CCC 1820: Christian hope begins in the giving of the Beatitudes
CCC 2544-2547: Poverty of heart; the Lord grieves over the rich
CCC 655, 989-991, 1002-1003: Hope in the Resurrection
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| "Sermon on the Mount" by Cosimo Rosselli, 1481-82 |
Commentary: [4]
Reading I: Jeremiah 17:5-8
Commentary on Jer 17:5-8
This passage from Jeremiah is part of the wisdom sayings (sapiential sayings). The author uses opposition or comparison imagery to demonstrate that the wise person trusts in God while the foolish one trusts in his own strength or the help of others. The responsorial psalm below borrowed this imagery to portray the true heart of faithfulness.
"A person who relies on idols is like a bush in a parched land that knows nothing, but those who trust in God are like well-watered trees that produce fruit (see Psalm 1:3). The purpose of the metaphor is to point to worship of other gods as the cause of the drought." [5]
CCC: Jer 17:5-6 150
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
R. (40:5a) Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Commentary on Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
Psalm 1 serves as a preface to the whole book of the psalms. The psalmist here exalts those who follow the Lord’s commands, and reflects upon the blessings they will receive. As in Romans 6:19ff, this selection emphasizes the contrast between the salvation of the just and the punishment of the wicked.
This wisdom psalm begins by extolling the virtue of those who follow the law. The focus is to look to God for guidance, and not to trust only in the counsel of men. Those who reject the law will be blown away like “chaff,” an image used in the Gospel as well (Matthew 3:12).
This portion of the psalm is later echoed in Isaiah 48:17-19, like an overlapped formula of covenant. Blessed is the man who “delights in the law day and night,” but “the way of the wicked vanishes.” It also takes up the theme of following right paths and staying true to the teachings of God: “Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, but delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on his law day and night.”
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Reading II: 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20
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Reading II: 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20
Commentary on 1 Cor 15:12, 16-20
St. Paul continues his apologia on the resurrection from the dead he began in 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. He uses a circular argument to say, if there is no resurrection, then Christ did not rise and your sins are still upon you. If there is no resurrection, then your faith is hollow, God’s very existence is challenged, and there is no life beyond physical death. The circle is completed as he concludes this section with: “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
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Gospel: Luke 6:17, 20-26
Gospel: Luke 6:17, 20-26
Commentary on Lk 6:17, 20-26
This passage is the introductory section of St. Luke’s “Sermon on the Plain.” Addressed primarily to a Gentile audience, this discourse differs from St. Matthew’s “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5:1-7:27) in that it addresses economic conditions of the day. It begins, as does St. Matthew’s sermon, with the Beatitudes but follows these with the woes to contrast the blessed with those who ignore the poor and hungry.
It is noteworthy that the word “blessed” [μακάριοι (makάrios) in Greek and beati in Latin] is translated “happy” in many Old Testament texts. The idea of happiness or peace as a blessing from God is an important understanding about the intent of this discourse.
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Reflection
The Beatitudes are, for many of us, like a comfortable pair of old shoes. We have heard them many times, and because they are so broad in their reach, we always can find one of the “blessed” passages that feels like it applies to us.
This selection has the feel of the New Covenant to it. Jesus says; Blessed are the poor, the hungry, the weeping, and those outcast because they are Christian. In a sense they have done what God has asked. Then come the “woes”: woe to those who are rich, filled, laughing, and those who follow false prophets. The formula for a covenant given in the Old Testament says that first God says what he will do then says what man needs to do in return. The formula ends with the consequences of not doing what is required.
In the reading today it’s turned around a bit because Jesus says “Blessed are the poor,” before he makes the assumption that they will be shown mercy on account of their belief in the Son of Man. The consequences part is clear enough though.
We look at this passage in a more complex way today so that the comfortable old shoe might take on new meaning in our lives. It is not so much a comfort, but rather a focus for our lens of faith. Look at what the Lord has denounced; the rich (How many of us live below the poverty line in the richest country on earth?), those who are filled (How many of us are hungry?), the laughing (How many of us deserve the depression that comes from a hopeless situation based upon our economic circumstances?).
No, the comfortable shoe challenges us as disciples today. We are to reach out to those who are truly in need so that the mercy the Lord promises to those in need will be seen through us. We who are given so much are called to share in the spirit of love with which this sermon was delivered all those years ago.
“I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man with no feet.”
Pax
Reflection
The Beatitudes are, for many of us, like a comfortable pair of old shoes. We have heard them many times, and because they are so broad in their reach, we always can find one of the “blessed” passages that feels like it applies to us.
This selection has the feel of the New Covenant to it. Jesus says; Blessed are the poor, the hungry, the weeping, and those outcast because they are Christian. In a sense they have done what God has asked. Then come the “woes”: woe to those who are rich, filled, laughing, and those who follow false prophets. The formula for a covenant given in the Old Testament says that first God says what he will do then says what man needs to do in return. The formula ends with the consequences of not doing what is required.
In the reading today it’s turned around a bit because Jesus says “Blessed are the poor,” before he makes the assumption that they will be shown mercy on account of their belief in the Son of Man. The consequences part is clear enough though.
We look at this passage in a more complex way today so that the comfortable old shoe might take on new meaning in our lives. It is not so much a comfort, but rather a focus for our lens of faith. Look at what the Lord has denounced; the rich (How many of us live below the poverty line in the richest country on earth?), those who are filled (How many of us are hungry?), the laughing (How many of us deserve the depression that comes from a hopeless situation based upon our economic circumstances?).
No, the comfortable shoe challenges us as disciples today. We are to reach out to those who are truly in need so that the mercy the Lord promises to those in need will be seen through us. We who are given so much are called to share in the spirit of love with which this sermon was delivered all those years ago.
“I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man with no feet.”
Pax
In other years on February 17: Optional Memorial for Seven Founders of the Order Of Servites, Religious
[1] Catechism links are taken from the Homiletic Directory, published by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 29 June 2014.
[2] The picture used is "Sermon on the Mount" by Cosimo Rosselli, 1481-82.
[5] The Jewish Study Bible, © 2004 Oxford University Press, New York, NY, p. 961.
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