Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope
Lectionary: 420
Lectionary: 420
The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man,
say to the prince of Tyre:
Thus says the Lord GOD:
Because you are haughty of heart,
you say, "A god am I!
I occupy a godly throne
in the heart of the sea!"—
And yet you are a man, and not a god,
however you may think yourself like a god.
Oh yes, you are wiser than Daniel,
there is no secret that is beyond you.
By your wisdom and your intelligence
you have made riches for yourself;
You have put gold and silver
into your treasuries.
By your great wisdom applied to your trading
you have heaped up your riches;
your heart has grown haughty from your riches–
therefore thus says the Lord GOD:
Because you have thought yourself
to have the mind of a god,
Therefore I will bring against you
foreigners, the most barbarous of nations.
They shall draw their swords
against your beauteous wisdom,
they shall run them through your splendid apparel.
They shall thrust you down to the pit, there to die
a bloodied corpse, in the heart of the sea.
Will you then say, "I am a god!"
when you face your murderers?
No, you are man, not a god,
handed over to those who will slay you.
You shall die the death of the uncircumcised
at the hands of foreigners,
for I have spoken, says the Lord GOD.
say to the prince of Tyre:
Thus says the Lord GOD:
Because you are haughty of heart,
you say, "A god am I!
I occupy a godly throne
in the heart of the sea!"—
And yet you are a man, and not a god,
however you may think yourself like a god.
Oh yes, you are wiser than Daniel,
there is no secret that is beyond you.
By your wisdom and your intelligence
you have made riches for yourself;
You have put gold and silver
into your treasuries.
By your great wisdom applied to your trading
you have heaped up your riches;
your heart has grown haughty from your riches–
therefore thus says the Lord GOD:
Because you have thought yourself
to have the mind of a god,
Therefore I will bring against you
foreigners, the most barbarous of nations.
They shall draw their swords
against your beauteous wisdom,
they shall run them through your splendid apparel.
They shall thrust you down to the pit, there to die
a bloodied corpse, in the heart of the sea.
Will you then say, "I am a god!"
when you face your murderers?
No, you are man, not a god,
handed over to those who will slay you.
You shall die the death of the uncircumcised
at the hands of foreigners,
for I have spoken, says the Lord GOD.
Responsorial
Psalm DT 32:26-27AB, 27CD-28,
30, 35CD-36AB
R. (39c) It is I
who deal death and give life.
"I would have said, 'I will make an end of them
and blot out their name from men's memories,'
Had I not feared the insolence of their enemies,
feared that these foes would mistakenly boast."
R. It is I who deal death and give life.
"'Our own hand won the victory;
the LORD had nothing to do with it.'"
For they are a people devoid of reason,
having no understanding.
R. It is I who deal death and give life.
"How could one man rout a thousand,
or two men put ten thousand to flight,
Unless it was because their Rock sold them
and the LORD delivered them up?"
R. It is I who deal death and give life.
Close at hand is the day of their disaster,
and their doom is rushing upon them!
Surely, the LORD shall do justice for his people;
on his servants he shall have pity.
R. It is I who deal death and give life.
"I would have said, 'I will make an end of them
and blot out their name from men's memories,'
Had I not feared the insolence of their enemies,
feared that these foes would mistakenly boast."
R. It is I who deal death and give life.
"'Our own hand won the victory;
the LORD had nothing to do with it.'"
For they are a people devoid of reason,
having no understanding.
R. It is I who deal death and give life.
"How could one man rout a thousand,
or two men put ten thousand to flight,
Unless it was because their Rock sold them
and the LORD delivered them up?"
R. It is I who deal death and give life.
Close at hand is the day of their disaster,
and their doom is rushing upon them!
Surely, the LORD shall do justice for his people;
on his servants he shall have pity.
R. It is I who deal death and give life.
Alleluia2 COR 8:9
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich
So that by his poverty you might become rich.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich
So that by his poverty you might become rich.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMT 19:23-30
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich
to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Again I say to you,
it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God."
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,
"Who then can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said,
"For men this is impossible,
but for God all things are possible."
Then Peter said to him in reply,
"We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?"
Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age,
when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,
will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters
or father or mother or children or lands
for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,
and will inherit eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."
"Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich
to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Again I say to you,
it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God."
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,
"Who then can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said,
"For men this is impossible,
but for God all things are possible."
Then Peter said to him in reply,
"We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?"
Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age,
when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,
will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters
or father or mother or children or lands
for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,
and will inherit eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."
Meditation: Who can enter the kingdom of
heaven?
Was Jesus really against wealth (Matthew 19:23)? And
why did he issue such a strong warning to the rich (as well as to the rest of
us who desire to be rich)? We know that Jesus was not opposed to wealth per
se, nor was he opposed to the wealthy. He had many friends who were
well-to-do, including some notorious tax collectors! One even became an
apostle! Jesus' warning reiterated the wisdom of the Old Testament:
"Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is
perverse in his ways" (Proverbs 28:6; see also Psalm 37:16). "Do not
wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to desist" (Proverbs
23:4).
We are all poor beggars in need of God
Jesus seems to say that it is nearly impossible for the rich to live as citizens of God's kingdom. The camel was regarded as the largest animal known by the Jews where Jesus lived and taught. The "eye of the needle" could be interpreted quite literally or it could figuratively describe the narrow and low gate of the city walls which was used by travelers when the larger public gate was locked at night. Normal sized people had to "lower" themselves to enter that gate. A camel would literally have to kneel and crawl through it. Until we humbly kneel before the Lord and acknowledge our total need and dependence on him, we will not find true peace, security, and happiness that can sustain us now and forever. Only God alone can satisfy our deepest need and longing.
Jesus seems to say that it is nearly impossible for the rich to live as citizens of God's kingdom. The camel was regarded as the largest animal known by the Jews where Jesus lived and taught. The "eye of the needle" could be interpreted quite literally or it could figuratively describe the narrow and low gate of the city walls which was used by travelers when the larger public gate was locked at night. Normal sized people had to "lower" themselves to enter that gate. A camel would literally have to kneel and crawl through it. Until we humbly kneel before the Lord and acknowledge our total need and dependence on him, we will not find true peace, security, and happiness that can sustain us now and forever. Only God alone can satisfy our deepest need and longing.
Augustine of Hippo reminds us that we are all poor
beggars of God.
"Even though you possess plenty, you
are still poor. You abound in temporal possessions, but you need things
eternal. You listen to the needs of a human beggar, yet you yourself are a
beggar of God. What you do with those who beg from you is what God will do with
his beggar. You are filled and you are empty. Fill your empty neighbor from
your fullness, so that your emptiness may be filled with God's fullness."
(Sermon 56,9)
Possessions can create false security and independence
Why is Jesus so cautious about wealth? Wealth can make us falsely independent. The church at Laodicea was warned about their attitude towards wealth and a false sense of security: "For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing" (Revelations 3:17). Wealth can also lead us into hurtful desires and selfishness (see 1 Timothy 6:9-10). Look at the lesson Jesus gave about the rich man and his sons who refused to aid the poor man Lazarus (see Luke 16:19ff). They neglected to serve God. Only those who put their trust in God and who depend on him, and who share what they have with those in need, will find true peace, security, and happiness which lead to everlasting life and joy in God's kingdom.
Why is Jesus so cautious about wealth? Wealth can make us falsely independent. The church at Laodicea was warned about their attitude towards wealth and a false sense of security: "For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing" (Revelations 3:17). Wealth can also lead us into hurtful desires and selfishness (see 1 Timothy 6:9-10). Look at the lesson Jesus gave about the rich man and his sons who refused to aid the poor man Lazarus (see Luke 16:19ff). They neglected to serve God. Only those who put their trust in God and who depend on him, and who share what they have with those in need, will find true peace, security, and happiness which lead to everlasting life and joy in God's kingdom.
Where is your treasure?
The Scriptures give us a paradox - we lose what we keep and we gain what we give away. Generosity will be amply repaid, both in this life and in the age to come (Proverbs 3:9-10, Luke 6:38). Jesus offers us an incomparable treasure which no money can buy and no thief can steal. The thing we most set our heart on is our highest treasure. Material wealth will shackle us, like a bound slave, to this earth unless we guard our heart and set our treasure in God and his kingdom of everlasting life and joy. Where is your treasure?
The Scriptures give us a paradox - we lose what we keep and we gain what we give away. Generosity will be amply repaid, both in this life and in the age to come (Proverbs 3:9-10, Luke 6:38). Jesus offers us an incomparable treasure which no money can buy and no thief can steal. The thing we most set our heart on is our highest treasure. Material wealth will shackle us, like a bound slave, to this earth unless we guard our heart and set our treasure in God and his kingdom of everlasting life and joy. Where is your treasure?
"Lord Jesus, you have captured our hearts and
opened to us the treasures of heaven. May you always be my treasure and delight
and may nothing else keep me from giving you my all."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Who can enter the kingdom of heaven? by John Chrysostom, 347-407 A.D.
"What then did Christ say? 'How difficult it will
be for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.' He was not criticizing money
itself but the wills of those who are taken captive by it. If it will be
difficult for the rich, how much more so for the avaricious! For if stinginess
with one’s own wealth is an impediment to gaining the kingdom, think how much
fire is amassed for taking someone else's. But why does he say that it is hard
for the rich man to enter the kingdom, to the disciples, who were poor and had
nothing? He teaches them not to be ashamed of their poverty and, as it were,
gives the reason why he did not allow them to possess anything. After saying it
is hard, he also shows them that it is impossible, and not simply impossible
but even in an exaggerated way impossible. He shows this from the comparison of
the camel and the needle: 'It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of
a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.' Hence Christ
demonstrates that there is a significant reward for the wealthy who can
practice self-denial. He also said that this had to be the work of God, that he
might show that great grace is needed for anyone who is going to achieve
it." (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF
MATTHEW, HOMILY 63.2)
TUESDAY,
AUGUST 21, MATTHEW 19:23-30
(Ezekiel 28:1-10; Deuteronomy 32)
(Ezekiel 28:1-10; Deuteronomy 32)
KEY VERSE: "Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven" (v. 23).
TO KNOW: Jesus told a wealthy man that to follow the path to perfection, it was necessary to surrender his material possessions and give to the poor. When the young man was unable to do this, it provided Jesus with an opportunity to teach his disciples about wealth. He said that riches could be an obstacle to entering the reign of God. He used the humorous metaphor of a camel trying to pass through the narrow eye of a needle to illustrate the difficulty of this task. The disciples were overwhelmed by what seemed impossible and cried out, "Who then can be saved?" (v. 25b). Jesus answered that nothing was impossible with God. Peter boasted that he and the disciples had given up everything to follow Jesus, and asked how they would be rewarded. Jesus explained that the reign of God was freely given; it was a gift that could not be earned. But he promised them that in the age to come they would share his authority and sit with him in judgment of God's people.
TO LOVE: Is there anything I am unwilling to relinquish for the sake of God's reign?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, you are more precious than any earthly possession I have.
Memorial of Saint Pius X, pope
Giuseppe Melchore Sarto was born in 1835, in Riese near Venice. He entered the seminary in Padua, and was ordained at the age of 23. Due to his pastoral and administrative abilities, his bishop named him spiritual director of the diocesan major seminary and chancellor of the archdiocese. After nine years as bishop he was transferred to Venice as the city's patriarch and cardinal. After the death of Leo XIII the conclave of 1903 elected pope despite his hesitancy to accept the office. The new pope assumed the name Pius X taking as his motto the passage from Paul, "To restore all things in Christ, that Christ might be all and in all" (I Cor. 15:28), a goal which was particularly important during that period of the Church's emergence into the modern world. His profound devotion to the Blessed Sacrament prompted a universal appeal to all Catholics to a frequent reception of Holy Communion. He also exhorted catechists to prepare the young for an early reception of the Eucharist. It was his love for the liturgy which caused him to be remembered as the pope who began modern liturgical reform. Pius also founded the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome which, to this day, is an important source of scholarship. His sorrow over the international conflict that led to Word War I led to his death on August 20, 1914, at the age of 79. He was the first pope in modern times to be canonized. His will read: "I was born poor; I lived poor; I wish to die poor."
Tuesday 21
August 2018
St Pius X.
Ezekiel 28:1-10. Deuteronomy 32:26-28, 30, 35-36. Matthew
19:23-30.
It is I who deal death and give life. Deuteronomy 32:26-28, 30,
35-36.
‘For God, everything is possible.’
We can get hung up on the fate of the rich not gaining access to
God’s kingdom and the difficulty of a camel getting through the eye
of a needle.
Perhaps we struggle with the seeming dichotomy of desiring
riches or being part of God’s kingdom. The two would seem to be mutually
exclusive. Yet here Jesus reiterates to the disciples, and to us, one of
the basic truths of the kingdom.
Entering the kingdom, without the baggage of our perceived
‘riches’, whatever they may be, is to gain all the riches and prosperity a
loving Father longs to shower on us all. Our reward for trusting the
prodigality of our Father is to be repaid a hundredfold.
Saint Pius X
Saint of the Day for August 21
(June 2, 1835 – August 20, 1914)
 |
| Portrait of Pope Saint Pius X | Library of Congress | Tryphosa Bates-Batcheller |
Saint Pius X’s Story
Pope
Pius X is perhaps best remembered for his encouragement of the frequent
reception of Holy Communion, especially by children.
The
second of 10 children in a poor Italian family, Joseph Sarto became Pius X at
age 68. He was one of the 20th century’s greatest popes.
Ever
mindful of his humble origin, Pope Pius stated, “I was born poor, I lived poor,
I will die poor.” He was embarrassed by some of the pomp of the papal court.
“Look how they have dressed me up,” he said in tears to an old friend. To
another, “It is a penance to be forced to accept all these practices. They lead
me around surrounded by soldiers like Jesus when he was seized in Gethsemani.”
Interested
in politics, Pope Pius encouraged Italian Catholics to become more politically
involved. One of his first papal acts was to end the supposed right of
governments to interfere by veto in papal elections—a practice that reduced the
freedom of the 1903 conclave which had elected him.
In
1905, when France renounced its agreement with the Holy See and threatened
confiscation of Church property if governmental control of Church affairs were
not granted, Pius X courageously rejected the demand.
While
he did not author a famous social encyclical as his predecessor had done, he
denounced the ill treatment of indigenous peoples on the plantations of Peru,
sent a relief commission to Messina after an earthquake, and sheltered refugees
at his own expense.
On
the 11th anniversary of his election as pope, Europe was plunged into World War
I. Pius had foreseen it, but it killed him. “This is the last affliction the
Lord will visit on me. I would gladly give my life to save my poor children
from this ghastly scourge.” He died a few weeks after the war began, and was
canonized in 1954.
Reflection
His
humble background was no obstacle in relating to a personal God and to people
whom he loved genuinely. Pius X gained his strength, his gentleness and warmth
for people from the source of all gifts, the Spirit of Jesus. In contrast, we
often feel embarrassed by our backgrounds. Shame makes us prefer to remain
aloof from people whom we perceive as superior. If we are in a superior
position, on the other hand, we often ignore simpler people. Yet we, too, have
to help “restore all things in Christ,” especially the wounded people of God.
LECTIO DIVINA: MATTHEW
19,23-30
Lectio Divina:
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
God our Father,
may we love you in all things and above
all things
and reach the joy you have prepared for
us
beyond all our imagining.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus
Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 19,23-30
Jesus said to his disciples, 'In truth I
tell you, it is hard for someone rich to enter the kingdom of Heaven. Yes, I
tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for someone rich to enter the kingdom of Heaven.'
When the disciples heard this they were
astonished. 'Who can be saved, then?' they said. Jesus gazed at them. 'By human
resources', he told them, 'this is impossible; for God everything is possible.'
Then Peter answered and said, 'Look, we
have left everything and followed you. What are we to have, then?'
Jesus said to them, 'In truth I tell
you, when everything is made new again and the Son of man is seated on his
throne of glory, you yourselves will sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve
tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father,
mother, children or land for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times
as much, and also inherit eternal life.
'Many who are first will be last, and
the last, first.'
3) Reflection
• The Gospel today is the immediate
continuation of yesterday’s Gospel. It gives the commentary of Jesus regarding
the negative reaction of the young rich man.
• Matthew 19, 23-24: The camel and the
eye of the needle. After the young man left, Jesus comments his decision and
says: “In truth I tell you, it is hard for someone rich to enter the kingdom of
Heaven. Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye
of a needle than for someone rich to enter the kingdom of Heaven”. Two observations
concerning this affirmation of Jesus: a) the proverb of the camel and of the
eye of the needle was used to say that something was impossible and
unthinkable, humanly speaking. b) The expression “that someone rich enters the
kingdom of Heaven”, is a question, in the first place, not of entrance into
Heaven after death, but of entering into the community around Jesus. And even
now this is true. It is very difficult for the rich to enter and to feel at
home in the communities which try to live the Gospel according to the demands
of Jesus and which try to be open to the poor, the migrants and to those
excluded by society.
• Matthew 19, 25-26: The fear of the
disciples. The young man had observed the commandments, but without
understanding the reason for the observance. Something similar was happening
with the disciples. When Jesus called them, they did exactly the same thing
which Jesus had asked the young man: they left everything and followed Jesus
(Mt 4, 20.22). But they were astonished at this affirmation of Jesus concerning
the impossibility for someone rich to enter the Kingdom of God. This was a sign
that they had not understood well the response which Jesus had given to the
young rich man: “Go, sell all you possess, give it to the poor and then come
and follow me!” Because if they had understood, they would not have remained so
surprised by the requests of Jesus. When wealth or the desire for riches
occupies the heart and the look, the person does not succeed to understand the
sense of life and of the Gospel. God alone can help! “This is impossible for
man, but for God all is possible!” "
• Matthew 19, 27: The question of Peter.
The background of the misunderstanding of the disciples appears in the question
asked by Peter: “Look, we have left everything and have followed you. What are
we to have then?” In spite of the beautiful generosity of abandoning
everything, they still have the old mentality. They have abandoned everything
in order to get something in exchange. They still had not understood well the
sense of service and of gratuity.
• Matthew 19, 28-30: The response of
Jesus. "In truth I tell you, when everything is made new again and the Son
of Man is seated on his throne of glory you yourselves will sit on twelve
thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses,
brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name
will receive a hundred times as much and also inherit eternal life. Many, who
are first, will be last, and the last, first”. In this response, Jesus
describes the new world, the foundation of which had been placed by his work
and that of the disciples. Jesus stresses three important points: (a) The
disciples will sit on twelve thrones next to Jesus to judge the twelve tribes
of Israel (cfr. Rev 4, 4). (b) In exchange they will receive many things which
they had abandoned: houses, brothers, sisters, mother, children land and will
inherit eternal life. (c) The future world will be the reverse of the present
world. There, the last ones will be the first ones and the first ones will be
the last ones. The community around Jesus is the seed and the manifestation of
this new world. Up until now the small community of the poor continues to be
the seed and manifestation of the Kingdom.
• Every time that in the history of the
people of the Bible a new movement arises to renew the Covenant, it begins by
re-establishing the rights of the poor, of the excluded. Without that, the
Covenant will not be reconstructed. This is the sense and the reason for the
insertion and the mission of the community of Jesus, in the midst of the poor.
It draws from the roots and it inaugurates the New Covenant.
4) Personal questions
• To abandon houses, brothers, sisters,
father, mother, children fields, for the sake of Jesus: how does this take
place in your life? What have you already received in exchange?
• Today, the majority of poor countries
is not of a Christian religion, while the majority of the rich countries are.
How can the saying be applied today that it is easier for a camel to pass
through the eye of a needle?
5) Concluding Prayer
Even were I to walk in a ravine as dark
as death
I should fear no danger,
for you Lord, are at my side.
Your staff and your crook are there to soothe me. (Ps 23,4)
I should fear no danger,
for you Lord, are at my side.
Your staff and your crook are there to soothe me. (Ps 23,4)
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét