Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 125
Lectionary: 125
Moses said to the
people:
“Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees
which I am teaching you to observe,
that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land
which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.
In your observance of the commandments of the LORD, your God,
which I enjoin upon you,
you shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it.
Observe them carefully,
for thus will you give evidence
of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations,
who will hear of all these statutes and say,
‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’
For what great nation is there
that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us
whenever we call upon him?
Or what great nation has statutes and decrees
that are as just as this whole law
which I am setting before you today?”
“Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees
which I am teaching you to observe,
that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land
which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.
In your observance of the commandments of the LORD, your God,
which I enjoin upon you,
you shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it.
Observe them carefully,
for thus will you give evidence
of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations,
who will hear of all these statutes and say,
‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’
For what great nation is there
that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us
whenever we call upon him?
Or what great nation has statutes and decrees
that are as just as this whole law
which I am setting before you today?”
Responsorial PsalmPS 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5
R. (1a) One who does justice will live in the presence
of the Lord.
Whoever walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
R. One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
by whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R. One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
Whoever does these things
shall never be disturbed.
R. One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Whoever walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
R. One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
by whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R. One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
Whoever does these things
shall never be disturbed.
R. One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Reading 2JAS 1:17-18, 21B-22, 27
Dearest brothers
and sisters:
All good giving and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights,
with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.
He willed to give us birth by the word of truth
that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you
and is able to save your souls.
Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this:
to care for orphans and widows in their affliction
and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
All good giving and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights,
with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.
He willed to give us birth by the word of truth
that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you
and is able to save your souls.
Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this:
to care for orphans and widows in their affliction
and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
AlleluiaJAS 1:18
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth
that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth
that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMK 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
When the Pharisees
with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem
gathered around Jesus,
they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals
with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands.
—For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews,
do not eat without carefully washing their hands,
keeping the tradition of the elders.
And on coming from the marketplace
they do not eat without purifying themselves.
And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed,
the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds. —
So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him,
“Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders
but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”
He responded,
“Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:
This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines human precepts.
You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”
He summoned the crowd again and said to them,
“Hear me, all of you, and understand.
Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;
but the things that come out from within are what defile.
“From within people, from their hearts,
come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,
adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.
All these evils come from within and they defile.”
gathered around Jesus,
they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals
with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands.
—For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews,
do not eat without carefully washing their hands,
keeping the tradition of the elders.
And on coming from the marketplace
they do not eat without purifying themselves.
And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed,
the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds. —
So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him,
“Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders
but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”
He responded,
“Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:
This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines human precepts.
You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”
He summoned the crowd again and said to them,
“Hear me, all of you, and understand.
Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;
but the things that come out from within are what defile.
“From within people, from their hearts,
come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,
adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.
All these evils come from within and they defile.”
Scripture Study, Aug.
30, 2015
August 30, 2015
Twenty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time
This week we celebrate the Twenty-Second
Sunday of Ordinary Time. In the first reading, Moses exhorts the people, who
are about to enter into the promised land, to cherish the Law. He speaks of the
Law, not as a burden, but as a precious guide to the wisdom of God. How do I
regard the call to holiness in my life? Do I see a burden or a call to joy and
wisdom. The second reading touches on a central part of the message of the
Letter of James. James holds that action must accompany conviction. For James,
faith is very much a verb that we “do” not just a noun that we “have” Where do
I hold my faith? Is it deep inside where it can not be seen or do I let it out
into my actions where it can bring others to see the love of God? In the Gospel
reading, Jesus calls on us to be sure that our way of doing things doesn’t get
in the way of the mission He has given us. The bureaucracy, rules of behavior
and even personal traditions that we use to serve the gospel can take on a life
of their own and get in the way of living the gospel. Is it time for me to
perform a reality-check to see if my own rules or personal traditions match the
Gospel of Jesus?
First Reading: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8
1 “Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am
teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take
possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 2 In your observance of the commandments of the LORD, your
God, which I enjoin upon you, you shall not add to what I command you nor
subtract from it. [3 You have seen with your own eyes what
the LORD did at Baal-peor: the LORD, your God, destroyed from your midst
everyone that followed the Baal of Peor; 4 but you, who
clung to the LORD, your God, are all alive today. 5 Therefore, I teach you the statutes and decrees as the
LORD, my God, has commanded me, that you may observe them in the land you are
entering to occupy.] 6 Observe them carefully, for thus will
you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations, who will hear
of all these statutes and say, ‘This great nation is truly a wise and
intelligent people.’ 7 For what great nation is there that has
gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? 8 Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as
just as this whole law which I am setting before you today?
NOTES on First Reading:
* The portion of the text in square brackets
is left out of the reading.
* 4:1 Hear ( sema) O Israel is a is a standard
Deuteronomic beginning for a liturgical address. Laws or statutes referred to
positive legal decrees. Ordinances or customs referred to judicial decisions
based on case law. Deuteronomy portrays Moses primarily as a teacher.
* Observance of the law became a primary
condition for maintaining possession of the land. Deuteronomy is the place in
the Old Testament where thought first moves from “laws” to “the Law”.
* 4:2 The idea of not adding or subtracting
anything is an indication of canonical status of a public document.
* 4:3-4 This refers to an incident related in
Num 25:1-9. Verse 4 implies that the hearers are survivors of the incident at
Peor.
* 4:6 Observance of the Law is to be the
“wisdom and discernment” of Israel. It is to be the equivalent of the wisdom
traditions of the other nations. In Sir 24 Torah is identified with wisdom.
* 4:7 The idea of the nearness of God is
important to the theology of the book. This is a law book but it has the
premise that God is known and approached through the Law.
Second Reading: James 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27
17 all good giving and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or
shadow caused by change. 18 He willed to
give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his
creatures. [19 Know this, my dear brothers: everyone
should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, 20 for the wrath of a man does not accomplish the
righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, put away all filth and evil
excess and] humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to
save your souls. 22 Be doers of the word and not hearers
only, deluding yourselves. [23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word
and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror. 24 He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what
he looked like.25 But the one who peers into the perfect
law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who
acts, such a one shall be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his
tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain.] 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the
Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep
oneself unstained by the world.
NOTES on Second Reading:
* The portion of the text in square brackets
is left out of the reading.
* 1:17 This is based on a well known poetic
proverb of the time.(“Every gift is good, and every present is perfect.”) It
means something similar to our version, “It’s not the gift but the thought that
counts.” A deeper meaning is added by James saying that the source of all
created goodness is from above; The father of lights.But unlike the lights of
heaven which are great gifts his goodness never changes with the seasons.
* 1:18 The freedom of the Divine initiative
with which God gives birth to his children contrasts with the blind force of
desire that gives birth to sin James 1:14-15.
* He gave birth is understood in the Old
Testament context of Deut 32:18. It is understood in a Christian sense as in
John 1:12-13 as is indicated by a comparison of verse 18 with 1 Peter 1:23 in
which the sense is obviously Christian. However an allusion to creation may
also be intended. Just as the first creation was accomplished through God’s
word so the new creation is “by the word of truth”. This probably refers to the
acceptance of the Gospel message.
* 1:19 These three admonitions are of a type
that often occurs in the Old Testament (Sir 5:11-13). They will be developed in
1:22-25; 3:13-18; 1:20; 4:1-2. The reason for the last of the three is “the
righteousness of God” as in Mat 5:20; Mat 6:33.
* 1:21 “Implanted word” is an inborn word
which probably means the acceptance of the Christian faith at Baptism including
the ethical demands involved.
* Use of “word” or “logos” reflects typical
New Testament usage. It is God’s saving revelation, foreshadowed in the word
given to the prophets and in the word that is a synonym for law (tora) but
fully expressed only in Christ and His Gospel.
* 1:22 This verse summarizes the whole letter
of James. It is similar to Rom 2:13. The general theme of a “religion of deed”
is characteristic of James but also prominent in other New Testament writings
such as Mat 7:24-27; Luke 8:21; Luke 11:28 . Old Testament background for this
is in Deut 4:5-6; Deut 28:13-15; Ezek 33:31-32.
* 1:23 The mirror presents ideal conduct and
so lets us see our shortcomings just as a mirror reveals blemishes and
untidiness. But if the viewer of the mirror immediately forgets what he sees in
the mirror he can’t fix the situation. So it is with a hearer who doesn’t do.
* 1:25 James will return to the theme of law
again in James 2:8-12; 4:11. Use of “Perfect law of liberty” would seem to
imply that James does not have in mind the ritual law of Moses. He seems to
identify it with the “word” of previous verse. James lacks Paul’s distinction
between the law and the gospel, showing a similarity to Mat 5:17-19. In fact
the lack of any emphasis on fulfillment of ritual prescriptions and of rigid
legalism would seem to indicate an author other than James the Just if indeed
James the Just was as later tradition made him out to be.
* 1:26 In practical application, restraint in
speech is mentioned in 1:19, and will be developed in 3:1-12 and 4:11
* Deceives himself is literally ” his heart”
which is a common Hebraism.
* 1:27 Pure and undefiled are qualities that
the Old Testament used in a ritual and cultic sense and are now applied to
external works of charity and inner integrity. This is not meant as a complete
treatment of religion but as an emphasis on certain aspects without which the
practice of religion has no meaning. See Isa 58 ; Mat 23.
* God the Father had the title as Father of
widows and orphans, the natural objects of charity in the community Psalm 67:6;
Deut 27:19; Acts 6:1, Sir 4:10.
* World is used here to mean opposition to God
as it is in Paul, 2 Peter,John and 1 John.
Gospel Reading: Mark 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23
1 Now when the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from
Jerusalem gathered around him, 2 they observed
that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed,
hands. 3 (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all
Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition
of the elders. 4 And on coming from the marketplace they
do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that
they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles
(and beds).) 5 So the Pharisees and scribes questioned
him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead
eat a meal with unclean hands?” 6 He responded, “Well
did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors
me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; 7 In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human
precepts.’ 8 You disregard God’s commandment but
cling to human tradition.” [9 He went on to say, “How well you have
set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and
‘Whoever curses father or mother shall die.’ 11 Yet you say, ‘If a person says to father or mother, “Any
support you might have had from me is qorban”‘ (meaning, dedicated to God), 12 you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. 13 You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition
that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”] 14 He summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me,
all of you, and understand. 15 Nothing that
enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out
from within are what defile.” [16—- 17 When he got home away from the crowd his disciples
questioned him about the parable. 18 He said to them,
“Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that
everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile,19 since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes
out into the latrine?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20“But what comes out of a person, that is what defiles.] 21 From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts,
unchastity, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed,
malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. 23 All these evils come from within and they defile.”
NOTES on Gospel:
* The portion of the text in square brackets
is left out of the reading.
* 7:1-5 Lev 11:1-47 defined what the clean
foods and unclean foods were. During and after the Exile the rules about food
and ritual cleanness became very important as a way for the people to develop
and maintain a strong sense of identity and remain separate from other peoples
in the area. These laws made eating with Gentiles very difficult but not
initially impossible. New traditions developed over time that did make it
impossible. Even many Jews did not follow some of these later rules. Jesus and
the disciples ate with lax Jews.
* 7:6 Hypocrites originally meant answerer and
then came to mean actor, one who partook of the question and answer of the
stage. Eventually it came to mean one whose “answer” was a show.
* Verses 6-13 are still part of Jesus answer
about hand washing.
* 7:8 See Isa 29:13 Jesus repeats the charges
of the prophets against the people.
* 7:11-12 Scholars are hard pressed to find
such a case in the Rabbinic Tradition. It is probably an extreme and isolated
circumstance of Jesus day that may have been notorious as a scandal of the
time. Jesus uses this currently notorious case as an example.
* 7:14 Verses 14-23 Disciples probably missed
the point. See Acts 10:1-11:8. These are all basically rules of separation that
ensured the survival of Israel as a separate people so the Messiah could be
born from them. Now that the Messiah had come, they are to be abandoned in
favor of the unity of Jesus.
* 7:15 See Lev 11:1-47; Deut 14:3-21 for a
list of clean and unclean animals.
* 7:16 “Anyone who has ears to hear ought to
hear,” is omitted in the NAB and several other modern translations because it
is lacking in some of the best Greek manuscripts and was probably transferred
here by scribes from Mark 4:9,23.
* 7:19 Verse 19 is believed by many scholars
to be a parenthetical remark or gloss.
* 7:20-23 See Mark 7:15.
Meditation: "Out
of the heart come evil thoughts"
Which
is more important to God - clean hands or a clean mind and heart? The Scribes
and Pharisees were upset with Jesus because he allowed his disciples to break
with their ritual traditions by eating with unclean hands. They sent a
delegation all the way from Jerusalem to Galilee to bring their accusation in a
face-to-face confrontation with Jesus. Jesus dealt with their accusation by
going to the heart of the matter - by looking at God's intention and purpose
for the commandments.
Allow
God's word to shape your heart and intentions
Jesus explains that they void God's command because they allow their hearts and minds to be clouded by their own notions of what is true religion. Jesus accuses them specifically of two things. First of hypocrisy. Like actors, who put on a show, they appear to obey God's word in their external practices while they inwardly harbor evil desires and intentions.
Jesus explains that they void God's command because they allow their hearts and minds to be clouded by their own notions of what is true religion. Jesus accuses them specifically of two things. First of hypocrisy. Like actors, who put on a show, they appear to obey God's word in their external practices while they inwardly harbor evil desires and intentions.
Allow
God's word to change your way of thinking
Secondly, he accuses them of abandoning God's word by substituting their own arguments and ingenious interpretations for what God requires. They devised clever arguments based on their own thoughts rather than on God's word. Jesus refers them to the prophecy of Isaiah (29:31) where the prophet accuses the people of his day for honoring God with their lips while their hearts were far away from choosing and doing what God asked of them.
Secondly, he accuses them of abandoning God's word by substituting their own arguments and ingenious interpretations for what God requires. They devised clever arguments based on their own thoughts rather than on God's word. Jesus refers them to the prophecy of Isaiah (29:31) where the prophet accuses the people of his day for honoring God with their lips while their hearts were far away from choosing and doing what God asked of them.
Uproot
wrong thoughts and attitudes before they grow
Where does evil spring from and what's the solution for eliminating it from our lives? Jesus deals with this issue in response to the religious leaders' concern with ritual defilement - making oneself unfit to offer acceptable sacrifice and worship to God. The religious leaders were concerned with avoiding ritual defilement, some no doubt out of fear of God, and others out of fear of pleasing other people.
Where does evil spring from and what's the solution for eliminating it from our lives? Jesus deals with this issue in response to the religious leaders' concern with ritual defilement - making oneself unfit to offer acceptable sacrifice and worship to God. The religious leaders were concerned with avoiding ritual defilement, some no doubt out of fear of God, and others out of fear of pleasing other people.
Jesus
points his listeners to the source of true defilement - evil desires which come
from inside a person's innermost being. Sin does not happen. It first springs
from the innermost recesses of our thoughts and intentions, from the secret
desires which only the individual soul can conceive.
Only
Jesus can free us from sin and guilt
God in his mercy sent his Son Jesus Christ to free us from our sinful cravings and burden of guilt, and to restore us to wholeness of life and goodness. But to receive his mercy and healing, we must admit our faults and ask for his forgiveness. "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:8-9).
God in his mercy sent his Son Jesus Christ to free us from our sinful cravings and burden of guilt, and to restore us to wholeness of life and goodness. But to receive his mercy and healing, we must admit our faults and ask for his forgiveness. "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:8-9).
Let
Jesus be the master of your heart and desires
When Cain was jealous of his brother, Abel, God warned him to guard his heart: "Sin is couching at the door; it's desire is for you, but you must master it" (Genesis 4:7). Do you allow any sinful desires to enter the door of your heart and mind? We do not need to entertain or give in to sinful desires or thoughts, but instead, through the grace of God, we can choose to put them to death rather than allow them to be the master who controls our way of thinking, feeling, and acting.
When Cain was jealous of his brother, Abel, God warned him to guard his heart: "Sin is couching at the door; it's desire is for you, but you must master it" (Genesis 4:7). Do you allow any sinful desires to enter the door of your heart and mind? We do not need to entertain or give in to sinful desires or thoughts, but instead, through the grace of God, we can choose to put them to death rather than allow them to be the master who controls our way of thinking, feeling, and acting.
The
Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness
Only God can change our hearts and make them clean and whole through the power of the Holy Spirit. Like a physician who probes the wound before treating it, God through his Word and Spirit first brings to light our sinful condition that we may recognize sin for what it is and call upon God's mercy and pardon. The Lord is ever ready to change and purify our hearts through his Holy Spirit who dwells within us. His power and grace enables us to choose what is good and to reject what is evil. Do you believe in the power of God's love to change and transform your heart?
Only God can change our hearts and make them clean and whole through the power of the Holy Spirit. Like a physician who probes the wound before treating it, God through his Word and Spirit first brings to light our sinful condition that we may recognize sin for what it is and call upon God's mercy and pardon. The Lord is ever ready to change and purify our hearts through his Holy Spirit who dwells within us. His power and grace enables us to choose what is good and to reject what is evil. Do you believe in the power of God's love to change and transform your heart?
"Lord
Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and make my heart like yours – on fire
with love and holiness. Strengthen my will that I may always choose to love
what is good and to reject what is evil."
TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, MARK 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
(Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8; Psalm 15; James 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, MARK 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
(Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8; Psalm 15; James 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27)
KEY VERSE: "This people pays me lip service but their heart is far from me" (v 6).
TO KNOW: The religious leaders of Israel had developed elaborate rituals to separate themselves from those who did not believe in God (“putting a fence around the Law). These oral traditions were regarded as having the same binding force as the Law of Moses. Jesus and his disciples were criticized by the religious leaders for their failure to perform the market and kitchen purification rites. Jesus quoted the prophet Isaiah who faced hypocrisy in his own day. Jesus said that external acts should reflect the moral intent of God's Law and not be mere pious observances. It was not food or objects that defiled a person. It was sinful motives of the heart that led to immoral acts. Jesus opened the way for unity with Gentiles, who were thought to be "unclean." This was an important decision that the early Church faced in order for Jews and Gentiles to be able to join together in worship (Acts 10:1-15).
TO LOVE: What is my attitude toward people whose religious observances are different than my own?
TO SERVE: Holy Spirit, help me to examine my motives for the things I do.
Sunday 30 August 2015
SUN 30TH.
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Deuteronomy
4:1-2, 6-8. The just will live in the presence of the Lord—Ps14(15):2-5. James
1:17-18, 21-22, 27. Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Jesus
insists that true religion is of the spirit—not merely a matter of outward
observance.
Outward
observance without conversion of heart is useless and, at its worst, simply
hypocrisy. On the other hand, the spiritual heart will show itself in outward
observance; for our Lord, who told us that the Father looks for those who
worship in spirit and in truth, also said, ‘If you love me, keep my
commandments ... do good ... fast ... pray ... give alms.’
We need,
then, to review often our lives to see that there is a genuine harmony between
our inmost heart and our visible manner of acting. And so, Lord Jesus, with the
psalmist I pray, ‘Create a clean heart in me; and make upright the spirit that
is within me’—so that nothing that is evil may come from me and that nothing I
do will be mere pretence.
If, as St
James says, faith without works is dead, so, too, are works without faith dead
things; they are lip- service and not a turning of the heart towards the Lord.
Humanity is capable of so much that is good as well as much that is dreadful.
The difference lies in whether we enthrone Christ in our hearts and live by his
law or enthrone self and live by self-will.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
|
Cheerful Devotion
|
The joy of the Lord is our strength. Therefore, each of us will
accept a life of poverty in cheerful trust. We will offer cheerful obedience
from our inward joy. We will minister to Christ in the distressing disguise of
the poor with cheerful devotion. If our work is done with joy, we will have no
reason to be unhappy.
August
30
St. Jeanne Jugan
(1792-1879)
St. Jeanne Jugan
(1792-1879)
Born in
northern France during the French Revolution—a time when congregations of women
and men religious were being suppressed by the national government, Jeanne
would eventually be highly praised in the French academy for her community's
compassionate care of elderly poor people.
When
Jeanne was three and a half years old, her father, a fisherman, was lost at
sea. Her widowed mother was hard pressed to raise her eight children (four died
young) alone. At the age of 15 or 16, Jeanne became a kitchen maid for a family
that not only cared for its own members, but also served poor, elderly people
nearby. Ten years later, Jeanne became a nurse at the hospital in Le Rosais.
Soon thereafter she joined a third order group founded by St. John Eudes (August
19).
After six
years she became a servant and friend of a woman she met through the third
order. They prayed, visited the poor and taught catechism to children. After
her friend's death, Jeanne and two other women continued a similar life in the
city of Saint-Sevran. In 1839, they brought in their first permanent guest.
They began an association, received more members and more guests. Mother Marie
of the Cross, as Jeanne was now known, founded six more houses for the elderly
by the end of 1849, all staffed by members of her association—the Little
Sisters of the Poor. By 1853 the association numbered 500 and had houses as far
away as England.
Abbé Le
Pailleur, a chaplain, had prevented Jeanne's reelection as superior in 1843;
nine year later, he had her assigned to duties within the congregation, but
would not allow her to be recognized as its founder. He was removed from office
by the Holy See in 1890.
By the
time Pope Leo XIII gave her final approval to the community's constitutions in
1879, there were 2,400 Little Sisters of the Poor. Jeanne died later that same
year, on August 30. Her cause was introduced in Rome in 1970, and she was
beatified in 1982 and canonized in 2009.
Comment:
Jeanne Jugan saw Christ in what Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata would describe as his "distressing disguises." With great confidence in God's providence and the intercession of St. Joseph, she begged willingly for the many homes that she opened, relying on the good example of the Sisters and the generosity of benefactors who knew the good that the Sisters were doing. They now work in 30 countries. "With the eye of faith, we must see Jesus in our old people—for they are God's mouthpiece," Jeanne once said. No matter what the difficulties, she was always able to praise God and move ahead.
Jeanne Jugan saw Christ in what Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata would describe as his "distressing disguises." With great confidence in God's providence and the intercession of St. Joseph, she begged willingly for the many homes that she opened, relying on the good example of the Sisters and the generosity of benefactors who knew the good that the Sisters were doing. They now work in 30 countries. "With the eye of faith, we must see Jesus in our old people—for they are God's mouthpiece," Jeanne once said. No matter what the difficulties, she was always able to praise God and move ahead.
Quote:
In his homily at the canonization Mass, Pope Benedict XVI said: "In the Beatitudes, Jeanne Jugan found the source of the spirit of hospitality and fraternal love, founded on unlimited trust in Providence, which illuminated her whole life. This evangelical dynamism is continued today across the world in the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor, which she founded and which testifies, after her example, to the mercy of God and the compassionate love of the Heart of Jesus for the lowliest.”
In his homily at the canonization Mass, Pope Benedict XVI said: "In the Beatitudes, Jeanne Jugan found the source of the spirit of hospitality and fraternal love, founded on unlimited trust in Providence, which illuminated her whole life. This evangelical dynamism is continued today across the world in the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor, which she founded and which testifies, after her example, to the mercy of God and the compassionate love of the Heart of Jesus for the lowliest.”
LECTIO: 22ND
SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (B)
Lectio:
Sunday, August 30, 2015
What is pure and what is impure
Jesus fulfils peoples’ desires: to live in peace with God
Marco 7,1-8.14-15.21-23
Jesus fulfils peoples’ desires: to live in peace with God
Marco 7,1-8.14-15.21-23
1. Opening prayer
Lord Jesus, send your Spirit to help us to read the Scriptures with the same mind that you read them to the disciples on the way to Emmaus. In the light of the Word, written in the Bible, you helped them to discover the presence of God in the disturbing events of your sentence and death. Thus, the cross that seemed to be the end of all hope became for them the source of life and of resurrection.
Create in us silence so that we may listen to your voice in Creation and in the Scriptures, in events and in people, above all in the poor and suffering. May your word guide us so that we too, like the two disciples from Emmaus, may experience the force of your resurrection and witness to others that you are alive in our midst as source of fraternity, justice and peace. We ask this of you, Jesus, son of Mary, who revealed to us the Father and sent us your Spirit. Amen.
Lord Jesus, send your Spirit to help us to read the Scriptures with the same mind that you read them to the disciples on the way to Emmaus. In the light of the Word, written in the Bible, you helped them to discover the presence of God in the disturbing events of your sentence and death. Thus, the cross that seemed to be the end of all hope became for them the source of life and of resurrection.
Create in us silence so that we may listen to your voice in Creation and in the Scriptures, in events and in people, above all in the poor and suffering. May your word guide us so that we too, like the two disciples from Emmaus, may experience the force of your resurrection and witness to others that you are alive in our midst as source of fraternity, justice and peace. We ask this of you, Jesus, son of Mary, who revealed to us the Father and sent us your Spirit. Amen.
2. Reading
a) A key to the reading:
● The
Gospel of the 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time describes the
religious customs of Jesus’ time, speaks of the Pharisees who taught the people
these practices and customs and of Jesus’ teaching concerning this matter. Many
of these practices and customs had lost their meaning and made peoples’ lives
difficult. The Pharisees saw sin in everything and threatened with punishment
in hell! For instance, to eat without washing one’s hands was considered a sin.
But these practices and customs continued to be passed down and taught from fear
or from superstition. Do you know of any present religious practice that has
lost its meaning but which is still being taught? In our reading of the text we
shall try to look at Jesus’ attitude concerning what he says about the
Pharisees and what he teaches concerning the religious practices taught by the
Pharisees.
● The
text of this Sunday’s liturgy presents some verses and leaves out other verses
to shorten the text and make it more understandable. For the sake of
completeness, we use the whole text and offer comments also on the verses
omitted from the liturgy. The parts omitted in the liturgy are in italics.
b) A division of the text to help with the reading:
Mark 7:1-2: The attack of the Pharisees and the freedom of the
disciples
Mark 7:3-4: Mark’s explanation of the Tradition of the Elders
Mark 7:5: The Scribes and Pharisees criticise the behaviour of the disciples of Jesus
Mark 7:6-8: Jesus’ strong reply concerning the incoherence of the Pharisees
Mark 7:9-13: A concrete example of how the Pharisees empty God’s commandment of any meaning
Mark 7:14-16: Jesus’ explanation to the people: a new way to God
Mark 7:17-23: Jesus’ explanation to his disciples
Mark 7:3-4: Mark’s explanation of the Tradition of the Elders
Mark 7:5: The Scribes and Pharisees criticise the behaviour of the disciples of Jesus
Mark 7:6-8: Jesus’ strong reply concerning the incoherence of the Pharisees
Mark 7:9-13: A concrete example of how the Pharisees empty God’s commandment of any meaning
Mark 7:14-16: Jesus’ explanation to the people: a new way to God
Mark 7:17-23: Jesus’ explanation to his disciples
3. Text:
1 The Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from
Jerusalem gathered round him, 2 and they noticed that some of his disciples
were eating with unclean hands, that is, without washing them. 3 For the
Pharisees, and all the Jews, keep the tradition of the elders and never eat
without washing their arms as far as the elbow; 4 and on returning from the
market place they never eat without first sprinkling themselves. There are also
many other observances which have been handed down to them to keep, concerning
the washing of cups and pots and bronze dishes. 5 So the Pharisees and scribes
asked him, 'Why do your disciples not respect the tradition of the elders but
eat their food with unclean hands?' 6 He answered, 'How rightly Isaiah
prophesied about you hypocrites in the passage of scripture: This people
honours me only with lip-service, while their hearts are far from me. 7 Their
reverence of me is worthless; the lessons they teach are nothing but human
commandments. 8 You put aside the commandment of God to observe human
traditions.'
9 And he said to them, 'How ingeniously you get round the
commandment of God in order to preserve your own tradition! 10 For Moses said:
Honour your father and your mother, and, Anyone who curses father or mother
must be put to death. 11 But you say, "If a man says to his father or
mother: Anything I have that I might have used to help you is Korban (that is,
dedicated to God)," 12 then he is forbidden from that moment to do
anything for his father or mother. 13 In this way you make God's word
ineffective for the sake of your tradition which you have handed down. And you
do many other things like this.'
14 He called the people to him again and said, 'Listen to me,
all of you, and understand. 15 Nothing that goes into someone from outside can
make that person unclean; it is the things that come out of someone that make
that person unclean.
16 Anyone who has ears for listening should listen!' 17 When he
had gone into the house, away from the crowd, his disciples questioned him
about the parable. 18 He said to them, 'Even you -- don't you understand? Can't
you see that nothing that goes into someone from outside can make that person
unclean, 19 because it goes not into the heart but into the stomach and passes
into the sewer?' (Thus he pronounced all foods clean.) 20 And he went on, 'It
is what comes out of someone that makes that person unclean.
21 For it is from within, from the heart, that evil intentions
emerge: fornication, theft, murder, 22 adultery, avarice, malice, deceit,
indecency, envy, slander, pride, folly. 23 All these evil things come from
within and make a person unclean.'
3. A moment of prayerful silence
so that the Word of God may penetrate and enlighten our life.
4. Some questions
to help us in our personal reflection.
a) What pleased or touched you most in this text? Why?
b) According to the text, what were the practices that the Pharisees taught the people? In what does Jesus criticise the Pharisees?
c) In this text, what is the new way that Jesus shows the people to reach God?
d) In the name of the “tradition of the elders” they do not observe the Commandment of God. Does this happen today? Where? When?
e) The Pharisees were practising Jews, but their faith was divorced from the lives of the people. Jesus criticises them for this. Would Jesus criticise us today? Why?
b) According to the text, what were the practices that the Pharisees taught the people? In what does Jesus criticise the Pharisees?
c) In this text, what is the new way that Jesus shows the people to reach God?
d) In the name of the “tradition of the elders” they do not observe the Commandment of God. Does this happen today? Where? When?
e) The Pharisees were practising Jews, but their faith was divorced from the lives of the people. Jesus criticises them for this. Would Jesus criticise us today? Why?
5. For those who wish to go deeper into the theme
a) The context of then and of today:
i) In this lectio let us take a close look at Jesus’ attitude
concerning the question of purity. Mark had already mentioned this matter. In
Mk 1:23-28, Jesus drives an impure devil away. In Mk 1:40-45, he heals a leper.
In Mk 5:25-34, he heals a woman considered impure. On many other occasions,
Jesus touches those physically sick without fear of becoming impure. Here, in
chapter 7, Jesus helps people and his disciples to deepen the idea of purity and
the laws on purity.
ii) For centuries, for the Jews not to contract impurity,
contact with pagans and eating with them was forbidden. In the 70’s, when Mark
was writing his Gospel, some converted Jews said: “Now that we are Christians
we must leave behind old practices that keep us apart from converted pagans!”
But other converted Jews thought they had to continue to observe the laws
concerning purity. Jesus’ attitude, as described in today’s Gospel, helps to
overcome this problem.
b) A commentary on the text:
Mark 7:1-2: The control of the Pharisees and the freedom
of the disciples
The Pharisees and some Scribes who were in Jerusalem, watch Jesus’ disciples eating bread with impure hands. There are three points worth noting: (i) The Scribes are from Jerusalem, the capital! This means that they had come to observe and control Jesus’ steps. (ii) The disciples do not wash their hands before eating! This means that their living with Jesus gives them the courage to transgress the norms imposed by tradition and that they had a feeling for life. (iii) The practice of washing hands, which to this day is an important hygienic matter, had acquired a religious meaning that served to control and discriminate against persons.
The Pharisees and some Scribes who were in Jerusalem, watch Jesus’ disciples eating bread with impure hands. There are three points worth noting: (i) The Scribes are from Jerusalem, the capital! This means that they had come to observe and control Jesus’ steps. (ii) The disciples do not wash their hands before eating! This means that their living with Jesus gives them the courage to transgress the norms imposed by tradition and that they had a feeling for life. (iii) The practice of washing hands, which to this day is an important hygienic matter, had acquired a religious meaning that served to control and discriminate against persons.
Mark 7:3-4: Mark’s explanation concerning the tradition
of the elders
“The tradition of the elders” passed on the norms to be observed by people so as to achieve the purity required by law. The observance of purity was considered a very serious matter. They thought that an impure person could not receive the blessing promised by God to Abraham. The norms concerning purity were taught in such a way that when people observed them, they could follow the road to God, source of peace. However, rather than being a source of peace, these norms were chains, a form of slavery. It was practically impossible for the poor to observe these norms and laws. Thus, the poor were despised and considered ignorant and cursed people who did not know the law (Jn 7:49).
“The tradition of the elders” passed on the norms to be observed by people so as to achieve the purity required by law. The observance of purity was considered a very serious matter. They thought that an impure person could not receive the blessing promised by God to Abraham. The norms concerning purity were taught in such a way that when people observed them, they could follow the road to God, source of peace. However, rather than being a source of peace, these norms were chains, a form of slavery. It was practically impossible for the poor to observe these norms and laws. Thus, the poor were despised and considered ignorant and cursed people who did not know the law (Jn 7:49).
Mark 7:5: The Scribes and Pharisees criticise the
behaviour of Jesus’ disciples
The Scribes and Pharisees ask Jesus: Why do your disciples not respect the tradition of the elders but eat their food with unclean hands? They pretend to be interested in knowing the reason for the behaviour of the disciples. In fact, they are criticising Jesus for allowing his disciples to transgress the norms concerning purity. The scribes and doctors of the law were the guardians of doctrine. They dedicated their lives to the study of the Law of God and taught people how to observe completely the Law of God, especially the norms concerning purity. The Pharisees were a kind of fraternity, whose main preoccupation was to observe all the laws concerning purity. The word Pharisee means set apart. They endeavoured so that, by the perfect observance of the laws concerning purity, people would become pure, set apart and holyas the Laws of the Tradition required! Because of the exemplary witness of their lives in following the laws of the times, they wielded great authority in the villages of Galilee.
The Scribes and Pharisees ask Jesus: Why do your disciples not respect the tradition of the elders but eat their food with unclean hands? They pretend to be interested in knowing the reason for the behaviour of the disciples. In fact, they are criticising Jesus for allowing his disciples to transgress the norms concerning purity. The scribes and doctors of the law were the guardians of doctrine. They dedicated their lives to the study of the Law of God and taught people how to observe completely the Law of God, especially the norms concerning purity. The Pharisees were a kind of fraternity, whose main preoccupation was to observe all the laws concerning purity. The word Pharisee means set apart. They endeavoured so that, by the perfect observance of the laws concerning purity, people would become pure, set apart and holyas the Laws of the Tradition required! Because of the exemplary witness of their lives in following the laws of the times, they wielded great authority in the villages of Galilee.
Mark 7:6-8: Jesus’ strong reply concerning the
Pharisees’ lack of coherence
Jesus replies quoting Isaiah: This people honours me only with lip-service, while their hearts are far from me. Their reverence of me is worthless; the lessons they teach are nothing but human commandments. You put aside the commandment of God to observe human traditions (Is 29:13). Because, by insisting on the norms concerning purity, the Pharisees had emptied the commandments of the law of God of all coherence. Jesus immediately gives a concrete example of how they render the commandment of God insignificant.
Jesus replies quoting Isaiah: This people honours me only with lip-service, while their hearts are far from me. Their reverence of me is worthless; the lessons they teach are nothing but human commandments. You put aside the commandment of God to observe human traditions (Is 29:13). Because, by insisting on the norms concerning purity, the Pharisees had emptied the commandments of the law of God of all coherence. Jesus immediately gives a concrete example of how they render the commandment of God insignificant.
Mark 7:9-13: A concrete example of how the Pharisees
render the commandment of God incoherent
The “tradition of the elders” taught: a son who dedicates his possessions to the Temple, may not use these possessions to help his parents in need. Thus, in the name of tradition, they rendered incoherent the fourth commandment to love father and mother. There still are such people today. They seem to be observant, but only externally. Internally, their heart is far from God! As one of our hymns says: “His name is Jesus Christ and he is hungry, he lives by the side of the road. And when people see him, they move on to get to church quickly!” In Jesus’ days, people, in their wisdom, did not agree with all that they were taught. They hoped that one day the Messiah would come to show them some other way to be pure. This hope comes to pass in Jesus.
The “tradition of the elders” taught: a son who dedicates his possessions to the Temple, may not use these possessions to help his parents in need. Thus, in the name of tradition, they rendered incoherent the fourth commandment to love father and mother. There still are such people today. They seem to be observant, but only externally. Internally, their heart is far from God! As one of our hymns says: “His name is Jesus Christ and he is hungry, he lives by the side of the road. And when people see him, they move on to get to church quickly!” In Jesus’ days, people, in their wisdom, did not agree with all that they were taught. They hoped that one day the Messiah would come to show them some other way to be pure. This hope comes to pass in Jesus.
Mark 7:14-16: Jesus explains to the people: a new way to
reach God
Jesus says to the crowd: “Nothing that goes into someone from outside can make that person unclean!” (Mk 7:15). Jesus reverses things: that which is impure does not come from the outside to the inside, as the doctors of the law taught, but from the inside to the outside. Thus, no one need ask any more whether this food or this drink is pure or not. Jesus places the question of purity and impurity on a higher level, on the level of ethical behaviour. He shows a way to God and, thus, fulfils the deepest desire of the crowd. Jesus ends his explanation with an expression that he likes to use: Anyone who has ears for listening should listen! Or: “That’s it! You have heard me! Now try to understand!” In other words, use your heads and common sense and look at things through your experience of life.
Jesus says to the crowd: “Nothing that goes into someone from outside can make that person unclean!” (Mk 7:15). Jesus reverses things: that which is impure does not come from the outside to the inside, as the doctors of the law taught, but from the inside to the outside. Thus, no one need ask any more whether this food or this drink is pure or not. Jesus places the question of purity and impurity on a higher level, on the level of ethical behaviour. He shows a way to God and, thus, fulfils the deepest desire of the crowd. Jesus ends his explanation with an expression that he likes to use: Anyone who has ears for listening should listen! Or: “That’s it! You have heard me! Now try to understand!” In other words, use your heads and common sense and look at things through your experience of life.
Mark 7:17-23: Jesus’ explanation to his disciples
The disciples did not understand what Jesus meant. When they went home they asked him for an explanation. Jesus was astounded. He thought that they had understood. In his explanation he goes deep into the question concerning purity. He declares all food pure! No food that goes into a human being from the outside can make him impure, because it does not enter the heart but only the stomach and then goes into the sewer. That which makes a person impure, says Jesus, is what comes from the inside, from the heart, and that poisons human relationships. Then he mentions: “fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, malice, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, pride, folly”. Thus, in many ways, by means of word, action or living together, Jesus helped people to be pure. By means of the word, he healed lepers (Mk 1:40-44), drove out impure spirits (Mk 1:26.39; 3:15.22 etc) and overcame death, source of all impurity. By means of action, the woman excluded and considered impure is healed (Mk 5:25-34). By means of living with Jesus, the disciples have the courage to imitate Jesus who, without any fear of contamination, ate with people who were considered impure (Mk 2:15-17).
The disciples did not understand what Jesus meant. When they went home they asked him for an explanation. Jesus was astounded. He thought that they had understood. In his explanation he goes deep into the question concerning purity. He declares all food pure! No food that goes into a human being from the outside can make him impure, because it does not enter the heart but only the stomach and then goes into the sewer. That which makes a person impure, says Jesus, is what comes from the inside, from the heart, and that poisons human relationships. Then he mentions: “fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, malice, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, pride, folly”. Thus, in many ways, by means of word, action or living together, Jesus helped people to be pure. By means of the word, he healed lepers (Mk 1:40-44), drove out impure spirits (Mk 1:26.39; 3:15.22 etc) and overcame death, source of all impurity. By means of action, the woman excluded and considered impure is healed (Mk 5:25-34). By means of living with Jesus, the disciples have the courage to imitate Jesus who, without any fear of contamination, ate with people who were considered impure (Mk 2:15-17).
c) Further information:
The laws concerning purity and impurity in Jesus’ days
The people then were greatly concerned with purity. The norms
concerning purity pointed to the necessary conditions for
coming into the presence of God and for feeling right before him. One could not
go before God in any old way. Because God is Holy! The Law said: “Be holy, for
I, Yahweh your God, am holy!” (Lv 19:2). Anyone who was not pure could not
appear before God to receive the blessing promised to Abraham.
For us to understand the seriousness of these laws concerning purity, we may remember what used to happen in our Church fifty years ago. Before the Second Vatican Council, to go to communion in the morning, people had to fast from midnight. Anyone who went to communion without fasting committed a mortal sin called sacrilege. We thought that a little food or drink made us impure to receive the consecrated host.
In Jesus’ times too there were many matters and activities that made a person impure and therefore not possible to come before God: touching a leper, eating with a publican, eating without washing one’s hands, touching blood or a dead body and many other things. All these things made a person impure, and any contact with that person contaminated others. That is why “impure” people had to be avoided. People lived apart, always threatened by so many impure things that threatened their lives. All were afraid of everyone and everything.
Now, with the coming of Jesus, suddenly everything changes! By believing in Jesus, it was possible to achieve purity and feel good before God without having to observe all the laws and norms of the “tradition of the elders”. It was a real and personal liberation! The Good News proclaimed by Jesus released people from a defensive attitude and restored to them the taste for life, the joy of being children of God, without fear of being happy!
For us to understand the seriousness of these laws concerning purity, we may remember what used to happen in our Church fifty years ago. Before the Second Vatican Council, to go to communion in the morning, people had to fast from midnight. Anyone who went to communion without fasting committed a mortal sin called sacrilege. We thought that a little food or drink made us impure to receive the consecrated host.
In Jesus’ times too there were many matters and activities that made a person impure and therefore not possible to come before God: touching a leper, eating with a publican, eating without washing one’s hands, touching blood or a dead body and many other things. All these things made a person impure, and any contact with that person contaminated others. That is why “impure” people had to be avoided. People lived apart, always threatened by so many impure things that threatened their lives. All were afraid of everyone and everything.
Now, with the coming of Jesus, suddenly everything changes! By believing in Jesus, it was possible to achieve purity and feel good before God without having to observe all the laws and norms of the “tradition of the elders”. It was a real and personal liberation! The Good News proclaimed by Jesus released people from a defensive attitude and restored to them the taste for life, the joy of being children of God, without fear of being happy!
6. Praying Psalm 24 (23)
Who can climb the mountain of God!
To Yahweh belong the earth and all it contains,
the world and all who live there;
it is he who laid its foundations on the seas,
on the flowing waters fixed it firm.
the world and all who live there;
it is he who laid its foundations on the seas,
on the flowing waters fixed it firm.
Who shall go up to the mountain of Yahweh?
Who shall take a stand in his holy place?
The clean of hands and pure of heart,
whose heart is not set on vanities,
who does not swear an oath in order to deceive.
Such a one will receive blessing from Yahweh,
saving justice from the God of his salvation.
Such is the people that seeks him,
that seeks your presence, God of Jacob.
Who shall take a stand in his holy place?
The clean of hands and pure of heart,
whose heart is not set on vanities,
who does not swear an oath in order to deceive.
Such a one will receive blessing from Yahweh,
saving justice from the God of his salvation.
Such is the people that seeks him,
that seeks your presence, God of Jacob.
Gates, lift high your heads,
raise high the ancient gateways,
and the king of glory shall enter!
Who is he, this king of glory?
It is Yahweh, strong and valiant,
Yahweh valiant in battle.
Gates, lift high your heads,
raise high the ancient gateways,
and the king of glory shall enter!
Who is he, this king of glory?
Yahweh Sabaoth, he is the king of glory.
raise high the ancient gateways,
and the king of glory shall enter!
Who is he, this king of glory?
It is Yahweh, strong and valiant,
Yahweh valiant in battle.
Gates, lift high your heads,
raise high the ancient gateways,
and the king of glory shall enter!
Who is he, this king of glory?
Yahweh Sabaoth, he is the king of glory.
7. Final Prayer
Lord Jesus, we thank for the word that has enabled us to
understand better the will of the Father. May your Spirit enlighten our actions
and grant us the strength to practice that which your Word has revealed to us.
May we, like Mary, your mother, not only listen to but also practice the Word.
You who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever
and ever. Amen.
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