(Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
On Saturdays in Ordinary Time when there is no obligatory memorial, an optional memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary is allowed.[1] Mass texts may be taken from the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, from a Votive Mass, or from the special collection of Masses for the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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| “Qoheleth” Artist and Date are UNKNOWN |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Ecclesiastes 11:9—12:8
Commentary on Eccl 11:9—12:8
Qoheleth reflects upon the passage of life, and enjoins the young to enjoy their youth but follow God’s law, because, in the end, they will be held accountable. He goes into an account of the loss of pleasure as death approaches, and once more announces that all human efforts are vanity in the face of God’s plan and power.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17
R. (1) In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Commentary on Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17
The psalm in its entirety is a communal lament. The strophes in this selection reflect on the mortality of humanity, and the brevity of human life. (It is also an example of the human understanding that God’s immortal view of time is not like ours.) The sense of human mortality and the questioning nature of the strophes echo the thoughts of Qoheleth (Solomon) in Ecclesiastes 1:2-11.
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Gospel: Luke 9:43b-45
Commentary on Lk 9:43b-45
Jesus begins this second announcement of his coming passion using language that would have evoked a sense of the holy as his words (literally: “lay these words within your ears”) would be reminiscent of Exodus 17:14b. “…meaning; Think seriously about what you have seen and heard, for my life is moving determinately to a violent death. handed over: From Isaiah 53: 12 (LXX) the fourth song of the suffering servant.”[5] The fact that the disciples “…should not understand it” was not seen as a defect of belief on their part, but rather as necessary (not yet time) in the plan of revelation.
CCC: Lk 9:45 554
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Reflection:
We struggle sometimes with the question: “How much of what happens in our lives is planned, preordained, and how much is cause and effect?” It is clear, reading the words of Qoheleth in Ecclesiastes, that he believes much of what transpires is destined – that any struggle against the inevitable is futile (vanity). While Qoheleth speaks from the perspective of God’s “unknowable” plan, Jesus, in St. Luke’s Gospel, sees the path ahead of himself clearly. Like the chess master, the Lord sees the “end game” laid out before him.
For us, what is important about Jesus’ foreknowledge is that it is one more proof of his divinity. Remember, this is not the first time he has disclosed these future events. He does it, this time, making clear reference to historical predictions, as he uses language that must feel to his audience as if the great Prophet Isaiah was speaking to them. But, according to St. Luke, this reference did not make things clear, rather the opposite. Perhaps it was because they were afraid. Or, perhaps it was because they did not want to understand that the Lord was not speaking figuratively. Possibly they thought he was speaking like Daniel, in visionary terms, highly symbolic, not literally. Whatever the case or purpose, they did not grasp what was to come.
We also struggle with what the Lord tries to tell us. We pray, we read the Word of God, we meditate upon what has happened in our lives, and try to create a pleasing path forward with our own attempts to follow Jesus’ example. Yet we do not know what God has planned for us, or how that plan might be made known.
What is clear to us is that God made us in his image and likeness. In doing so he gave us free will to make decisions, to choose our path, for good or ill. While, in his omnipotence, the Lord knows our choices in advance, he does not choose for us, nor does he force a path upon us. He accepts our choices as part of his creation. It is much like parents who know their children well. They know in advance what choices their children will make, and allow them to make those choices, to learn from them. The Lord loves us unconditionally, and always gives us a way back to him when we choose incorrectly.
Today we take exception to Qoheleth. Our lives are not in vain, and we know our life on earth is indeed finite, and we will return to God: “And the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the life breath returns to God who gave it.” What we do with that life can be rich and beautiful as God intended, and we can choose a path of peace, thanks to His Only Begotten Son – Jesus.
Pax
[1] General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar Miscellaneous Notes no. 5
[2] The picture is “Qoheleth” Artist and Date are UNKNOWN
[5] See Jerome Biblical Commentary, Prentice Hall, Inc., © 1968, 44:92.
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