Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
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“A Mother Entrusting Her Sons to Christ”
by Mattia Preti, 1630’s |
Readings for Saturday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time [2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [3]
Readings and Commentary: [4]
Reading 1: 1 Kings 19:19-21
Elijah set out, and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat,
as he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen;
he was following the twelfth.
Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him.
Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said,
“Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,
and I will follow you.”
Elijah answered, “Go back!
Have I done anything to you?”
Elisha left him and, taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them;
he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh,
and gave it to his people to eat. Then he left and followed Elijah as his attendant.
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Commentary on 1 Kgs 19:19-21
In response to God’s instruction, Elijah travels to a region near Damascus and finds his successor Elisha plowing a field using the symbolic twelve oxen (for the twelve tribes of Israel). “Elijah's act of throwing his mantle over the shoulders of Elisha expressed the divine call to share the prophetic mission. Elisha's prompt response through destruction of his plow and oxen is an example of total obedience and detachment from his former manner of living in order to promote the glory of God.” [5]
We note the similarity in the later response of Peter, James, and John to Jesus' summons in the Gospels.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 16:1b-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10
R. (see 5a) You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the Lord, “My Lord are you.”
O Lord, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
I bless the Lord who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the Lord ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
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Commentary on Ps 16:1b-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10
Psalm 16 is a song of thanksgiving that has become prophetic; it speaks clearly of the resurrection accomplished now in Christ. (“Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.”)
CCC: Ps 16:9-10 627
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Gospel: Matthew 5:33-37
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
Do not take a false oath,
but make good to the Lord all that you vow.
But I say to you, do not swear at all;
not by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;
nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Do not swear by your head,
for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’
Anything more is from the Evil One.”
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Commentary on Mt 5:33-37
Jesus paraphrases the Old Testament (see Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 5:11; Leviticus 19:12). He is attacking the practices of guaranteeing one’s promise by calling on God to witness the pledge. The Lord tells his disciples that no oaths should be made; that what they say should need no guarantee beyond their own character (“Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.' Anything more is from the evil one.”). This last reference speaks of the implied sinfulness of mankind in oath-breaking.
"For the Christian, his own presence, demeanor, and word ought to be their own warrant. Either the truthfulness of a word or action is manifest in the word or action itself, or it is not. Christ would have his followers ‘lay their own persons on the line’ rather than bring in extraneous proofs and witnesses." [6]
CCC: Mt 5:33-34 581, 2141, 2153; Mt 5:33 592, 2463; Mt 5:37 2153, 2338, 2466
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Reflection:
The Gospel takes up yet another element of character that is necessary for the faithful disciple of Jesus: truthfulness. While there is no commandment that says: “You shall not lie.” (The actual text is: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16)), the exhortation that the Lord places on his disciples today tells them that they should be bound by their word. It is a fundamental axiom of our faith tradition and one that is frequently violated (as hard as we might try not to).
The word that expresses our ambition happens to be the first stipulation in the Boy Scout Law: “A Scout is Trustworthy.” The only way a person can achieve that label, “trustworthy,” is by following the words attributed to Jesus: “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes’, and your ’No’ mean ‘No.’” That means that we follow through with commitments we make, most especially to those we make to God who knows our heart. But it also means that we deal with everyone honestly. That is one of the principal ways we identify ourselves as disciples of Jesus and bring the Gospel message to the world.
It is a very difficult thing the Lord asks us to do. Almost as hard as “love one another.” In reality the two injunctions are linked. If we love one another, we would never think of betraying that trust with a lie. If we offer ourselves or our service to another and then renege, we disrespect them and violate our call to love one another.
We thank God today for the grace offered in the sacrament of reconciliation. What he asks of us is so difficult we certainly need that gift to stay on the right path. We ask for God’s strength today, not only to be able to say yes when we mean yes and no when we mean no, but also to forgive others when they fail.
Pax
[1] General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar Miscellaneous Notes no. 5.
[2] The picture used today is “A Mother Entrusting Her Sons to Christ” by Mattia Preti, 1630’s.
[3] S.S. Commemoratio[4] The readings are taken from the New American Bible except for 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.
[5] NAB Footnote on 1 Kings 19:19ff.
[6] Fire of Mercy Heart of the Word Volume I, Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, CA, © 1996 p. 233.
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