(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 (USCCB Suggests #25 The Blessed Virgin Mary, Image and Mother of the Church, I).
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| “Expulsion of Adam and Eve” by Aureliano Milani, c. 1700 |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Genesis 3:9-24
Commentary on Gn 3:9-24
This passage details the punishment placed upon mankind for violating the law God had given them. It is clear from the text what parts of man’s existence were viewed as harsh by the early authors.
God first punished the serpent, placing hostility between humanity and the snake in perpetuity. The snake or serpent in later texts actually became representative of evil, and was ultimately destroyed by the Son of God (Revelation 20: 1-3).
God next punished the woman by intensifying the pain of delivering children and made it even more severe by saying that in spite of the pain, woman would still be drawn to have more children (“Yet your urge shall be for your husband”).
Finally, God punished the man for his role. No longer could he just reach up and take fruit to eat; rather he was forced to till the land to get food, hard work in uncertain conditions, for all his life. The final punishment was the most difficult to bear: humanity became subject to death. Through sin, death came into the world; humanity was forbidden to eat from the tree of life, so Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden.
CCC: Gn 3:9-10 399; Gn 3:9 410, 2568; Gn 3:11-13 400; Gn 3:11 2515; Gn 3:12 1607; Gn 3:13 1736, 2568; Gn 3:14-19 2427; Gn 3:15 70, 410, 489; Gn 3:16-19 1607; Gn 3:16 376, 400, 1609; Gn 3:16b 1607; Gn 3:17-19 378; Gn 3:17 400; Gn 3:19 376, 400, 1008, 1609; Gn 3:20 489; Gn 3:21 1608; Gn 3:24 332
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 90:2, 3-4abc, 5-6, 12-13
R. (1) In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Commentary on Ps 90:2, 3-4abc, 5-6, 12-13
The song of lament in Psalm 90 reminds us of the dust to which we must return. The psalmist calls us back to God’s law and grace. Most interesting in this passage is the recognition that God’s time and our time are different (“For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night.”) This psalm flies in the face of those who believe God created earth in seven 24-hour days. (“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.”)
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Gospel: Mark 8:1-10
Commentary on Mk 8:1-10
This selection describes one of the major miracles, the multiplication of loaves and fishes. There are actually two accounts; (Mark 8:1-10 above and Mark 6:31-44). It is proposed by some scholars that this is actually the same event told from two different traditions, but regardless, the implication is Eucharistic.
Much can be speculated about this event. The number of the loaves being seven would seem to indicate, through Hebrew numerology, the fullness of loaves was present. The fact that they all ate until they were satisfied (spiritually?) would indicate that the meal was complete. The fragments left over filled seven baskets; again that perfect number is used.
CCC: Mk 8:6 1329
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Reflection:
The readings from Genesis and the Gospel from Mark clash today. In the Genesis story we hear of the Hebrew experience of a God of Justice. He hands out punishment to mankind for violating his command not to eat of the fruit of one tree, thereby condemning mankind and beast to lives of enmity, pain, and toil. This punishment was applied in God’s time, as the psalmist reminds us (Psalm 90:4), not man’s time.
Juxtaposed with the God of Justice is the Lord Jesus Christ, who comes in the Gospel as the God of mercy and compassion. He sees the multitude looking to him for salvation through his words, and gives them nourishment for the flesh as well.
We wonder. Which is the true face of God? Then we remember that before the coming of the Messiah man was wandering without a shepherd. He looked at the physical world and saw there what he supposed was the punishment for sins against God. The people of the Old Testament knew the Law of Moses. It was a strict and detailed law, and violation of it merited punishment like that given to Adam and Eve. Even if they did not recall what sin they had committed, if misfortune befell them, it must be punishment from the God of Justice, omnipotent and omnipresent.
Then Jesus came in fulfillment of the recorded prophecy of God’s intent. His only Son revealed to us the true face of the Father, a loving God who was not vindictive, a merciful Father who does not punish out of some whim. Yes, he created man in his own image and likeness. But his creation was given God’s own free will, a free will that led Eve to accept the apple from the serpent. Through disobedience to God they fell and led mankind to death through sin.
The Lord, our merciful God, comes freeing us from that same death through his own sacrifice. Today we give thanks to God who, through his infinite love for us, gave us his Only Begotten Son so we might know his will for us and give us food for the journey he has planned for us.
Pax
[1] General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar Miscellaneous Notes no. 5.
[2] The picture is “Expulsion of Adam and Eve” by Aureliano Milani, c. 1700.
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