Commentary on the Readings for Sunday – Oct. 25, 2009
The 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The theme of the Readings for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time is something that we should sit back and think about. The theme is God working in our lives – if we let Him. We don’t hear as much about this subject as we should. Perhaps it gives the impression that God is ‘meddling’ or ‘interfering’ but that is not the case, because God has endowed mankind with the freedom to choose (free will). He will not do anything against our will, but like any loving Father, He is there to help and He is also there to accomplish His Plan of Salvation. Are you co-operating?
The First Reading is from the Book of Prophet Jeremiah (31:7 – 9). The time of this prophesy is shortly before the return of the Israelites from exile in Babylon. Through the Prophet, God is telling His people of the joy that will be theirs upon returning to their homeland and He will guide them as He guided their ancestors by the hand of Moses. All will be brought back, not just the select as when they were driven out of Jerusalem years before, but all including the infirm and mothers with children. In the year 539 BC, God did bring this ‘remnant’ back and they became the Jewish Nation from which the Christ as born.
The Responsorial Psalm is (126:1 – 6). The Psalmist is praising God for His goodness in bring back the exiles – a meditation on the event described in Jeremiah above, but also he recalls the “going out” as slaves to Babylon and the joyous “coming back” to Jerusalem. God fulfills all of His promises, even when we are not aware. He works in our lives to accomplish His goal of Salvation, but He still gives us the right to choose, that is, to say “Yes” or “No!”
The Second Reading is from the Letter to the Hebrews (5:1 – 6). This is an interesting passage within this great Letter. It shows how God the Father worked in the life of His son, Jesus, in making Him “high-priest” for all time and eternity. At the time Jesus lived, the high-priest of the temple was the highest ranking person in all of Jewish society. Through His suffering and death, Jesus became the ultimate high-priest before the Father for all mankind.
The Gospel Reading is taken from the Gospel of Mark (10:46 – 52). In this brief and familiar story we see Jesus working in the life of one man, but in many ways this poor blind man represents all of us. Whether we realize it or not, we all have a longing to “see” the face of God and Jesus is the “high-priest” who can help us do that – if we persistently seek Him.
From the beginning of time, God has watched over His creation like a “Father”. He led the Jewish people, the Chosen People, through the Sinai Desert and the desert between Jerusalem and Babylon. He helped them rebuild the walls of Jerusalem after their return. He sent His divine Son to die for all His people. Need we say more? In the Gospel story, after the blind man was miraculously healed, Jesus tells him to “Go your way” but the blind man, now healed, follows Jesus instead. That is the point of these Readings. So, are you making it a point to follow Jesus in your daily life, or are you following your own way? Something to think about during your Prayer Time this week!
If you have questions or comments regarding the above, please send them, in writing, to the parish office. We will respond as quickly as possible.
- MFB
Sunday Commentary
Commentary on the Readings for Sunday – Oct. 25, 2009
The 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The theme of the Readings for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time is something that we should sit back and think about. The theme is God working in our lives – if we let Him. We don’t hear as much about this subject as we should. Perhaps it gives the impression that God is ‘meddling’ or ‘interfering’ but that is not the case, because God has endowed mankind with the freedom to choose (free will). He will not do anything against our will, but like any loving Father, He is there to help and He is also there to accomplish His Plan of Salvation. Are you co-operating?
The First Reading is from the Book of Prophet Jeremiah (31:7 – 9). The time of this prophesy is shortly before the return of the Israelites from exile in Babylon. Through the Prophet, God is telling His people of the joy that will be theirs upon returning to their homeland and He will guide them as He guided their ancestors by the hand of Moses. All will be brought back, not just the select as when they were driven out of Jerusalem years before, but all including the infirm and mothers with children. In the year 539 BC, God did bring this ‘remnant’ back and they became the Jewish Nation from which the Christ as born.
The Responsorial Psalm is (126:1 – 6). The Psalmist is praising God for His goodness in bring back the exiles – a meditation on the event described in Jeremiah above, but also he recalls the “going out” as slaves to Babylon and the joyous “coming back” to Jerusalem. God fulfills all of His promises, even when we are not aware. He works in our lives to accomplish His goal of Salvation, but He still gives us the right to choose, that is, to say “Yes” or “No!”
The Second Reading is from the Letter to the Hebrews (5:1 – 6). This is an interesting passage within this great Letter. It shows how God the Father worked in the life of His son, Jesus, in making Him “high-priest” for all time and eternity. At the time Jesus lived, the high-priest of the temple was the highest ranking person in all of Jewish society. Through His suffering and death, Jesus became the ultimate high-priest before the Father for all mankind.
The Gospel Reading is taken from the Gospel of Mark (10:46 – 52). In this brief and familiar story we see Jesus working in the life of one man, but in many ways this poor blind man represents all of us. Whether we realize it or not, we all have a longing to “see” the face of God and Jesus is the “high-priest” who can help us do that – if we persistently seek Him.
From the beginning of time, God has watched over His creation like a “Father”. He led the Jewish people, the Chosen People, through the Sinai Desert and the desert between Jerusalem and Babylon. He helped them rebuild the walls of Jerusalem after their return. He sent His divine Son to die for all His people. Need we say more? In the Gospel story, after the blind man was miraculously healed, Jesus tells him to “Go your way” but the blind man, now healed, follows Jesus instead. That is the point of these Readings. So, are you making it a point to follow Jesus in your daily life, or are you following your own way? Something to think about during your Prayer Time this week!
If you have questions or comments regarding the above, please send them, in writing, to the parish office. We will respond as quickly as possible.
- MFB