Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr
Lectionary: 351
Lectionary: 351
Beloved:
The end of all things is at hand.
Therefore be serious and sober-minded
so that you will be able to pray.
Above all, let your love for one another be intense,
because love covers a multitude of sins.
Be hospitable to one another without complaining.
As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another
as good stewards of God's varied grace.
Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of God;
whoever serves, let it be with the strength that God supplies,
so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ,
to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Beloved, do not be surprised that a trial by fire is occurring among you,
as if something strange were happening to you.
But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ,
so that when his glory is revealed
you may also rejoice exultantly.
The end of all things is at hand.
Therefore be serious and sober-minded
so that you will be able to pray.
Above all, let your love for one another be intense,
because love covers a multitude of sins.
Be hospitable to one another without complaining.
As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another
as good stewards of God's varied grace.
Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of God;
whoever serves, let it be with the strength that God supplies,
so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ,
to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Beloved, do not be surprised that a trial by fire is occurring among you,
as if something strange were happening to you.
But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ,
so that when his glory is revealed
you may also rejoice exultantly.
Responsorial
Psalm PS 96:10, 11-12, 13
R. (13b) The
Lord comes to judge the earth.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Alleluia SeeJN 15:16
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
I chose you from the world,
to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I chose you from the world,
to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMK 11:11-26
Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple area.
He looked around at everything and, since it was already late,
went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
The next day as they were leaving Bethany he was hungry.
Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf,
he went over to see if he could find anything on it.
When he reached it he found nothing but leaves;
it was not the time for figs.
And he said to it in reply, "May no one ever eat of your fruit again!"
And his disciples heard it.
They came to Jerusalem,
and on entering the temple area
he began to drive out those selling and buying there.
He overturned the tables of the money changers
and the seats of those who were selling doves.
He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area.
Then he taught them saying, "Is it not written:
My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples?
But you have made it a den of thieves."
The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it
and were seeking a way to put him to death,
yet they feared him
because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching.
When evening came, they went out of the city.
Early in the morning, as they were walking along,
they saw the fig tree withered to its roots.
Peter remembered and said to him, "Rabbi, look!
The fig tree that you cursed has withered."
Jesus said to them in reply, "Have faith in God.
Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain,
'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,'
and does not doubt in his heart
but believes that what he says will happen,
it shall be done for him.
Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer,
believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.
When you stand to pray,
forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance,
so that your heavenly Father may in turn
forgive you your transgressions."
He looked around at everything and, since it was already late,
went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
The next day as they were leaving Bethany he was hungry.
Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf,
he went over to see if he could find anything on it.
When he reached it he found nothing but leaves;
it was not the time for figs.
And he said to it in reply, "May no one ever eat of your fruit again!"
And his disciples heard it.
They came to Jerusalem,
and on entering the temple area
he began to drive out those selling and buying there.
He overturned the tables of the money changers
and the seats of those who were selling doves.
He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area.
Then he taught them saying, "Is it not written:
My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples?
But you have made it a den of thieves."
The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it
and were seeking a way to put him to death,
yet they feared him
because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching.
When evening came, they went out of the city.
Early in the morning, as they were walking along,
they saw the fig tree withered to its roots.
Peter remembered and said to him, "Rabbi, look!
The fig tree that you cursed has withered."
Jesus said to them in reply, "Have faith in God.
Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain,
'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,'
and does not doubt in his heart
but believes that what he says will happen,
it shall be done for him.
Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer,
believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.
When you stand to pray,
forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance,
so that your heavenly Father may in turn
forgive you your transgressions."
Meditation: "Have faith in God"
Why did Jesus curse a fig tree? Fig trees were a
common and important source of food for the Jews. Bad figs or a decaying fig
tree was linked with evil deeds and spiritual decay. The unfruitful fig tree
symbolized the outcome of Israel's unresponsiveness to the word of God. The
prophets depicted the languishing fig tree as signifying the desolation and
calamity of Israel due to her unfaithfulness to God (see Joel 1:7,12; Habakuk
3:17; and Jeremiah 8:13).
Faith must be nourished by the word of God
The history of Israel is one long preparation for the coming of the Promised One - the Messiah. But the promise is unfulfilled in those who reject Jesus through their unbelief. (See also Jesus' parable of the barren fig tree in Luke 13:6-9). Jesus' cursing of a fig tree is a prophetic action against the faithlessness of those who rejected his message. For faith to be fruitful and productive, it must be nourished with the word of God (2 Timothy 3:16; Colossians 3:16) and be rooted in love and obedience to the truth (Galatians 5:6,7)..
The history of Israel is one long preparation for the coming of the Promised One - the Messiah. But the promise is unfulfilled in those who reject Jesus through their unbelief. (See also Jesus' parable of the barren fig tree in Luke 13:6-9). Jesus' cursing of a fig tree is a prophetic action against the faithlessness of those who rejected his message. For faith to be fruitful and productive, it must be nourished with the word of God (2 Timothy 3:16; Colossians 3:16) and be rooted in love and obedience to the truth (Galatians 5:6,7)..
Jesus purifies his people to make them holy
Jesus' cleansing of the temple was another prophetic action. In this incident we see Jesus' startling and swift action in cleansing the temple of those who were using it to exploit the worshipers of God. The money changers took advantage of the poor and forced them to pay many times more than was right - in the house of God no less! Their robbery of the poor was not only dishonoring to God but unjust toward their neighbor. In justification for his audacious action Jesus quotes from the prophets Isaiah (56:7) and Jeremiah (7:11). His act of judgment aims to purify the worship of God's people and to discipline their erring ways.
Jesus' cleansing of the temple was another prophetic action. In this incident we see Jesus' startling and swift action in cleansing the temple of those who were using it to exploit the worshipers of God. The money changers took advantage of the poor and forced them to pay many times more than was right - in the house of God no less! Their robbery of the poor was not only dishonoring to God but unjust toward their neighbor. In justification for his audacious action Jesus quotes from the prophets Isaiah (56:7) and Jeremiah (7:11). His act of judgment aims to purify the worship of God's people and to discipline their erring ways.
Pray with expectant faith in God's power and mercy
After this incident Jesus exhorts his disciples to "have faith in God." They are to pray with expectant faith for God's will to be accomplished - no matter how difficult or challenging the situation may appear. The phrase "to remove mountains" was a common Jewish expression for removing difficulties. A wise teacher who could solve difficulties was called a "mountain remover." If we pray with expectant faith God will give us the means to overcome difficulties and obstacles that stand in the way of accomplishing his will for our lives. If we want God to hear our prayers we must forgive those who wrong us as God has forgiven us. Do you pray with expectant faith?
After this incident Jesus exhorts his disciples to "have faith in God." They are to pray with expectant faith for God's will to be accomplished - no matter how difficult or challenging the situation may appear. The phrase "to remove mountains" was a common Jewish expression for removing difficulties. A wise teacher who could solve difficulties was called a "mountain remover." If we pray with expectant faith God will give us the means to overcome difficulties and obstacles that stand in the way of accomplishing his will for our lives. If we want God to hear our prayers we must forgive those who wrong us as God has forgiven us. Do you pray with expectant faith?
"Lord Jesus, increase my faith and make my
fruitful and effective in serving you and bringing you honor and glory in all
that I do. Help me to be merciful and forgiving towards others just as you have
been merciful and forgiving towards me."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Attaining the fruit of mercy and goodness in
the school of Christ, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Some who witnessed Christ's miracles did not
understand what they meant, and how they spoke to those who knew they had
special meaning. They wondered only at the miracles themselves. Others both
marveled at the miracles, and attained some preliminary understanding of them.
For this we must come to the school of Christ himself. Those fixed only upon
the plain sense of Scripture tend to focus merely upon miracle for miracles'
sake. Hence they may prematurely conclude that Jesus himself was ignorant of
the time of the year, something any ordinary farmer could discern. For it was
not yet the season for the tree to bear fruit. Nevertheless, since he was
hungry, he looked for fruit on the tree (Mark
11:13). Does this imply that Christ knew less
than what every peasant could easily discern? Surely not. Wouldn't you expect
the maker of the fig tree to know what the ordinary orchard worker would know
in a snap? So when he was hungry he looked for fruit on the tree, but he seemed
to be looking for something more from this tree. He noted that the tree had no
fruit, but was full of leaves. It was at that point that he cursed it, and it
withered away. So what terrible thing had the poor tree done simply in not
bearing fruit? Could the tree reasonably be faulted for its fruitlessness? No.
But human beings who by their own free will decide not to bear fruit - that is
a different matter. Those found wanting in accountability in this case are
those who had the benefit of the law, which was meant to bear fruit, but they
had no fruit to show for it. They had a full growth of leaves (the law), yet
they bore no fruit (works of mercy)." (excerpt
from SERMONS ON NEW TESTAMENT LESSONS 48.3.16)
FRIDAY, JUNE
1, MARK 11:11-26
(1 Peter 4:7-13; Psalm 96)
(1 Peter 4:7-13; Psalm 96)
KEY VERSE: "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples" (v 17).
TO KNOW: Jesus entered Jerusalem, the messianic city of King David, and took possession of the city, not as a military leader, but as a meek servant, riding on a colt (Zec 9: 9). The people cried "Hosanna!" meaning "Heaven help us!" When Jesus spied a barren fig tree, he perceived this as a symbol of fruitless Israel. Jesus entered the Temple and was incensed by the people's lack of respect and worship in his "Father's house," and he cast out the merchants and money-changers. The cursing of the fig tree was a sign that God's judgment was upon those who had not taught the people the true meaning of worship. Jesus came as the authoritative teacher of true faith, prayer and forgiveness.
TO LOVE: Do I take part in the liturgy with "full, conscious and active participation"? (Vatican II, Sacrosanctum Concilium, 14)
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to see where I fail to offer true worship.
Memorial of
Saint Justin, martyr
Justin was a Christian apologist, born at Flavia Neapolis, about A.D. 100. Justin had a good education in rhetoric, poetry, and history. He studied various schools of philosophy in Alexandria and Ephesus, joining himself first to Stoicism, then Pythagoreanism, and then Platonism, looking for answers to his questions. While at Ephesus, he was impressed by the steadfastness of the Christian martyrs. He converted to Christianity about A.D. 130, and taught and defended the Christian religion in Asia Minor and at Rome. After Justin became a Christian, he opened a school of Christian philosophy and there he engaged the Cynic philosopher Crescens in debate, and soon after was arrested on the charge of practicing an unauthorized religion. He refused to renounce Christianity, and was put to death by beheading along with six of his students, one of them a woman, about the year 165. A record of the trial, probably authentic, is known as The Acts of Justin the Martyr.
NOTE: Stocism is an ancient Greek school of philosophy that taught that virtue, the highest good, is based on knowledge, and that the wise live in harmony with the Divine Reason (also identified with Fate and Providence), which governs nature. They were indifferent to the changes of fortune and to pleasure and pain.
Pythagoreanism was the system of beliefs held by Pythagoras and his followers who were considerably influenced by mathematics, music and astronomy. Pythagoreanism originated in the 5th century BC and greatly influenced Platonism.
Platonism is the philosophy of Plato that affirms the existence of abstract objects, which are asserted to "exist" in a "third realm" distinct both from the sensible external world and from the internal world of consciousness.
Friday 1 June
2018
St Justin. Day of Penance.
1 Peter 4:7-13. Psalm 95(96):10-13. Mark 11:11-26.
The Lord comes to judge the earth—Psalm 95(96):10-13.
‘Above all, preserve an intense love for each other.’
Jesus went to the temple after his triumphant entry into
Jerusalem, but the next day returned to drive out the money-lenders and
traders. He must have thought and prayed about it during the night before
acting for the glory of his father.
Peter exhorts us to live our lives using whatever gifts we have
received, whether hospitality, speech or service, ungrudgingly for the glory of
our creator. We should not count the cost nor give in to fears of ridicule,
hostility or even doubts wherever we see the need. But we need to follow the
example of Jesus—by prayerful meditation—so that our course of action is
effectively guided by wisdom from the Spirit.
Saint Justin Martyr
Saint of the Day for June 1
(c. 100 – 165)
 |
| Mosaics in Mount of Beatitudes | photo by Deror avi |
Saint Justin Martyr’s Story
Justin never ended his quest for religious truth even when he
converted to Christianity after years of studying various pagan philosophies.
As a young man, he was principally attracted to the school of
Plato. However, he found that the Christian religion answered the great
questions about life and existence better than the philosophers.
Upon his conversion he continued to wear the philosopher’s
mantle, and became the first Christian philosopher. He combined the Christian
religion with the best elements in Greek philosophy. In his view, philosophy
was a pedagogue of Christ, an educator that was to lead one to Christ.
Justin is known as an apologist, one who defends in writing the
Christian religion against the attacks and misunderstandings of the pagans. Two
of his so-called apologies have come down to us; they are addressed to the
Roman emperor and to the Senate.
For his staunch adherence to the Christian religion, Justin was
beheaded in Rome in 165.
Reflection
As patron of philosophers, Justin may inspire us to use our
natural powers—especially our power to know and understand—in the service of
Christ, and to build up the Christian life within us. Since we are prone to
error, especially in reference to the deep questions concerning life and
existence, we should also be willing to correct and check our natural thinking
in light of religious truth. Thus we will be able to say with the learned
saints of the Church: I believe in order to understand, and I understand in
order to believe.
LECTIO DIVINA: MARK 11:11-25
Lectio Divina:
Friday, June 1, 2018
PRAYER
Lord, merciful Father, you chose each of
your children, that they might become heralds of your love in the world and
bring the good fruit of your Presence to all peoples. May our fruit
remain, thanks to our communion with You and with your Son, Jesus; help us to
gather this fruit, which is our Friend and Teacher, who enters every day into
the holy temple of our lives. May he renew his covenant with us daily,
through faith and prayer full of trusting abandon. Amen.
READING
From the gospel according to Mark
(11:11-25)
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple area.
He looked around at everything and, since it was already late, went out to
Bethany with the Twelve. 12The next day as they were leaving
Bethany he was hungry. 13 Seeing from a distance a fig
tree in leaf, he went over to see if he could find anything on it. When he
reached it he found nothing but leaves; it was not the time for figs.
14 And he said to it in reply, "May no one ever eat of your
fruit again!" And his disciples heard it. 15 They
came to Jerusalem, and on entering the temple area he began to drive out those
selling and buying there. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the
seats of those who were selling doves. 16 He did not
permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area. 17 Then
he taught them saying, "Is it not written: 'My house shall be called a
house of prayer for all peoples'? But you have made it a den of
thieves." 18 The chief priests and the scribes
came to hear of it and were seeking a way to put him to death, yet they feared
him because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19 When
evening came, they left the city. 20 Early in the
morning, as they were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered to its
roots. 21Peter remembered and said to him, "Rabbi,
look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered." 22 Jesus
said to them in reply, "Have faith in God. 23 Amen,
I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the
sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will
happen, it shall be done for him. 24 Therefore I
tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and
it shall be yours. 25 When you stand to pray,
forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father
may in turn forgive you your transgressions."
MEDITATION
* “Jesus entered Jerusalem and went
into the temple area”. One of the characteristics of this passage is the
continuous movement of Jesus, expressed in the repetition, in the alternation,
of the verbs “enter” and “leave” (vv. 11; 12; 15; 19). In fact, the Lord
continuously comes into our life, enters into our space, into our experience, passes,
walks among us and with us, but then he goes, he distances himself, he leaves
us to search and wait, and he returns again to be found. He does not
disdain to enter the Holy City, into the temple, and thus it is within us, in
our heart, offering us his visit of salvation.
* “he was hungry”. The verb we
find here, from Mark’s pen, is the same verb used also in Matthew and in Luke
in the story of the temptation in the desert (Mt 4:2; Lk 4,:2) and is used to
fully express a condition of weakness, of fragility, of need, of
tiredness. Jesus searches for something more than a simple fruit to sate
his hunger; he does not ask something of a fig out of season, but asks of his
people, asks of us, the good food of love, that which comes prepared to the table
of the covenant, from the “yes” pronounced with trust and abandon.
* “Seeing from a distance a fig tree
in leaf”. The figure of the fig tree, which occupies a central place in
this passage, is a very strong symbol of Israel, the chosen people; of the
temple and cult rendered to God in its entirety; and finally of ourselves, if
we want it, of the most profound truth of our heart.
The leaves of the fig refer with clarity
to the experience of Adam in the Garden of Eden, of his contact with sin, of
his nudity and of his consequential shame. Jesus, stopping before this
fig during his journey toward Jerusalem and setting his eyes on the leaves that
hide the lack of fruit, in reality, tears the veil hiding our truth and exposes
our heart, not to condemn it, but to save it, to heal it. The fruit of
the fig is indeed sweet; the Lord searches for the sweetness of love to speak
to our life. The barren fig, empty of fruit and life, anticipates,
therefore, the temple emptied of sense, profaned and made useless from rapport
with God, which is only flight, that is non-encounter. Like Adam, so
Israel, and perhaps thus also us.
* “those selling and buying there”.
The scene of the purification of the temple (vv. 15-17), which Mark insterts
between the two moments of encounter already anticipated of the curse of the
fig tree without fruit, is very strong and animated. This time, we are
called to set our attention on the verbs and terms “drive out,” “overturned,”
“did not permit,” selling,” “buying,” “moneychangers,” “vendors,” “thieves,”
“carry anything.” Jesus inaugurates a new economy, in which “you were
sold for nothing, and without money you shall be redeemed” (Is 52:3), “He
shall…let my exiles go free without price or ransom” (Is 45:13) and “you were
ransomed…not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious
blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb” (1 Pt 1:18-19).
* “house of prayer”. From the
holy temple we are led into the house, the Dwelling of God, where the true
sacrifice is prayer, that is, the face-to-face encounter with Him, as children
with our Father. Here nothing is bought, there is no money, but only the
gift of the heart that opens itself with full trust to prayer and faith.
* “the fig tree withered to its roots”.
In fact, it is these themes that the word of Mark wishes to offer for our
meditation, continuing the reading of the passage. We must leave the
temple to enter into the house, we must leave the sale to enter into the gift
and trust: the tree without fruit is withered and seems to be in the middle of
the road, indicating the new way to go, with the rising of a new morning
(v. 20), a way toward God and towards our brothers and sisters.
* “have faith with no doubt”.
With this most beautiful expression, Jesus helps us to enter into the depths of
ourselves and to make contact with our heart, in truth. The Greek text
has a stupendous verb, translated here as “doubt” and which wishes to really
express an interior split, a division, a battle between two factions.
Jesus thus invites us to place absolute trust in Him and in the Father, in
order not to become shattered within. In a full and complete way we can
come near to God, we can be in relationship with Him, without the need of
leaves to mask ourselves, without beginning to count our change and calculate
the price to pay, without making separations within ourselves, but offering
ourselves completely to Him, as we are, that which we are, bringing with us the
good and sweet fruit of love.
* “When you stand to pray, forgive”.
And it cannot be any other way than this: the end and the new beginning of the
way of faith and prayer, in the life of the Christian, is found in relationship
with brothers and sisters, in the encounter with them, in the exchange, in the
reciprocal giving. There is no prayer, cult of God, holy temple,
sacrifice pleasing to God, there is no fruit or sweetness without love for our
brother or sister. Mark calls it forgiveness, Jesus calls it love, the
only fruit capable of satisfying our hunger, of relieving our weariness.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
* Meditating on this passage I
encountered two strong figures: the fig tree and the temple, both without
fruit, without life and love. I saw Jesus, who with his coming and his
strong and sure work, changed this situation, offering a new aspect to
life. Am I able to recognize my need to let myself be reached out to by
the Lord, to let myself be touched by Him? Do I see myself, in certain
aspects of myself, of my life, as a barren fig, without fruit or like the temple,
a cold place of commerce and calculation? Do I feel within myself the
desire to be able to also give the sweet fruit of love, of friendship, of
sharing? Do I hunger for prayer, for a true relationship with the Father?
* Following Jesus along the way, can I
also enter into the new morning of his Law, of his teaching? Am I able to
recognize the cracks that I carry in my heart? Where do I feel most
divided, most insecure, most confused? Why can I not completely entrust
myself to my Father? Why do I still hobble on two feet, as the prophet
Elijah says (cf. I Kings 18:21). I know that the Lord is God and I now I
want to follow Him! Not alone, but opening my heart to many brothers and
sisters, making myself friend and companion on the journey, to share in the joy
and in the struggle, the fear and the enthusiasm of the way; I know with
certainty that following the Lord I will be happy. Amen.
FINAL PRAYER
Lord, I want to sing a new song!
Sing to the LORD a new song,
a hymn in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
the people of Zion rejoice in their king.
Let them praise his name in festive dance,
make music with tambourine and lyre.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
a hymn in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
the people of Zion rejoice in their king.
Let them praise his name in festive dance,
make music with tambourine and lyre.
For the LORD takes delight in his
people,
honors the poor with victory.
Let the faithful rejoice in their glory,
cry out for joy at their banquet,
With the praise of God in their mouths,
and a two-edged sword in their hands
honors the poor with victory.
Let the faithful rejoice in their glory,
cry out for joy at their banquet,
With the praise of God in their mouths,
and a two-edged sword in their hands
(Psalm 149)
