The 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The theme of the Readings for Sunday continues the focus on the presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and our need to receive Him into our lives, indeed our very souls and bodies in this special way. However, before we get to this point, the readings cause us to think about the wisdom or our values and actions or the folly of our neglect. Let us see how this works out in each of the passages that follow:
The First Reading is from the Book of Proverbs (9:1 – 6). If you were to read this entire short chapter (and you should) you would find that it is a comparison between the virtue of wisdom and the caprice of folly. In scripture, wisdom is often portrayed as a Lady but looked upon as another name for the Holy Spirit. Here, Wisdom is calling to us and offering us the food of divine life, whereas, further on in this chapter, folly is offering the pleasures of this world which lead to sadness and eventually damnation if we continue along this path. The moral of this passage is: Pray for wisdom and the guidance of the Holy Spirit because the alternative is spiritual death.
The Responsorial Psalm is (34:2 – 9), the same Psalm we hear in today’s Mass. It is used again next week because it continues the praise of God for His infinite goodness. This Psalm is a prayer of some wise person who has been rescued by God from spiritual danger and now glorifies Him out of gratitude.
The Second Reading is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians (5:15 – 20). Paul sums up the above readings and builds upon them for the purpose of exhorting us to live a virtuous life – the Christian way of life which speaks for itself by good example and reflects the “fruit of the Spirit – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, etc.
The Gospel Reading is reading for next Sunday John (6:51 – 58), is a continuation of gospel in the Mass for today, and the subject of Jesus Christ coming to us – alive and well – in the Blessed Eucharist (Holy Communion). Here we need to have the Spirit’s gift of wisdom to look beyond the small wafer of consecrated bread to see the living Christ within. Further, in this passage Jesus tells us that we must partake of His flesh and blood in order to have His life within us. We cannot stop here at just the receiving of the Eucharist. We must go on to welcome Jesus into, not only our bodies, but also into our souls and our vary lives as well.
As a Eucharistic Minister I see many people coming to receive Holy Communion and their whole being tells me they do not understand what they are doing. Perhaps this is because they have not been properly instructed, but more importantly it reflects a lack of interest and, therefore, only a formality. How sad! Here again, is where the gift of Wisdom needs to come in. This week, spend a few moments in prayer asking the Holy Spirit to give you the gift of Wisdom to understand the real purpose and meaning of this divine gift of life and love and, if need be, search out sound Catholic writings about this awesome gift and sacrament and, don’t forget to Pray. You will be amazed at how your attendance at Mass will bring you to a new awareness of God and His life within you. Something to think about during your Prayer Time this week!
If you have questions or comments about these or other readings, please send them, in writing, to the parish office. We will try to respond as quickly as possible.
-MFB
Sunday Scripture Commentary 8-16-09
The 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The theme of the Readings for Sunday continues the focus on the presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and our need to receive Him into our lives, indeed our very souls and bodies in this special way. However, before we get to this point, the readings cause us to think about the wisdom or our values and actions or the folly of our neglect. Let us see how this works out in each of the passages that follow:
The First Reading is from the Book of Proverbs (9:1 – 6). If you were to read this entire short chapter (and you should) you would find that it is a comparison between the virtue of wisdom and the caprice of folly. In scripture, wisdom is often portrayed as a Lady but looked upon as another name for the Holy Spirit. Here, Wisdom is calling to us and offering us the food of divine life, whereas, further on in this chapter, folly is offering the pleasures of this world which lead to sadness and eventually damnation if we continue along this path. The moral of this passage is: Pray for wisdom and the guidance of the Holy Spirit because the alternative is spiritual death.
The Responsorial Psalm is (34:2 – 9), the same Psalm we hear in today’s Mass. It is used again next week because it continues the praise of God for His infinite goodness. This Psalm is a prayer of some wise person who has been rescued by God from spiritual danger and now glorifies Him out of gratitude.
The Second Reading is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians (5:15 – 20). Paul sums up the above readings and builds upon them for the purpose of exhorting us to live a virtuous life – the Christian way of life which speaks for itself by good example and reflects the “fruit of the Spirit – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, etc.
The Gospel Reading is reading for next Sunday John (6:51 – 58), is a continuation of gospel in the Mass for today, and the subject of Jesus Christ coming to us – alive and well – in the Blessed Eucharist (Holy Communion). Here we need to have the Spirit’s gift of wisdom to look beyond the small wafer of consecrated bread to see the living Christ within. Further, in this passage Jesus tells us that we must partake of His flesh and blood in order to have His life within us. We cannot stop here at just the receiving of the Eucharist. We must go on to welcome Jesus into, not only our bodies, but also into our souls and our vary lives as well.
As a Eucharistic Minister I see many people coming to receive Holy Communion and their whole being tells me they do not understand what they are doing. Perhaps this is because they have not been properly instructed, but more importantly it reflects a lack of interest and, therefore, only a formality. How sad! Here again, is where the gift of Wisdom needs to come in. This week, spend a few moments in prayer asking the Holy Spirit to give you the gift of Wisdom to understand the real purpose and meaning of this divine gift of life and love and, if need be, search out sound Catholic writings about this awesome gift and sacrament and, don’t forget to Pray. You will be amazed at how your attendance at Mass will bring you to a new awareness of God and His life within you. Something to think about during your Prayer Time this week!
If you have questions or comments about these or other readings, please send them, in writing, to the parish office. We will try to respond as quickly as possible.
-MFB