Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary
Time
Lectionary: 393
Lectionary: 393
When Hezekiah was mortally ill,
the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, came and said to him:
"Thus says the LORD: Put your house in order,
for you are about to die; you shall not recover."
Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD:
"O LORD, remember how faithfully and wholeheartedly
I conducted myself in your presence,
doing what was pleasing to you!"
And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: "Go, tell Hezekiah:
Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David:
I have heard your prayer and seen your tears.
I will heal you: in three days you shall go up to the LORD's temple;
I will add fifteen years to your life.
I will rescue you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria;
I will be a shield to this city."
Isaiah then ordered a poultice of figs to be taken
and applied to the boil, that he might recover.
Then Hezekiah asked,
"What is the sign that I shall go up to the temple of the LORD?"
Isaiah answered:
"This will be the sign for you from the LORD
that he will do what he has promised:
See, I will make the shadow cast by the sun
on the stairway to the terrace of Ahaz
go back the ten steps it has advanced."
So the sun came back the ten steps it had advanced.
the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, came and said to him:
"Thus says the LORD: Put your house in order,
for you are about to die; you shall not recover."
Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD:
"O LORD, remember how faithfully and wholeheartedly
I conducted myself in your presence,
doing what was pleasing to you!"
And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: "Go, tell Hezekiah:
Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David:
I have heard your prayer and seen your tears.
I will heal you: in three days you shall go up to the LORD's temple;
I will add fifteen years to your life.
I will rescue you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria;
I will be a shield to this city."
Isaiah then ordered a poultice of figs to be taken
and applied to the boil, that he might recover.
Then Hezekiah asked,
"What is the sign that I shall go up to the temple of the LORD?"
Isaiah answered:
"This will be the sign for you from the LORD
that he will do what he has promised:
See, I will make the shadow cast by the sun
on the stairway to the terrace of Ahaz
go back the ten steps it has advanced."
So the sun came back the ten steps it had advanced.
Responsorial
PsalmISAIAH 38:10, 11, 12ABCD,
16
R. (see 17b) You
saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die.
Once I said,
"In the noontime of life I must depart!
To the gates of the nether world I shall be consigned
for the rest of my years."
R. You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die.
I said, "I shall see the LORD no more
in the land of the living.
No longer shall I behold my fellow men
among those who dwell in the world."
R. You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die.
My dwelling, like a shepherd's tent,
is struck down and borne away from me;
You have folded up my life, like a weaver
who severs the last thread.
R. You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die.
Those live whom the LORD protects;
yours is the life of my spirit.
You have given me health and life.
R. You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die.
Once I said,
"In the noontime of life I must depart!
To the gates of the nether world I shall be consigned
for the rest of my years."
R. You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die.
I said, "I shall see the LORD no more
in the land of the living.
No longer shall I behold my fellow men
among those who dwell in the world."
R. You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die.
My dwelling, like a shepherd's tent,
is struck down and borne away from me;
You have folded up my life, like a weaver
who severs the last thread.
R. You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die.
Those live whom the LORD protects;
yours is the life of my spirit.
You have given me health and life.
R. You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die.
AlleluiaJN 10:27
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMT 12:1-8
Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath.
His disciples were hungry
and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.
When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him,
"See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath."
He said to the them, "Have you not read what David did
when he and his companions were hungry,
how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering,
which neither he nor his companions
but only the priests could lawfully eat?
Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath
the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath
and are innocent?
I say to you, something greater than the temple is here.
If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
you would not have condemned these innocent men.
For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath."
His disciples were hungry
and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.
When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him,
"See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath."
He said to the them, "Have you not read what David did
when he and his companions were hungry,
how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering,
which neither he nor his companions
but only the priests could lawfully eat?
Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath
the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath
and are innocent?
I say to you, something greater than the temple is here.
If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
you would not have condemned these innocent men.
For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath."
Meditation: "I desire mercy and not
sacrifice"
What does the commandment "keep holy the
Sabbath" require of us? Or better yet, what is the primary intention
behind this command? The religious leaders confronted Jesus on this issue. The
"Sabbath rest" was meant to be a time to remember and celebrate God's
goodness and the goodness of his work, both in creation and redemption. It was
a day set apart for the praise of God, his work of creation, and his saving
actions on our behalf. It was intended to bring everyday work to a halt and to
provide needed rest and refreshment.
Mercy and not sacrifice
Jesus' disciples are scolded by the scribes and Pharisees, not for plucking and eating corn from the fields, but for doing so on the Sabbath. In defending his disciples, Jesus argues from the Scriptures that human need has precedence over ritual custom. In their hunger, David and his men ate of the holy bread offered in the Temple. Jesus also quoted of the Sabbath work involved in worship in the Temple. This kind of work was usually double the work of worship on weekdays. Jesus then quotes from the prophet Hosea (6:6): I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. While the claims of ritual sacrifice are important to God, mercy and kindness in response to human need are even more important. Do you honor the Lord in the way you treat your neighbor and celebrate the Lord's Day?
Jesus' disciples are scolded by the scribes and Pharisees, not for plucking and eating corn from the fields, but for doing so on the Sabbath. In defending his disciples, Jesus argues from the Scriptures that human need has precedence over ritual custom. In their hunger, David and his men ate of the holy bread offered in the Temple. Jesus also quoted of the Sabbath work involved in worship in the Temple. This kind of work was usually double the work of worship on weekdays. Jesus then quotes from the prophet Hosea (6:6): I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. While the claims of ritual sacrifice are important to God, mercy and kindness in response to human need are even more important. Do you honor the Lord in the way you treat your neighbor and celebrate the Lord's Day?
"Lord, make us to walk in your way: Where there
is love and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance; where there is
patience and humility, there is neither anger nor annoyance; where there is
poverty and joy, there is neither greed nor avarice; where there is peace and
contemplation, there is neither care nor restlessness; where there is the fear
of God to guard the dwelling, there no enemy can enter; where there is mercy
and prudence, there is neither excess nor harshness; this we know through your
Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." (Prayer
of Francis of Assisi, 1182-1226)
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: The Seventh Day, from the early Greek
fathers, attributed to Eusebius of Alexandria (5th century AD)
"Now every week has seven days. Six of these God
has given to us for work, and one for prayer, rest, and making reparation for
our sins, so that on the Lord's Day we may atone to God for any sins we have
committed on the other six days. Therefore, arrive early at the church of God;
draw near to the Lord and confess your sins to him, repenting in prayer and
with a contrite heart. Attend the holy and divine liturgy; finish your prayer
and do not leave before the dismissal. Contemplate your master as he is broken
and distributed, yet not consumed. If you have a clear conscience, go forward
and partake of the body and blood of the Lord." (excerpt from SERMON 6, 1-2)
FRIDAY, JULY
20, MATTHEW 12:1-8
Weekday
(Isaiah 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8; Psalm: Isaiah 38)
Weekday
(Isaiah 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8; Psalm: Isaiah 38)
KEY VERSE: "For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath" (v. 8).
TO KNOW: As Jesus and his disciples continued their journey, the Pharisees criticized him for allowing his hungry followers to glean grain on the Sabbath, since the law forbade manual labor on the Lord's Day. The religious leaders defined "work" as thirty-nine forbidden actions. Among them were reaping, winnowing, threshing and preparing a meal. By plucking the corn Jesus' disciples were guilty of reaping; by rubbing it in their hands they were guilty of threshing, and by separating the grain from the chaff they were guilty of winnowing. Furthermore, the whole process constituted preparing a meal, another violation of the Sabbath law. In defense of his disciples, Jesus cited the example of David who fed his hungry men with the "bread of offering" usually reserved for priests (1 Sm 21:4-7). Jesus argued that priests did not incur guilt by preparing the offering of the lambs on the Sabbath (Nm 28:9). He quoted the prophet Hosea who said: "I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice" (Hos 6:6). Jesus was liberating God's people from the burdens of a restrictive law, which they had labored under for so long (Mt 11:28).
TO LOVE: Do I have a legalistic view of God's Law?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, teach me to observe the Lord's Day through worship and service to your people.
Optional Memorial of Saint
Apollinaris, bishop and martyr
Apollinaris, bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia, was one of the most illustrious bishops of the second century. He was renowned for his power to heal in the name of Christ. Saint Jerome, Eusebius, and Theodoret furnish us with the few facts known of him. Apollinaris addressed an "Apology" (a defense) of the Christian religion to the emperor Marcus Aurelius. It was to protect his flock against persecution that Apollinaris reminded the Emperor of the favor he had received from God through the prayers of the Christians. Apollinaris and his flock were exiled from Ravenna by the emperor Vespasian. On his way out of the city Apollinaris was arrested, tortured and martyred, run through with a sword. The date of the death is not known, but it probably occurred about the year 175. Saint Apollinaris' relics are at Ravenna, Italy.
Friday 20 July
2018
Day of Penance.
Isaiah 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8. Isaiah 38:10-12, 16. Matthew
12:1-8.
You saved my life, O Lord, I shall not die—Isaiah 38:10-12, 16.
‘What I want is mercy, not sacrifice.’
In today’s Gospel, the Pharisees see Jesus’ hungry disciples
picking and eating ears of corn on the Sabbath. The Pharisees tell Jesus that
this is forbidden, but Jesus reminds them of occasions in the scriptures where
God’s people break the Sabbath due to necessity without blame. Again, the
Pharisees’ rigid interpretation of the law leaves no room for mercy. Jesus
shows the Pharisees the better path, reminding them that he is the master of
the Sabbath.
Lord, make me an agent of your mercy. Lead me to patience and
care for the other before my eyes. Give me an experience of your compassion
such that I pour forth love for people.
Saint Apollinaris
Saint of the Day for July 20
(d. c. 79)
 |
| Statue of Saint Apollinaris in Santa Maria del Suffragio, Ravenna | José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro |
Saint Apollinaris’ Story
According to tradition, Saint Peter sent Apollinaris to
Ravenna, Italy, as its first bishop. His preaching of the Good News was so
successful that the pagans there beat him and drove him from the city. He
returned, however, and was exiled a second time. After preaching in the area
surrounding Ravenna, he entered the city again. After being cruelly tortured,
he was put on a ship heading to Greece. Pagans there caused him to be expelled
to Italy, where he went to Ravenna for a fourth time. He died from wounds
received during a savage beating at Classis, a suburb of Ravenna. A beautiful
basilica honoring him was built there in the sixth century.
Reflection
Following Jesus involves risks—sometimes the supreme risk of
life itself. Martyrs are people who would rather accept the risk of death than
deny the cornerstone of their whole life: faith in Jesus Christ. Everyone will
die eventually—the persecutors and those persecuted. The question is what kind
of a conscience people will bring before the Lord for judgment. Remembering the
witness of past and present martyrs can help us make the often small sacrifices
that following Jesus today may require.
LECTIO DIVINA: MATTHEW 12,1-8
Lectio Divina:
Friday, July 20, 2018
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
God our Father,
your light of truth
guides us to the way of Christ.
May all who follow him
reject what is contrary to the gospel.
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.
your light of truth
guides us to the way of Christ.
May all who follow him
reject what is contrary to the gospel.
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 12,1-8
At that time Jesus went through the
cornfields one Sabbath day. His disciples were hungry and began to pick ears of
corn and eat them.
The Pharisees noticed it and said to him, 'Look, your disciples are doing something that is forbidden on the Sabbath.'
But he said to them, 'Have you not read what David did when he and his followers were hungry - how he went into the house of God and they ate the loaves of the offering although neither he nor his followers were permitted to eat them, but only the priests? Or again, have you not read in the Law that on the Sabbath day the Temple priests break the Sabbath without committing any fault? Now here, I tell you, is something greater than the Temple. And if you had understood the meaning of the words: Mercy is what pleases me, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the blameless. For the Son of man is master of the Sabbath.'
3) Reflection
• In today’s Gospel we see that there
are many conflicts between Jesus and the religious authority of that time. They
are conflicts regarding the religious practices of that time: fasting, purity,
observance of the Sabbath, etc. In normal terms, they would be conflicts
regarding for example, matrimony between divorced persons, friendship with
prostitutes, the acceptance of homosexuals, communion without being married by
the Church, not to go to Mass on Sunday, not to fast on Good Friday. The
conflicts were many: at home, in the school, in work, in the community, in the Church,
in personal life, in society. Conflicts regarding growth, relationship, age,
mentality. So many of them! To live life without conflicts is
impossible! Conflict is part of life and springs up since the time of
birth. We are born with birth pangs. Conflicts are not accidents along the way,
but form part of the journey, of the process of conversion. What strikes us is
the way in which Jesus faces the conflicts. In the discussion with his enemies,
he was not trying to show them that he was right, but wished to make the
experience which he, Jesus, had of God, Father and Mother, prevail. The image
of God which others had was that of a severe Judge who only threatened and
condemned. Jesus tries to have mercy on the blind observance of the norms and
of the law, prevail, since it had nothing to do with the objective of the Law
which is the practice of Love.
• Matthew 12, 1-2: To pick ears of corn on the Sabbath day and the criticism of the Pharisees. On a Sabbath day, the disciples went through the corn fields and they opened their way picking ears of corn to eat them. They were hungry. The Pharisees arrived and invoke the Bible to say that the disciples were transgressing the law of the Sabbath (cf. Ex 20, 8-11). Jesus also uses the Bible and responds invoking three examples taken from Scripture: (1) that of David, (2) that of the legislation on work of the priests in the temple and (3) from the action of the Prophet Hosea, that is, he quotes a historical book, a legislative book and a prophetic book.
• Matthew 12, 3-4: The example of David. Jesus recalls that David himself did something which was forbidden by the Law, because he took the sacred bread of the temple and gave it to the soldiers to eat, because they were hungry (1 S 21, 2-7). No Pharisee had the courage to criticize King David!
• Matthew 12, 5-6: The example of the priests. Accused by the religious authority, Jesus argues beginning from what they themselves, the religious authority, do on the Sabbath day. On the Sabbath day, in the Temple of Jerusalem, the priests worked very much, more than the other days of the week, because they had to sacrifice the animals for the sacrifices, they had to clean, sweep, carry burdens, kill the animals, etc. and nobody said that this was against the Law, they thought it as normal! The Law itself obliged them to do all this (Nb 28, 9-10).
• Matthew 12, 7: The example of the prophets. Jesus quotes the phrase of the Prophet Hosea: I want mercy and not sacrifice. The word mercy means to have the heart (cor) in the misery (miseri) of others, that is, the merciful person has to be very close to the suffering of the persons, has to identify himself/herself with them. The word sacrifice means to have (ficio) a thing consecrated (sacri), that is, that the one who offers a sacrifice separates the sacrificed object from the profane use and placed it at a distance from the daily life of the people. If the Pharisees had had this way of looking at the life of the Prophet Hosea, they would have known that the most pleasing sacrifice for God is not that the consecrated persons lives far away from reality, but that he/she placed totally his/her consecrated heart in the service of the brothers and sisters in order to relieve them from their misery. They would not have considered guilty those who in reality were innocent.
• Matthew 12, 8: The Son of Man is the master of the Sabbath. Jesus ends with this phrase: The Son of Man is the Master of the Sabbath! Jesus himself is the criterion of interpretation of the Law of God. Jesus knows the Bible by heart and invokes it to indicate that the arguments of the others had no foundation. At that time, there were no printed Bibles like we have them today. In every community there was only one Bible written by hand, which remained in the Synagogue. If Jesus knew the Bible so well, it means that during the thirty years of his life in Nazareth, he had participated intensely in the life of the community, where Scripture was read every Saturday. The new experience of God the Father, made Jesus discovered much better the intention of God in decreeing the Laws of the Old Testament. Having lived thirty years in Nazareth and feeling as his own the oppression and exclusion of so many brothers and sisters, in the name of the Law, Jesus must have perceived that this could not be the sense of the Law. If God is Father, then he accepts all as sons and daughters. If God is Father, then we should be brothers and sisters among ourselves. Jesus lived this and prayed for this, from the beginning until the end. The Law should be at the service of life and of fraternity. “The human being is not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath for the human being” (Mk 2, 27). Because of his great fidelity to this message, Jesus was condemned to death. He disturbed the system, and the system defended itself, using its force against Jesus, because he wished that the Law be placed at the service of life, and not vice-versa. We lack very much in order to know the Bible at depth and to participate deeply in the community, like Jesus did.
4) Personal questions
• What type of conflicts do you live in
the family, in society, in the Church? Which are the conflicts which
concern religious practices which today, cause suffering to persons and which
are a cause of discussion and polemics? Which is the image of God which is
behind all these preconceptions, behind all these norms and prohibitions?
• What has conflict taught you during all these years? Which is the message which you draw from all this for our communities today?
• What has conflict taught you during all these years? Which is the message which you draw from all this for our communities today?
5) Concluding Prayer
Lord, I muse on you in the watches of
the night,
for you have always been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice;
my heart clings to you,
your right hand supports me. (Ps 63,6-8)
for you have always been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice;
my heart clings to you,
your right hand supports me. (Ps 63,6-8)
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