focused on one narrow aspect of an issue they had overlooked the bigger issue and fundamental tenet of our faith – love one another. They were not willing to expand their respect for life to include those who had committed grave sins against society, and had resorted to straining gnats while swallowing camels.
The Lord calls us to view our faith lives holistically. We apply the fundamental principals to our lives in all circumstances, not just those that are convenient. While we all have special interests within the faith, we must never focus on them to the exclusion of all others. We should never focus on the minutia and ignore the huge issues confronting us.
Pax
Proper for the Memorial of St. Louis IX of France
Proper for the Memorial of St. Joseph Calasanz
Readings for Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time [1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
You yourselves know, brothers and sisters,
that our reception among you was not without effect.
Rather, after we had suffered and been insolently treated,
as you know, in Philippi,
we drew courage through our God
to speak to you the Gospel of God with much struggle.
Our exhortation was not from delusion or impure motives,
nor did it work through deception.
But as we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the Gospel,
that is how we speak,
not as trying to please men,
but rather God, who judges our hearts.
Nor, indeed, did we ever appear with flattering speech, as you know,
or with a pretext for greed–God is witness–
nor did we seek praise from men,
either from you or from others,
although we were able to impose our weight as Apostles of Christ.
Rather, we were gentle among you,
as a nursing mother cares for her children.
With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you
not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well,
so dearly beloved had you become to us.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Thes 2:1-8
In speaking of his previous stay with the Thessalonians, St. Paul emphasizes both the content of the Gospel message and the need to present it gently and with full sincerity. He concludes this selection reminding them of the deep affection with which he holds them.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 139:1-3, 4-6
R. (1) You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know the whole of it.
Behind me and before, you hem me in
and rest your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
too lofty for me to attain.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 139:1-3, 4-6
Psalm 139 is a hymn of meditation upon God’s presence in our lives. The selection carries the awe that one so great could love one so insignificant.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Matthew 23:23-26
Jesus said:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin,
and have neglected the weightier things of the law:
judgment and mercy and fidelity.
But these you should have done, without neglecting the others.
Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You cleanse the outside of cup and dish,
but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup,
so that the outside also may be clean.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 23:23-26
This reading from Matthew continues the dialogue of the “Seven Woes”. In this selection we hear how the Pharisees have extended the law of tithing down to the smallest of crops - herbs. The implication is they are lost in the minutia of the Law and have forgotten lager faith issues. The same reference is made when he says “Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!”
The final part of this section is concerned with “a metaphor illustrating a concern for appearances while inner purity is ignored (see also Mark 7:4)”.[4] There is a strong reference here to the lack of self-control shown by these leaders.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
“But these you should have done, without neglecting the others.
Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!”
Like so many little gems in scripture this one lesson falls into our laps today. It is a reminder that we must not become so focused on one element of our faith that we loose sight of the need for a holistic view.
In 1984, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin published a document on “A Consistent Ethic of Life”. He referred to this ethic as a “Seamless Garment” in reference to Jesus “seamless garment” for which the guards cast lots at his crucifixion. Putting it simplistically, the Cardinal stated that for us to authentically follow the teaching of the Church on the dignity of life, we must support that dignity at all stages of life and under all circumstances.
A short time later at a fairly conservative parish I delivered a homily on pro-life in which I summarized the Cardinal’s teaching. In that homily I said that if one is pro-life and opposed to abortion, one must also be pro-life and reject capitol punishment.
To my great surprise I was almost physically accosted by members of the Respect Life Committee following one of the Masses. They rhetorically asked me if I was trying to destroy their ministry by forcing people to link their objection to abortion with objection to capitol punishment. When I tried to explain, they would have none of it. They had their ideas about the greatest evil in the world and nothing anyone said was going to change their minds.
I use this anecdote to illustrate the point made today in the Gospel. These people were so focused on one narrow aspect of an issue they had overlooked the bigger issue and fundamental tenet of our faith – love one another. They were not willing to expand their respect for life to include those who had committed grave sins against society, and had resorted to straining gnats while swallowing camels.
The Lord calls us to view our faith lives holistically. We apply the fundamental principals to our lives in all circumstances, not just those that are convenient. While we all have special interests within the faith, we must never focus on them to the exclusion of all others. We should never focus on the minutia and ignore the huge issues confronting us.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture is “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees” by James Tissot, 1886-94
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
[4] See NAB footnote on Matthew 23:26
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