(Optional Memorial for Saint Louis of France)
Proper readings for the Memorial of St. Louis of France
Biographical information about St. Louis of France
or
(Optional Memorial for Saint Joseph Calasanz, Priest)
Proper readings for the Memorial of St. Calasanz
Biographical information about St. Calasanz
Biographical information about St. Louis of France
Biographical information about St. Calasanz
“Woe unto You Scribes and Pharisees” by James Tissot, c. 1890’s |
Working night and day in order not to burden any of you,
we proclaimed to you the Gospel of God.
You are witnesses, and so is God,
how devoutly and justly and blamelessly
we behaved toward you believers.
As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children,
exhorting and encouraging you and insisting
that you walk in a manner worthy of the God
who calls you into his Kingdom and glory.
that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us,
you received it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God,
which is now at work in you who believe.
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Commentary on 1 Thes 2:9-13
The Apostle did not confine this Gospel to any one group, but delivered it broadly to the community. “’Those well-timed words, whispered in the ear of your wavering friend; the helpful conversation you managed to start at the right moment: the ready professional advice that improves his university work; the discreet indiscretion by which you open up unexpected horizons for his zeal. This all forms part of the 'apostolate of friendship'" (St. Josemaria Escriva, The Way, 973).’” [4]
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 139:7-8, 9-10, 11-12ab
From your presence where can I flee?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I sink to the nether world, you are present there.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
Even there your hand shall guide me,
and your right hand hold me fast.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
and night shall be my light”–
For you darkness itself is not dark,
and night shines as the day.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
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Commentary on Ps 139:7-8, 9-10, 11-12ab
Psalm 139 is an individual meditation on God who is omnipresent, in all places for all time. The song rejoices that God is always with us, even in the darkest of times.
Gospel:
Matthew 23:27-32
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside,
but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth.
Even so, on the outside you appear righteous,
but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.
You build the tombs of the prophets
and adorn the memorials of the righteous,
and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors,
we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’
Thus you bear witness against yourselves
that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets;
now fill up what your ancestors measured out!”
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Commentary on Mt 23:27-32
The “seventh woe” attacks the pride of these leaders who engage in pompous piety. “In spite of honoring the slain dead by building their tombs and adorning their memorials, and claiming that they would not have joined in their ancestors' crimes if they had lived in their days, the scribes and Pharisees are true children of their ancestors and are defiantly ordered by Jesus to fill up what those ancestors measured out. This order reflects the Jewish notion that there was an allotted measure of suffering that had to be completed before God's final judgment would take place.” [5] Theologically, verses 29-32 provide strong support of Maccabeean purgatory.
Reflection:
The Gospel causes us to examine the relationship of our external image with our internal core. In Jesus’ on-going criticism of the scribes and Pharisees he chides them for performing acts of worship for the sake of appearance, rather than out of true devotion to the Lord. This false piety is so that others in their community will support their image of righteousness and give them credibility in the assembly of the faithful. It is their base of power and the roots of their authority.
[1] The picture is “Woe unto You Scribes and Pharisees” by James Tissot, c. 1890’s.
[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] Letters of St. Paul, The
[5] NAB note on Matthew 23:29-32.
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