2, Scripture Readings – Summaries of the readings of each Sunday Mass (by Chris Oliver)

Joshua 5: 9, 10-12; Psalm 26(27); 2 Cor 5: 17-21; Luke 15:1-3,11-32

In the book of Joshua Israel’s conquest of Canaan, the promised land, starts with the miraculous crossing of the Jordan. The river waters were held back until all the people had crossed on dry ground. Then, before celebrating the Passover, all the men who had been born during the Exodus were circumcised to mark them now as Israelites, so removing the “shame of Egypt”. The place where they crossed was named Gilgal, a pun on the word meaning “remove”.

The psalm offers grateful praise to God for rescuing us from danger, and encourages fear of the Lord, keeping our tongues from evil.

Paul insists to the Corinthians that as new creations in Christ they must forget their old ways of seeing the world. We have been given work to do, that of showing visibly in our lives that God has reconciled us to himself, just as Christ did by dying on the Cross.

Although Luke’s unique parable in today’s gospel is usually called “The Prodigal Son”, the behaviour of the other two people in the story is important. The father rushes out to meet his returning son – a marvellous image of God the Father. But are we sometimes tempted to imitate the other son’s reactions to his father’s reconciliation with “this son of yours”?

Psalm Response: Taste and see that the Lord is good.

(Joshua 5: 9, 10-12; Psalm 26(27); 2 Cor 5: 17-21; Luke 15:1-3,11-32)

Exodus 3: 1-8, 13-15; Psalm 102 (103); 1 Cor 10: 1-6,10-12; Luke 13: 1-9

The book of Exodus describes how a group of Hebrew slaves becomes a nation unified by faith in the one God, who made a covenant with them. After killing an Egyptian, Moses fled across the Red Sea. He was given refuge by Jethro, marrying his daughter, Zipporah. In today’s reading Moses is called by God to his life’s task of leading the Hebrews to the promised land. God reveals his name as “being”: he exists and involves himself with us.

All creation is invited to join in this psalm – a tender hymn of thanksgiving for the Lord’s mercy, which is so great because he knows man’s frailty.

Paul warns the Corinthians not to be over confident in their faith. Even with God’s continual support and unifying nourishment, the Israelites many times fell away from the covenant and into idolatry. Paul goes on to urge respect for the Eucharist. The sacraments help us to live our lives of faith, but salvation is not automatic.

In Luke’s Gospel Jesus continues teaching his disciples on the journey to Jerusalem. He uses examples of sudden death that his hearers would be aware of, to urge repentance and keeping one’s life oriented towards God at all times. With the parable of the fig tree Jesus says God is patient, but judgement will come.

Psalm Response: The Lord is compassion and love.

(Exodus 3: 1-8, 13-15; Psalm 102 (103); 1 Cor 10: 1-6,10-12; Luke 13: 1-9)

Gen 15:5-12,17-18; Psalm 26(27);Phil 3:17-4:1; Luke 9: 28-36

While Abram was wandering round Canaan before 1500 BC, his kinsman, Lot was captured in Sodom. Abram and his allies freed him. To celebrate this victory, bread and wine were brought out and Abram was blessed by Melchizedek, Priest-King of Salem, traditionally identified with Jerusalem. Then the Lord promised Abram a land of his own, an heir, and numberless descendants. A firebrand signifying the Lord’s presence, pass between the halves of the animals, a common way at that time of confirming a covenant.

The psalm asserts complete confidence that God will not abandon but will rescue us, while asking for guidance and protection.

Paul wrote to the Philippians about 60 AD. A devout Jew and Pharisee, Paul has nevertheless concluded that righteousness does not come from the Law but through faith in God, as shown by Abraham. As citizens of heaven we owe allegiance to Christ, not Caesar. Since God will transfigure our bodies, we must not be ruled by bodily appetites but gradually transform ourselves into images of Christ.

Luke describes Jesus’ appearance being changed. Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets, are talking with him about his “exodus”, his coming passion and death. The disciples are confused, but then God tells them they must now listen to Jesus, the representatives of old Israel have departed.

Psalm Response: The Lord is my light and my help.

Deut 26:4-10; Psalm 90 (91); Romans 10:8-13; Luke 4:1-13

Deuteronomy, the “second law”, repeats the law given on Sinai. It describes events just before the Israelites crossed the Jordan from the desert into the promised land. In today’s reading Moses uses an ancient formula to prescribe how the first fruits of the harvest are to be offered in gratitude for the gifts God has given to a landless people. As with our offerings during Mass, the priest’s role is to begin the celebration by setting the offerings “before the Lord your God”.

The psalm describes benefits of trusting in God: protection from evils and terrors as God goes with us in our distress.

Paul has lamented to the Romans that the works and rituals of the Mosaic Law did not bring Israel righteousness, and they cannot justify, that is make us right with God. Everyone can be saved, but only by confessing faith in God from their heart.

In Luke’s gospel we hear how, after his baptism, Jesus was tempted in the desert. The devil’s power is real. Perhaps Jesus was often tempted during his ministry to use lavish gifts, force or exhibitions of supernatural power to convince people. But Jesus remained faithful to his Father. The only way to God is by service and suffering. The devil is routed for now, but will return during Jesus’ passion.

Psalm Response: Be with me, O Lord, in my distress.

Sirach 27:4-7; Psalm 91(92); 1 Cor 15:54-58; Luke 6:39-45

The Wisdom book called Ecclesiasticus or Sirach was written in Hebrew about 200 BC by Ben Sira, a Jewish sage, and later translated into Greek. It was not translated into Latin by Jerome, but the Greek version was accepted as canonical by the early Church, and there are many allusions to it in the new Testament. At a time of increasing pagan Greek influence, Ben Sira showed that Israel’s religion was still a firm basis for moral living. He gives many practical examples, helping Christians of every age to apply moral truths to their own times. Today’s reading reminds us not to judge a person before hearing them speak.

The psalm extols God’s justice: crime may appear to be rewarded but wrong-doers will be punished in eternity.

Paul concludes his teaching to the Corinthians on the resurrection of the body with these triumphant words from Isaiah and Hosea: “Death is swallowed up in victory”; “Death, where is your sting?” After death our mortal nature puts on immortality. We must therefore never give up hope, confident in the victory God gives us through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Luke’s gospel Jesus ends his sermon on the plain, which included the beatitudes, by reminding us how our actions and words reflect what is in our hearts.

Psalm Response: It is good to give you thanks, O Lord.

(Sirach 27:4-7; Psalm 91(92); 1 Cor 15:54-58; Luke 6:39-45)

1 Sam 26:2,7-9,12-13,22-23; Ps 102(103); 1 Cor 15: 45-49; Luke 6: 27-38

In the first book of Samuel, Saul, Israel’s first king, became unreasonably jealous of David, his anointed successor, and tried to kill him. Saul entered a cave where David and his men were hiding, but David merely cut off a piece of Saul’s cloak. Then David crept into Saul’s camp but only took away his spear. David believed it wrong to kill an anointed king, preferring to put his trust in God.

The psalm offers grateful thanks and praise to God that his mercy is so great because of our frailty.

In last Sunday’s reading Paul had insisted to the Corinthians that Christ’s resurrection is essential to our faith. In today’s reading Paul quotes Genesis saying that the first Adam became a living soul. But the last Adam, Christ, became a life-giving spirit. Therefore, after the earthly man, there must be a heavenly man, whose body is animated by the Holy Spirit. Now we are modelled on the earthly man, subject to natural death. After the resurrection of the body we will be modelled on the heavenly man.

In Luke’s Gospel Jesus takes David’s restraint further: do good to your enemies, do not judge or condemn lest you suffer the same. In the Lord’s Prayer we ask for forgiveness, but the pre-condition is that we forgive others.

Psalm Response: The Lord is compassion and love.

Jer 17: 5-8; Psalm 1:1-4.6; 1 Cor 15:12,16-20; Luke 6: 17,20-26

Jeremiah lived through a stormy period about 600 BC, before and during the exile. He suffered much through sieges and imprisonments. The despair he felt at the sins of his people against God’s covenant may have led him to doubt. But Jeremiah never lost hope that God is merciful, and that his new covenant would save his people. In spite of temptations and disappointments, we must trust in the Lord.

The psalm praises those who do not gradually accommodate themselves to secular behaviour around us, but who “delight in the law of the Lord” and so achieve true happiness.

Paul had reminded the Corinthians of the centrality of the resurrection to our faith. Now he explains: without Christ’s resurrection from the dead, there is no resurrection of the body for us. Therefore no bodily life after our death – this life is all we have. He compares the resurrection of the dead to sowing a seed: the body which dies “is not the body which is to be”, which will be energised by the Spirit. “What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable”.

In Luke’s gospel Jesus had chosen the twelve from his disciples. Now he proclaims God’s justice is coming, showing the way to real happiness.

Psalm Response: Happy the man who has placed his trust in the Lord.

(Jer 17: 5-8; Psalm 1:1-4.6; 1 Cor 15:12,16-20; Luke 6: 17,20-26)

Isaiah 6:1-2a,3-8; Psalm 137(138); 1 Cor 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11

Isaiah’s calling vision in 742 BC is much quoted in the book of Revelation. He sees God enthroned, with Seraphs who had two wings covering their faces, two covering their body, and with two they flew. They praised God for his total otherness, and their “Holy, Holy, Holy” is repeated before the central part of every Mass. Isaiah expects to die after seeing God’s face. But he is symbolically purified by a burning ember on his lips, and so is fit to deliver God’s message of doom those who mistreat the poor. Only a remnant will survive.

The Psalmist thanks the Lord for answering his prayer, while calling on all rulers to join in this hymn of thanks for the Lord’s words.

Paul reminds the Corinthians of their roots and especially the gospel he taught them. He uses an existing creedal formula that he himself “had been taught”, namely “that Christ died, was buried; was raised; and appeared”. In rising, Christ has conquered death. The dead will also rise, bodily and spiritually.

After Jesus was rejected in Nazareth he went down to Capernaum, where he taught and healed many people. Today Luke describes Simon Peter recognising Jesus as “Lord”, his title after the Resurrection. Peter and his partners accept Jesus’ call, and follow him, leaving absolutely everything.

Psalm Response: Before the angels I will bless you, O Lord.

In 538 BC King Cyrus of Persia helped the Israelites to return to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon. There Ezra and Nehemiah shared the tasks of re-establishing the Jewish state and religion. Nehemiah rebuilt the city’s walls and administration. In today’s reading we hear about Ezra’s formal reading of the Jewish Law, and the people’s joyous celebration of God’s gift of the Law.

The psalm praises God’s moral law – and asks forgiveness for our transgressions.

In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians he compares a community to the human body. Every Christian becomes part of Christ’s body by baptism. So all gifts come from the spirit; all gifts are necessary; all contribute to the good of the whole community. All Christians are equally valuable and wanted by God.

Our reading of Luke’s Gospel over the ordinary Sundays of Year C now resumes, to be interrupted only for Eastertide. First we are reminded of Luke’s reason for writing a gospel: he is carefully putting into an orderly sequence what he has heard from eye-witnesses, so that his hearers may “realise the certainty of the teachings” they have received. Today’s reading then continues from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, including his self-proclamation in his home town. Next week we hear his neighbours’ reactions.

Psalm Response: Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life.