Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 379
Lectionary: 379
Seek good and not
evil,
that you may live;
Then truly will the LORD, the God of hosts,
be with you as you claim!
Hate evil and love good,
and let justice prevail at the gate;
Then it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts,
will have pity on the remnant of Joseph.
I hate, I spurn your feasts, says the LORD,
I take no pleasure in your solemnities;
Your cereal offerings I will not accept,
nor consider your stall-fed peace offerings.
Away with your noisy songs!
I will not listen to the melodies of your harps.
But if you would offer me burnt offerings,
then let justice surge like water,
and goodness like an unfailing stream.
that you may live;
Then truly will the LORD, the God of hosts,
be with you as you claim!
Hate evil and love good,
and let justice prevail at the gate;
Then it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts,
will have pity on the remnant of Joseph.
I hate, I spurn your feasts, says the LORD,
I take no pleasure in your solemnities;
Your cereal offerings I will not accept,
nor consider your stall-fed peace offerings.
Away with your noisy songs!
I will not listen to the melodies of your harps.
But if you would offer me burnt offerings,
then let justice surge like water,
and goodness like an unfailing stream.
Responsorial Psalm PS 50:7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13, 16BC-17
R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of
God.
“Hear, my people, and I will speak;
Israel, I will testify against you;
God, your God, am I.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.
I take from your house no bullock,
no goats out of your fold.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“For mine are all the animals of the forests,
beasts by the thousand on my mountains.
I know all the birds of the air,
and whatever stirs in the plains, belongs to me.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“If I were hungry, I should not tell you,
for mine are the world and its fullness.
Do I eat the flesh of strong bulls,
or is the blood of goats my drink?”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Hear, my people, and I will speak;
Israel, I will testify against you;
God, your God, am I.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.
I take from your house no bullock,
no goats out of your fold.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“For mine are all the animals of the forests,
beasts by the thousand on my mountains.
I know all the birds of the air,
and whatever stirs in the plains, belongs to me.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“If I were hungry, I should not tell you,
for mine are the world and its fullness.
Do I eat the flesh of strong bulls,
or is the blood of goats my drink?”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
Gospel MT 8:28-34
When Jesus came to
the territory of the Gadarenes,
two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him.
They were so savage that no one could travel by that road.
They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God?
Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?”
Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding.
The demons pleaded with him,
“If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.”
And he said to them, “Go then!”
They came out and entered the swine,
and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea
where they drowned.
The swineherds ran away,
and when they came to the town they reported everything,
including what had happened to the demoniacs.
Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus,
and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.
two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him.
They were so savage that no one could travel by that road.
They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God?
Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?”
Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding.
The demons pleaded with him,
“If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.”
And he said to them, “Go then!”
They came out and entered the swine,
and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea
where they drowned.
The swineherds ran away,
and when they came to the town they reported everything,
including what had happened to the demoniacs.
Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus,
and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.
Meditation: Jesus
frees those who are bound up
Do you
ever feel driven by forces beyond your strength? Two men who were possessed and
driven mad by the force of many evil spirits found refuge in the one person who
could set them free. Both Mark and Luke in their gospel accounts of this
incident describe this demonic force as a legion (Mark 5:9 and Luke 8:30). A
legion is no small force - but an army 6,000 strong! For the people of
Palestine who were often hemmed in by occupied forces, a legion - whether human
or supernatural - struck terror! Legions at their wildest committed
unmentionable atrocities. Our age has also witnessed untold crimes and mass
destruction at the hands of possessed rulers and their armies.
No
force can withstand Christ's power and authority
What is more remarkable - the destructive force of these driven and possessed men, or their bended knee at Jesus' feet imploring mercy and release (Luke 8:28)? God's word reminds us that no destructive force can keep anyone from the peace and safety which God offers to those who seek his help. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you. ..Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your habitation (Psalm 91:7,9).
What is more remarkable - the destructive force of these driven and possessed men, or their bended knee at Jesus' feet imploring mercy and release (Luke 8:28)? God's word reminds us that no destructive force can keep anyone from the peace and safety which God offers to those who seek his help. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you. ..Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your habitation (Psalm 91:7,9).
Jesus
took pity on these men who were overtaken by a legion of evil spirits. The
destructive force of these demons is evident for all who can see as they flee
and destroy a herd of swine. After Jesus freed the demoniacs the whole city
came out to meet him. No one had demonstrated such power and authority against
the forces of Satan as Jesus did. They feared Jesus as a result and begged him
to leave them. Why would they not want Jesus to stay? Perhaps the price for
such liberation from the power of evil and sin was more than they wanted to
pay.
Jesus
will free us from anything that binds us
The Lord Jesus is ready and willing to free us from anything that binds us and that keeps us from the love of God. Are you willing to part with anything that might keep you from his love and saving power?
The Lord Jesus is ready and willing to free us from anything that binds us and that keeps us from the love of God. Are you willing to part with anything that might keep you from his love and saving power?
"Lord
Jesus, unbind me that I may love you wholly and walk in the freedom of your way
of love and holiness. May there be nothing which keeps me from the joy of
living in your presence."
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Casting out Evil 2014-07-02 |
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Matthew
8: 28-34
When
Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming
from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one could travel by that
road. They cried out, "What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you
come here to torment us before the appointed time?" Some distance away a
herd of many swine was feeding. The demons pleaded with him, "If you
drive us out, send us into the herd of swine." And he said to them,
"Go then!" They came out and entered the swine, and the whole herd
rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned. The swineherds
ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including
what had happened to the demoniacs. Thereupon the whole town came out to meet
Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.
Introductory
Prayer: Lord, I believe that you are present within me. I want
to live this day close to you and see everything through the prism of faith.
I want to put my trust and confidence in you. You will grant me all the
graces I need today. All I have to do is ask. I want to love you with all my
heart, especially in charity, giving myself to everyone I meet today so that
I can communicate your love to them.
Petition: Lord,
help me defeat the evil of sin in my life.
1.
Sin Keeps Us Away from God: We learn in the
catechism that mortal sin takes sanctifying grace away from our soul and cuts
us off from God. Today’s Gospel illustrates that separation, as the two
possessed men keep their distance from Christ and want him to leave them alone.
Our sin, whether mortal or venial, pushes God away from our lives. It is like
telling him that we do not need him, that we do not want him in our lives.
Have I willfully accepted sin in my life, thereby shunning God? Even in the
slightest way?
2. Sin
Hurts Our Relationships with Others: Clearly the evil
of the possessed men has hurt their relationship with their fellow men. They
can no longer be a part of their community, but have to live apart from
society. Every sin, in a way, is a “social sin” because it has social
consequences. Even our most personal sins – in our thoughts – injure the
Mystical Body of the Church, and so have an effect on others. Those sins that
others see are even greater, because they cause scandal and could lead others
into sin. Christ is inviting us to reject sin. Let us join him and cast out
the devil from our daily lives.
3.
Sin Harms Us, Too: The evil that we do is harmful above all to
ourselves. The demoniacs often gashed and cut themselves. The physical injury
to their bodies signifies a deeper spiritual affliction. Our souls are made
for God, and so separation from him is truly heart-wrenching. Sin avoids
presenting its ugly face, but after we have committed it, our conscience
begins to bother us. Then we realize that our wrong choice has separated us
from the One we are drawn to by nature. We feel the pain of separation and of
that rupture which divides us interiorly.
Conversation
with Christ: Lord, help me to cast out sin from my life. I need your
help, since I cannot do it on my own. Just like the demoniacs who longed to
be freed from their torment, I also long to defeat sin in my life. So often I
am overpowered by my passions or the temptations of the devil. Grant me the
strength I need, Lord.
Resolution: I
will promise Christ that today I will reject one specific sin or imperfection
that I usually fall into.
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WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, MATTHEW 8:28-34
(Amos 5:14-15, 21-24; Psalm 34)
(Amos 5:14-15, 21-24; Psalm 34)
KEY VERSE: "They cried out, `What have you to do with us, Son of God?'" (v 29).
READING: After Jesus calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee (v 23-27) he and his disciples arrived on the shore in the region of the Gadarenes (Gerasenes in Mk 5:1, Lk 8:26). In this rugged, pagan territory, Jesus was confronted by two demoniacs (just one in Mark and Luke's gospels). The demons recognized Jesus as the Son of God who had come to establish God's reign and destroy the powers of evil. When they tried to block his mission to proclaim the gospel, Jesus sent these vile spirits into a herd of swine (considered "unclean" by the Jews). The animals rushed headlong over a cliff and were drowned in the sea, a symbol of destructive forces (Gn 1:1-2). However, the people were more fearful of Jesus' power than the presence of evil, and they beseeched him to leave them.
REFLECTING: Am I an instrument of liberation or oppression of others?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, free me from any evil that attempts to corrupt my life.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
Why Wait?
In our consumption-driven society, it’s easy to focus on how we
look on the outside. Better to focus on the shape of our interior closet and
spiritual growth. And we don’t have to wait for a department store sale or a
bonus at work to do it.
To the upright I will show the saving power of God
The story of the demoniacs presents a picture of the Lord who
rescues us.As strange and dramatic as this scene was, perhaps even more strange was the reaction of the community. You would think that they would have marvelled at Jesus’ ability to heal two people. Were they angry? Did they value their herd of pigs more than people? Instead of perceiving Jesus as a person who exercised God’s merciful power, they saw him as a threat. Rather than experiencing peace in Jesus’ presence, they felt anxiety and fear. Many of us do the same. As we open ourselves to the divine life that God has placed in us, as we place our trust in Jesus, he will heal our minds and hearts. He will teach us the truth, and in his truth we will become free and whole too. Lord, fill my mind and heart with your truth and make me whole.
July
2
St. Oliver Plunkett
(1629-1681)
St. Oliver Plunkett
(1629-1681)
The name of today's saint is especially familiar to the Irish and
the English—and with good reason. The English martyred Oliver Plunkett for
defending the faith in his native Ireland during a period of severe
persecution.
Born in
County Meath in 1629, he studied for the priesthood in Rome and was ordained
there in 1654. After some years of teaching and service to the poor of Rome he
was appointed Archbishop of Armagh in Ireland. Four years later, in 1673, a new
wave of anti-Catholic persecution began, forcing Archbishop Plunkett to do his
pastoral work in secrecy and disguise and to live in hiding. Meanwhile, many of
his priests were sent into exile; schools were closed; Church services had to
be held in secret and convents and seminaries were suppressed. As archbishop,
he was viewed as ultimately responsible for any rebellion or political activity
among his parishioners.
Archbishop
Plunkett was arrested and imprisoned in Dublin Castle in 1679, but his trial
was moved to London. After deliberating for 15 minutes, a jury found him guilty
of fomenting revolt. He was hanged, drawn and quartered in July 1681.
Pope Paul
VI canonized Oliver Plunkett in 1975.
LECTIO DIVINA:
MATTHEW 8,28-34
Lectio:
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Father,
you call your children
to walk in the light of Christ.
Free us from darkness
and keep us in the radiance of your truth.
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.
you call your children
to walk in the light of Christ.
Free us from darkness
and keep us in the radiance of your truth.
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 8,28-34
When Jesus reached the territory of the Gadarenes on the other
side, two demoniacs came towards him out of the tombs -- they were so
dangerously violent that nobody could use that path. Suddenly they shouted,
'What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before
the time?'
Now some distance away there was a large herd of pigs feeding, and the devils pleaded with Jesus, 'If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.'
And he said to them, 'Go then,' and they came out and made for the pigs; and at that the whole herd charged down the cliff into the lake and perished in the water. The herdsmen ran off and made for the city, where they told the whole story, including what had happened to the demoniacs. Suddenly the whole city set out to meet Jesus; and as soon as they saw him they implored him to leave their neighbourhood.
Now some distance away there was a large herd of pigs feeding, and the devils pleaded with Jesus, 'If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.'
And he said to them, 'Go then,' and they came out and made for the pigs; and at that the whole herd charged down the cliff into the lake and perished in the water. The herdsmen ran off and made for the city, where they told the whole story, including what had happened to the demoniacs. Suddenly the whole city set out to meet Jesus; and as soon as they saw him they implored him to leave their neighbourhood.
3) Reflection
• Today’s Gospel stresses the power of Jesus over the devil. In
our text, the devil or the power of evil is associated to three things: 1) To
the cemetery, the place of the dead. To death which kills
life! 2) To the pig, that was considered an impure animal. The
impurity which separates from God! 3) With the sea, which was
considered like the symbol of chaos before creation? The chaos which
destroys nature. The Gospel of Mark, from which Matthew takes his
information, associates the power of evil to a fourth element which is the word Legion, (Mc
5, 9), the name of the army of the Roman Empire. The Empire oppressed and
exploited the people. Thus, it is understood that the victory of Jesus
over the Devil had an enormous importance for the life of the communities of
the years 70’s, the time when Matthew wrote his Gospel. The communities lived
oppressed and marginalized, because of the official ideology of the Roman
Empire and of the Pharisees which was renewed. The same significance and the
same importance continue to be valid today.
• Matthew 8, 28: The force of evil oppresses, ill-treats and alienates persons.This first verse describes the situation of the people before the coming of Jesus. In describing the behaviour of the two possessed persons, the Evangelist associates the force of evil to the cemetery and to death. It is a mortal power, without a goal, without direction, without control and a destructing power, which causes everyone to fear. It deprives the persons from their conscience, from self control and autonomy.
• Matthew 8, 29: Before the simple presence of Jesus the force of evil breaks up and disintegrates. Here is described the first contact between Jesus and the two possessed men. We see that there is total disproportion. The power, that at first seemed to be so strong, melts and disintegrates before Jesus. They shouted:“What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come to torture us before the time?” they become aware that they are loosing their power.
• Matthew 8, 30-32: The power of evil is impure and has no autonomy, nor consistency. The Devil does not have power over his movements. It only obtains the power to enter into the pigs with the permission of Jesus! Once they enter into the pigs, the whole herd charged down the cliff into the sea and perished in the water. According to the opinion of the people, the pig was a symbol of impurity which prevented the human being to relate with God and of feeling accepted by him. The sea was the symbol of the existing chaos before creation and which according to the belief of that time, continued to threatened life. This episode of the pigs which threw themselves into the sea is strange and difficult to understand. But the message is very clear: before Jesus, the power of evil has no autonomy, no consistency. Anyone who believes in Jesus has already conquered the power of evil and should not fear!
• Matthew 8, 33-34: The reaction of the people of that place. The herdsmen of the pigs went to the city and told the story to the people, and they all set out to go and meet Jesus. Mark says that they saw the “possessed” man sitting down, dressed and with perfect judgment” (Mk 5, 15). But they remained without the pigs. This is why they asked Jesus to leave from their neighbourhood. For them the pigs were more important than the person who recovered his senses.
• The expulsion of the demons. At the time of Jesus, the words Devil or Satanwere used to indicate the power of evil which drew persons away from the right path. For example, when Peter tried to deviate Jesus, he was Satan for Jesus (Mk 8, 33). Other times, those same words were used to indicate the political power of the Roman Empire which oppressed and exploited people. For example, in the Apocalypse, the Roman Empire is identified with “Devil or Satan” (Ap 12, 9). While other times, people used the same words to indicate the evils and the illnesses. It was spoken about devil, dumb spirit, deaf spirit, impure or unclean spirit, etc. There was great fear! In the time of Matthew, in the second half of the first century, the fear of demons increased. Some religions, from the East diffused worship toward the spirits. They taught that some of our mistaken gestures could irritate the spirits, and these, in order to revenge, could prevent us from having access to God and deprived us from divine benefits. For this reason, through rites and writings, intense prayer and complicated ceremonies, people sought to calm down these spirits or demons, in such a way that they would not cause harm to life. These religions, instead of liberating people, nourished fear and anguish. Now, one of the objectives of the Good News of Jesus was to help people to liberate themselves from this fear. The coming of the Kingdom of God meant the coming of a stronger power. Jesus is “the strongest man” who can conquer Satan, the power of evil, snatching away from its hands, humanity imprisoned by fear (cf. Mk 3, 27). For this reason the Gospels insist very much on the victory of Jesus over the power of evil, over the devil, over Satan, over sin and over death. It was in order to encourage the communities to overcome this fear of the devil! And today, who can say: “I am completely free?” Nobody! Then, if I am not totally free, there is some part in me which is possessed by other powers. How can these forces be cast away? The message of today’s Gospel continues to be valid for us.
• Matthew 8, 28: The force of evil oppresses, ill-treats and alienates persons.This first verse describes the situation of the people before the coming of Jesus. In describing the behaviour of the two possessed persons, the Evangelist associates the force of evil to the cemetery and to death. It is a mortal power, without a goal, without direction, without control and a destructing power, which causes everyone to fear. It deprives the persons from their conscience, from self control and autonomy.
• Matthew 8, 29: Before the simple presence of Jesus the force of evil breaks up and disintegrates. Here is described the first contact between Jesus and the two possessed men. We see that there is total disproportion. The power, that at first seemed to be so strong, melts and disintegrates before Jesus. They shouted:“What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come to torture us before the time?” they become aware that they are loosing their power.
• Matthew 8, 30-32: The power of evil is impure and has no autonomy, nor consistency. The Devil does not have power over his movements. It only obtains the power to enter into the pigs with the permission of Jesus! Once they enter into the pigs, the whole herd charged down the cliff into the sea and perished in the water. According to the opinion of the people, the pig was a symbol of impurity which prevented the human being to relate with God and of feeling accepted by him. The sea was the symbol of the existing chaos before creation and which according to the belief of that time, continued to threatened life. This episode of the pigs which threw themselves into the sea is strange and difficult to understand. But the message is very clear: before Jesus, the power of evil has no autonomy, no consistency. Anyone who believes in Jesus has already conquered the power of evil and should not fear!
• Matthew 8, 33-34: The reaction of the people of that place. The herdsmen of the pigs went to the city and told the story to the people, and they all set out to go and meet Jesus. Mark says that they saw the “possessed” man sitting down, dressed and with perfect judgment” (Mk 5, 15). But they remained without the pigs. This is why they asked Jesus to leave from their neighbourhood. For them the pigs were more important than the person who recovered his senses.
• The expulsion of the demons. At the time of Jesus, the words Devil or Satanwere used to indicate the power of evil which drew persons away from the right path. For example, when Peter tried to deviate Jesus, he was Satan for Jesus (Mk 8, 33). Other times, those same words were used to indicate the political power of the Roman Empire which oppressed and exploited people. For example, in the Apocalypse, the Roman Empire is identified with “Devil or Satan” (Ap 12, 9). While other times, people used the same words to indicate the evils and the illnesses. It was spoken about devil, dumb spirit, deaf spirit, impure or unclean spirit, etc. There was great fear! In the time of Matthew, in the second half of the first century, the fear of demons increased. Some religions, from the East diffused worship toward the spirits. They taught that some of our mistaken gestures could irritate the spirits, and these, in order to revenge, could prevent us from having access to God and deprived us from divine benefits. For this reason, through rites and writings, intense prayer and complicated ceremonies, people sought to calm down these spirits or demons, in such a way that they would not cause harm to life. These religions, instead of liberating people, nourished fear and anguish. Now, one of the objectives of the Good News of Jesus was to help people to liberate themselves from this fear. The coming of the Kingdom of God meant the coming of a stronger power. Jesus is “the strongest man” who can conquer Satan, the power of evil, snatching away from its hands, humanity imprisoned by fear (cf. Mk 3, 27). For this reason the Gospels insist very much on the victory of Jesus over the power of evil, over the devil, over Satan, over sin and over death. It was in order to encourage the communities to overcome this fear of the devil! And today, who can say: “I am completely free?” Nobody! Then, if I am not totally free, there is some part in me which is possessed by other powers. How can these forces be cast away? The message of today’s Gospel continues to be valid for us.
4) Personal questions
• What oppresses and ill-treats people today? Why is it that
today in certain places so much is spoken about casting out the devil? Is
it good to insist so much on the devil? What do you think?
• Who can say that he/she is completely free or liberated? Nobody! And then, we are all somewhat possessed by other forces which occupy some space within us. What can we do to expel this power from within us and from society?
• Who can say that he/she is completely free or liberated? Nobody! And then, we are all somewhat possessed by other forces which occupy some space within us. What can we do to expel this power from within us and from society?
5) Concluding Prayer
Yahweh is tenderness and pity,
slow to anger, full of faithful love.
Yahweh is generous to all,
his tenderness embraces all his creatures. (Ps 145,8-9)
slow to anger, full of faithful love.
Yahweh is generous to all,
his tenderness embraces all his creatures. (Ps 145,8-9)
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