Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

“St. Paul”
by Domenico Beccafumi, 1515

Readings for Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time [1]

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]

Readings and Commentary:[3]

Reading 1: 1 Corinthians 2:10b-16

Brothers and sisters:

The Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.

Among men, who knows what pertains to the man

except his spirit that is within?

Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God.

We have not received the spirit of the world

but the Spirit who is from God,

so that we may understand the things freely given us by God.

And we speak about them not with words taught by human wisdom,

but with words taught by the Spirit,

describing spiritual realities in spiritual terms.

Now the natural man does not accept what pertains to the Spirit of God,

for to him it is foolishness, and he cannot understand it,

because it is judged spiritually.

The one who is spiritual, however, can judge everything

but is not subject to judgment by anyone.

For “who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to counsel him?”

But we have the mind of Christ.

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Commentary on 1 Cor 2:10b-16

St. Paul continues his discourse on Christian Wisdom and perfection in the spirit. In this passage he talks about the discernment of things of the spirit, and how Christian Wisdom allows the faithful to discern the will of God ("no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God”). The “will of God” seems foolish to human wisdom (“to him it is foolishness”). The Christian, however, has access to the Wisdom of God and is guided by it. (“But we have the mind of Christ.”)

CCC: 1 Cor 2:10-15 2038; 1 Cor 2:10-11 152; 1 Cor 2:11 687; 1 Cor 2:16 389

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13ab, 13cd-14

R. (17) The Lord is just in all his ways.

The Lord is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and of great kindness.

The Lord is good to all

and compassionate toward all his works.

R. The Lord is just in all his ways.

Let all your works give you thanks, O Lord,

and let your faithful ones bless you.

Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom

and speak of your might.

R. The Lord is just in all his ways.

Making known to men your might

and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,

and your dominion endures through all generations.

R. The Lord is just in all his ways.

The Lord is faithful in all his words

and holy in all his works.

The Lord lifts up all who are falling

and raises up all who are bowed down.

R. The Lord is just in all his ways.

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Commentary on Ps 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13ab, 13cd-14

Psalm 145 is a hymn of praise. These strophes call on the faithful to give thanks to God for opening the gates of his Heavenly Kingdom.  The psalmist sings his praise to God, who is faithful to his people, and who saves those who are in need. The selection gives praise God for his mercy and compassion, and thanks for his creation and redemption. There is also a subtle link to "Christian wisdom" that comes with putting on the mind of Christ. The entire song is in the acrostic form (although loosely assembled), each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

CCC: Ps 145:9 295, 342

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Gospel: Luke 4:31-37

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee.

He taught them on the sabbath,

and they were astonished at his teaching

because he spoke with authority.

In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon,

and he cried out in a loud voice,

“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?

Have you come to destroy us?

I know who you are–the Holy One of God!”

Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!”

Then the demon threw the man down in front of them

and came out of him without doing him any harm.

They were all amazed and said to one another,

“What is there about his word?

For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits,

and they come out.”

And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

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Commentary on Lk 4:31-37

This passage from St. Luke’s Gospel begins a series of events around Capernaum that expand his public image from prophet to teacher, exorcist, healer and proclaimer of God’s kingdom. Here he expels an evil spirit that asks him if he has come to destroy evil. “How does your concern affect me?: literally, ‘What is this to me and to you?’--a Hebrew expression of either hostility (Judges 11:12; 2 Chronicles 35:21; 1 Kings 17:18) or denial of common interest (Hosea 14:9; 2 Kings 3:13). Cf Mark 1:24; 5:7 used by demons to Jesus.” [4] It is interesting that the spirit uses the Lord's full name, perhaps in an attempt to control him. Instead the Lord commands the evil spirit and it leaves, amazing the crowd and spreading his fame in the region.

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Reflection:

Heavenly Father, we humbly pray that those suffering from the coronavirus be returned quickly to full health by the power of your Son’s healing presence, and those in fear be calmed through the Holy Spirit.

In Christ’s name we pray. – Amen.

Those of you who are fortunate enough to have fluency in a second language or specialized training in a field of employment are going to have an easier time with St. Paul’s letter today than those of us who only speak a single language.  Paul says today

We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given us by God. And we speak about them not with words taught by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, describing spiritual realities in spiritual terms.

There is a second language that we must learn to speak when discussing the things of God.  It is “The Language of God.”  The language of God is different from the language of logic or even philosophy used in describing the things of man.  Let’s look at a few examples.

If we observe a person who is making a living wage, not wealthy, not highly paid, but a living wage, and see that person giving a large piece of that wage, say 10%, to a charity, thereby depriving that person of any luxury items, and some things we might even classify as necessities,  using the language of logic, that is the language of the secular world, we would call that person foolish, or even stupid.

Using the language of the Holy Spirit in the same situation, we instantly are reminded of the scripture from the Gospel of Mark:

He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood." (Mk 12 42-44)

We would say, using the language of the Holy Spirit, how blessed that person is, and what a wonderful example of faith.  We would praise that person as an example to be followed.  It’s a different language.

Let’s look at another situation. A person is at work and sees the boss doing something very wrong and unjust, let’s say doctoring time cards of other employees so he can make his labor budget.  The person goes to that boss, and tells the boss that what he is doing is wrong and illegal, and must be corrected.  Because the boss wants to keep looking good so he can make more money, he has the employee fired under false pretenses.  Using secular logic, the person that confronted the boss would, again, be considered foolish or stupid.  After all, it was someone else’s time card not theirs and the rule is: “Look out for number one.”

Again looking at the same situation using the language of the Holy Spirit, the person in our example would have done exactly the right thing.  That person imitated our Lord, Jesus Christ, who came to bring justice; attacking the act (notice in our story, the sin was attacked, not the sinner) was a noble action.  It was made even more admirable because the personal consequences were ignored.  The person in our story clearly knew a better rule: “Love one another.”  It is after all a different language.

The lesson from St. Paul today is a good one for us. We must learn the language of the Holy Spirit, the language of Jesus himself.  And, just as when we are learning a foreign language, the best way to do that is to immerse ourselves in the culture of that language.  We need to force ourselves to speak only that language until we can think in it.  How to do that is very difficult, but let’s give it our best effort. 

In this strange year where many of us will not be able to receive the Blessed Sacrament or celebrate as a community in our houses of worship, we must be prepared to receive spiritual communion in prayer:

My Jesus,

I believe that You

are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love You above all things,

and I desire to receive You into my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment

receive You sacramentally,

come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.

Amen.

Pax

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[1] The picture used today is “St. Paul” by Domenico Beccafumi, 1515.

[2] S.S. Commemoratio

[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.

[4] NAB footnote on John 2:4.

Monday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

“Jews in the Synagogue“
by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn c. 1640s

Readings for Monday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time [1]

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible  [2]

Readings and Commentary:[3]

Reading 1: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

When I came to you, brothers and sisters,

proclaiming the mystery of God,

I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom.

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you

except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling,

and my message and my proclamation

were not with persuasive words of wisdom,

but with a demonstration of spirit and power,

so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom

but on the power of God.

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Commentary on 1 Cor 2:1-5

The apostle goes into an explanation of his axiomatic expression: “the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” (1 Corinthians 1:25) The difficulty he had in proclaiming his gospel in Athens using Hellenistic rhetoric (Acts 17:16-34) caused him to proclaim Christ to the Corinthians in an unvarnished way, “Christ and him crucified.” Coming to them in humility, he provides an example and faith based, not upon logic but upon the spirit that goes beyond human wisdom. He offers this same “kenosis” in Philippians 2:6-11.

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Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 119:97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102

R. (97) Lord, I love your commands.

How I love your law, O Lord!

It is my meditation all the day.

R. Lord, I love your commands.

Your command has made me wiser than my enemies,

for it is ever with me.

R. Lord, I love your commands.

I have more understanding than all my teachers

when your decrees are my meditation.

R. Lord, I love your commands.

I have more discernment than the elders,

because I observe your precepts.

R. Lord, I love your commands.

From every evil way I withhold my feet,

that I may keep your words.

R. Lord, I love your commands.

From your ordinances I turn not away,

for you have instructed me.

R. Lord, I love your commands.

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Commentary on Ps 119:97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102

Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem.  Each of the eight verses of the first strophe begins with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet (aleph). Each verse of the second strophe begins with the second letter (beth), and so on for all 22 letters of the alphabet.

The entire work is in praise of the Law, and the joys to be found in keeping it. It is not "legalism" but a love and desire for the word of God in Israel's Law, which is the expression of the Lord's revelation of himself and his will for man. These particular verses focus on the wisdom transmitted through the Law: “Your command has made me wiser than my enemies.”

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Gospel: Luke 4:16-30

Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,

and went according to his custom

into the synagogue on the sabbath day.

He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.

He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring glad tidings to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Rolling up the scroll,

he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,

and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.

He said to them,

“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

And all spoke highly of him

and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.

They also asked, “Is this not the son of Joseph?”

He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb,

‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place

the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’”

And he said,

“Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.

Indeed, I tell you,

there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah

when the sky was closed for three and a half years

and a severe famine spread over the entire land.

It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,

but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.

Again, there were many lepers in Israel

during the time of Elisha the prophet;

yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

When the people in the synagogue heard this,

they were all filled with fury.

They rose up, drove him out of the town,

and led him to the brow of the hill

on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong.

But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

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Commentary on Lk 4:16-30

In this passage from St. Luke’s Gospel we find the Lord back in his home town of Nazareth. He reads from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 61:1-2) and then tells those present that he has come to fulfill the oracle he proclaimed (“he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind”). These were clear references to the miraculous works he had already performed in other parts of the country. The Lord saw that they were expecting that he would perform signs there as well but the lack of faith would prevent him. Those congregated knew him from boyhood and did not believe he was the Messiah or even a prophet.

In response to this unbelief, Jesus brought out two examples from the stories about the prophets that demonstrated that those unworthy of God’s grace were ignored in favor of more worthy subjects. This caused the wholesale uprising against him, and he left them. In the eyes of those former friends and neighbors, Jesus had committed blasphemy, punishable by death. But, because they were uncertain, given the power and authority they had witnessed, none dared lay a hand on him. “He passed though the midst of them and went away.”

CCC: Lk 4:16-22 1286; Lk 4:16-21 436; Lk 4:18-19 695, 714; Lk 4:18 544, 2443; Lk 4:19 1168

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Reflection:

Heavenly Father, we humbly pray that those suffering from the coronavirus be returned quickly to full health by the power of your Son’s healing presence, and those in fear be calmed through the Holy Spirit.

In Christ’s name we pray. – Amen.

The episode in Jesus’ ministry we see depicted in St. Luke’s Gospel when Jesus goes to the place where he grew up is a foretaste of where his mission will lead him. He comes home, not to a hero’s welcome, but to anger and near tragedy. The story is analogous to a common business cliché that defines an “expert” as someone who comes from out of town and carries a brief case. The implication is that a person who is in your midst cannot be an expert; that level of knowledge must reside outside the local area.

The situation in Nazareth, on a human level, was understandable. The son of Mary and Joseph returns home. Rumor of his exploits may have reached them. He had become a rabbi, a teacher of the faith. He wandered around (consorting with all kinds of people) and was now coming back to his friends and neighbors. We can imagine some of the men (and women) of Nazareth talking to each other before he arrived. “He’d better not try to put on airs around us. We know him and his family.”

When he is invited to speak at the synagogue he tells them that the boy they watched grow up and the young man who had learned the carpenter trade at the elbow of Joseph, was a great prophet – even quoting from Isaiah at them – like he was something special. They were sorry for Joseph and Mary but he had to be stopped so they took him out of town with the idea of killing him for his blasphemy. It was permitted, in fact it was their obligation, probably condoned and encouraged by the local rabbi.

But there was something else at work. The words he spoke and the way he said them – this was different. Never mind that they had heard the book of Isaiah before. Others had always used future tense –looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. Jesus taught with authority, as if the prophet had come back to life in him, making the words real and present. It stirred them inside. It frightened them. While their rational minds said “We know this young man,” in the backs of their minds the truth was screaming at them – here is something new, the likes of which they had never seen before. And they stopped what they were doing, staring at him in fear and hesitation. Seeing this reaction, Jesus pushed through them without resistance and left the area. No doubt he was saddened by the reaction but probably not surprised.

For us, this reaction of those who knew Jesus is seen as the greatest lost opportunity of all time. Yet don’t we find in ourselves that same incredulous rejection of Christ’s presence in those around us? Don’t we often fail to see the Lord present in those we encounter, especially members of our own families?

The lesson we receive today from St. Luke’s Gospel is that we must be constantly vigilant, looking for the Lord not just in prayer, not just in the sacraments, but in the people we meet. We must listen for the Word of God at all times and in all peoples because we do not know the hour or the day of his coming.

In this strange year where many of us will not be able to receive the Blessed Sacrament or celebrate as a community in our houses of worship, we must be prepared to receive spiritual communion in prayer:

My Jesus,

I believe that You

are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love You above all things,

and I desire to receive You into my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment

receive You sacramentally,

come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.

Amen.

Pax

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[1] The picture is “Jews in the Synagogue“ by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn c. 1640s.

[2] S.S. Commemoratio

[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Catechism Links [1]

CCC 618: Christ calls his disciples to take up the Cross and follow him
CCC 555, 1460, 2100: The Cross as the way to Christ’s glory
CCC 2015: Way to perfection by way of the Cross
CCC 2427: Carrying our cross in daily life

“Jesus Carries the Cross”
by El Greco, 1600-05

Readings for the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time [2]

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [3]

Readings and Commentary:[4]

Reading 1: Jeremiah 20:7-9

You duped me, O Lord, and I let myself be duped;

you were too strong for me, and you triumphed.

All the day I am an object of laughter;

everyone mocks me.

Whenever I speak, I must cry out,

violence and outrage is my message;

the word of the Lord has brought me

derision and reproach all the day.

I say to myself, I will not mention him,

I will speak in his name no more.

But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart,

imprisoned in my bones;

I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.

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Commentary on Jer 20:7-9

Jeremiah’s oracle has foreseen the fall of Jerusalem, and the great exile as Israel is sent into slavery in Babylon. In this passage he makes an emotional outpouring to God. He recognizes that God’s word makes him outcast and people think of him as a lunatic, but even though he has tried to be silent God’s call forces him to cry out in the prophetic voice.

CCC: Jer 20:7-18 2584

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

R. (2b) My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

O God, you are my God whom I seek;

for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts

like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.

R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary

to see your power and your glory,

For your kindness is a greater good than life;

my lips shall glorify you.

R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Thus will I bless you while I live;

lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.

As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,

and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you.

R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

You are my help,

and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.

My soul clings fast to you;

your right hand upholds me.

R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

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Commentary on Ps 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

Psalm 63 is an individual lament. In this selection we see the emotion of one who longs to be reunited with God, separation from whom is like being cast into a desert without water. The singer professes faith in God’s salvation, and expresses faith that the prayers offered will be answered.

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Reading II: Romans 12:1-2

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God,

to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,

holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.

Do not conform yourselves to this age

but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,

that you may discern what is the will of God,

what is good and pleasing and perfect.

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Commentary on Rom 12:1-2

St. Paul begins a new topic with these verses from his letter to the Romans. The demands of the “new life” of the Christian are laid out, beginning with the idea of complete dedication to the ideals of their faith. This dedication is expressed here in language reminiscent of the ritual sacrifice of animals as holocaust (burnt offering) in the Hebrew and pagan ceremonies, but using the bodies of the faithful in this context. The clear idea is that the Christian, like an animal sacrificed to God as a holocaust - completely burned and offered up to the Lord- is to be wholly given to Christ (see also Leviticus 1:3ff). Purified in the fire of faith they are untainted by the sins of the world (“Do not conform yourselves to this age”) but, in following the will of God, are a pleasing sacrifice to him.

CCC: Rom 12-15 1454, 1971; Rom 12:1 2031; Rom 12:2 2520, 2826

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Gospel: Matthew 16:21-27

Jesus began to show his disciples

that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly

from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,

and be killed and on the third day be raised.

Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,

“God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.”

He turned and said to Peter,

“Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.

You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples,

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,

take up his cross, and follow me.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,

but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world

and forfeit his life?

Or what can one give in exchange for his life?

For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory,

and then he will repay all according to his conduct.”

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Commentary on Mt 16:21-27

The passage begins with Jesus’ explanation of his coming passion. Jesus, using the title “Son of Man” (see Daniel 7:13-14), foresees his trials and passion. This frightens the disciples and probably confuses many of the entourage (remember, there were more than just the Twelve following Jesus around). St. Peter confronts him, asking him to take a different approach in what he tells his students. Seeing this request as an invitation to take an easier path, Jesus rebukes Peter.

This is the second time within the Gospel of St. Matthew that 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 16:21-23 540, 607; Mt 16:21 554; Mt 16:22-23 554; 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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Homily:

Heavenly Father, we humbly pray that those suffering from the coronavirus be returned quickly to full health by the power of your Son’s healing presence, and those in fear be calmed through the Holy Spirit.

In Christ’s name we pray. – Amen.

Summer has flown by and here we are just a week before the Labor Day weekend.  For many of us it is a sort of transition, students are either back at school or set up for distance learning and we mentally transition from a summer vacation to a “back to work” mind-set.  Because of our early training, even those of us who have been out of school for a long time feel this same change in outlook. This year of course is different; masks are required for those of us not still working from home.

From a spiritual perspective, our “back to work” direction is set for us scripturally.  We have to start with that wonderful opening phrase from the book of the Prophet Jeremiah:

You duped me, O Lord, and I let myself be duped; you were too strong for me, and you triumphed.

All the day I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me.

Anyone who has made a resolution to really take the message of Jesus with them into their workplace, school, or social group can completely identify with what Jeremiah is saying.  The basic message relayed in the Old Testament’s Law and Prophets, the message of following God’s moral and ethical laws, is a source of great amusement, derision, and quite likely even violent rejection by our secular peers.  And that is to say nothing of the New Testament message in which Jesus revealed God’s will to us.

In this secular age where traditional moral values are seen as counter-cultural and worse, we are often compelled to just “keep our heads down” rather than risking confrontation by those ardent hedonists that make up a majority of the populations outside these walls. 

We ask ourselves the question that Jesus asked the disciples of St. John the Baptist who had come to find out if Jesus was the Messiah: “’What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces.’” (Matthew 11:7-8a)  Jesus was setting expectations for his followers.  They were not going to be “Princes of Israel” honored by all the people and the Jewish hierarchy.  As he Matthew reports in today’s Gospel: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”

So, when we do take the Lord’s message with us into the world, we cannot claim, as the Prophet Jeremiah did: “You have duped me.”  We have been warned that the message we take will be unpopular. And this takes on a new meaning if we do as St. Paul says in his letter to the Romans:

“Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.”

So, to summarize what we have from scripture today this is the basic take-away:

First, we can’t be fooled that the message we are called to live is easy.  In fact, if we do it right, as exemplified by Jeremiah who apparently was not invited to many parties, we will not be popular among our peers.

Next, we need to work very hard to figure out what we are to do to “discern what is the will of God.”  It is only in doing this that we can do what the Lord requires of all Christians.

Finally, we can have no illusions about the task we are asked to take up.  It is, as the Lord explicitly states, a cross, his cross that he hands on to us.

All that being said, we ask ourselves another question:  Do I have the courage to do the right thing?  Can I live according to God’s will and the rule of love he has laid out for me?

Knowing it is difficult, we look at ways we can get to God’s will using “baby steps.” (I really hate to quote the movie “What about Bob”).   The first thing we must do is figure out a small thing we can do that will get us closer to what we think God might want us to do.  Perhaps it’s as simple as praying each day or perhaps reading the Bible at home to get to know the Lord’s will better.  If you are feeling confident, perhaps it’s as simple as not laughing at work or school when someone says or does something intended to be funny but is really hurtful to another person or group.

The challenge is not to take up Christ’s cross all at once.  It is way too heavy for us.  Like starting an exercise program, we don’t start by running a marathon the first week.  We just need to try to lift up one corner with something we can do, and keep on doing.  Ultimately, when we come before the “Just Judge” we will be asked if we tried to conform ourselves to Christ.  We will not be expected to be him.

So, leaving with a short take-away, let’s all try to take a “baby step” toward bringing Jesus’ message into our daily lives.  And remember, you are not being duped, you are, as the prophet reminds us, letting ourselves be duped.

In this strange year where many of us will not be able to receive the Blessed Sacrament or celebrate as a community in our houses of worship, we must be prepared to receive spiritual communion in prayer:

My Jesus,

I believe that You

are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love You above all things,

and I desire to receive You into my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment

receive You sacramentally,

come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.

Amen.

Pax

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[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 “Jesus Carries the Cross” by El Greco, 1600-05.

[3] S.S. Commemoratio

[4] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.

Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist

Proper for the Memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist [1]

Additional information about the passion of St. John the Baptist

“Beheading of Saint John the Baptist” (detail)
by Caravaggio 1608

Readings for the Memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]

Readings and Commentary:[3]

Note: for this memorial, the Gospel from the proper of the saint is used.

Reading 1: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters.

Not many of you were wise by human standards,

not many were powerful,

not many were of noble birth.

Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise,

and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong,

and God chose the lowly and despised of the world,

those who count for nothing,

to reduce to nothing those who are something,

so that no human being might boast before God.

It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus,

who became for us wisdom from God,

as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,

so that, as it is written,

Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.

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Commentary on 1 Cor 1:26-31

St. Paul continues his attack on “worldly wisdom” by reminding the members of the church at Corinth that the community is comprised of all strata of society. He points out that all are called to the same Lord, and that the wisdom that is Jesus (“who became for us wisdom from God”) makes them righteous, sanctified, and redeemed in him. It is for this reason that the only boast a Christian should make is in God. The evangelist does so, paraphrasing Jeremiah 9:23.

CCC: 1 Cor 1:27 489; 1 Cor 1:30 2813

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33:12-13, 18-19, 20-21

R. (12) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Blessed the nation whose God is the Lord,

the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.

From heaven the Lord looks down;

he sees all mankind.

R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

But see, the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him,

upon those who hope for his kindness,

To deliver them from death

and preserve them in spite of famine.

R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Our soul waits for the Lord,

who is our help and our shield,

For in him our hearts rejoice;

in his holy name we trust.

R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

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Commentary on Ps 33:12-13, 18-19, 20-21

Psalm 33 is a hymn of praise in which God as creator is celebrated. In this selection, those justified in God's sight are invited to share the Lord’s salvation, and are promised his protection. The psalm rejoices in the active help God gives to his chosen people.

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Gospel: Mark 6:17-29

Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison

on account of Herodias,

the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.

John had said to Herod,

"It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

Herodias harbored a grudge against him

and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.

Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,

and kept him in custody.

When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,

yet he liked to listen to him.

She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,

gave a banquet for his courtiers,

his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee.

Herodias' own daughter came in

and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests.

The king said to the girl,

"Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you."

He even swore many things to her,

"I will grant you whatever you ask of me,

even to half of my kingdom."

She went out and said to her mother,

"What shall I ask for?"

She replied, "The head of John the Baptist."

The girl hurried back to the king's presence and made her request,

"I want you to give me at once

on a platter the head of John the Baptist."

The king was deeply distressed,

but because of his oaths and the guests

he did not wish to break his word to her.

So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders

to bring back his head.

He went off and beheaded him in the prison.

He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl.

The girl in turn gave it to her mother.

When his disciples heard about it,

they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

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Commentary on Mk 6:17-29

The story of St. John the Baptist's life from St. Mark’s Gospel gives a concise picture of St. John’s end. Especially here we note the similarities between the passing of St. John and the passion of Jesus in Mark 15:1-47 . The rationale in both cases was the anger and guilt felt at the truth proclaimed; in the case of John the guilt of Herodias; in the case of Jesus, the Jewish leaders'.

Both Herod and Pilot acknowledge the holiness of the ones they are to put to death. In both cases following the executions, faithful followers insure the body is given a respectful burial. St. Matthew’s Gospel gives a more complete introduction of Herod and Herodias (see Matthew 14:1-3). The actual account presented here is done as a flashback as Herod questions the identity of Jesus whose disciples have just been sent into his region with great authority.

CCC: Mk 6:17-29 523

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Reflection:

Heavenly Father, we humbly pray that those suffering from the coronavirus be returned quickly to full health by the power of your Son’s healing presence, and those in fear be calmed through the Holy Spirit.

In Christ’s name we pray. – Amen.

We continue to marvel at God’s plan for us as we are given the end of St. John the Baptist. From the womb he was chosen to be a forerunner of Jesus Christ. He was the one predicted by the prophets – the new Elijah who prepared the way for Jesus’ mission on earth – the ultimate revelation of God in human flesh. He preceded Jesus in life, in ministry, and, as we see in Mark’s Gospel, in his death at the hands of those he invited to repent and return to the path to God’s Kingdom.

In his martyrdom St. John the Baptist shared in Christ’s victory. Victory? One might think that being beheaded by a lecherous, hedonistic, and sadistic ruler like Herod was not a victory. Yet, as St. Paul points out in his First Letter to the Corinthians, Jesus used the cross to redefine victory. His death became a defeat for death, for all those who lay aside the wisdom of the world and have faith.

And what practical lesson do we take away from this “redefinition,” this incredible act that defies the wisdom of the world, and changes the perspective of those struggling to know God? First, with intense humility, we thank God for giving us the faith needed to understand how his love expressed itself through the sacrifice of his Son, foreshadowed by St. John’s own death. We see in the events that unfold in the Gospel that we must not expect the world to welcome the love we offer as followers of Christ.  We know Jesus obediently followed St. John in death at the hands of his captors.

We thank God for the examples of St. John the Baptist and all the saints who have gone before us in faith, for their examples of heroic fidelity to the Lord, and their unswerving dedication to passing on the message they were given. We pray today that our own examples of faith will give encouragement to our brothers and sisters who, like St. John, are persecuted for their faith, and demonstrate for those who have not heard the Lord’s call that his hand is outstretched to them as well.

In this strange year where many of us will not be able to receive the Blessed Sacrament or celebrate as a community in our houses of worship, we must be prepared to receive spiritual communion in prayer:

My Jesus,

I believe that You

are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love You above all things,

and I desire to receive You into my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment

receive You sacramentally,

come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.

Amen.

Pax

---

[1] The picture is “Beheading of Saint John the Baptist” (detail) by Caravaggio 1608.

[2] S.S. Commemoratio 430 / 634

[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.