Friday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

“Christ Praying in the Garden” 
(detail) 
by Marco Basaiti, C. 1510

Readings for Friday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time [1][2]

 

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

 

Commentary:

 

Reading 1: Haggai 1:15b-2:9

 

Commentary on Haggai 1:15b-2:9

 

The Prophet Haggai continues his prophecy regarding the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem with two additional statements.  First, the second building of the Temple should be even grander than that built originally by Solomon.  And second, that God is with them in this great work and will find the means to support it financially.

 

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 43:1, 2, 3, 4

 

R. (5) Hope in God; I will praise him, my savior and my God.

 

Commentary on Ps 43:1, 2, 3, 4

 

Psalm 43 is an individual lament.  We hear a tone in these strophes that supports the situation in which the Jews tasked with rebuilding the temple found themselves (Haggi 2:1-9) – facing resistance to the great work they were to complete.  The hope of God’s support is expressed in the final strophe.

 

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Gospel: Luke 9:18-22

 

Commentary on Lk 9:18-22

 

As is frequently the case in St. Luke’s Gospel, we find the Lord at prayer. When asked by the Lord about the attitude of the people, the disciples answer much like the councilors of Herod did in Luke 9:7-9 with identities of John the Baptist and Elijah. St. Peter answers for the group when asked about Jesus’ identity pronouncing him the Messiah. (see also commentary on Matthew 16:13-20)

 

CCC: Lk 9:18-20 2600

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Reflection:

 

There is a favorite question asked by teachers of Christology: “At what point in his life did Jesus know he was the Son of God?”  The answer to this question is, of course, not known.  Theological and scripture scholars can site dozens of examples to support positions that say he knew who he was from his earliest moments to those who say he was not fully aware until his crucifixion.

 

We pose this question today because of Jesus’ question to his disciples in the Gospel “Who do the crowds say that I am?”  We wonder if the Lord was curious or whether he wanted to see what the disciples would say.  Perhaps he was asking God in prayer who he was (“Father, I heard the voice at my baptism – you said "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." (Luke 3:22) Am I truly your son?”)  As true man, even Jesus must have had doubts at times.  We see them in the Garden when he also prayed "Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done." (Luke 22:42)

 

While it is good for us to consider questions like this because it helps us get a more complete image of the Lord, it is only good so far as it helps us understand who the Lord is in our own lives.  Ultimately we stand in the place of the disciples.  We are there with St. Peter and the others.  We see the Lord break from his commune with the Father, look at us and ask “Who do you say that I am?”  And when we answer as we are expected to – Jesus, Lord, you are the Only Begotten Son of the Living God.  He looks into our hearts to see what that means to us.  He sees if our lives are patterned on that belief or if we are just saying what we have been taught to say.

 

Today we pray that the question “Who do you say that I am?” is answered with our actions and words that others may see what we believe.  We pray that the Lord walks and talks through us so that others will see and believe as well.

 

Pax

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[1] S.S Commemoratio

[2] The picture is “Christ Praying in the Garden” (detail) by Marco Basaiti, C. 1510