Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Saint Patrick, Bishop, Missionary
Alternate Proper for the Memorial of St. Patrick
Readings for Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading I: Isaiah 49:8-15
Thus says the LORD:
In a time of favor I answer you,
on the day of salvation I help you;
and I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people,
To restore the land
and allot the desolate heritages,
Saying to the prisoners: Come out!
To those in darkness: Show yourselves!
Along the ways they shall find pasture,
on every bare height shall their pastures be.
They shall not hunger or thirst,
nor shall the scorching wind or the sun strike them;
For he who pities them leads them
and guides them beside springs of water.
I will cut a road through all my mountains,
and make my highways level.
See, some shall come from afar,
others from the north and the west,
and some from the land of Syene.
Sing out, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth,
break forth into song, you mountains.
For the LORD comforts his people
and shows mercy to his afflicted.
But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me;
my Lord has forgotten me.”
Can a mother forget her infant,
be without tenderness for the child of her womb?
Even should she forget,
I will never forget you.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Is 49:8-15
This reading from Isaiah is a part of the second “Servant of the Lord” oracles. In this segment, the servant promises salvation to the captives and light to those in darkness. He has led the people by pleasant and safe paths and has shown mercy.
The response from Zion is “the Lord has forsaken them.” To which we hear the tender response; “Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.” God’s fidelity and faithfulness is assured.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 145:8-9, 13cd-14, 17-18
R. (8a) The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is faithful in all his words
and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 145:8-9, 13cd-14, 17-18
This song of praise supports the Lord’s mercy and faithfulness proclaimed in the passage from Isaiah above. His mighty works are proof of God’s omnipotence.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 5:17-30
Jesus answered the Jews:
“My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.”
For this reason they tried all the more to kill him,
because he not only broke the sabbath
but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God.
Jesus answered and said to them,
“Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own,
but only what he sees the Father doing;
for what he does, the Son will do also.
For the Father loves the Son
and shows him everything that he himself does,
and he will show him greater works than these,
so that you may be amazed.
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life,
so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes.
Nor does the Father judge anyone,
but he has given all judgment to the Son,
so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.
Whoever does not honor the Son
does not honor the Father who sent him.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word
and believes in the one who sent me
has eternal life and will not come to condemnation,
but has passed from death to life.
Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here
when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God,
and those who hear will live.
For just as the Father has life in himself,
so also he gave to the Son the possession of life in himself.
And he gave him power to exercise judgment,
because he is the Son of Man.
Do not be amazed at this,
because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs
will hear his voice and will come out,
those who have done good deeds
to the resurrection of life,
but those who have done wicked deeds
to the resurrection of condemnation.
“I cannot do anything on my own;
I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just,
because I do not seek my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn 5:17-30
In the Gospel from John, Jesus has already angered the Jews by violating the Sabbath (this passage follows directly the story about the cure of the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda). Now he really upsets them by apparently blaspheming – saying God is his own Father. Almost as if to cement his fate, he makes sure we understand that he did not make that statement casually. Rather he paints a complete analogy of biological father and son. Jesus goes on to state that the authority to judge the actions and lives of others has also been given to him. The inheritance is complete.
The passage concludes with the promise of salvation to those who hear and understand. That salvation is eternal life. Failure to hear and believe will likewise result in resurrection, but to condemnation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
We reflect once more on the differences between the good and moral person and the Christian. In the Gospel today, Jesus states his identity in clear language, the Son of God. He also states that at the final judgment, the Father has given him authority to judge the living and the dead. An important part of the Lord’s confession is the very last part of this selection. “…I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.”
In the final analysis, the principle difference between the Christian and the good and moral person is this final statement, which as Christians we adopt and are bound to. The good person, let us take Gandhi for instance, was concerned for others and exhorted others to non-violent protest against economic and social injustice. As Christians we applaud his efforts and methods. However, what differentiates him from say Mother Theresa, who preached the same thing and to the same ethnic population, is what motivated them to take the action they did.
Gandhi did what he did out of his moral values for principally political reasons and out of nationalistic pride. He wanted self governance for the people of India and economic freedom for the people. In other words his motives were out of personal compassion for the greater glory of India.
Mother Theresa, on the other hand, did what she did for justice for the poor, the sick, and the down-trodden for the individual dignity of the human person and the greater glory of God the Father. This latter motivation is the one Jesus drives home in the Gospel message. The soon to be sainted Mother Theresa did not sacrifice her energy and comfort for some political ideal (although many reforms in India were stimulated by her work) but rather for the greater glory of the merciful God she served.
This is a lesson we must constantly take to heart. When we apply our effort for some end, whether it is at work, at home, or at school, whose purpose do we seek? Is it our own comfort, or wealth, or pride that is served? Or, is it God’s glory we seek? It can be a complex question, but one we should answer. During this Lenten season, let us pledge to ask the question frequently and when we are successful, let us give thanks to God through his Son, Jesus who makes all things possible.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture is “Resurrection of Christ” by Gerard Seghers, c. 1620
[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.
Saint Patrick, Bishop, Missionary
Alternate Proper for the Memorial of St. Patrick
Readings for Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading I: Isaiah 49:8-15
Thus says the LORD:
In a time of favor I answer you,
on the day of salvation I help you;
and I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people,
To restore the land
and allot the desolate heritages,
Saying to the prisoners: Come out!
To those in darkness: Show yourselves!
Along the ways they shall find pasture,
on every bare height shall their pastures be.
They shall not hunger or thirst,
nor shall the scorching wind or the sun strike them;
For he who pities them leads them
and guides them beside springs of water.
I will cut a road through all my mountains,
and make my highways level.
See, some shall come from afar,
others from the north and the west,
and some from the land of Syene.
Sing out, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth,
break forth into song, you mountains.
For the LORD comforts his people
and shows mercy to his afflicted.
But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me;
my Lord has forgotten me.”
Can a mother forget her infant,
be without tenderness for the child of her womb?
Even should she forget,
I will never forget you.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Is 49:8-15
This reading from Isaiah is a part of the second “Servant of the Lord” oracles. In this segment, the servant promises salvation to the captives and light to those in darkness. He has led the people by pleasant and safe paths and has shown mercy.
The response from Zion is “the Lord has forsaken them.” To which we hear the tender response; “Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.” God’s fidelity and faithfulness is assured.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 145:8-9, 13cd-14, 17-18
R. (8a) The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is faithful in all his words
and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 145:8-9, 13cd-14, 17-18
This song of praise supports the Lord’s mercy and faithfulness proclaimed in the passage from Isaiah above. His mighty works are proof of God’s omnipotence.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 5:17-30
Jesus answered the Jews:
“My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.”
For this reason they tried all the more to kill him,
because he not only broke the sabbath
but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God.
Jesus answered and said to them,
“Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own,
but only what he sees the Father doing;
for what he does, the Son will do also.
For the Father loves the Son
and shows him everything that he himself does,
and he will show him greater works than these,
so that you may be amazed.
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life,
so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes.
Nor does the Father judge anyone,
but he has given all judgment to the Son,
so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.
Whoever does not honor the Son
does not honor the Father who sent him.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word
and believes in the one who sent me
has eternal life and will not come to condemnation,
but has passed from death to life.
Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here
when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God,
and those who hear will live.
For just as the Father has life in himself,
so also he gave to the Son the possession of life in himself.
And he gave him power to exercise judgment,
because he is the Son of Man.
Do not be amazed at this,
because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs
will hear his voice and will come out,
those who have done good deeds
to the resurrection of life,
but those who have done wicked deeds
to the resurrection of condemnation.
“I cannot do anything on my own;
I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just,
because I do not seek my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn 5:17-30
In the Gospel from John, Jesus has already angered the Jews by violating the Sabbath (this passage follows directly the story about the cure of the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda). Now he really upsets them by apparently blaspheming – saying God is his own Father. Almost as if to cement his fate, he makes sure we understand that he did not make that statement casually. Rather he paints a complete analogy of biological father and son. Jesus goes on to state that the authority to judge the actions and lives of others has also been given to him. The inheritance is complete.
The passage concludes with the promise of salvation to those who hear and understand. That salvation is eternal life. Failure to hear and believe will likewise result in resurrection, but to condemnation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
We reflect once more on the differences between the good and moral person and the Christian. In the Gospel today, Jesus states his identity in clear language, the Son of God. He also states that at the final judgment, the Father has given him authority to judge the living and the dead. An important part of the Lord’s confession is the very last part of this selection. “…I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.”
In the final analysis, the principle difference between the Christian and the good and moral person is this final statement, which as Christians we adopt and are bound to. The good person, let us take Gandhi for instance, was concerned for others and exhorted others to non-violent protest against economic and social injustice. As Christians we applaud his efforts and methods. However, what differentiates him from say Mother Theresa, who preached the same thing and to the same ethnic population, is what motivated them to take the action they did.
Gandhi did what he did out of his moral values for principally political reasons and out of nationalistic pride. He wanted self governance for the people of India and economic freedom for the people. In other words his motives were out of personal compassion for the greater glory of India.
Mother Theresa, on the other hand, did what she did for justice for the poor, the sick, and the down-trodden for the individual dignity of the human person and the greater glory of God the Father. This latter motivation is the one Jesus drives home in the Gospel message. The soon to be sainted Mother Theresa did not sacrifice her energy and comfort for some political ideal (although many reforms in India were stimulated by her work) but rather for the greater glory of the merciful God she served.
This is a lesson we must constantly take to heart. When we apply our effort for some end, whether it is at work, at home, or at school, whose purpose do we seek? Is it our own comfort, or wealth, or pride that is served? Or, is it God’s glory we seek? It can be a complex question, but one we should answer. During this Lenten season, let us pledge to ask the question frequently and when we are successful, let us give thanks to God through his Son, Jesus who makes all things possible.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture is “Resurrection of Christ” by Gerard Seghers, c. 1620
[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.
No comments:
Post a Comment