July 30, 2009

Thursday July 30, 2009 of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time
The Feast of St. Peter Chrysologus (Golden Worded)
Readings: Exodus40: 16-21, 34-36 Psalm 64: 3-6, 8a, 11 Matthew 13: 47-53
Psalm Response: “ How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!”

Today of the feast of the Golden Voiced (St. John Chryologus) who could cause his audience to stand rapt by his voice and logic as he proclaimed the Gospel and explained it to his hearers.
Oh, that he were here to explain this passage of the Old Testament as the meaning is remote to our culture although it may have been clear to the first readers.
It appears Moses was enjoined by God to build a more permanent place for the Ark of the Covenant so it wouldn’t be subject to the elements and possible desecration by those misunderstanding its special place in the hearts of the Jews.
As the passage relates, each step in the construction was sanctioned by God Himself.
The ‘cloud’, to them, manifested the presence of God by day. During the darkened hours a fire appeared within the cloud to symbolize His presence to them and us 24/7!

The psalm praises God’s sanctuary as a place where we could converse with God. Although we may not here an audible reply, we can be sure He responds as He promised He would and God does not break promises. However, we must listen intently or miss the response.

The metaphor of the fishing net thrown into the sea and bringing forth an abundance of all kinds of fish implies, when the ‘Day” of Our Lord comes about, we, like the fish, will be separated between the good and the wicked. Let us pray we will be among the favored ones and not among the chaff.
The last verses imply both the Old and the New Testaments will be honored and referred to when His Kingdom, the Church comes into being.