Monday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(Optional Memorial for Saint Januarius, Bishop and Martyr)
 
Proper readings for the Memorial of St. Januarius
 
Biographical Information about St. Januarius

“Light of the World”
by William Holman Hunt, c. 1850s

 
Readings for Monday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time [1]
 
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
 
Readings and Commentary: [3]
 
Reading 1: Proverbs 3:27-34
 
Refuse no one the good on which he has a claim
when it is in your power to do it for him.
Say not to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
tomorrow I will give,” when you can give at once.
 
Plot no evil against your neighbor,
against one who lives at peace with you.
Quarrel not with a man without cause,
with one who has done you no harm.
 
Envy not the lawless man
and choose none of his ways:
To the Lord the perverse one is an abomination,
but with the upright is his friendship.
 
The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
but the dwelling of the just he blesses;
When dealing with the arrogant, he is stern,
but to the humble he shows kindness.
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Commentary on Prv 3:27-34
 
The fourth lesson in the book of Proverbs provides us with supports and clarifications to the Law of Moses. These verses, which are intended to direct the faithful to grow in holiness, stress service to God through kindness and service to one’s neighbor. Going further, the author enjoins the faithful not to envy the wicked, but to abhor that which God has deemed wicked. Those who act in arrogance or wickedness, says the Book of Proverbs, will not find friendship with God, but will feel his punishment.  The author closes the passage with assurance that the humble will find favor with God (see also 1 Peter 5:5-7; James 4:7-10).
 
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5
 
R. (1) The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.
 
He who walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
R. The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.
 
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
By whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the Lord.
R. The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.
 
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
R. The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.
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Commentary on Ps 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5
 
Psalm 15 is a Jewish form of examination of conscience. These verses record the response of the temple representative when asked what virtues are appropriate in the eyes of God.  The response lauds the person who follows the “Law,” specifically the Hebrew laws that warn against slander or false accusations. In the second strophe it honors the person who does no violence against another. And finally, in the last strophe, we are told that the person who does not charge interest on a loan (usury) is also uplifted.
 
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Gospel: Luke 8:16-18
 
Jesus said to the crowd:
“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel
or sets it under a bed;
rather, he places it on a lampstand
so that those who enter may see the light.
For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible,
and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.
Take care, then, how you hear.
To anyone who has, more will be given,
and from the one who has not,
even what he seems to have will be taken away.”
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Commentary on Lk 8:16-18
 
In this saying of Jesus from St. Luke’s Gospel, the disciples are enjoined once more to share their understanding of God's Kingdom, the Good News they are given, with the world. The metaphor, in this instance, sees the light of their understanding multiplying itself.  The greater the understanding of the light, by the person so enlightened, the more responsibility the one to whom that gift is given has for passing it on. Luke concludes by contrasting the disciples with the unbelievers who will not accept the light.
 
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Reflection:
 
There are a number of reasons to reflect upon God’s word recorded in Sacred Scripture. Chief among these is to get to understand the mind of Christ and the will of God. This effort increases our faith and brings us peace in this life and eternal joy in the next. A second and equally compelling reason to delve into the Bible is to be able to understand how we are expected to act in responding to Christ’s commandments and the will of God as we go about our daily lives.
 
We meditate upon these passages and recall how we have either failed to respond appropriately or have succeeded in bringing Christ glory through our actions on his behalf. In St. Luke’s Gospel today, Jesus tells his disciples that they must take the “good news” into the world, that what they have been given is not some private knowledge or some secret to be guarded. They are called to tell anyone who will listen, likening the word to light in the darkness, or a fire that will light the night.
 
Coupled, as it is today with the Book of Proverbs’ injunction to serve our neighbors, dealing fairly with them and forgiving them for any transgressions, the act of taking God’s word to the world means acting upon what we have learned. In a very pragmatic way, we are called to be light to the world through how we interact with it, and in which night constantly tries to rule. Just as living in Christ’s light is difficult for us, so the struggle between love and hate is constantly being waged in the world around us.

The message for us today is one of the basics. We are called to be a light for the world. Reflecting upon the great love that stimulated Jesus’ call, how can we not respond with all our hearts? We pray, especially, that our actions will be that light, and those who meet us today will see it and be inflamed by the love we show them.
 
Pax
 

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[1] The picture today is “Light of the World” by William Holman Hunt, c. 1850s.
[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.