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| "Saint Clare" by Simone Martini, 1317 |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Deuteronomy 4:32-40
Commentary on Dt 4:32-40
In this selection from Deuteronomy, Moses begins to describe the unique participation of the Hebrew people, the Chosen People, in God’s covenant. Moses actually presents a homily on the election of Israel, how God has shown his omnipotence through the salvific acts and signs (e.g. plagues in Egypt, saving miracles that facilitated the exodus).
These proofs, Moses explains, are the reason they must be faithful to God, and instruct their children to do the same. In doing so they receive the reward for their fidelity: “…that you and your children after you may prosper." This section acts as a prologue to the introduction to the Law.
CCC: Dt 4:37 218
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 77:12-13, 14-15, 16 and 21
R. (12a) I remember the deeds of the Lord.
Commentary on Ps 77:12-13, 14-15, 16 and 21
Psalm 77 is a communal lament. The first section of the psalm pleads for God not to abandon the people as they are in dire straits. The strophes used here reflect the promise on the part of the psalmist, that the people will remember the great saving works of the Lord (as required by Moses’ instruction in Deuteronomy).
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Gospel: Matthew 16:24-28
Commentary on Mt 16:24-28
This is the second time, within the Gospel of St. Matthew, the Lord instructs the disciples that if they wish to follow him, they must take up the cross (the first time is in Matthew 10:38). This passage focuses the followers of Christ on the idea that serving the Lord must come before any other purposes in life, since it is through following Jesus that eternal life is gained. It is also explicit that bringing the Word of God, the message of the Kingdom of God, to the world will lead to persecution, and even the possibility of death.
CCC: Mt 16:24-26 736; Mt 16:24 226, 618, 2029; Mt 16:25-26 363; Mt 16:25 2232; Mt 16:26 1021
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Reflection:
Ben Stein, the comedian (also a graduate of Columbia and valedictorian of his class at Yale Law School
As a side note, one of the effects of adopting the attitude of “Controlled Evolution” pointed out in the film was a program called “Eugenics” in the United States. South Carolina recently agreed to pay reparations to the victims of that program in their state who were sterilized to prevent them from reproducing “sub-optimal offspring.”
Without spoiling it for you, there is one segment in which Ben (who by the way is brilliant) is interviewing Richard Dawkins, the highly publicize atheist from the UK. In a series of questions, Ben finally gets to the point of challenging Dawkins on the origin of life, first having allowed him to deny any possibility of God’s existence throughout their discussion of evolutionary history. To our amazement, obviously finding no other logical or scientific explanation, the atheist suggests that it was likely that it was aliens (that is space aliens) who brought life to earth.
This film represents an exclamation point to Moses' instruction to the Hebrews in the reading from Deuteronomy. The history of God’s creation stands around us every day. The gifts God has given us are obvious in every breath we take. Moses asks the question of that ancient audience that we should remember today: “Did anything so great ever happen before?”
Jesus revealed a gift when he pointed to his cross and told his disciples: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” The gift is that, before one takes up the Cross of Christ, that person needs to have underlying faith: faith that the omnipotent Father, who created all that exists, will provide for them spiritually in the face of any difficulty or crisis. Before we accept the Son, we must accept the Father who is one in him.
With the question still ringing in our ears: “Did anything so great ever happen before?” We pause to look around us. We give thanks for all the marvels God has provided, proving beyond any questioning that he not only exists, but is active still in our world through the Divine Advocate he left us. We give thanks and then take up the cross to bring God’s Heavenly Kingdom to earth.
Pax
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