Optional Memorial for Saint John the XXIII, Pope
 |
“St Michael Vanquishing the Devil”
by Bonifacio Veronese, c. 1530 |
Readings for Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time [1]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
Readings and Commentary: [3]
Galatians 3:7-14
Brothers and sisters:
Realize that it is those who have faith
who are children of Abraham.
Scripture, which saw in advance that God
would justify the Gentiles by faith,
foretold the good news to Abraham, saying,
Through you shall all the nations be blessed.
Consequently, those who have faith are blessed
along with Abraham who had faith.
For all who depend on works of the law are under a curse;
for it is written, Cursed be everyone
who does not persevere in doing all the things
written in the book of the law.
And that no one is justified before God by the law is clear,
for the one who is righteous by faith will live.
But the law does not depend on faith;
rather, the one who does these things will live by them.
Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,
for it is written, Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree,
that the blessing of Abraham might be extended
to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus,
so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
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Commentary on Gal 3:7-14
The thrust of St. Paul’s argument, in this part of his letter to the Galatians, is that Christians (especially Gentiles/pagan converts) are brought to salvation (justified before God) by faith, not observance of Mosaic Law (including, according to the “Judaizers,” circumcision). The apostle points out that they are all “children of Abraham,” receiving his blessing (see Genesis 18:18).
St. Paul argues that those who depend upon works of the law, essentially trying to “earn” salvation, have been cursed by the law, quoting Deuteronomy 27:26. Salvation, he argues, comes from faith in Christ who died upon the cross, taking upon himself that curse that we no longer have to bear (the reference made here relates to Deuteronomy 21:23, a reference to criminals executed publicly).
St. Paul makes these arguments to refute those who have told the Galatian community that it is only through observance of Mosaic Law that they may come appropriately to faith in Christ. St. Paul tells them clearly that faith in Christ is sufficient; justification and salvation come through faith and the Holy Spirit.
CCC: Gal 3:8 59; Gal 3:10 578, 580; Gal 3:13 580; Gal 3:14 693, 706
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Psalm 111:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6
R. (5) The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the Lord,
exquisite in all their delights.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
Majesty and glory are his work,
and his justice endures forever.
He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;
gracious and merciful is the Lord.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
He has given food to those who fear him;
he will forever be mindful of his covenant.
He has made known to his people the power of his works,
giving them the inheritance of the nations.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
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Commentary on Ps 111:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6
Psalm 111 is a song of praise and thanksgiving. In this selection we find the singer giving thanks for God’s guidance, and the Lord's works of creation and salvation. References to the covenant in these strophes relate directly to the promises made to Abraham and his descendants. The hymn professes God’s greatness, revealed in creation, and revered by all that live and have being.
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Luke 11:15-26
When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said:
“By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons,
he drives out demons.”
Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.
But he knew their thoughts and said to them,
“Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste
and house will fall against house.
And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?
For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.
If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul,
by whom do your own people drive them out?
Therefore they will be your judges.
But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons,
then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
When a strong man fully armed guards his palace,
his possessions are safe.
But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,
he takes away the armor on which he relied
and distributes the spoils.
Whoever is not with me is against me,
and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
“When an unclean spirit goes out of someone,
it roams through arid regions searching for rest
but, finding none, it says,
‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’
But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order.
Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits
more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there,
and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.”
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Commentary on Lk 11:15-26
In this selection from St. Luke’s Gospel, the Lord is challenged by the Pharisees who do not deny the reality of the miracle but want one of national importance (as befitting the royal messiah), as opposed to the one he performs – salvation for the poor and needy. His critics say that he has power over evil spirits because he is in league with Satan, their master. Jesus refutes this idea (he actually makes an allusion to Exodus 8:15 where, by the “finger of God,” Moses brought about God’s will, and the Egyptian magicians were unable to duplicate his actions) asking: “if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?” He then tells his audience that God is stronger than Satan, which is why he is able to cast out the evil spirits.
The passage concludes with a subtle but important message that says in essence: if an evil that tortures the spirit is removed, and strength from God is not substituted to fill it up, that evil will return, worse than before (see also 2 Peter 2:20).
CCC: Lk 11:20 700; Lk 11:21-22 385
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Reflection:
We have all heard the rhetorical question: “Are you a glass half-empty or half full kind of person?” We know this question refers to our attitudes – are we optimistic (glass is half full) or are we pessimistic (glass is half empty). Today we think about this question of attitudes with a very basic scientific axiom in mind; “nature abhors a vacuum.” This axiom means that any empty space will eventually be filled with something.
The Gospel begs us to see ourselves as sacred vessels or cups that must be filled. In the final verses of the Gospel, Jesus reminds us that if we have emptied ourselves of all that is evil, all that is bad or destructive, we must fill ourselves with what is good, or that which we worked so hard to dispel will come rushing back in. This message is not wasted upon those who run rehabilitation programs. People who recover from addictions to drugs or alcohol require something to fill up the holes in their lives left when the addictive behavior is eliminated. There must be something to fill up that void, and if faith is not put in place, the addiction will return.
In a more subtle way, each of us has these empty spaces. They may be spaces once filled with cravings or vocations (it’s no accident that people who retire and have no hobbies or outside interests die so quickly), but they exist. If we do not consciously fill these spaces with holiness, something else will fill them, likely something we do not want (I gained fifty pounds when I quit smoking my pipe).
Today the Lord asks us to fill ourselves with his love. Our spiritual selves must be filled with an active and lively faith. The more fully we embrace this active spirituality, the less room there will be for those thoughts and actions we do not want to enter our lives. It becomes a matter of disciplining ourselves to the faith we share. We must plan to pray or to act on our faith with charity and then follow our plan. If we do not, if we simply think: “Ah, that’s a great idea. I’ll try something like that.” But if we take no action on those thoughts, the space we want to fill remains empty -- and “nature abhors a vacuum.”
On this day, let our plan be to take some concrete action to fill ourselves with all God’s spiritual blessings. In doing so, may we also share those blessings with those with whom we have contact, that God’s love may be spread through us to the entire world.
Pax
[1] The picture used today is “St Michael Vanquishing the Devil” by Bonifacio Veronese, c. 1530.
[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.
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