Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest
Lectionary: 437
Lectionary: 437
Brothers and sisters:
I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake,
and in my flesh I am filling up
what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ
on behalf of his Body, which is the Church,
of which I am a minister
in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me
to bring to completion for you the word of God,
the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past.
But now it has been manifested to his holy ones,
to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory
of this mystery among the Gentiles;
it is Christ in you, the hope for glory.
It is he whom we proclaim,
admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
For this I labor and struggle,
in accord with the exercise of his power working within me.
For I want you to know how great a struggle I am having for you
and for those in Laodicea
and all who have not seen me face to face,
that their hearts may be encouraged
as they are brought together in love,
to have all the richness of assured understanding,
for the knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ,
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake,
and in my flesh I am filling up
what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ
on behalf of his Body, which is the Church,
of which I am a minister
in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me
to bring to completion for you the word of God,
the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past.
But now it has been manifested to his holy ones,
to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory
of this mystery among the Gentiles;
it is Christ in you, the hope for glory.
It is he whom we proclaim,
admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
For this I labor and struggle,
in accord with the exercise of his power working within me.
For I want you to know how great a struggle I am having for you
and for those in Laodicea
and all who have not seen me face to face,
that their hearts may be encouraged
as they are brought together in love,
to have all the richness of assured understanding,
for the knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ,
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 62:6-7, 9
R.(8) In God
is my safety and my glory.
Only in God be at rest, my soul,
for from him comes my hope.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed.
R. In God is my safety and my glory.
Trust in him at all times, O my people!
Pour out your hearts before him;
God is our refuge!
R. In God is my safety and my glory.
Only in God be at rest, my soul,
for from him comes my hope.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed.
R. In God is my safety and my glory.
Trust in him at all times, O my people!
Pour out your hearts before him;
God is our refuge!
R. In God is my safety and my glory.
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.
GospelLK 6:6-11
On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught,
and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.
The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely
to see if he would cure on the sabbath
so that they might discover a reason to accuse him.
But he realized their intentions
and said to the man with the withered hand,
"Come up and stand before us."
And he rose and stood there.
Then Jesus said to them,
"I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath
rather than to do evil,
to save life rather than to destroy it?"
Looking around at them all, he then said to him,
"Stretch out your hand."
He did so and his hand was restored.
But they became enraged
and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.
and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.
The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely
to see if he would cure on the sabbath
so that they might discover a reason to accuse him.
But he realized their intentions
and said to the man with the withered hand,
"Come up and stand before us."
And he rose and stood there.
Then Jesus said to them,
"I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath
rather than to do evil,
to save life rather than to destroy it?"
Looking around at them all, he then said to him,
"Stretch out your hand."
He did so and his hand was restored.
But they became enraged
and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.
For the readings of the Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, please go here.
Meditation: "Is it
lawful to save life or to destroy it?"
What
is God's intention for the commandment, keep holy the Sabbath (Exodus
20:8; Deuteronomy 5:12)? The scribes and Pharisees wanted to catch Jesus in the
act of breaking the Sabbath ritual so they might accuse him of breaking God's
law. In a few penetrating words Luke records that Jesus knew their
thoughts. They were filled with fury and contempt for Jesus because they
had put their own thoughts of right and wrong above God. They were ensnared in
their own legalism because they did not understand or see the purpose of God.
Jesus shows them their fallacy by pointing to God's intention for the
Sabbath: to do good and to save life rather than to do
evil or to destroy life.
Christ's
healing power raises hands and hearts towards heaven
What is the significance of Jesus' healing the man with the withered hand? Ambrose (337-397 AD), the 4th century bishop of Milan who was instrumental in bringing Augustine of Hippo to the Christian faith, comments on this miracle:
What is the significance of Jesus' healing the man with the withered hand? Ambrose (337-397 AD), the 4th century bishop of Milan who was instrumental in bringing Augustine of Hippo to the Christian faith, comments on this miracle:
"Then
you heard the words of the Lord, saying, 'Stretch forth your hand.' That is the
common and universal remedy. You who think that you have a healthy hand beware
lest it is withered by greed or by sacrilege. Hold it out often. Hold it out to
the poor person who begs you. Hold it out to help your neighbor, to give
protection to a widow, to snatch from harm one whom you see subjected to unjust
insult. Hold it out to God for your sins. The hand is stretched forth; then it
is healed. Jeroboam's hand withered when he sacrificed to idols; then it stretched
out when he entreated God (1 Kings 13:4-6)."
Receive
God's gift of sabbath rest and restoration
Why do Christians celebrate Sunday as the Lord's Day? Most importantly we celebrate it to commemorate God's work of redemption in Jesus Christ and the new work of creation accomplished through Christ's death and resurrection (2 Corinthians 5:17). God's action is a model for us. If God "rested and was refreshed" on the seventh day, we, too, ought to "rest" and let others, especially the poor, "be refreshed" as well (see Exodus 31:17; 23:12). Taking "our sabbath rest" is a way of expressing honor to God for all that he has done for us. Such "rest" however does not exempt us from our love for our neighbor. If we truly love the Lord above all else, then the love of God will overflow to love of neighbor as well. Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) said: "The charity of truth seeks holy leisure; the necessity of charity accepts just work."
Why do Christians celebrate Sunday as the Lord's Day? Most importantly we celebrate it to commemorate God's work of redemption in Jesus Christ and the new work of creation accomplished through Christ's death and resurrection (2 Corinthians 5:17). God's action is a model for us. If God "rested and was refreshed" on the seventh day, we, too, ought to "rest" and let others, especially the poor, "be refreshed" as well (see Exodus 31:17; 23:12). Taking "our sabbath rest" is a way of expressing honor to God for all that he has done for us. Such "rest" however does not exempt us from our love for our neighbor. If we truly love the Lord above all else, then the love of God will overflow to love of neighbor as well. Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) said: "The charity of truth seeks holy leisure; the necessity of charity accepts just work."
How
can we make Sunday a day holy to the Lord? First, by refraining from
unnecessary work and from activities that hinder the worship we owe to God. We
can also perform works of mercy, such as humble service of the sick, the infirm,
and the neglected. And we ought to seek appropriate relaxation of mind and body
as well. The joy of the Lord's Day is a great gift to refresh and strengthen us
in our love of God and of neighbor (Nehemiah 8:10). Do you know the joy of the
Lord and do you find rest and refreshment in celebrating the Lord's Day?
"Lord
Jesus, in your victory over sin and death on the cross and in your resurrection
you give us the assurance of sharing in the eternal rest of heaven. Transform
my heart with your love that I may freely serve my neighbor for his good and
find joy and refreshment in the celebration of Sunday as the Lord's Day."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: Jesus heals to teach the Pharisees
mercy, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)
"The miracle sometimes converts to faith those who had disbelieved the word, but the Pharisees watched him to see if he would heal on the sabbath. The nature of an envious person is such that he makes the praises of others food for his own disease and is wickedly maddened by their reputation. Once more he spoke to this; 'he reveals deep and mysterious things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him' (Daniel 2:22). And why did he do this? Perhaps it might be to move the cruel and unpitying Pharisee to compassion. The man’s malady [his withered hand] perhaps might shame them and persuade them to dispel the flames of their envy.
"This question is most wise indeed and a most suitable statement to meet their folly. If it is lawful to do good on the sabbath and nothing prevents the sick being pitied by God, cease picking up opportunities for fault-finding against Christ and bringing down on your own head the sentence which the Father has decreed against those who dishonor the Son. You have heard the Father where he says of the Son by the voice of David, 'I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him' (Psalm 89:23). But if it is not lawful to do good on the sabbath and the law forbids the saving of life, you have made yourself an accuser of the law." (quote from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 23).
"The miracle sometimes converts to faith those who had disbelieved the word, but the Pharisees watched him to see if he would heal on the sabbath. The nature of an envious person is such that he makes the praises of others food for his own disease and is wickedly maddened by their reputation. Once more he spoke to this; 'he reveals deep and mysterious things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him' (Daniel 2:22). And why did he do this? Perhaps it might be to move the cruel and unpitying Pharisee to compassion. The man’s malady [his withered hand] perhaps might shame them and persuade them to dispel the flames of their envy.
"This question is most wise indeed and a most suitable statement to meet their folly. If it is lawful to do good on the sabbath and nothing prevents the sick being pitied by God, cease picking up opportunities for fault-finding against Christ and bringing down on your own head the sentence which the Father has decreed against those who dishonor the Son. You have heard the Father where he says of the Son by the voice of David, 'I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him' (Psalm 89:23). But if it is not lawful to do good on the sabbath and the law forbids the saving of life, you have made yourself an accuser of the law." (quote from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 23).
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, LUKE 6:6-11
(Colossians 1:24 ̶ 2:3; Psalm 62)
(Colossians 1:24 ̶ 2:3; Psalm 62)
KEY VERSE: "I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" (v. 9).
TO KNOW: Jesus often disputed the religious leaders’ rigid interpretation of the Sabbath law. Just as harvesting was prohibited on the Sabbath (Luke 6:1-5), so was healing ̶ unless a person's life was in danger. When a man with a withered hand came to the synagogue on the Sabbath, the scribes and the Pharisees maliciously watched to see what Jesus would do. Since the man's life was not threatened, he could have waited until the next day to be healed. If Jesus healed him, Jesus could be charged with a violation of the Sabbath law. Jesus knew that he was being observed as to what he would do, but he openly challenged his opponents by calling the man to stand in front of the assembly and stretch out his hand. Only Luke tells us that it was the man's “right hand” that was withered (See Mt 12:10-13 and Mk 3:1-6). This probably meant that he was unable to do physical labor; therefore, he was deprived of a livelihood. Jesus declared that the refusal to do good deeds was evil in itself, and he healed the man. The Pharisees were enraged by this so-called violation of the Sabbath, but they saw no problem in plotting Jesus' death on the holy day.
TO LOVE: Do I pray for people in my faith community in need of healing?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, give me a compassionate heart to help those in need.
Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, priest
Peter Claver was born 70 years after King Ferdinand of Spain set the colonial slavery culture into motion by authorizing the purchase of 250 African slaves in Lisbon for his territories in New Spain. This event was to shape Claver's life. A Jesuit from age 20, Peter ministered to slaves, physically and spiritually, when they arrived in Cartegena, converting a reported 300,000. For 40 years he worked for humane treatment on the plantations, and organized charitable societies among the Spanish in America, similar to those organized in Europe by Saint Vincent de Paul. Peter said of the slaves, "We must speak to them with our hands by giving, before we try to speak to them with our lips." Peter Claver is considered a heroic example of what should be the duty of all Christians in the exercise of human rights.
Monday 9 September 2019
St Peter Claver
Colossians 1:24 – 2:3. Psalm 61(62):6-7, 9. Luke 6:6-11.
In God is my safety and my glory – Psalm 61(62):6-7, 9
‘Stretch out your hand’
Colossians 1:24 – 2:3. Psalm 61(62):6-7, 9. Luke 6:6-11.
In God is my safety and my glory – Psalm 61(62):6-7, 9
‘Stretch out your hand’
For the Jewish people, the commandment to keep the Sabbath holy
had become detached from its true purpose. Work of any kind on the Sabbath, was
condemned. Instead of enshrining peace and freedom, the law enslaved and
oppressed; enforcing guilt rather than gratitude.
Jesus publicly challenges rigid, inhumane thinking which
imprisons people’s hearts. He understands how fear and prejudice twist our
judgment, until we can come to believe that bad is good and wrong is right. The
withered hand becomes an image of our withered potential. The man’s hand is
healed when he stretches it out to Jesus, who lovingly restores him to fullness
of life. He offers the same hope to all. Sadly, some will choose instead to
plot death.
Saint Peter Claver SJ is the Patron Saint of Slaves because of
his inspiring work among African slaves in Spanish Columbia. Human slavery
remains a present evil in our world. Let us remember with gratitude all those
who work to end slavery and pray for them and with them.
Saint Peter Claver
Saint of the Day for September 9
(June 26, 1581 – September 8, 1654)
 |
| Stained glass window in the Church of St. Mary Magdalene and St. Andrew in Dormagen in Rhein-Kreis Neuss (Nordrhein-Westfalen) | photo by GFreihalter |
Saint Peter Claver’s Story
A native of Spain, young Jesuit Peter Claver left his homeland
forever in 1610 to be a missionary in the colonies of the New World. He sailed
into Cartagena, a rich port city washed by the Caribbean. He was ordained there
in 1615.
By this time the slave trade had been established in the
Americas for nearly 100 years, and Cartagena was a chief center for it. Ten
thousand slaves poured into the port each year after crossing the Atlantic from
West Africa under conditions so foul and inhuman that an estimated one-third of
the passengers died in transit. Although the practice of slave-trading was
condemned by Pope Paul III and later labeled “supreme villainy” by Pope Pius
IX, it continued to flourish.
Peter Claver’s predecessor, Jesuit Father Alfonso de Sandoval,
had devoted himself to the service of the slaves for 40 years before Claver
arrived to continue his work, declaring himself “the slave of the Negroes
forever.”
As soon as a slave ship entered the port, Peter Claver moved
into its infested hold to minister to the ill-treated and exhausted passengers.
After the slaves were herded out of the ship like chained animals and shut up
in nearby yards to be gazed at by the crowds, Claver plunged in among them with
medicines, food, bread, brandy, lemons, and tobacco. With the help of
interpreters he gave basic instructions and assured his brothers and sisters of
their human dignity and God’s love. During the 40 years of his ministry, Claver
instructed and baptized an estimated 300,000 slaves.
Fr. Claver’s apostolate extended beyond his care for slaves. He
became a moral force, indeed, the apostle of Cartagena. He preached in the city
square, gave missions to sailors and traders as well as country missions,
during which he avoided, when possible, the hospitality of the planters and
owners and lodged in the slave quarters instead.
After four years of sickness, which forced the saint to remain
inactive and largely neglected, he Claver on September 8, 1654. The city
magistrates, who had previously frowned at his solicitude for the black
outcasts, ordered that he should be buried at public expense and with great
pomp.
Peter Claver was canonized in 1888, and Pope Leo XIII declared
him the worldwide patron of missionary work among black slaves.
Reflection
The Holy Spirit’s might and power are manifested in the striking
decisions and bold actions of Peter Claver. A decision to leave one’s homeland
never to return reveals a gigantic act of will difficult for us to imagine.
Peter’s determination to serve forever the most abused, rejected, and lowly of
all people is stunningly heroic. When we measure our lives against such a
man’s, we become aware of our own barely used potential and of our need to open
ourselves more to the jolting power of Jesus’ Spirit.
Saint Peter Claver is the Patron Saint of:
African Americans
African Missions
Colombia
Comedians
Communication Workers
Interracial Justice
African Missions
Colombia
Comedians
Communication Workers
Interracial Justice
Lectio Divina: Luke 6:6-11
Lectio Divina
Monday, September 9, 2019
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
God our Father,
You redeem us
and make us Your children in Christ.
Look upon us,
give us true freedom
and bring us to the inheritance You promised.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
You redeem us
and make us Your children in Christ.
Look upon us,
give us true freedom
and bring us to the inheritance You promised.
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 - Luke 6:6-11
On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught,
and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the
Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the sabbath so that
they might discover a reason to accuse him. But he realized their intentions
and said to the man with the withered hand, "Come up and stand before
us." And he rose and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you,
is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life
rather than to destroy it?" Looking around at them all, he then said to
him, "Stretch out your hand." He did so and his hand was restored.
But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.
3) Reflection
• Context: This passage presents Jesus who cures a man with a
withered hand. Different from the context of chapters 3 and 4 in which Jesus is
alone, now here He is surrounded by His disciples and the women who go around
with Him. Therefore, here we have Jesus always moving. In the first stages of
this journey the reader finds different ways of listening to the Word of Jesus
on the part of those who follow Him and which, definitively, could be
summarized in two experiences, which recall, in turn, two types of approaches:
that of Peter (5:1-11) and that of the centurion (7:1-10). The first one
encounters Jesus who invites Him after the miraculous catch to become a fisher
of men; then he falls on his knees before Jesus: “Leave me, Lord, I am a sinful
man” (5:8). The second one does not have any direct communication with Jesus:
he has heard people speak very well about Jesus and he sends his envoys to ask
for the cure of one of his servants who is dying; he is asking for something
not for himself, but for a person who was a favorite of his. The figure of
Peter expresses the attitude of the one who, discovering himself a sinner,
places all his acts under the influence of the Word of Jesus. The centurion,
showing solicitude for the servant, learns to listen to God. Well, between
these itineraries or attitudes which characterize the itinerant journey of
Jesus, is placed the cure of the man who presents the withered hand. This event
of the miracle takes place in a context of debate or controversy: the ears of
corn picked on the Sabbath and on the act of curing on a Saturday, precisely
the withered hand. Between the two discussions there is the crucial role played
by the Word of Jesus: “The Son of man is master of the Sabbath” (6:5).
Continuing with this passage we ask ourselves what is the meaning of this
withered hand? It is a symbol of the salvation of man who is taken back to the
original moment, that of creation. The right hand, then, expresses human
acting. Jesus then, gives back to this day of the week, Saturday, the deepest
significance: it is the day of joy, of the restoration and not of limitation.
What Jesus shows is the Messianic Saturday and not the legalistic one: the
cures that He does are signs of the Messianic times, of restoration, of the
liberation of man.
• The dynamic of the miracle. Luke places before Jesus a man who has a withered –------ hand, dry, paralyzed. Nobody is interested in asking for his cure, much less the one concerned. And just the same, the sickness was not only an individual problem but its effects had repercussion on the whole community. But in our account we do not have so much the problem of the sickness as that of the aspect that it was done on Saturday. Jesus is criticized because He cured on Saturday. The difference with the Pharisees is that they on Saturday do not act on the basis of the commandment of love,which is the essence of the Law. Jesus, after having ordered the man to get in the middle of the assembly, formulates a decisive question: “Is it permitted on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil?” The space for the answer is restricted: to cure or not to cure, or rather, to cure or to destroy (v.9). Let us imagine the difficulty of the Pharisees: it is forbidden that evil be done on Saturday or lead man to damnation, and even less to cure, because help was permitted only in case of extreme need. The Pharisees feel provoked and this causes aggressiveness in them. But it is evident that Jesus’ intention in curing on Saturday is for the good of man and in the first place, for the one who is sick. This motivation of love invites us to reflect on our behavior and to found it on that of Jesus who saves. Jesus is not only attentive to cure the sick person but is interested also in the cure of His enemies: to cure them from their distorted attitude in their observance of the Law; to observe Saturday without freeing their neighbor from their misery and sickness is not in accordance with the will of God. According to the Evangelist, the purpose of the Sabbath is to do good, to save, like Jesus has done during His earthly life.
• The dynamic of the miracle. Luke places before Jesus a man who has a withered –------ hand, dry, paralyzed. Nobody is interested in asking for his cure, much less the one concerned. And just the same, the sickness was not only an individual problem but its effects had repercussion on the whole community. But in our account we do not have so much the problem of the sickness as that of the aspect that it was done on Saturday. Jesus is criticized because He cured on Saturday. The difference with the Pharisees is that they on Saturday do not act on the basis of the commandment of love,which is the essence of the Law. Jesus, after having ordered the man to get in the middle of the assembly, formulates a decisive question: “Is it permitted on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil?” The space for the answer is restricted: to cure or not to cure, or rather, to cure or to destroy (v.9). Let us imagine the difficulty of the Pharisees: it is forbidden that evil be done on Saturday or lead man to damnation, and even less to cure, because help was permitted only in case of extreme need. The Pharisees feel provoked and this causes aggressiveness in them. But it is evident that Jesus’ intention in curing on Saturday is for the good of man and in the first place, for the one who is sick. This motivation of love invites us to reflect on our behavior and to found it on that of Jesus who saves. Jesus is not only attentive to cure the sick person but is interested also in the cure of His enemies: to cure them from their distorted attitude in their observance of the Law; to observe Saturday without freeing their neighbor from their misery and sickness is not in accordance with the will of God. According to the Evangelist, the purpose of the Sabbath is to do good, to save, like Jesus has done during His earthly life.
4) Personal questions
• Do you feel involved in the words of Jesus: how do you commit
yourself in your service to life? Do you know how to create the necessary
conditions so that others may live better?
• Do you know how to place at the center of your attention and of your commitment every person and all their requirements?
• Reflect on times you had a choice (big or small) to help another person, to do good, versus fulfill a requirement or rule. Did you choose rightly? Did you choose as Jesus would have?
• Do you know how to place at the center of your attention and of your commitment every person and all their requirements?
• Reflect on times you had a choice (big or small) to help another person, to do good, versus fulfill a requirement or rule. Did you choose rightly? Did you choose as Jesus would have?
5) Concluding Prayer
Joy for all who take refuge in You,
endless songs of gladness!
You shelter them, they rejoice in You,
those who love Your name. (Ps 5:11)
endless songs of gladness!
You shelter them, they rejoice in You,
those who love Your name. (Ps 5:11)
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