Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

“No. 26 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 
10. Entry into Jerusalem” 
by Bondone di Giotto, 1304-06

 

Readings for Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]

 

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

 

Commentary:

 

Reading 1: Romans 8:31b-39

 

Commentary on Rom 8:31b-39

 

St. Paul bursts into a hymn proclaiming the victory over death and suffering experienced by the faithful, lifted up by God in Christ. The premise that the love of God assures salvation to the faithful is strengthened as the evangelist asks the rhetorical question “What will separate us from the love of Christ?” Over all obstacles (human, physical, and metaphysical – “height and depth” probably referred to ancient astrological terms indicating the closest proximity and the most distant star from the zenith.) were the love of God expressed in Christ is the unshakable foundation Christian life and hope.

 

The Apostle quotes Psalm 44:23 as his song denies that even death is a barrier between the faithful and God’s love. No earthly or spiritual force can stand against such love as that shown in Christ Jesus.

 

CCC: Rom 8:26-39 2739; Rom 8:31 2852; Rom 8:32 603, 706, 2572; Rom 8:34 1373, 2634

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 109:21-22, 26-27, 30-31

 

R. (26b) Save me, O Lord, in your mercy.

 

Commentary on Ps 109:21-22, 26-27, 30-31

 

Psalm 109 is an individual lament.  The strophes presented ask for the Lord’s mercy (the earlier part of this psalm speaks out vehemently against the enemies of the faithful with a series of curses).  The singer has faith that God will lead him to salvation and offers praise to God for his justice.

 

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Gospel: Luke 13:31-35

 

Commentary on Lk 13:31-35

 

In this passage from St. Luke’s Gospel we hear Jesus responding to Pharisees who are warning of a plot by Herod. Their motives are not made clear but we see Jesus using the opportunity to reinforce his role as fulfilling the Law and the Prophets- declaring in essence that he is the Messiah. There is a subtle message carried in St. Luke’s use of the number three and one half as well. This number (half of the perfect number “7”) symbolizes a time of dark persecution that will end with God’s glorification (see Daniel 7:25, 8:14, 12:12, and Luke 4:25).

 

The poem at the end, ending in a quote from Psalm 118:26, is found in St. Matthew’s Gospel linked with the Lord’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 23: 37-39). Placed here (and actually paraphrased again after Palm Sunday) it takes on a prophetic tone, an image of the passion to come.

 

CCC: Lk 13:31 575; Lk 13:33 557; Lk 13:35 585

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Homily:

 

“If God is for us, who can be against us?”  These words from St. Paul might cause the naïve person to think that simply by adopting faith in Jesus that everyone will love you; all opposition to your pursuits would be scattered because the Lord God has adopted us as his children.  It is a good thing then that we are also given St. Luke’s Gospel in which Jesus tells those who are trying to warn him about a plot on the part of the Herodians that he recognizes that he must be killed as part of his mission.

 

What is St. Paul saying then?  Clearly God is for us.  He sent his Son so that we might see his face clearly – in human form.  He offered his beloved Son as sacrifice for us so that we could be freed from sin and death.  Yet many stand against us, many hate us for what we believe and practice.  This will become increasingly evident as it does each time around the holiday season when those who deny God want no part of images that remind them that we lift him up in celebration.

 

St. Paul is not being naïve; rather he looks to that part of our being that is indestructible, our souls.  God provides an impenetrable armor around that essence of our being, protecting it from any harm, for it is precious to him.  Who indeed can stand against us when we are so protected?

 

Today we rejoice in the sure and constant hope that since we join ourselves to Jesus at the spiritual level, we will be with him always in the New Jerusalem, our heavenly home.  May our faith remain firm and our armor strong this day as we continue to work for his greater glory.

 

Pax

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[1] S.S. Commemoratio

[2] The picture is “No. 26 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 10. Entry into Jerusalem” by Bondone di Giotto, 1304-06