8-20-09 to 8-25-09

Thursday 8-20-2009 of the 20th week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Judges 11: 29-38a Psalm 40: Matthew 22: 1-4
Psalm Response: " Here am Lord , I come to do Your will"

This unfortunate occurrence seems strange to us. Jephthah"s vow to offer the sacrifice of whomever greets him in his return from God's sponsored victory was rash and contrary to Jewish Law.( Lev. 8: 21; 20: 2-5; Deut. 12: 31; 18:10;Psalm 106: 37)
In their association with the Amorites, the Israelites took up the practice of human sacrifice as they did in their practice of paganism.
Jephthah's only child dies a virgin! Therefore, there is no prodigy to succeed him as ruler.
Luke 1: 38 picks up on her words to show Mary's obedience when she is requested to be the Mother of Jesus, in spite of her virginity.
" Let it be done to me according to Your word".

Here I am Lord, I come to do Your will. The theme of the Psalm and response is total reliance on God and not idolatry. God doesn't seek offerings, human or animal but rather, a contrite heart.
Herod sorrowfully had John the Baptist beheaded because he made a vow!
Do we offer human sacrifice? WHAT IS ABORTION?

Christ's comparison of the wedding feast to the call to heaven alludes to the invitation to all, 1st the Jews, then the rabble, us!
We are the outsiders; Not knowing God and living disparate lives!
The lack of a "wedding garment" symbolizes the acceptance of the salvation offered; but, lacking the penance to effect it!




Friday 8-21-2009 of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Ruth 1: 1-6, 14a-16, 22 Psalm 146: Matthew 22: 34-40
Response: " Praise the Lord, my soul!"

Famine seems a habit among God's people. Naomi and her husband and her two sons venture to Moab, Israel's traditional enemy to elude starvation. Her male relatives all die; her tow sons had married Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah. The famine abated and Orpah returned to her people while Ruth remained with Naomi stating, " Wherever you go I will go, your god will be my God and your people will be my people.
These famous words became the byword of many relationships.
Naomi's age precluded her from the possibility of conceiving from which her daughter could expect another husband.
Widows, especially old widows in the society of the time were considered expendable. Both Naomi and Ruth in returning to Bethlehem had little prospect of protection as would be theirs had their husbands lived. Naomi reluctantly allowed Ruth to join her and her kin.

Separate from the 1st reading, the psalm is an appeal and answer to the needs of orphans and widows in the society which generally lacked compassion on them.
God looks out for them!

Matthew 22: 34-40

Trying their hand at implicating Jesus in a blasphemy, they are thwarted by His answer.
Jesus plucked these two prime commands from the Torah to show His superior knowledge and to confirm the rule of Love superseding all love.
We would do well to emulate Jesus, thereby, dousing the fire of hatred all ways.



Saturday 8-22-2009 of the 20th week in ordinary time
Readings; Ruth 2: 1-3, 8-11; 4; 13-17 Psalm 128: Matthew 23: 1-12
Psalm Response: “ See how the Lord blesses those who fear Him”

When Naomi and Ruth return to Bethlehem, the famine had been replaced by a bounteous harvest. Ruth gets permission to glean from a field belonging to Boaz, a relation of Naomi’s husband. Boaz noted she was a relative and, therefore, under Levirate tradition he was eligible to pursue Ruth, if he were next in line to be able to claim her.
Suffice to say, after establishing his right, Boaz marries Ruth . She becomes the mother of Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David.
The line of Davidic succession penetrates all the way to Jesus as the son of David, through Joseph and Mary.
In Matthew’s genealogy, Ruth, along with Tamar, Rahab and Bathsheba, are gentile women who are responsible for the inclusion of Gentiles in God’s plan of salvation for all people.

‘Fear’ has the connotation of peril in our culture. However, in the Psalmist’s time, it meant ‘awe’, ‘honor’ and ‘adoration’.

In order to establish a line of succession for the Apostles when He had ascended. Jesus equates the Scribes and Pharisees as the successors of Moses; “taken the seat”.
However, the Scribes and the Pharisees laid burdens on the people by their interpretation of the Law while paying lip service to it, themselves.
Our heritage has an unbroken line of Popes from Peter to the present. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can be sure Christ’s gospel is upheld both in Spirit and truth for over 2000 years.



Monday 8-24-2009 of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Revelation 21: 9a-14 Psalm 145: John 1: 45-51
Psalm Response: “ Your friends make known O Lord, the glorious splendor of Your Kingdom”

Since we aren’t too familiar with the Old Testament, allusions to it are lost to us, when the New Testament writers use it to describe visions.
Thus, “The Bride” of the Lord uses the references from Ezekiel Chapters 40-47, as he describes the construction of Jerusalem in terms of its massiveness and its gates and ramparts.
The city of Jerusalem represents all those who believe, repent and are forgiven. They will be welcomed into God’s prepared mansions for them.


The psalmist the way John, God’s friend, will tell of His kindness1 God will welcome those who believe in Him and remain Holy. It will be glorious!

In the Gospel story, Philip, summons Nathaniel (Bartholomew) to meet Jesus of Nazareth . Bart discounts Jesus because He was born a Nazarene a hick town in Galilee. Bart is astounded by Jesus’ acknowledging him from Jesus’ vision of him under the fig tree before he ever met him.
Jesus knows each of us from our conception. Our immortal souls are entwined in Him. If we remain faithful.
Bartholomew went on to proselytize in India and suffered martyrdom for the sake of the Christian message.




Tuesday 8-25-2009 of the 21st Week in Ordinary Tiime
Readings: 1 Thessalonians 2: 1-8 Psalm 139 Matthew 23: 23-26
Psalm Response: “ You have searched me and You know me!”

Paul reminds the Thessalonians of his problems in Philippi where he was brought before the Roman Court because he was teaching of the one God in an area wrought with many pagan gods.
To confirm his sincerity, he refuses remuneration, to which, as an itinerant preacher he was entitled.
Rather he was only interested in their salvation, not personal aggrandizement. He poignantly shows his concern for them by describing himself to be like a nursing mother, concerned for heer baby, not herself.
Paul leaves us with the example of tenderness to emphasize his hope for them. He is willing to forsake personal gain to have them share in the good News.

The psalm is one of my favorites! It depicts the love of God aas caring for individuals as though they were the only one!

Christ is miffed at the Scribes and The Pharisees. Although conceding they were the rightful successors of Moses, they applied the letter of the Law to their constituents while paying only lip service to their own obligations.
When we profess our faith but, by our actions deny its proper application, we are the Scribes and Pharisees of the here and now!
Woe to us, if we do not turn ourselves around and, like Paul, we don’t accept revilement from those who oppose our faith!