 |
| “St. Dominic ” by Claudio Coello, 1685 |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Numbers 12:1-13
Commentary on Nm 12:1-13
In this selection from Numbers, the authority of Moses is challenged because he has married a woman from outside the Hebrew community. In response to this, God first calls the accusers to the “meeting tent.” This action reaffirms the Lord's connection with Moses. God then punishes those who challenged him. This passage sets Moses apart from the later Prophets by differentiating the means by which God communicates with him, that is, face to face.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 6cd-7, 12-13
R. (see 3a) Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Commentary on Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 6cd-7, 12-13
Psalm 51 (one of the great penitential psalms) is an individual lament. The psalmist praises God’s goodness, acknowledges his offenses against God, and asks for absolution from sin. In these strophes we hear the singer beg forgiveness, linking it to the plea of Aaron and Moses in the first reading.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Matthew 14:22-36
Commentary on Mt 14:22-36
This passage from St. Matthew’s Gospel follows the feeding of the five thousand. The disciples return to the boat that brought them to this remote site, while Jesus stays alone to pray (Recall he had just gotten word of the murder of St. John the Baptist by Herod, and had come to this place to mourn him).
The events that follow, Jesus' approach to the boat and walking on the water, supports the Lord’s earlier demonstration that he has power over the sea and elements (see Matthew 8:26). St. Peter’s response to the Lord is to try to do as the Lord wishes, but his fear prevents him from accomplishing what the Lord has called him to do. This entire episode has one purpose, to allow the readers to share in the awe of the disciples as they make their profession of faith: “Truly, you are the Son of God." This is account stands in stark contrast to St. Mark’s account of their response (see Mark 6:51).
CCC: Mt 14:30 448
------------------------------------------------------------------
Or: (especially in year A where Mt 14:22-36 is read on Monday) Matthew 15:1-2, 10-14
Commentary on Mt 15:1-2, 10-14
This dispute begins with the question of the Pharisees and scribes why Jesus' disciples are breaking the tradition of the elders about washing one's hands before eating. In front of the larger crowd of followers the Lord refutes them with a parable that is an attack on Mosaic law concerning clean and unclean foods (see also Matthew 5:31-32, 33-34, 38-39). The concluding remarks concerning the blind leading the blind indicate to the disciples that the Pharisees and scribes do not understand God’s law but lead those who refuse to accept Jesus as the Messiah.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
Faith is a very hard thing to wrap our heads around. We are taught that it is a gift, freely given, a consequence of our Baptism in the Lord. We know that some people (look at St. Dominic) seem to have faith in abundance while others have little or no faith at all. We cannot see it. Faith is an intangible quality of the soul, but we can feel it inside ourselves.
In scripture today we see two examples of faith in action. In the first reading, Miriam and Aaron apparently lost faith in Moses. They presumed to pass judgment on him because he had married outside the Hebrew community, and how could the person to whom God spoke do such a thing. In response or out of bigotry they publicly refuted his spiritual leadership. Scripture tells us that God had an immediate response, calling them to account and then punishing Miriam with the outward sign of her sinfulness, leprosy. Was her sin the lack of faith in God’s selected holy one, the one to whom he spoke, face to face? Or was her sin the bigotry in her heart as she rejected the wife Moses had selected? Scripture does not say, but had her faith been stronger, she would not have fallen into that trap.
In the Gospel, we see the disciples in a bad way. They had ventured out into the sea and were caught in a storm. Jesus comes to their aid in an unexpected way, walking on the water. Unprepared for his appearance, the disciples think he is a ghost at first. Peter, first among the disciples, sees (or thinks he sees) the Lord and calls out to him: “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." (Not quite sure, is he?) When Peter goes out to the Son of God, his faith is fastened on Christ. He does not see the sea or the waves. He does not feel the wind. But when he loses that focus and starts looking around. He sees that he is doing the impossible and becomes frightened and starts to sink. God, of course, saves him. We can almost hear the Lord speaking to his friend in secular tones saying “Gosh, Peter, you almost had it. Why didn’t you just keep coming?”
We often feel that way don’t we? We almost had it, our faith was almost strong enough to withstand the temptation of doing something we should not have. It was almost strong enough to carry us through a difficult situation without faltering. But in the end, like Peter, the Lord had to help us out as well.
Faith may be a gift but it also acts like a muscle. If we don’t use it, we lose it. If we don’t exercise it, when we need the strength that comes from a strong and lively faith, it will not be there. Our challenge today is to renew our dedication to get into the gym (Church) and get on the machines (prayer) do some jogging (exercise charity), so that when we are called out onto the water we will not fail.
Pax
No comments:
Post a Comment