Thursday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Saint Teresa of Avila, Virgin, Doctor
Alternate Proper for St. Teresa of (Avila) Jesus
Readings for Thursday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Romans 3:21-30
Brothers and sisters:
Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law,
though testified to by the law and the prophets,
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ
for all who believe.
For there is no distinction;
all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.
They are justified freely by his grace
through the redemption in Christ Jesus,
whom God set forth as an expiation,
through faith, by his Blood, to prove his righteousness
because of the forgiveness of sins previously committed,
through the forbearance of God–
to prove his righteousness in the present time,
that he might be righteous
and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
What occasion is there then for boasting? It is ruled out.
On what principle, that of works?
No, rather on the principle of faith.
For we consider that a person is justified by faith
apart from works of the law.
Does God belong to Jews alone?
Does he not belong to Gentiles, too?
Yes, also to Gentiles, for God is one
and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith
and the uncircumcised through faith.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Rom 3:21-30
St. Paul begins this section with a statement that indicates Jesus as the “new covenant”. As Moses lay his covenant embodied in the Law at the feet of the people, now Jesus comes to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (“Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, though testified to by the law and the prophets”).
Saint Teresa of Avila, Virgin, Doctor
Alternate Proper for St. Teresa of (Avila) Jesus
Readings for Thursday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Romans 3:21-30
Brothers and sisters:
Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law,
though testified to by the law and the prophets,
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ
for all who believe.
For there is no distinction;
all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.
They are justified freely by his grace
through the redemption in Christ Jesus,
whom God set forth as an expiation,
through faith, by his Blood, to prove his righteousness
because of the forgiveness of sins previously committed,
through the forbearance of God–
to prove his righteousness in the present time,
that he might be righteous
and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
What occasion is there then for boasting? It is ruled out.
On what principle, that of works?
No, rather on the principle of faith.
For we consider that a person is justified by faith
apart from works of the law.
Does God belong to Jews alone?
Does he not belong to Gentiles, too?
Yes, also to Gentiles, for God is one
and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith
and the uncircumcised through faith.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Rom 3:21-30
St. Paul begins this section with a statement that indicates Jesus as the “new covenant”. As Moses lay his covenant embodied in the Law at the feet of the people, now Jesus comes to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (“Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, though testified to by the law and the prophets”).
The passage continues with a statement that appears to be at odds with St. James letter as St. Paul seems to indicate that we are justified (that is made just, without sin) by faith alone (See also James 2:14-24, 26 and the commentary on that reading from Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time). These two statements are reconciled in v.28 as St. Paul points out that his reference is to popular piety (“…we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law” (emphasis added)) as proposed by Pharisaic traditions that have not bearing on the love of God and others which constitutes actions of faith
The passage concludes with a statement of universality. The Lord is God of all peoples and the Jews (who are now seeing the Law and Prophets fulfilled in Jesus) are justified based upon their claim as the chosen people while the Gentiles are justified by their faith in Jesus the Christ.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 130:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6ab
R. (7) With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
Lord, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the LORD
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 130:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6ab
Psalm 130 is an individual lament. The singer acknowledges sins and expresses faith in God’s mercy and forgiveness (“But with you is forgiveness”) and in that mercy, his people praise God. The selection concludes with the ultimate expression of trust in God whose salvation is to come.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Luke 11:47-54
The Lord said:
“Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets
whom your fathers killed.
Consequently, you bear witness and give consent
to the deeds of your ancestors,
for they killed them and you do the building.
Therefore, the wisdom of God said,
‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles;
some of them they will kill and persecute’
in order that this generation might be charged
with the blood of all the prophets
shed since the foundation of the world,
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah
who died between the altar and the temple building.
Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood!
Woe to you, scholars of the law!
You have taken away the key of knowledge.
You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.”
When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees
began to act with hostility toward him
and to interrogate him about many things,
for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Lk 11:47-54
Jesus continues his attack on the Pharisees. In this passage he begins by criticizing them for giving them respect (“…build the memorials”) only after they have been killed. Recounted explicitly are the death of Abel (see Genesis 4:8) and Zachariah (2 Chronicles 24:20-22). This emphasis provides a rationale for the Lord’s own later persecution.
The final “Woe” – “You have taken away the key of knowledge.” is a reference to the Pharisees rejection of Christ (who is the key of divine revelation). In rejecting Jesus they exhort the people who look up to them as teachers to also reject Christ (“…stopped those trying to enter.”).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
We look today at the warning Jesus gives the Pharisees. There are two parts of his criticism offered up. First he blasts them for seeing God’s attempt to lead them through the prophets only after the prophets had already been mistreated and killed. We can see this as prophetic at the time it was spoken. Jesus was later treated the same way, rejected by those most responsible for providing a vision of God’s will for the people and killed by the civil leadership.
Was he saying this in an attempt to help them see what their forefathers had not? Was he really saying; “Stop what you are doing to me. Don’t you see it is the same trap your ancestors fell into?” In the back of his mind he must surly have hoped they would not be like those forbearers; although he could see history repeating itself disastrously.
(In a sense, these Pharisees remind us of the story about the man trapped in his house by a flood. The sheriff came by and told him to leave but he said, “No, I trust God, He will save me.” Later, as the water continued to rise, a man in a boat came by and offered to take him out but he declined saying; “No, I trust in God he will save me.” Finally a helicopter came to him as he sat upon the roof of his house and offered to take him off. Once again he responded; “No, I trust in God he will save me.” The water continued to rise and the man was drowned. When he reached St. Peter he complained that he had trusted in God but he had still drowned. St. Peter consulted his book and said; “I don’t understand, God sent the sheriff, a boat and a helicopter. Didn’t they reach you?”)
He continued with his second point. He attacks their attitudes most severally because they have positions of responsibility and trust. What they say to the people matters. When they missed something so fundamentally important to their own salvation, they also hid the door so others who were seeking God’s Kingdom could not find it. Once more we speculate on the Lord’s thoughts behind the words. “Can’t you see?” he must have thought, “You condemn yourselves further because you are held to a higher standard.”
There is a great lesson for us highlighted by the Lord’s critical words to the Pharisees. We focus our worship and adoration upon Jesus who died and was raised. In him, the revelation of God was complete. But God’s plan continues. The Lord sends his faithful to accomplish his will in the world and we cannot close our eyes and reject out of hand messages that are not popular with our own world view. It is critical we do not fall into the closed-minded trap that so bound the Pharisees. As an apostolic community, we must prayerfully listen for the messages God send. We must be hyper-vigilant, seeking God’s fingerprints in our lives.
This is so critical to us, in part, because we are witnesses in the world. What we say is important to our friends and families. We do not want to compound our lack of vision by blinding others to Gods actions.
The Lord makes it tough on us today. We are called to be open to God’s actions but discerning as well – we must be prepared to accept God’s will, but be sure it is His will and not someone else’s we follow. Our prayer today, therefore, must be one of discernment. May God give us the wisdom to see the things that come from him and the strength to reject those things that come from the Evil One.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture is “Christ Wearing the Crown of Thorns, Supported by Angels” by Annibale Carracci, 1585-87
[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.
The passage concludes with a statement of universality. The Lord is God of all peoples and the Jews (who are now seeing the Law and Prophets fulfilled in Jesus) are justified based upon their claim as the chosen people while the Gentiles are justified by their faith in Jesus the Christ.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 130:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6ab
R. (7) With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
Lord, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the LORD
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 130:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6ab
Psalm 130 is an individual lament. The singer acknowledges sins and expresses faith in God’s mercy and forgiveness (“But with you is forgiveness”) and in that mercy, his people praise God. The selection concludes with the ultimate expression of trust in God whose salvation is to come.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Luke 11:47-54
The Lord said:
“Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets
whom your fathers killed.
Consequently, you bear witness and give consent
to the deeds of your ancestors,
for they killed them and you do the building.
Therefore, the wisdom of God said,
‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles;
some of them they will kill and persecute’
in order that this generation might be charged
with the blood of all the prophets
shed since the foundation of the world,
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah
who died between the altar and the temple building.
Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood!
Woe to you, scholars of the law!
You have taken away the key of knowledge.
You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.”
When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees
began to act with hostility toward him
and to interrogate him about many things,
for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Lk 11:47-54
Jesus continues his attack on the Pharisees. In this passage he begins by criticizing them for giving them respect (“…build the memorials”) only after they have been killed. Recounted explicitly are the death of Abel (see Genesis 4:8) and Zachariah (2 Chronicles 24:20-22). This emphasis provides a rationale for the Lord’s own later persecution.
The final “Woe” – “You have taken away the key of knowledge.” is a reference to the Pharisees rejection of Christ (who is the key of divine revelation). In rejecting Jesus they exhort the people who look up to them as teachers to also reject Christ (“…stopped those trying to enter.”).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
We look today at the warning Jesus gives the Pharisees. There are two parts of his criticism offered up. First he blasts them for seeing God’s attempt to lead them through the prophets only after the prophets had already been mistreated and killed. We can see this as prophetic at the time it was spoken. Jesus was later treated the same way, rejected by those most responsible for providing a vision of God’s will for the people and killed by the civil leadership.
Was he saying this in an attempt to help them see what their forefathers had not? Was he really saying; “Stop what you are doing to me. Don’t you see it is the same trap your ancestors fell into?” In the back of his mind he must surly have hoped they would not be like those forbearers; although he could see history repeating itself disastrously.
(In a sense, these Pharisees remind us of the story about the man trapped in his house by a flood. The sheriff came by and told him to leave but he said, “No, I trust God, He will save me.” Later, as the water continued to rise, a man in a boat came by and offered to take him out but he declined saying; “No, I trust in God he will save me.” Finally a helicopter came to him as he sat upon the roof of his house and offered to take him off. Once again he responded; “No, I trust in God he will save me.” The water continued to rise and the man was drowned. When he reached St. Peter he complained that he had trusted in God but he had still drowned. St. Peter consulted his book and said; “I don’t understand, God sent the sheriff, a boat and a helicopter. Didn’t they reach you?”)
He continued with his second point. He attacks their attitudes most severally because they have positions of responsibility and trust. What they say to the people matters. When they missed something so fundamentally important to their own salvation, they also hid the door so others who were seeking God’s Kingdom could not find it. Once more we speculate on the Lord’s thoughts behind the words. “Can’t you see?” he must have thought, “You condemn yourselves further because you are held to a higher standard.”
There is a great lesson for us highlighted by the Lord’s critical words to the Pharisees. We focus our worship and adoration upon Jesus who died and was raised. In him, the revelation of God was complete. But God’s plan continues. The Lord sends his faithful to accomplish his will in the world and we cannot close our eyes and reject out of hand messages that are not popular with our own world view. It is critical we do not fall into the closed-minded trap that so bound the Pharisees. As an apostolic community, we must prayerfully listen for the messages God send. We must be hyper-vigilant, seeking God’s fingerprints in our lives.
This is so critical to us, in part, because we are witnesses in the world. What we say is important to our friends and families. We do not want to compound our lack of vision by blinding others to Gods actions.
The Lord makes it tough on us today. We are called to be open to God’s actions but discerning as well – we must be prepared to accept God’s will, but be sure it is His will and not someone else’s we follow. Our prayer today, therefore, must be one of discernment. May God give us the wisdom to see the things that come from him and the strength to reject those things that come from the Evil One.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture is “Christ Wearing the Crown of Thorns, Supported by Angels” by Annibale Carracci, 1585-87
[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.
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