Friday of the Tenth Week in
Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 363
Lectionary: 363
At the mountain of God, Horeb,
Elijah came to a cave, where he took shelter.
But the word of the LORD came to him,
“Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD;
the LORD will be passing by.”
A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains
and crushing rocks before the LORD—
but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake—
but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake there was fire—
but the LORD was not in the fire.
After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.
When he heard this,
Elijah hid his face in his cloak
and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.
A voice said to him, “Elijah, why are you here?”
He replied, “I have been most zealous for the LORD,
the God of hosts.
But the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant,
torn down your altars,
and put your prophets to the sword.
I alone am left, and they seek to take my life.”
The LORD said to him,
“Go, take the road back to the desert near Damascus.
When you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king of Aram.
Then you shall anoint Jehu, son of Nimshi, as king of Israel,
and Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah,
as prophet to succeed you.”
Elijah came to a cave, where he took shelter.
But the word of the LORD came to him,
“Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD;
the LORD will be passing by.”
A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains
and crushing rocks before the LORD—
but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake—
but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake there was fire—
but the LORD was not in the fire.
After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.
When he heard this,
Elijah hid his face in his cloak
and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.
A voice said to him, “Elijah, why are you here?”
He replied, “I have been most zealous for the LORD,
the God of hosts.
But the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant,
torn down your altars,
and put your prophets to the sword.
I alone am left, and they seek to take my life.”
The LORD said to him,
“Go, take the road back to the desert near Damascus.
When you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king of Aram.
Then you shall anoint Jehu, son of Nimshi, as king of Israel,
and Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah,
as prophet to succeed you.”
Responsorial PsalmPS 27:7-8A, 8B-9ABC, 13-14
R. (8b) I long to see your face, O Lord.
Hear, O LORD, the sound of my call;
have pity on me, and answer me.
Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks.
R. I long to see your face, O Lord.
Your presence, O LORD, I seek.
Hide not your face from me;
do not in anger repel your servant.
You are my helper: cast me not off.
R. I long to see your face, O Lord.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. I long to see your face, O Lord.
Hear, O LORD, the sound of my call;
have pity on me, and answer me.
Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks.
R. I long to see your face, O Lord.
Your presence, O LORD, I seek.
Hide not your face from me;
do not in anger repel your servant.
You are my helper: cast me not off.
R. I long to see your face, O Lord.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. I long to see your face, O Lord.
AlleluiaPHIL 2:15D, 16A
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Shine like lights on the world,
as you hold on to the word of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Shine like lights on the world,
as you hold on to the word of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMT 5:27-32
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery.
But I say to you,
everyone who looks at a woman with lust
has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin,
tear it out and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.
And if your right hand causes you to sin,
cut it off and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.
“It was also said,
Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.
But I say to you,
whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful)
causes her to commit adultery,
and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
“You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery.
But I say to you,
everyone who looks at a woman with lust
has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin,
tear it out and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.
And if your right hand causes you to sin,
cut it off and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.
“It was also said,
Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.
But I say to you,
whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful)
causes her to commit adultery,
and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
Meditation: "If your eye causes you to
sin"
What does Jesus mean when he says "pluck out your
eye" or "cut off your hand and throw it away" if it leads you to
sin? Is he exaggerating here? Jesus used forceful language to urge his
disciples to choose for life - an enduring life of joy and happiness with God -
rather than for death - an unending death and total separation from a community
of love, peace, joy and friendship with God. Jesus set before his disciples the
one goal in life that is worth any sacrifice and that goal is the conformity of
our will with God and what he desires for our well-being and happiness with
him. Just as a doctor might remove some part of the body, such as a diseased
limb, in order to preserve the life of the whole body, so we must be ready to
part with anything that causes us to sin and which inevitably leads to
spiritual death.
The great stumbling block - bad example
Jesus warns us of the terrible responsibility that we must set no stumbling block in the way of another, that is, not give offense or bad example that might lead another to sin. The young in faith are especially vulnerable to the bad example of those who should be passing on the faith. Jesus teaches that righteousness involves responding to every situation in life in a way that fulfill's God's law, not just externally but internally as well. Jesus says that evil desires spring from the heart. That is why the sin of adultery must first be dealt with in the heart, the place not only of the emotions, but the mind, will, thought, and intentions as well.
Jesus warns us of the terrible responsibility that we must set no stumbling block in the way of another, that is, not give offense or bad example that might lead another to sin. The young in faith are especially vulnerable to the bad example of those who should be passing on the faith. Jesus teaches that righteousness involves responding to every situation in life in a way that fulfill's God's law, not just externally but internally as well. Jesus says that evil desires spring from the heart. That is why the sin of adultery must first be dealt with in the heart, the place not only of the emotions, but the mind, will, thought, and intentions as well.
God's intention from the beginning
God’s intention and ideal from the beginning was for man and woman to be indissolubly united in marriage as “one flesh” (see Genesis 2:23-24). That ideal is found in the unbreakable union of Adam and Eve. They were created for each other and for no one else. They are the pattern and symbol for all who were to come. Moses permitted divorce as a concession in view of a lost ideal (see Mark 10:2-9). Jesus sets the high ideal of the married state before those who are willing to accept his commands. Jesus gives the grace and power of his Holy Spirit to those who seek to follow his way of holiness in their state of life - whether married or single.
God’s intention and ideal from the beginning was for man and woman to be indissolubly united in marriage as “one flesh” (see Genesis 2:23-24). That ideal is found in the unbreakable union of Adam and Eve. They were created for each other and for no one else. They are the pattern and symbol for all who were to come. Moses permitted divorce as a concession in view of a lost ideal (see Mark 10:2-9). Jesus sets the high ideal of the married state before those who are willing to accept his commands. Jesus gives the grace and power of his Holy Spirit to those who seek to follow his way of holiness in their state of life - whether married or single.
The power to live a holy life
If we want to live righteously as God desires for us, then we must know and understand the intention of God's commands for us, and decide in our heart to obey the Lord. Through the gift and working of the Holy Spirit, the Lord writes his law on our hearts and gives us his power to live his way of righteousness and holiness. Do you trust in God’s love and allow his Holy Spirit to fill you with a thirst for holiness and righteousness in every area of your life?
If we want to live righteously as God desires for us, then we must know and understand the intention of God's commands for us, and decide in our heart to obey the Lord. Through the gift and working of the Holy Spirit, the Lord writes his law on our hearts and gives us his power to live his way of righteousness and holiness. Do you trust in God’s love and allow his Holy Spirit to fill you with a thirst for holiness and righteousness in every area of your life?
"Lord Jesus, begin a new work of love within me.
Instill in me a greater love and respect for your commandments. Give me a
burning desire to live a life of holiness and righteousness. Purify my
thoughts, desires, and intentions that I may only desire what is pleasing to
you and in accord with your will."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: The
fuel of adultery, by Chromatius (died 406 AD)
"Because adultery is a serious sin and in order to
uproot it, lest our conscience be defiled, he [Jesus] forbade even lust, which
is the fuel of adultery. According to the words of blessed James in his
epistle, 'Lust when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is
full-grown brings forth death' (James 1:15). The Holy Spirit speaks concerning
this to David: 'Happy shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them
against the rock' (Psalm 137:9). The symbolism here is that the blessed and truly
evangelical person roots out the desires and lust of the flesh arising from
human weakness. He does this immediately before they grow, at the onset,
through faith in Christ who has been described as a rock" (1 Corinthians
10:4) (excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 23.1.6–7)
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, MATTHEW 5:27-32
Weekday
(1 Kings 19:9a, 11-16; Psalm 27)
Weekday
(1 Kings 19:9a, 11-16; Psalm 27)
KEY VERSE: "It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna" (v 30).
TO KNOW: Jesus taught his disciples about the sacredness of the marriage contract as written in the Law of Moses (Ex 20:14). As with the prohibition against murder (Mt 5:21-22), Jesus said that sin begins in the mind and heart. Jesus illustrated this by saying that his followers must gouge out their "eyes" or cut off their "hands." Of course he wasn't speaking literally, but used Semitic hyperbole to demonstrate his point. If lustful thoughts ("eye") or deeds ("hand") were occasions of sin, they should be ruthlessly eliminated. This was an indication of how relentless one must be in eradicating sin. It would be better to sacrifice passion and pleasure than to risk being destroyed in "Gehenna." This refuse dump, with its never-ending smoldering fire, was a graphic portrayal of eternal punishment. In Dante's Inferno, there is a sign over the gates of Hades that reads: "All hope abandon ye who enter here."
TO LOVE: What is my attitude towards graphic sex and violence in the media?
TO SERVE: Holy Spirit, help me to be pure in mind and heart.
LECTIO DIVINA: MATTHEW 5,27-32
Lectio Divina:
Friday, June 15, 2018
Ordinary Time
1) OPENING PRAYER
God of wisdom and love,
source of all good,
send your Spirit to teach us your truth
and guide our actions
in your way of peace.
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.
source of all good,
send your Spirit to teach us your truth
and guide our actions
in your way of peace.
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 5,27-32
Jesus said to his disciples: 'You have heard how it was
said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say this to you, if a man looks at a
woman lustfully, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye should be your downfall, tear it out and
throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of yourself than
to have your whole body thrown into hell. And if your right hand should be your
downfall, cut it off and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose
one part of yourself than to have your whole body go to hell. 'It has also been
said, Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a writ of dismissal. But I say
this to you, everyone who divorces his wife, except for the case of an illicit
marriage, makes her an adulteress; and anyone who marries a divorced woman
commits adultery.'
3) REFLECTION
• In yesterday’s Gospel, Jesus made a rereading of the
commandments: “Do not kill” (Mt 5, 20-26). In today’s Gospel Jesus rereads the
commandment “You shall not commit adultery”.Jesus rereads the law
starting from the intention that God had, which was proclaimed centuries before
on Mount Sinai. He seeks the spirit of the Law and does not close himself up in
the letter. He takes up again and defends the great values of human life which
constitute the background of each one of these Ten Commandments. He insists on
love, on fidelity, on mercy, on justice, on truth, on humanity (Mt 9,13; 12,7; 23,23;
Mt 5,10; 5,20; Lc 11,42; 18,9). The result of the full observance of the Law of
God humanizes the person. In Jesus we can see what happens when a person allows
God to fill his life. The last objective is that of uniting both loves, the
building up of fraternity in defence of life. The greater the fraternity, the
greater will be the fullness of life and greater will be the adoration given by
all creatures to God, Creator and Saviour.
• In today’s Gospel, Jesus looks closely at the relationship
man-woman in marriage, fundamental basis of human living together. There was a
commandment which said: “Do not commit adultery”, and another one which said:
“Anyone who divorces his wife, has to give her a certificate of divorce”. Jesus
takes up again both commandments, giving them a new meaning.
• Matthew 5, 27-28: Do not commit adultery. What
does this commandment require from us? The ancient response was: man cannot
sleep with somebody else’s wife. This was demanded by the letter of the
commandment. But Jesus goes beyond, surpasses the letter and says: “But
I say to you, if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has already committed
adultery with her in his heart”.
The objective of the commandment is reciprocal fidelity
between man and woman who assume life together, as a married couple. And this
fidelity will be complete only if both will know how to be faithful to one
another in thought and in the desire and, will know how to reach a total
transparency between them.
• Matthew 5, 29-30: Tear out your eye and cut off
your hand. To illustrate what Jesus has just said, he states a hard
word of which he serves himself on another occasion when he spoke of the
scandal to little ones (Mt 18, 9 e Mc 9, 47). He says: If your right eye should
be your downfall tear it out and throw it away: for it will do you less harm to
lose one part of yourself than to have to have your whole body thrown into
hell”. And he affirms the same thing concerning the hand. These affirmations
cannot be taken literally. They indicate the radical nature and the seriousness
with which Jesus insists on the observance of this commandment.
• Matthew 5, 31-32: The question of divorce. Man
was permitted to give a certificate of divorce to the woman. In the discourse
of the community, Jesus will say that Moses permitted this because the people
were hard hearted (Mt 19, 8). “But I say to you: anyone who divorces his
wife, give her a certificate of divorce; but I say to you: anyone who divorces
his wife, except in the case of concubinage, exposes her to adultery and anyone
who marries a divorced woman , commits adultery”. There has been much
discussion on this theme. Basing itself on this affirmation of Jesus, the
Oriental Church permits divorce in case of “fornication”, that is of
infidelity. Others say that here the word fornication is the translation of an
Aramaic or Hebrew word zenuth which indicated a valid marriage
among people who were relatives, and which was forbidden. It would not be a
valid marriage.
• Leaving aside the correct interpretation of this word,
what is important is to see the objective and the general sense of the
affirmation of Jesus in the new reading which is done of the Ten Commandments.
Jesus speaks about an ideal which should always be before my eyes. The
definitive ideal is: “to be perfect as the Heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5,
48). This ideal is valid for all the commandments reviewed by Jesus. In the
rereading of the commandment “Do not commit adultery”, this ideal is translated
as transparency and honesty between husband and wife. Even more, nobody can
say: “I am perfect as the Heavenly Father is perfect”. We will always be below
the measure. We can never merit the reward because we will always be below the
measure. What is important is to continue walking on the road, turn our look
toward the ideal, always! But at the same time, as Jesus did, we have to accept
persons with the same mercy with which he accepted persons and directed them
toward the ideal. This is why, certain juridical exigencies of the Church
today, for example, not to permit communion to those divorced persons living a
second marriage, seem to be more in agreement with the attitude of the
Pharisees than with that of Jesus. Nobody applies literally the explanation of
the commandment “Do not kill”, where Jesus says that anyone who says idiot to
his brother deserves hell (Mt 5, 22). Because if it was like that we would all
have the entrance into hell guaranteed and nobody would be saved. Why does our
doctrine use different measures in the case of the fifth and the ninth
commandments?
4) PERSONAL QUESTIONS
• Do you succeed in living honesty and transparency totally
with persons of the other sex?
• How is this to be understood: “to be perfect like the
Heavenly Father is perfect?”
5) CONCLUDING PRAYER
Of you my heart has said,
'Seek his face!' Your face, Yahweh, I seek;
do not turn away from me.
Do not thrust aside your servant in anger,
without you I am helpless.
Never leave me, never forsake me, God, my Saviour.
(Ps 27,8-9)
'Seek his face!' Your face, Yahweh, I seek;
do not turn away from me.
Do not thrust aside your servant in anger,
without you I am helpless.
Never leave me, never forsake me, God, my Saviour.
(Ps 27,8-9)
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