Wednesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Jeremiah 1:1.4-10; Matthew 13:1-9)
The woman did not know what to say. Her granddaughter had just confessed that she wanted to move in with her boyfriend. Then the younger asked her grandmother whether she would disown her if she did. Such a scene of conflicting values is reminiscent of the era of the prophet Jeremiah featured in the first reading today.
Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Micah 7:14-15.19-20; Matthew 12:46-50)
Today’s gospel challenges the Catholic Christian for two
reasons. First, it seems to slight Jesus’
familiar relationships when he turns to his disciples as his “mother” and “brothers.” Second, it begs the question, if Mary was a
virgin before, during, and after giving birth to Jesus as the Church teaches, how
could he have “brothers´?
As a response it can be said that Jesus does not exclude his
blood relatives from a spiritual relationship with him. In fact, his mother was with him when he was
crucified. James and Jude, called “brothers”
of Jesus in the gospels, did join his disciples after his death. Regarding the question of Mary’s virginity, it
is possible that the word brother has been extended by the gospel
writers to include cousins. Or it may be
that the “brothers” were Jesus’ half-brothers by virtue of Joseph having a
family before he married Mary.
The import of this gospel is surely that we, disciples of
Jesus, have more than a casual relationship with him. When we do the will of his Father, we are as
close to him as we are to our most intimate siblings.
Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene
(II Corinthians 5:14-17; John 20:1-2.11-18)
Saint Mary Magdalene followed Jesus from Galilee to
Jerusalem. Because of passages like
today’s gospel, she has been considered one of Jesus’ intimate disciples. One popular novel of a generation ago even portrayed
Mary Magdalene as Jesus’ wife. However,
there is no shred of evidence for this kind of relationship in the New
Testament.
But, of course, Mary did love Jesus dearly. John’s Gospel shows her at the cross with
Jesus’ beloved disciple and his mother.
When she discovered that it was he to whom she was talking in the
garden, she wanted to verify her perception by touching him. However, it was not the time to hold onto
Jesus; it was time to proclaim him to the world. In fact, Jesus tells her to proclaim to his
disciples what she has seen.
After the consecration during Mass, we too profess Jesus’
death and resurrection. We may take a
cue from this gospel passage not to cling to Jesus figuratively by limiting our
devotion to prayer. Rather we should go
out and testify to the risen Lord with our lives. Our patience with others gives this
testimony.
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – b24 – July 21, 2024
(Jeremiah 23:1-6; Ephesians 2:13-18; Mark 6:30-34)
Instead of focusing on the gospel, today I would like to
comment on the second reading. You know that the second reading of Sunday Mass
is almost always taken from an apostolic letter. The letter in question now is
to the Ephesians, the people of a large city in Western Asia.
We are used to hearing that Paul wrote the Letter to the
Ephesians. And it's true, the letter begins with his name. However, Bible
scholars today say that the author was a disciple of Paul who used his name to
get readers' attention. (We do find this practice strange, but it was evidently
not frowned upon in ancient times.) Apparently, the letter was written after
Paul's death because it indicates a different situation from the time of his
martyrdom. However, the Letter to the Ephesians is considered a key work of the
New Testament.
The reading today emphasizes that Jesus Christ came to
reconcile the Jewish and Gentile peoples within himself. This concept is
expressed with one of the most beautiful phrases in all of Scripture: “…he is
our peace.” That is, Jesus' death on the cross brought about reconciliation
with God for both Gentiles and Jews. Furthermore, his death reconciled the two
peoples with each other.
Reconciliation with God was the result of the sacrifice of
the God-man. As a man, Jesus represents all humanity. Because he is God, his
giving of his life has universal ramifications. The penalty accumulated for the
sins of the world is now paid. All women and men are justified when they adhere
to Christ.
Jesus achieved reconciliation between people through his
bloody death. When the two peoples see their Savior, innocent of crime but
mercilessly hanged for their sins, they share their misery. It's like the final
scene of the drama Romeo and Juliet. The families of the protagonists recognize
that their mutual hostility caused the death of their beloved youth and promise
to always live in peace.
Furthermore, the resurrection and ascension of Jesus has
released the Holy Spirit to call all of us in the Church. Initiated by Baptism
and strengthened by the Eucharist, we see each other as brothers and sisters
called to unity in truth and love.
Jesus brings us peace by being a model of respect for
authority. He never pretended that he was greater than the civil law.
Progressives and traditionalists must accept the will of the majority in civil
matters. Jesus is also the cause of peace when we appeal to him to heal a
deteriorated situation. He has an infinite number of ways to intervene in human
activities. He should always be our first and last resort in trouble. Finally,
Jesus is our peace when we take to heart his commandment to love our enemies.
By doing small acts of kindness for those who see life differently we will be
seen as sincere in our concern for the common good.
Anyway, we don't have to be unduly concerned. Jesus has
conquered evil, although this is often veiled. His victory may take the rest of
time to become evident to all.
Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Isaiah
38:1-6.21-22.22,7-8; Matthew 12:1-8)
In today’s
gospel Jesus makes an outrageous claim.
He says, “… the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” In other words, Jesus, who frequently calls
himself “the Son of Man,” created the sabbath as well as all in heaven and on earth.
It is like saying that some bricklayer
built Yankee Stadium by himself.
Some wonder
whether Jesus ever said that he was Lord of the sabbath. They note that in the Gospel of Mark, likely written
before Matthew’s, Jesus gives another defense for the disciples’ Sabbath picking. He tells the Pharisees, “The sabbath was made
for man, not man for the sabbath.” According
to those commentators, Matthew changed the reason to indicate that Jesus really
was God’s Son with authority over God’s written law.
We should
not be scandalized when we hear that the evangelists changed the wording of
Jesus’ statements or even the basic idea of what Jesus said. They believed on the testimony of the
apostles that Jesus rose from the dead to give lasting life to his
followers. And they composed their
gospels to assure others of the same belief.
