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

Scripture Readings 8th February 2015, 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

In this Wisdom Book the blameless Job laments his sufferings at great length. The Lord allowed Satan to afflict Job any way he chose except death. Job asks God why he allows his suffering, but refuses to curse God. Today’s reading describes the drudgery that many people see in their lives, with only death to look forward to. Job challenges God to say what he has done to deserve these sufferings, but recognises “how can mortal man be just before God?” God replies, showing how ignorant man is, and Job accepts that “I have dealt with great things that … I cannot know”. But Job’s challenge is not answered.

Our readings from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians have omitted a long argument that Christians should not behave in a way that might be a stumbling block to others. Today Paul gives an example: he does not claim justifiable payments for spreading the gospel in case people doubt his motives – and so doubt the gospel message.

In Mark’s gospel the demoniac was healed by word, now Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law by touch – well enough for her to get supper immediately. Jesus heals many more, but again the demons are not allowed to say who Jesus is – Jesus cannot be understood until the Cross reconciles mankind with God.

Psalm Response: Praise the Lord who heals the broken-hearted.

Scripture Readings

The final book of the five books of the Law – the Pentateuch, Deuteronomy seeks to bring up to date the earlier Law books, and so to persuade Israel that their only salvation is to obey God’s Law. Today’s reading promising that the Lord will raise up Prophets like Moses was seen by Jesus and his followers as pointing to Jesus himself as the supreme Prophet.
In last week’s reading Paul emphasised to the Corinthians that the world is passing away and they should stop arguing among themselves. They should consider carefully before giving themselves extra worries by more responsibilities. Hence the advice this week for unmarried people to remain in their present state so they can give all their time to the Lord’s affairs. But Paul goes on make it clear he is not against marriage.
After the calling of the first disciples, Mark’s Gospel continues with Jesus teaching in the synagogue. His teaching and healing authority is immediately recognised. But spirits recognise Jesus so he tells them to be quiet. Their words can have no meaning to human beings during his lifetime. Mark insists that we can only know Jesus through the Cross.

Psalm Response: O that today you would listen to his voice! “Harden not your hearts”.

Scripture Readings

In the short book of Jonah God sent a great fish to force Jonah back to the mission God had given him, to warn Nineveh that it was to be destroyed. Today we hear God’s second command, after the fish had spewed Jonah back on to dry land. But Jonah was very angry that God relented. He had run away to avoid drawing God’s mercy on the hated city. He thought only the Jews were worthy of God’s mercy.

In this long chapter responding to questions by the Corinthians about married life, Paul gives detailed advice – but against the background of expecting Jesus to return in glory virtually any minute There may also have been a famine when he was writing. They should not be alarmed by any current world crisis, even if normal activities are interrupted for a time. But one day the world will end. What will matter then is their faithfulness to the Lord, whatever their social circumstances.

Last week we heard from the Gospel of John about Jesus calling the first disciples. Today our year B readings from the Gospel of Mark resume for the next 6 weeks, continuing after Trinity Sunday. Mark describes Jesus beginning his ministry by first proclaiming the Good News, and then also calling the first disciples.

Psalm Response: Lord, make me know your ways.

(Jonah 3: 1-5, 10; Psalm 24(25): 4-9; 1 Cor 7: 29-31; Mark 1: 14-20)

Scripture Readings

The first Book of Samuel opens with Hannah, the devout barren wife of Elkanah, praying for a child in the temple at Shiloh. She promises that if she has a son she will give him to the Lord as a Nazirite. The priest Eli added his prayers.

Their prayers were answered, and Hannah gave Samuel up into Eli’s care in the temple. Hannah’s song of thanks is echoed by Mary’s Magnificat in Luke’s gospel, and Luke based the birth of John the Baptist on the miraculous birth of Samuel.

The Lord told Eli his dynasty would die, and the Lord himself would choose a faithful priest to succeed him. In our first reading Eli realises it is Samuel who is to succeed him as prophet to bring the word of the Lord to the people.

Paul devotes several parts of his letter to the Corinthians to sexual immorality, which some Corinthians did not see as sins, but Paul sees as sinning against your own body.

In John’s Gospel the Baptist prophetically points Jesus out to his disciples as the “Lamb of God”, so they follow him instead. Like the rest of Jesus’ disciples, they come to Jesus through the testimony of others, responding to the invitation to “Come and see”.

Psalm Response: Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.

Scripture Readings

Isaiah 55:1-11; 1 John 5:1-9; Mark 1 : 7-11

Second Isaiah reminds the exiled Israelites God has not forgotten his everlasting covenant. They are invited to return to him, looking forward to the heavenly banquet in the end days. But they must “listen, and your soul will live”. In every Mass we are “called to the supper of the Lamb”. Isaiah urges: “seek the Lord while he may be found”: hidden and unimaginably different from us, yet he is “still near” and “rich in forgiving”.

John briefly summarises the basis of our faith, namely that the man Jesus is Son of God, God’s Christ. Both the water at his baptism, and the water and blood pouring from his side on the Cross, witness to Jesus’ humanity. Just as Baptism and the Eucharist witness to our faith, which demands that we love God as we love his son. Loving God is not about emotion: is an act of will, it means keeping his commandments.

Unlike the other three gospels Mark has no prologue: after quoting Isaiah he starts immediately with John the Baptist proclaiming the coming of the Lord. God was revealed to the Jews during the Exodus and in their return from exile. Now God reveals himself to the whole world through his Christ. Jesus is confirmed as God’s Son by the Father and by the Spirit.

Psalm Response: With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

Scripture Readings

Third Isaiah was writing just after the Israelites had returned from exile in Babylon. Participation in the future messianic salvation is offered to all who believe in the Lord and keep his commandments. Isaiah visualises the new Jerusalem, illuminated by God, to which all peoples will stream and a time when their offerings will be acceptable. The church’s task is to bring the good news to the whole world.

The vision of the universal Church Paul describes in Ephesians matches Isaiah’s image of the new Jerusalem. Paul sees the Church, led by the Spirit, as Christ’s body, part of God’s plan for the whole of creation. And Paul joyfully realises that it was always part of God’s plan that the gospel message is to be taken to all: Gentiles as well as Jews are to share in the inheritance promised by God.

In Luke’s Gospel an angel announced Jesus’ birth to poor Jewish shepherds, excluded by their occupation from Temple worship. Today we hear Matthew’s description of Gentile scholars travelling from afar to bring kingly offerings to the new-born child. But they needed the Jewish scriptures to help find him. We too need the Old Testament to help us understand God’s plan and what he has done in Jesus for our salvation.

Psalm Response: All nations shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.

Scripture Readings

The Book of Numbers continues the story of the Israelites during their exodus journey from Mount Sinai until they arrive outside the Promised Land before 1200 BC. Among the many laws for behaviour and ritual practices is this beautiful form of blessing given to Moses by the Lord. It is one of the oldest and finest pieces of ancient poetry. To “bless” means to pour out the power of life that produces growth, success, fertility and prosperity.
Paul wrote his letter to the Galatians as an angry and anguished appeal to them not to forsake the gospel he had taught them. Other preachers were trying to persuade them that, to be fully Christian, Gentiles had to become Jews and conform to the Jewish Law. No, says Paul. The Law was a temporary disciplinarian needed until humanity was mature enough to join God’s family. This is now possible through the faith of, and our faith in, God’s Son, who was born of a woman and so fully human.
In Luke’s Gospel the coming birth of Jesus was announced to Mary by the Angel Gabriel. Accepting what God wanted of her, and still a virgin when Jesus was born, she may still have been puzzling over this strange event. So she must have been much helped by the coming of these shepherds, who confirmed that her son was “Messiah and Lord”.

Psalm Response: O God, be gracious and bless us.

Scripture Readings

God responds to Abram’s concern at his lack of heirs by promising him countless descendants. Then God covenants with Abram, promising land for the multitude of nations he will father. Even before male circumcision became the sign of this covenant, Abram was held righteous because he trusted in the Lord’s promise. Such was his faith that he travelled to a new land, and was even prepared to obey the Lord’s command to sacrifice his promised son. Sarah named their son Isaac, meaning “he who laughed”: Sarah had laughed at God’s promise that she would bear a son – now she perhaps feels the laugh is on her, caring for a new-born child in her nineties.

Hebrews describes more people of tremendous faith in God, even though they did not have the example of Jesus, whose faith in his Father enabled him to endure the cross. This example encourages perseverance in our faith, confident in God’s promises, and willingly enduring our less demanding trials.

Luke’s mixture of the rites of purification and dedication of the first-born male links Jesus’ birth to God’s promises: the promised redeemer has come, and Abraham’s descendants in faith will indeed be as numerous as the stars. But God is always faithful to his promises and, in his justice, innermost thoughts will be revealed.

Psalm Response: He, the Lord, is our God. He remembers his covenant for ever.

Scripture Readings

Around 720 BC Judah was threatened by many enemies. Isaiah advised the kings to stand firm, because the Lord would give a sign: “the maiden shall be with child”. The birth of a helpless baby gives hope for the future. But this future must be founded on justice and integrity. Early Christians adopted these words as a marvellous way to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Written over 60 years after Jesus’ birth, Paul’s summarises the gospel to Titus: a compassionate God chose to offer us the free gift of being “at one” with him. But God’s revelation of salvation in Christ demands we transform our lives and “give up everything that does not lead to God”. The reading from Hebrews tells us that God has spoken to us through his son, who is “the perfect copy of his nature”.

Luke places the birth of the Christ firmly in time and space. Jesus was a man born miraculously to a virgin in Bethlehem in Judea. The peace and quiet of the undercroft, where animals gave warmth, must have been a welcome relief for Mary, after the noise and bustle of the inn. The simplicity of Jesus’ birth is important: God comes as a vulnerable baby to draw us into a relationship with him. The royal birth announcement was sent not to royalty, but to poor shepherds, outcasts excluded from Temple worship by their occupation. Joseph, of the house of David, named Jesus as his son. Jesus lived in history, growing up in Nazareth in Galilee.

By the time John’s gospel was written, Christians had come to realise that Jesus had existed as the Word of God before time began. So John’s prologue seeks to describe the complexity of the creator becoming part of his own creation.

Psalm Response: Today a saviour has been born to us; he is Christ the Lord.

Scripture Readings

After seven years as King of Judah, David was anointed King of all the tribes of Israel. He then captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites, making it the capital of Israel. Then he increased his power by bringing into Jerusalem the Ark of the Covenant, in which the Lord dwelt. But in our first reading the Lord tells David not to build a house for the Ark, because the Lord will himself build a house – ie a dynasty – founded on David. This covenant is repeated in today’s Psalm.
Two verses summarise Paul’s letter to the Romans. The Good News is that Jesus Christ is the revelation of God’s plan that all humanity is to be brought into community with God through faith. Observing the rules of the Jewish Law is not enough: we are justified and saved by Jesus’ faith in his Father and by our faith in Jesus Christ.
Luke gives us the supreme example of faith: Mary agrees to God’s invitation to be the mother of God’s Son – the greatest ‘Yes’ in history! Even though she does not know what the future might bring – except possibly death by stoning as an unmarried mother. By her faith and trust in God she becomes the first disciple. And God’s promise to David is fulfilled.

Psalm Response: I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.