(Optional Memorial for Saint John Paul II, Pope)
(Optional Memorial for the Blessed Virgin Mary)
Optional readings for the Memorial of St. John Paul II may be taken from the Common of Pastors.
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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| “The Redeemer” by Master of the Osservanza, c. 1450 |
Commentary:[4]
Reading 1: Ephesians 4:7-16
Commentary on Eph 4:7-16
St. Paul continues his plea for unity in this passage. He defines unity as more than just sharing a belief in Christ through his analogy and example. Unity is exemplified by the gifts (and grace) given by Christ. The apostle uses a quote from an older form of Psalm 68:18-19. (The psalm itself depicts Yahweh leading Israel to salvation, while St. Paul sees in this image Jesus’ entry to the New Jerusalem.) The Apostle uses this quote to describe how Jesus (metaphorically capturing the spirits of the faithful) brought gifts to each person. The reference, “…he also descended,” likely refers to Christ’s incarnation rather than to his descent following his crucifixion.
St. Paul continues his discourse, enumerating the leadership gifts given to “building up the Body of Christ,” bringing the fledgling Church to maturity. In maturity, the apostle tells the Ephesians, they will resist those who teach falsely and become more unified in the love they share.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5
R. (1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Commentary on Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5
Psalm 122 is a song of thanksgiving centered upon returning to the Temple in Jerusalem. (Mosaic Law required such a trip three times in an individual's life.) The song rejoices in the visit to the holy place, the seat of King David. The original singers would have been rejoicing at returning to the one temple. For Christians, the new Jerusalem is the one and only house of God in his heavenly kingdom. There the Lord sits in judgment.
(#478) In these strophes the image of “going up to Jerusalem” echoes the Lord’s return in St. Paul’s quote of Psalm 68:18-19 in Ephesians 4:8.
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Gospel: Luke 13:1-9
Commentary on Lk 13:1-9
In the story from St. Luke, there is once more a reminder that urgency is required in seeking repentance. The story begins with an explanation by the Lord that victims of Roman punishment ("...whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices"), and victims of an accident ("...those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them"), were not singled out by God for punishment. These statements are followed by the parable of the barren fig tree as a way of saying that God, at some point, will become impatient, and will call sinners to account for their actions.
The incidents recorded at the beginning of this reading (likely the accidental death of those on whom the tower fell) are found only in St. Luke’s Gospel. Based upon historical works of the time, the actions of Pilate were in keeping with his character. Jesus uses the event to call his audience to repentance.
“Following on the call to repentance, the parable of the barren fig tree presents a story about the continuing patience of God with those who have not yet given evidence of their repentance (see Luke 3:8). The parable may also be alluding to the delay of the end time, when punishment will be meted out, and the importance of preparing for the end of the age because the delay will not be permanent”[5]
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Reflection:
Scripture today, especially from the Gospel, points to one very important lesson for the faithful. The Lord is being told about two situations in which unexpected death had occurred by a member of one of the crowds that frequently gather. First, Pilate (yes, that Pilate) had apparently slaughtered a group of people, probably at the temple since the Gospel relates that: “…whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.”
The Gospel goes on to talk about eighteen people who were killed in Jerusalem when one of the towers that guarded the aqueduct that fed the pool of Salome collapsed on them. Scholars believe this may have been an act of zealot sabotage.
In both these cases, the Lord does not condemn the person, in the case of Pilate, or persons in the second instance. Rather, he points to the need for repentance, implying what he later said plainly: we do not know the hour or day when we will be called home to the Father.
In the second part of the Gospel, Jesus gives us the parable of the fig tree. He tells the story of a land owner who was waiting for one of his trees to bear fruit and, after three years, when it did not, the owner told his gardener to cut it down. Since all it was doing was depleting the soil of his garden it was of no value. The gardener asked for patience and offered to:” …cultivate the ground around it and fertilize It,” if the landowner would be patient a while longer.
This story is very good news for us. It tells us that the Lord, while he expects us to bear fruit through our prayers, words, and actions, is willing to be patient. The urgency of that call to repentance is amplified by the parable. Jesus comes as the gardener to nourish us and intercede for us so that we might bear fruit, but we must turn away from sin to do so.
The story also tells us we have free will. We can choose salvation through repentance. Even though we may have fallen far from Christ, the great gardener continues to toil at the soil, that we may bear fruit.
As we continue our journey of faith looking for ways to more effectively answer God’s call to us (a burning bush would be nice), we recognize that we must repent. We must repent not just in our heart and prayers, but those thoughts and prayers must be expressed in actions, what we do, and how we treat others. We need to be constantly striving to live the example Jesus gave us, because we do not know the day or the hour.
Pax
[1] General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar Miscellaneous Notes no. 5
[3] The picture used today is “The Redeemer” by Master of the Osservanza, c. 1450
[5] See NAB footnote on Luke 13:6-9
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