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

Eccles 1:2, 2:21-23 Ps 89:3-17 Col 3:1-5, 9-11 Lk 12:13-21

The “Preacher” struggles with the contradictions of life and the vanity of created things which give no lasting satisfaction. Good people suffer, sinners enjoy life and prosper. At a time when there was no idea of rewards after death, the “Preacher” has no solution to offer except to trust that God will make it right in the end. The Psalm echoes our need to rely on the Lord.

This final extract from Colossians hints at Paul’s very detailed moral teaching. The Christian’s life is now “hidden with Christ”, but when Christ is revealed “you too will be revealed in all your glory”. Paul then spells out how we should live our lives focussed on Christ. So that we will grow in knowledge and maturity towards the images of our creator that God intended us to be. We must put away sins of both sex and speech, which damage individuals and the Christian community.

Luke’s Gospel answers the Prophet’s problem in the first reading: good actions in this life are rewarded after death, and evil will be punished. The rich man’s approach was sensible in capitalist terms, and not immoral. But Luke’s gospel frequently insists that we must help the poor in this world, while we can!

Psalm Response: O Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.

(Eccles 1:2, 2:21-23 Ps 89:3-17 Col 3:1-5, 9-11 Lk 12:13-21)

Gen 18:20-32 Ps 137:1-8 Col 2:12-14 Lk 11:1-13

After promising Abraham a son next year, God hesitates before revealing his plans for Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham urges God to be just to the threatened towns, where his nephew Lot lives. Later Lot defends his angelic guests from the depraved demands of the men of Sodom, and escapes before Sodom is destroyed.
Paul urges the Colossians, whom he has never visited, to be confident in their understanding of “God’s mystery”, Christ. As Gentiles they were outside the Jewish Law, and therefore seen as sinners. But now they are “buried in Christ”, the Law is overridden, and they should follow only Christ. For Paul, transgressions are debts owed to God for failing to carry out our duties under our covenant with the creator. The list of our debts, like IOUs, is destroyed by being graphically nailed to the Cross.
Luke’s version of the Our Father is shorter and more abrupt than Matthew’s. Both versions are looking to the end days, especially “Do not put us to the test” ie the final judgement. “Daily bread” may refer to the Eucharist. Or it may mean “Give us tomorrow’s bread” – in the heavenly banquet, like the double portion of manna collected in the desert before the Sabbath. God promises to respond to all our requests, as he did to Abraham.

Psalm Response: On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord

Gen 18:1-10 Ps 14:2-5 Col 1:24-28 Lk 10:38-42

Abraham, now settled by the oaks of Mamre, near Hebron, south of Jerusalem, gives proper hospitality to his three special visitors. But he addresses only one of them as Lord. The Lord promises a son to the couple in their old age. So that God’s covenant promise to Abraham of countless descendants can begin to come true.

Paul had explained to the Colossians that God’s covenant plan is now back on track. Christ’s death was sufficient for our redemption, but Paul sees his afflictions as adding to those of Christ, both helping spread the knowledge of redemption more widely and deeply, and to make a contribution towards the debt Christ has already paid on our behalf.

The Jews believed that God would reveal his secret plans for creation: Paul says these have now been revealed – the mystery is Jesus the Christ, the man who is the revelation of God.

In Luke’s description of Jesus’ visit to Martha and Mary their brother Lazarus is not mentioned. Like Sarah, Martha is busy preparing the meal. With so much to do she is naturally – but not obsessively – distracted, and asks for Mary’s help. But Jesus reminds her that listening to the words of their prophetic guest is more important than domestic perfection.

Psalm Response: The just will live in the presence of the Lord.

(Gen 18:1-10 Ps 14:2-5 Col 1:24-28 Lk 10:38-42)

Deut 30:10-14 Ps 68:14-37 Col 1:15-20 Lk 10:25-37

The book of Deuteronomy, the “second law”, evolved over many centuries. It restates the Jewish Law and the covenant God made with Abraham. Our reading starts with an imperative, but if we do obey God’s Law “the Lord will take delight in prospering” us. And this Law is easily accessible: it is written “in our hearts”. Put the covenant into practice, and so choose life, not death.

In this beautiful hymn from Colossians Paul spells out the awesome reality of Christ: “Christ Jesus is the image of the unseen God” who “existed before anything was created”. We know God through Jesus. Jesus is fully human in the way God intended all humanity to be. He shows us the way to God. But reconciliation comes with a proviso: “that you continue in the faith”.

Jesus has rejoiced and given thanks with the 70 disciples for their successful mission. He then responds to a sincere questioner by updating the Jewish Law to what was originally intended. The parable of the Good Samaritan insists that everyone is our neighbour. Details of the Law that evolve over time can come to be misleading. The priest and the Levite were more concerned with ritual purity than with love. Just as over emphasis on rigid moral rules and liturgical details can lead us astray from mercy.

Psalm Response: The precepts of the Lord gladden the heart.

(Deut 30:10-14 Ps 68:14-37 Col 1:15-20 Lk 10:25-37)

Is 66:10-14 Ps 65:1-20 Gal 6:14-18 Lk 10:1-12, 17-20

Third Isaiah wrote this beautiful imagery of a compassionate God to encourage the Jews returning from exile in Babylon to rebuild the Temple: the Lord sends his peace to Jerusalem through which he will give peace and nourishment to those who recognise the new creation to come with Jesus’ resurrection there.

This fond farewell concludes our 6 readings from Paul’s letter to the Galatians. It summarises his letter: through the Cross we are crucified to the world. Human distinctions and marks on our flesh like circumcision no longer signify. We have become a new creation, the “Israel of God” – God’s chosen family to carry God’s message to the world.
The new Mass translation, “and with your spirit”, picks up Paul’s final phrase. God’s grace is to be deep and personal.

In the reading from Luke’s gospel we heard last week, Jesus “set himself to travel to Jerusalem”. For the rest of Ordinary Time, ie “numbered weeks”, all our gospel readings are from Jesus’ journey, consciously focussed on his coming suffering in Jerusalem. Today we hear of Jesus sending 70 disciples on mission ahead of him, like the 70 elders chosen by Moses to lead the Exodus. But Jesus’ disciples are offering Israel a last chance to change their mind about Jesus.

Psalm Response: Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.

(Is 66:10-14 Ps 65:1-20 Gal 6:14-18 Lk 10:1-12, 17-20)

Scripture Readings

In the first Book of Kings Elijah, a prophet in the northern kingdom of Israel, throws his cloak over Elisha. But Elisha remains free to choose whether or not to follow Elijah. Freely he burns his plough and turns his back on all earthly ties. When Elijah’s life ends Elisha literally inherits the prophet Elijah’s mantle.

For Paul holiness and freedom are closely linked. Holiness is giving ourselves in love in the service of others. Paul tells the Galatians holiness can be developed and exercised only in relationship with others – ie in community. Paul saw that, without faith, the Law given to the Hebrews on Mount Sinai could not bring salvation. The Law was a sort of monitor or tutor to guide and curb God’s people until Jesus came and “set us free”. Now “the whole of the Law is summarised in a single command: Love your neighbour as yourself”. This new freedom is not freedom from restraint, it is freedom for love – the love of service to each other.

Today’s reading from Luke’s Gospel refers first to Elijah, who called down fire from heaven to consume his sacrificial offerings rather than those of idolatrous priests. And then to Elisha who burned his plough and did not look back. Faith in Jesus requires total commitment.

Psalm Response: O Lord, it is you who are my portion.

(1 Kgs 19:16-21; Ps 15:1-11; Gal 5:1, 13-18; Lk 9:51-62)

Scripture Readings

Writing in the 4th century BC, Zechariah promises that the Lord will enable the house of David to lead Judah to defeat its enemies. Jerusalem will mourn “the one whom they have pierced”, as they mourned the good king Josiah, slain at Megiddo. From Jerusalem will come a “fountain to wash away all guilt and uncleanness”, later seen as Christ pouring out God’s grace. Zechariah then promises that “the Lord will become king over all the earth”.
In his letter to the Galatians Paul has explained his claim we heard last week that “if justification were through the Law, then Christ died to no purpose”: Abraham was justified through his belief in God. In this week’s reading Paul concludes: through our faith in Christ we are all adopted as the heirs Abraham was promised long before the Law was given to Moses. The Law was a temporary “tutor” to guide God’s people until Christ brings us to maturity.
In Luke’s gospel, after the Apostles had returned from a preaching mission, Jesus had bolstered their confidence by feeding 5,000 people. In this week’s reading Jesus for the first time confirms who he is, but foretells his own death and the sufferings of his followers, before further revealing himself in the Transfiguration.

Psalm Response: For you my soul is thirsting, O God, my God.

(Zech 12:10-11, 13: 1; Psalm 62(63); Gal 3: 26-29; Luke 9: 18-24)

Scripture Readings

The verses before and after this extract from 2 Samuel help us to understand the enormity of David’s sin. To get Bathsheba for his wife, David had Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah the Hittite, killed by sending him into the fiercest fighting and then withdrawing the other troops from around him. When Nathan told a parable to show David how grievously he had sinned, David admits his sin, and Nathan tells him God forgives him.
The psalm praises this readiness of God to forgive our sins, with all fault and guilt taken away as if the sin had never been. So that we become “at one” with God, “justified”, with all our obligations to God fulfilled. We cannot do this alone – only God justifies.
But Paul tells the Galatians that they are not justified by the works of the Law, ie the rituals of the Law given to Moses. It is the faith of Jesus Christ in His Father, and our faith in Jesus Christ, that justifies or saves us.
In today’s reading from Luke’s Gospel the unnamed woman’s sins are forgiven, as shown by her loving actions, which are more important than the Pharisee’s concern over outward appearances.

Psalm Response: Forgive, Lord, the guilt of my sin.

(2 Samuel 12:7-13; Psalm 31(32); Gal 2:16-21; Luke 7:36-8:3)

Scripture Readings

The Books of Kings give the histories of Judah and the northern kingdom Israel between David’s death and the exile of Judah to Babylon in 586 BC. Israel’s kings frequently worshipped false gods, and so God punished them. King Ahab married Jezebel and worshipped Baal. After God sent a drought, he accepted Elijah’s sacrifice. Elijah then killed all Ahab’s priests, and then retreated into the desert for safety. The widow of Zarephath shared her last food with him. She was rewarded: her food stores were continually replenished, and today we hear how her son was brought back to life through Elijah’s prayer to God.
This links to Luke’s Gospel in which Jesus, after healing the centurion’s slave, brings back to life the son of the widow of Nain. Then John the Baptist asks Jesus “Are you he who is to come?”
For the next six weeks our second readings are from Paul’s letter to the Galatians, where visitors from Jerusalem had insisted they must become Jews before becoming Christians. Paul expresses astonishment that they have deserted his teachings, and insists his authority is what he heard directly from Jesus himself on the way to Damascus, when Jesus commissioned him to take the gospel to the Gentiles. And Peter and James had not contradicted Paul.

Psalm Response: I will Praise you, Lord, you have rescued me.

(1 Kings 17:17-24; Psalm 29(30);Gal 1:11-19; Luke 7:11-17)

Scripture Readings

In Eucharistic Prayer I, the Roman canon, just after the Consecration we hear: “the bread and wine offered by your priest Melchizedek”. Melchizedek, the Canaanite priest-king of Salem, later named Jerusalem, offered food and drink to Abram and his 318 retainers as they returned from a victory, and blessed Abram in the name of the one God they both believed in. Abram accepted Melchizedek’s blessing and gave him a tithe. Their shared meal confirmed them both as God’s people.
When David captured Jerusalem he took over this priest-kingship, hence today’s psalm praising David, appointed by God as a “priest for ever of the order of Melchizedek”. The author of Hebrews saw Melchizedek’s priesthood as superior to the Levitical priesthood and saw Jesus, descendent of David, with his gift of bread and wine to his disciples, as succeeding to this ancient priesthood.
Paul had told the Corinthians to stop misbehaving during the Eucharist. He then gave this earliest description we have of its institution during the last meal Christ shared with his disciples before Calvary.
Melchizedek’s offering of food to Abram is echoed in the feeding of the 5,000 in the Gospel, anticipating Christ giving himself to us as heavenly food in the Eucharist.

Psalm Response: You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.

(Genesis 14:18-20 Psalm 109(110):1-4 1 Cor 11:23-26 Luke 9:11-17)