Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings for the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time[1]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[2]
Reading 1: Isaiah 35:4-7a
Thus says the LORD:
Say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God,
he comes with vindication;
with divine recompense
he comes to save you.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
the ears of the deaf be cleared;
then will the lame leap like a stag,
then the tongue of the mute will sing.
Streams will burst forth in the desert,
and rivers in the steppe.
The burning sands will become pools,
and the thirsty ground, springs of water.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Is 35:4-7a
This joyous outburst from the Prophet looks forward to the restoration of those exiled (similar in tone to Isaiah 40:3-5). The oracle sees the time of salvation marked by events traditionally associated with the predicted arrival of the Messiah. The passage is quoted or paraphrased in both St. Matthew’s Gospel at Matthew 11:5ff and in St. Mark’s Gospel at Mark 7:37 in both cases seeing in the oracle proof of messianic fulfillment in Jesus.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10
R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
Alleluia.
The God of Jacob keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD gives sight to the blind;
the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just;
the LORD protects strangers.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The fatherless and the widow the LORD sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10
In this hymn of praise we find the historical view of God’s attributes as envisioned by the Hebrew people. The psalmist catalogues the mercy of God’s salvation (sight to the blind, raises those who were bowed down (the oppressed)) using imagery borrowed by the Prophets and much later by Gospel authors as well.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reading II: James 2:1-5
My brothers and sisters, show no partiality
as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.
For if a man with gold rings and fine clothes
comes into your assembly,
and a poor person in shabby clothes also comes in,
and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes
and say, “Sit here, please, ”
while you say to the poor one, “Stand there, ” or “Sit at my feet, ”
have you not made distinctions among yourselves
and become judges with evil designs?
Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters.
Did not God choose those who are poor in the world
to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom
that he promised to those who love him?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jas 2:1-5
In these verses the author warns the Christian community not to discriminate or to show favoritism based upon social status. This kind of behavior, we are told, violates God’s law and is an affront to all the Lord Jesus stands for
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Mark 7:31-37
Again Jesus left the district of Tyre
and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee,
into the district of the Decapolis.
And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment
and begged him to lay his hand on him.
He took him off by himself away from the crowd.
He put his finger into the man’s ears
and, spitting, touched his tongue;
then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him,
“Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!” —
And immediately the man’s ears were opened,
his speech impediment was removed,
and he spoke plainly.
He ordered them not to tell anyone.
But the more he ordered them not to,
the more they proclaimed it.
They were exceedingly astonished and they said,
“He has done all things well.
He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mk 7:31-37
Returning from his encounter with the Syrophoenician woman, the Lord now heals the deaf mute. This action, especially the wording of the final quote; (“He has done all things well, he makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” ) which is a paraphrase from Isaiah 35:5-6, demonstrates the fulfillment of prophecy.
The Lord’s actions are sacramental in nature. That is they accomplish what they signify. As the Lord takes the man aside, he puts his fingers into the man’s mouth and ears. He then sighs or groans looking heavenward, demonstrating his intimate relationship to the father rather than in prayer, and says, “ephphetha!” or “be opened.
This passage has two unusual characteristics. First, the Lord takes the man aside, in private, implying something of the secret of the Messiah. Next, after his cure was affected he tells the man not to tell anyone but not only does the man continue to do so but proclaims it. We are given the feel that the event taking place is special in revelation, a new creation (cf Genesis 1:31).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
In a world that has been transformed by the violence of evil the people of God seek the hope of salvation from a Savior who himself was a victim of the same brutality. How does one cope with the fear brought about by such senseless acts of cruelty? How does one move on with peace and tranquility when all about us are reminders of recent events in which innocent people have fallen prey to acts of aggression by people who do not care for human life; do not wish peace to reign?
It is difficult. Even for those of us whose faith is strong and whose trust in God is unshakable, finding true peace is not easy. Though we trust in the Lord’s salvation, though we are confident in a life of grace in His eternal Kingdom, finding peace in this life is hard. Even as we ponder ways of recapturing the confidence we once had we recall a milestone in our decent to anxiety, the World Trade Center tragedy which has colored all western society with the tarnish of fear and in many cases the worse stain of desired revenge for the loss not just of life, but of innocence as well.
Into this time of fear comes the effect of the Savior who causes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak. He bids that, like the child that was healed at the Lord’s touch, our ears be opened to the peace he offers and our mouths spread the love that is the Lord, not the fear and anger vented by those without hope.
While we cannot and should not revert to our innocent existence before those who cannot stand to see people enjoy tranquility destroyed that era, we can find the peace of Christ and allow that to dominate our hearts. In Christ the hatred that belongs to the world in banished. Along with hatred fear ceases because what is truly important, our spiritual selves, cannot be harmed by those who have been conquered by evil (ironically in the name of their God).
In the week ahead we are sure to be reminded of the fear and death that has been brought into the world. For our parts let us mourn those who were innocent victims of that violence, reach out to those who continue to foster hatred with an invitation to put down their anger and enjoy the Lord’s peace in their lives. For our parts we embrace Jesus who is Lord and listen with the ears he opened and speak with a voice he restored; speak of the peace he only can bring.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] 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.
Readings for the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time[1]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[2]
Reading 1: Isaiah 35:4-7a
Thus says the LORD:
Say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God,
he comes with vindication;
with divine recompense
he comes to save you.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
the ears of the deaf be cleared;
then will the lame leap like a stag,
then the tongue of the mute will sing.
Streams will burst forth in the desert,
and rivers in the steppe.
The burning sands will become pools,
and the thirsty ground, springs of water.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Is 35:4-7a
This joyous outburst from the Prophet looks forward to the restoration of those exiled (similar in tone to Isaiah 40:3-5). The oracle sees the time of salvation marked by events traditionally associated with the predicted arrival of the Messiah. The passage is quoted or paraphrased in both St. Matthew’s Gospel at Matthew 11:5ff and in St. Mark’s Gospel at Mark 7:37 in both cases seeing in the oracle proof of messianic fulfillment in Jesus.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10
R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
Alleluia.
The God of Jacob keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD gives sight to the blind;
the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just;
the LORD protects strangers.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The fatherless and the widow the LORD sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10
In this hymn of praise we find the historical view of God’s attributes as envisioned by the Hebrew people. The psalmist catalogues the mercy of God’s salvation (sight to the blind, raises those who were bowed down (the oppressed)) using imagery borrowed by the Prophets and much later by Gospel authors as well.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reading II: James 2:1-5
My brothers and sisters, show no partiality
as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.
For if a man with gold rings and fine clothes
comes into your assembly,
and a poor person in shabby clothes also comes in,
and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes
and say, “Sit here, please, ”
while you say to the poor one, “Stand there, ” or “Sit at my feet, ”
have you not made distinctions among yourselves
and become judges with evil designs?
Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters.
Did not God choose those who are poor in the world
to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom
that he promised to those who love him?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jas 2:1-5
In these verses the author warns the Christian community not to discriminate or to show favoritism based upon social status. This kind of behavior, we are told, violates God’s law and is an affront to all the Lord Jesus stands for
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Mark 7:31-37
Again Jesus left the district of Tyre
and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee,
into the district of the Decapolis.
And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment
and begged him to lay his hand on him.
He took him off by himself away from the crowd.
He put his finger into the man’s ears
and, spitting, touched his tongue;
then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him,
“Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!” —
And immediately the man’s ears were opened,
his speech impediment was removed,
and he spoke plainly.
He ordered them not to tell anyone.
But the more he ordered them not to,
the more they proclaimed it.
They were exceedingly astonished and they said,
“He has done all things well.
He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mk 7:31-37
Returning from his encounter with the Syrophoenician woman, the Lord now heals the deaf mute. This action, especially the wording of the final quote; (“He has done all things well, he makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” ) which is a paraphrase from Isaiah 35:5-6, demonstrates the fulfillment of prophecy.
The Lord’s actions are sacramental in nature. That is they accomplish what they signify. As the Lord takes the man aside, he puts his fingers into the man’s mouth and ears. He then sighs or groans looking heavenward, demonstrating his intimate relationship to the father rather than in prayer, and says, “ephphetha!” or “be opened.
This passage has two unusual characteristics. First, the Lord takes the man aside, in private, implying something of the secret of the Messiah. Next, after his cure was affected he tells the man not to tell anyone but not only does the man continue to do so but proclaims it. We are given the feel that the event taking place is special in revelation, a new creation (cf Genesis 1:31).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
In a world that has been transformed by the violence of evil the people of God seek the hope of salvation from a Savior who himself was a victim of the same brutality. How does one cope with the fear brought about by such senseless acts of cruelty? How does one move on with peace and tranquility when all about us are reminders of recent events in which innocent people have fallen prey to acts of aggression by people who do not care for human life; do not wish peace to reign?
It is difficult. Even for those of us whose faith is strong and whose trust in God is unshakable, finding true peace is not easy. Though we trust in the Lord’s salvation, though we are confident in a life of grace in His eternal Kingdom, finding peace in this life is hard. Even as we ponder ways of recapturing the confidence we once had we recall a milestone in our decent to anxiety, the World Trade Center tragedy which has colored all western society with the tarnish of fear and in many cases the worse stain of desired revenge for the loss not just of life, but of innocence as well.
Into this time of fear comes the effect of the Savior who causes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak. He bids that, like the child that was healed at the Lord’s touch, our ears be opened to the peace he offers and our mouths spread the love that is the Lord, not the fear and anger vented by those without hope.
While we cannot and should not revert to our innocent existence before those who cannot stand to see people enjoy tranquility destroyed that era, we can find the peace of Christ and allow that to dominate our hearts. In Christ the hatred that belongs to the world in banished. Along with hatred fear ceases because what is truly important, our spiritual selves, cannot be harmed by those who have been conquered by evil (ironically in the name of their God).
In the week ahead we are sure to be reminded of the fear and death that has been brought into the world. For our parts let us mourn those who were innocent victims of that violence, reach out to those who continue to foster hatred with an invitation to put down their anger and enjoy the Lord’s peace in their lives. For our parts we embrace Jesus who is Lord and listen with the ears he opened and speak with a voice he restored; speak of the peace he only can bring.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] 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.
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