God is good even when we are not (readings for August 17, 2018)

Key:

What these passages tell us about God

What these passages tell us to do

What these passages tell us not to do

Commentary

Hyperlink

Reading 1 EZ 16:1-15, 60, 63

The word of the LORD came to me:  Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations. Thus says the Lord GOD to Jerusalem: By origin and birth you are of the land of Canaan; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. As for your birth, the day you were born your navel cord was not cut; you were neither washed with water nor anointed, nor were you rubbed with salt, nor swathed in swaddling clothes. No one looked on you with pity or compassion to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out on the ground as something loathsome, the day you were born.

Then I passed by and saw you weltering in your blood. I said to you: Live in your blood and grow like a plant in the field. You grew and developed, you came to the age of puberty; your breasts were formed, your hair had grown, but you were still stark naked. Again I passed by you and saw that you were now old enough for love. So I spread the corner of my cloak over you to cover your nakedness; I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you; you became mine, says the Lord GOD. Then I bathed you with water, washed away your blood, and anointed you with oil. I clothed youwith an embroidered gown, put sandals of fine leather on your feet; I gave you a fine linen sash and silk robes to wear. I adorned youwith jewelry: I put bracelets on your arms, a necklace about your neck, a ring in your nose, pendants in your ears, and a glorious diadem upon your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver; your garments were of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. Fine flour, honey, and oil were your food. You were exceedingly beautiful, with the dignity of a queen. You were renowned among the nations for your beauty, perfect as it was, because of my splendor which I had bestowed on you, says the Lord GOD.

But you were captivated by your own beauty, you used your renown to make yourself a harlot, and you lavished your harlotry on every passer-by, whose own you became.


Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you when you were a girl, and I will set up an everlasting covenant with you, that you may remember and be covered with confusion, and that you may be utterly silenced for shamewhen I pardon you for all you have done, says the Lord GOD.

Responsorial Psalm ISAIAH 12:2-3, 4BCD, 5-6

R. (1c) You have turned from your anger.
God indeed is my savior;I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation.
R. You have turned from your anger.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name; among the nations make known his deeds, proclaim how exalted is his name.
R. You have turned from your anger.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement; let this be known throughout all the earth. Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel!
R. You have turned from your anger.

Alleluia SEE 1 THES 2:13

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Receive the word of God, not as the word of men, but, as it truly is, the word of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 19:3-12

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?" 

He said in reply, "Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate."

They said to him, "Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?"

He said to them, "Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery."

His disciples said to him, "If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry."

He answered, "Not all can accept this word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.

1.    God is good even when we are not. He sticks by us even when we betray Him. That is powerfully illustrated in the first reading. It is also illustrated by God’s persistent, and sometimes tough, love for his people throughout the course of the Old Testament.

2.    How do we respond to that? Today’s readings tell us several things:

A.   Recognize that we will inevitably betray God’s wonderful love and fall far short of the good he wants for and from us. (first reading, gospel). That is a sad and unavoidable aspect of human nature, even after we have truly committed ourselves to God. 

B.    Do not give up on, abandon, our relationship with God, even though our sin and betrayal confuses that relationship. We must stick with it even through the rough times that result from our sin, just as committed spouses stick with each other through the tough times that result from their respective failures. (first reading, gospel)

C.    Trust, rely upon, the fact that God is faithful even when we are not. There is a way to redemption and reconciliation. (first reading). See also the scriptures collected at Wisdom Principles—God Loves and Calls Us to Him, In Spite of our Sin

D.   Humbly come to God and seek His forgiveness and reconciliation. (first reading).

E.    Focus on God’s great goodness, and do our best to reflect it and communicate it to others who might be put off of God because of our or other believers’ sins. (psalm). 

Following God's Gracious Examples (readings for August 16, 2018)

Key:

What these passages tell us about God

What these passages tell us to do

What these passages tell us not to do

Commentary

Hyperlink

Reading 1 EZ 12:1-12

The word of the LORD came to me:  Son of man, you live in the midst of a rebellious house; they have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house. Now, son of man, during the day while they are looking on, prepare your baggage as though for exile, and again while they are looking on, migrate from where you live to another place; perhaps they will see that they are a rebellious house. You shall bring out your baggage like an exile in the daytime while they are looking on; in the evening, again while they are looking on, you shall go out like one of those driven into exile; while they look on, dig a hole in the wall and pass through it; while they look on, shoulder the burden and set out in the darkness; cover your face that you may not see the land, for I have made you a sign for the house of Israel.

I did as I was told. During the day I brought out my baggage as though it were that of an exile, and at evening I dug a hole through the wall with my hand and, while they looked on, set out in the darkness, shouldering my burden.

Then, in the morning, the word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, did not the house of Israel, that rebellious house, ask you what you were doing? Tell them: Thus says the Lord GOD: This oracle concerns Jerusalem and the whole house of Israel within it. I am a sign for you: as I have done, so shall it be done to them; as captives they shall go into exile. The prince who is among them shall shoulder his burden and set out in darkness, going through a hole he has dug out in the wall, and covering his face lest he be seen by anyone.

Responsorial Psalm PS 78:56-57, 58-59, 61-62

R. (see 7b) Do not forget the works of the Lord!
They tempted and rebelled against God the Most High, and kept not his decrees. They turned back and were faithless like their fathers; they recoiled like a treacherous bow.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!
They angered him with their high places and with their idols roused his jealousy. God heard and was enraged and utterly rejected Israel.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!
And he surrendered his strength into captivity, his glory in the hands of the foe. He abandoned his people to the sword and was enraged against his inheritance.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!

Alleluia PS 119:135

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let your countenance shine upon your servant and teach me your statutes.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 18:21–19:1

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?"

Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.'

Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, 'Pay back what you owe.' Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. 

His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?' Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart."

When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.

1.    Today’s gospel is a one example of a more general rule set by scripture: we should follow God’s gracious examples by treating others as graciously as God treats us. We also see that in Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 6:35-36, John 13:14-15, 34,and Ephesians 4:32-5:2.

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2.    The idea that we should be gracious to those who wrong us runs throughout scripture. See the passages collected in Wisdom Principles—How to Deal with Those Who Do You Wrong.

Lessons from Mary (readings for August 15, 2018)

Key:

What these passages tell us about God

What these passages tell us to do

What these passages tell us not to do

Commentary

Reading 1 RV 11:19A; 12:1-6A, 10AB

God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.

A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth. She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and his throne. The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed One."

Responsorial Psalm PS 45:10, 11, 12, 16

R. (10bc) The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
The queen takes her place at your right hand in gold of Ophir.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear, forget your people and your father's house.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
So shall the king desire your beauty; for he is your lord.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
They are borne in with gladness and joy; they enter the palace of the king.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.

Reading 2 1 COR 15:20-27

Brothers and sisters: Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through man, the resurrection of the dead came also through man. For just as in Adam all die,
so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ; then comes the end, when he hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death, for "he subjected everything under his feet."

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Mary is taken up to heaven; a chorus of angels exults.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 1:39-56

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voiceand said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."

And Mary said:
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever."

Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

1.    Today’s readings describe some things about Mary that we would do well to emulate.

2.    She was quick to act upon the reinforcements that God gave her. Recall that one of the ways God addressed her bewilderment at the annunciation was to give her the sign of her older, previously barren, cousin becoming pregnant. Luke 1:34-38.  Today’s gospel tells us that Mary went “in haste” to check this out, and as a result was powerfully consoled during what must have been a very anxious time.

God likewise gives us ways to reinforce our faith and address our anxieties: prayer, time with Him in His Word, adoration, the mass. We too should make haste to go to these reinforcements. The sooner we go to them the sooner we will receive the consolations He wants to give us.

(Note: more on  the annunciation and Mary’s trip to visit Elizabeth can be found at:
      What We Can Learn from Jesus' Nativity: The Annunciation (Luke 1:26-  38)  

                                                                      and
     
       What We Can Learn from Jesus' Nativity: The Visitation (Luke 1:39-45))

3.    She was thoughtful about and appreciative of God’s actions and what they tell us about His wonderful nature. That’s how we were blessed with the magnificent. We too should meditate on and give God thanks and praise for the ways He acts in our lives.  That is encouraged multiple times in multiple scriptures.

4.   She was tenacious. The first reading tells us how she persevered in the face of both the natural difficulties of labor and the spiritual opposition to her particular calling. We would do well to follow her example when we face difficulties carrying out the things God calls us to. Scriptures on that virtue are collected at Wisdom Principles--Fortitude. 

God is perfect goodness. We should therefore embrace His will (readings for August 14, 2018)

Key:

What these passages tell us about God

What these passages tell us to do

What these passages tell us not to do

Commentary

Reading 1 EZ 2:8—3:4

The Lord GOD said to me: As for you, son of man, obey me when I speak to you: be not rebellious like this house of rebellion, but open your mouth and eat what I shall give you.

It was then I saw a hand stretched out to me, in which was a written scroll which he unrolled before me. It was covered with writing front and back, and written on it was: Lamentation and wailing and woe!

He said to me: Son of man, eat what is before you; eat this scroll, then go, speak to the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth and he gave me the scroll to eat. Son of man, he then said to me, feed your belly and fill your stomach with this scroll I am giving you. I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. He said: Son of man, go now to the house of Israel, and speak my words to them.

Responsorial Psalm PS 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131

R. (103a) How sweet to my taste is your promise!
In the way of your decrees I rejoice, as much as in all riches.
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!
Yes, your decrees are my delight; they are my counselors.
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!
The law of your mouth is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!
How sweet to my palate are your promises, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!
Your decrees are my inheritance forever; the joy of my heart they are.
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!
I gasp with open mouth, in my yearning for your commands.
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!

Alleluia MT 11:29AB

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.  In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”

1.    God is perfect goodness and has perfect love for us. That is reflected in today’s psalm, alleluia verse, and gospel. It is also reflected in Wisdom 7:22-25 and the first paragraph of the Catechism.

2.    We should therefore humbly—and actively—embrace His will. (first reading, psalm, alleluia verse, gospel).  That will be exponentially more rewarding than any alternative. (psalm, alleluia verse, gospel).

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3.    The scripture today’s alleluia verse is drawn from well captures those dynamics: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  Matthew 11:29.