Readings for June 30, 2020, annotated, lectionary 378

This translation is from the New American Bible. The bolded hyperlinks to scriptural citations will take you to additional translations. Text highlighted in yellow tells us something about God’s nature or our relationship to Him. Text in green tells us to do something. Text in red describes things we should not do.  Commentary is in blue. 

Reading 1:Amos 3:1-8; 4:11-12  

Hear this word, O children of Israel, that the LORD pronounces over you,
over the whole family that I brought up from the land of Egypt:

You alone have I favored, more than all the families of the earth;
Therefore I will punish you for all your crimes.

Do two walk together unless they have agreed?
Does a lion roar in the forest when it has no prey?
Does a young lion cry out from its den unless it has seized something?
Is a bird brought to earth by a snare when there is no lure for it?
Does a snare spring up from the ground without catching anything?
If the trumpet sounds in a city, will the people not be frightened?
If evil befalls a city, has not the LORD caused it?
Indeed, the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants, the prophets.

The lion roars--who will not be afraid!
The Lord GOD speaks--who will not prophesy!

I brought upon you such upheaval as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah: you were like a brand plucked from the fire; yet you returned not to me, says the LORD.

So now I will deal with you in my own way, O Israel! and since I will deal thus with you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel.

This passage is not a “one off;” scripture—and many believers’ own experience—makes it clear that God does indeed use adversity to get us back on track.

So how do we respond? By humbly coming to God, seeking His mercy, and changing our ways. Scriptures addressing those matters are collected in:

A Rosary Based Prayer About the Pandemic: What We Should Learn

Another Rosary Based Prayer About the Pandemic: Seeking God’s Mercy

A Third Rosary Based Prayer About the Pandemic: Changing Our Ways   

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 5:4-8 

R.    (9a) Lead me in your justice, Lord.
At dawn I bring my plea expectantly before you.

For you, O God, delight not in wickedness; no evil man remains with you; the arrogant may not stand in your sight.
R.    Lead me in your justice, Lord.
You hate all evildoers; you destroy all who speak falsehood;The bloodthirsty and the deceitful the LORD abhors.
R.    Lead me in your justice, Lord.
But I, because of your abundant mercy, will enter your house;
I will worship at your holy temple in fear of you, O LORD.
R.    Lead me in your justice, Lord.

As in  yesterday's first reading,  we are called to pray in response to evil.

Other scriptures dealing with the dynamics described in this psalm are collected in  Wisdom Principles—God is a Refuge for Those Who Love Him

Alleluia: Psalm 130:5  

R.    Alleluia, alleluia.
I trust in the LORD; my soul trusts in his word.
R.    Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Matthew 8:23-27 

As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us!  We are perishing!”

He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

We go through tough, frightening, things even though we are following Jesus/in God’s will.

-      God has a greater purpose than sparing us from anxiety producing/stressful situations.

-      We have to trust that the good God will work through the situation will far outweigh the anxiety/stress/hardship we are going through. In this case, that good was preparing the Apostles for their ministries, the tremendous good that came from those ministries, and the edification of the millions/billions of folks who have been touched by this scripture describing this event.

-      See also  Sirach 2

The correct response in those situations is to seek Jesus’ help/deliverance. That is prayer; in this case very intense prayer.

-      This is consistent with  yesterday's first reading.

-      See also  James 1:2-6

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Jesus will help us to accomplish His will, even if we don’t “get it,” so long as we faithfully cling to Him. 

Readings for June 28, 2020 annotated—Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles, Lectionary 591

This translation is from the New American Bible. The bolded hyperlinks to scriptural citations will take you to additional translations. The other hyperlinks will take you to explanations of original Greek words. Text highlighted in yellow tells us something about God’s nature or our relationship to Him. Text in green tells us to do something. Commentary is in blue.

Reading 1: Acts 12:1-11  

In those days, King Herod laid hands upon some members of the Church to harm them. He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword, and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews he proceeded to arrest Peter also.–It was the feast of Unleavened Bread.–He had him taken into custody and put in prison under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. He intended to bring him before the people after Passover.

This sounds like the “gates of Hell” trying to “prevail” against the church, as Jesus discusses in today's gospel.

Peter thus was being kept in prison, but prayer by the Church was fervently being made to God on his behalf. 

The way this is phrased, “but prayer,” indicates that the prayer was a direct response/counter-measure to Herod’s actions

-      So we too ought to pray in response to misgovernance/oppression today

fervently= ἐκτενῶς = ektenōs

earnestly; without ceasing; The idea suggested is that of not relaxing in effort; earnestly, fervently, intensely

The church’s prayer in response to Peter’s situation seems to be a manifestation/execution of Jesus’ direction to come to each other’s aid, as discussed in yesterday’s gospel

On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter, secured by double chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison. 

This seems like the same dynamic as Elijah & the prophets of baal—the odds stacked heavily against God/His people, but that only being a set up for God to more dramatically manifest His power.

Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, “Get up quickly.” The chains fell from his wrists. The angel said to him, “Put on your belt and your sandals.” He did so. Then he said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.” So he followed him out, not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first guard, then the second, and came to the iron gate leading out to the city, which opened for them by itself. They emerged and made their way down an alley, and suddenly the angel left him.

God overcomes seemingly impossible obstacles

God lets His servants go through some very harrowing things before He acts; maybe this is a Deuteronomy 8:2-6 kind of situation.

Benefits probably flowed from Peter & the church going through that tough stuff:

-      Their faith was probably bolstered immensely

-      Others’ faith has been bolstered over the years through this account

-      I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the guards & others came to Christ as a result of this

Peter has his part to play in this:

-         He must believe & receive 

-          he must take the actions the angel directs

Then Peter recovered his senses and said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting.”

We sometimes don’t understand what God is doing/our part in it as we are going through it, but only begin to appreciate/understand it later.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 

R.    (5) The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R.    The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name.I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Another example of the efficacy of prayer, as in the first reading.
R.    The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him.

Yet another example of the efficacy of prayer.
R.    The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him.

This precept recurs in the scriptures collected at Wisdom Principles—God is a Refuge for Those Who Love Him.
R.    The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.

Reading 2: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18

I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me,
but to all who have longed for his appearance.

Perseverance 

The Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. 

As in today’s first reading, God’s servant must go through hard things, but great good comes from it

And I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly Kingdom.

To him be glory forever and ever.  Amen.

Alleluia: Matthew 16:18  

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel:Matthew 16:13-19  

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

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Readings for June 27, 2020 annotated—Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, lectionary 97

This translation is from the New American Bible. The bolded hyperlinks to scriptural citations will take you to additional translations. The other hyperlinks will take you to explanations of original Greek words. Text highlighted in yellow tells us something about God’s nature or our relationship to Him. Text in green tells us to do something. Commentary is in blue.

Reading 1: 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16 

One day Elisha came to Shunem, where there was a woman of influence, who urged him to dine with her. Afterward, whenever he passed by, he used to stop there to dine. So she said to her husband, “I know that Elisha is a holy man of God. Since he visits us often, let us arrange a little room on the roof and furnish it for him with a bed, table, chair, and lamp, so that when he comes to us he can stay there.”

Sometime later Elisha arrived and stayed in the room overnight. Later Elisha asked, “Can something be done for her?” His servant Gehazi answered, “Yes! She has no son, and her husband is getting on in years.” Elisha said, “Call her.” When the woman had been called and stood at the door, Elisha promised, “This time next year you will be fondling a baby son.”

This is an example of blessing someone because of their relationship with God, the sort of thing Jesus discusses in today’s gospel.

It is also an example of believers taking care of each other, what Jesus was encouraging in today’s gospel.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 89:2-3, 16-17, 18-19  

R. (2a) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
The promises of the LORD I will sing forever, through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever;” in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
Blessed the people who know the joyful shout; in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.At your name they rejoice all the day, and through your justice they are exalted.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
You are the splendor of their strength, and by your favor our horn is exalted.
For to the LORD belongs our shield, and the Holy One of Israel, our king.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Reading 2: Romans 6:3-4, 8-11 

Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.

If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him. As to his death, he died to sin once and for all;
as to his life, he lives for God. Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.

This seems to tie into the first paragraph of today’s gospel.

Alleluia: 1 Peter 2:9 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation;
announce the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Matthew 10:37-42 

Jesus said to his apostles:
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

We are to put Jesus above all other things.

That requires action, intentionality, on our part—deciding to and actually taking up our respective crosses.

"Whoever receives  you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous manwill receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because the little one is a disciple— amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”

receives, receive= δέχομαι = dechomai

To receive heartily, to welcome; to receive or grant access to, a visitor, not to refuse intercourse or friendship; to receive into one's family to bring up or educate; to receive to hospitality; to accept, by a deliberate and ready reception

receive= λαμβάνω = lambanō

to receive as merely a self-prompted action, without necessarily signifying a favorable reception; to receive (what is given), to gain, get, obtain, to get back; accept; to associate with one' s self as companion, attendant

We receive Jesus when we receive other believers because they are believers. 

Today’s first reading seems to be an example of the dynamic Jesus is speaking of here.

So how do we bless— “receive”—our fellow believers?

-      Intercessory prayer

-      Acts of practical service

-      Extending grace, patience, kindness, encouragement, overlooking offenses/immaterial differences

What these readings tell us about God:

My kindness is established forever

your faithfulness.
You are the splendor of their strength

by your favor our horn is exalted.
to the LORD belongs our shield

we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death

If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. 

him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

What these readings tell us to do:

At your name they rejoice all the day

take up his cross and follow after me 

loses his life for my sake 

receive[] me

receive[] a prophet because he is a prophet 

receive[] a righteous man because he is a righteous man

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give[] ... a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because the little one is a disciple