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

Scripture Readings

In words used by Jesus to announce that the Messianic era has come, third Isaiah confidently rejoices that Zion will be restored after the return from exile. It will be the focal point for all peoples, where God will dwell in his renewed creation at the end of time. Everyone will behave with justice. It will be total salvation for God’s people – bodily and spiritually, individually and socially.

Also emphasising the wholeness of each person’s salvation, Paul ends his letter to the Thessalonians with simple rules of behaviour which enable the new Christian way of living to become automatic: show respect to others, cheer the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient with all. Rejoice and give thanks always, for “God has called you”: he is faithful, it is he who makes you “perfect and holy”.

Last week Mark briefly described the Baptist’s announcement of Christ’s coming. Today John gives us more detail, immediately after the gospel’s prologue. The Baptist’s answers to his questioners become shorter and shorter, until they ask an open question, to which he replies more fully. John’s is the only gospel which sees Jesus as existing before creation. The Baptist testifies that Jesus’ identity has been confirmed by God. Baptism appears to be well-known, though Jesus’ disciples only started baptising after he had risen.

Psalm Response: My soul rejoices in my God.

Scripture Readings

Second Isaiah celebrates with fulsome praise their God who has enabled the Israelites to return from exile in Babylon. God has cleared the way for their return, just as He led his people during the Exodus from Egypt. Then God was visible in a small area as a pillar of cloud or fire. Now God’s work should be shouted throughout the whole world.
The second letter of Peter, written probably towards the end of the first century, addressed doubts about when Christ would return in majesty. God patiently guides mankind to the promised land of his kingdom, giving everyone plenty of time to turn to him. But the Day of the Lord will come, and it will come to all creation, and when we least expect it.
In each gospel a prologue suggests who Jesus is. Luke and Matthew identify Jesus as Son of God at his conception, while for John, writing much later, Jesus was God before creation. Mark’s gospel, the earliest, says only that the coming of Jesus was proclaimed by Isaiah and the Baptist. God was revealed to the Jews during the Exodus and in their return from exile. Now God is being revealed to the whole world through his Christ, Jesus, confirmed at his baptism as his son.

Scripture Readings

(Isa 63:16-17; 64:3-8; Ps 79:2-3,15-16,18-19; 1 Cor 1:3-9; Mark 13:33-37)

The reading from third Isaiah is part of a prayer written around the end of Israel’s exile. Their leaders have been arguing instead of rebuilding the Temple. The prophet recalls God’s blessings on Israel in the past, and desperately begs the Lord to come once more in his mercy to the aid of his people, who all now humbly confess their sinfulness. God is our Father, and we are clay, to be formed by his hand.

Paul’s letter to the Corinthians is also prompted by internal rivalries. He can’t stop talking about Jesus. God has now come, giving “all the graces” “through Jesus Christ”, and joining us to his Son.

Since Vatican II we are blessed by reading all through each gospel in turn. Listening to what each evangelist actually says helps us to sense how each different Christian community gradually developed their understanding of Christ. This Advent we start the year of Mark, whose gospel is the earliest and shortest. It is the gospel in which no human being recognises or understands Jesus before his death, as noone can without seeing his Cross and Resurrection. Reading Mark’s gospel in sequence starts after the end of Christmastide. Today we have Mark’s version of “Stay awake!”, immediately before Jesus’ passion begins.

Psalm Response: God of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

Readings

The Book of Proverbs united ancient values and ideals with Israel’s understanding of God. Written at the time of the exile, about 500 BC, it was intended for serious study in the effort to gain wisdom. Today’s reading is more than a song praising both the housekeeping and commercial activities of a good wife – it is Wisdom in action. And it recognises that a wife should share in the benefits of her work.
Paul’s wrote to the Thessalonians from Corinth about 51 AD after Timothy had brought news of the developing Thessalonian church. The “Day of the Lord” will come. Roman – and our – peace can be shattered at any time. We are now “children of the light and of the day”, aroused the Holy Spirit. We must slough off the confusing darkness of the world. We must learn wisdom and live every day in justice and integrity, as if it will be our last.
Matthew’s parable of the talents almost ends Jesus’ teaching before his passion begins. Again we are urged to live wisely and justly while dutifully preparing for the day of judgement, which will certainly come. We must use for God’s purposes the resources we have been given. But we must also work at developing our faith, otherwise we may lose it. Effort is needed, as with learning wisdom.

Psalm Response: O blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Scripture Readings

Exod 22:20-26 (cf 24:9-11) Ps 17 1 Thess 1:5-10 Matt 22:34-40

After the 10 Commandments, which are rather general, the Lord gave detailed rules for living. This mini-covenant contained practical laws and punishments, as we can see from today’s reading. A covenant is a formal contract made ritually. In this case a treaty in which the Lord promises favour and the people agree to undertake certain obligations. Moses sprinkled blood on the people to seal this covenant with the Lord. They then celebrated a sacrificial meal, eating and drinking in the Lord’s presence to confirm that the people now belonged to the family of the Lord.

Continuing our reading from the earliest surviving Christian document, Paul concludes his address to the Thessalonians with fulsome praise for them. He knows that they are chosen and loved by God because he has heard from others of the example they give. Especially for their imitation of Christ, and their acceptance of the word of the risen Lord, in spite of suffering persecution.

In the Gospel it is now the turn of the Pharisees to test Jesus. But they fare no better than the Sadducees last week. Again Jesus shows that he is the authoritative interpreter of the Jewish Scriptures. Even the detailed rules given to Moses can be summed up in the requirement to love God and your neighbour.

Psalm Response: I love you, Lord, my strength.

From My Heart to Your Heart

HOW CAN YOU SAY YOU LOVE ME?

Haside Rabbi Levi Ytzhak of Ukrane was fond of saying that he had learned the true meaning of love from a drunken peasant.

While visiting the owner of a tavern in the Polish countryside, the rabi overheard the conversation of two men seated at the nearby table. Both had had a fair ammount to drink and both were feeling quite mellow. With their arms around one another, they were professing how much each loved the other. Suddenly, the older of the two, Ivan, looked at his friend and asked , “Peter tell me, what hurts me?” Bleary.eyed but slightly sobered by such question Peter looked at Ivan and answered with a question of his own: “How do I know what hurts you?” Ivan’s response came quickly. “If you don’t know what hurts me how can you say you love me?”

You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. In these two commandments hang the whole law, and the prophets also. (Math. 22: 34-40)

If you knew the pain of your worst enemy, you would become his best friend.

Scripture Readings

Isa 45:1, 4-6, Ps 95:1. 3-5. 7-10 r.7, 1 Thess 1:1-5, Matt 22:15-21

Second Isaiah insists that every event, good or bad, is caused by God. The conquest and exile of Israel by Babylon contributed towards God’s purpose. And so does the freedom given them about 530 BC by Cyrus, King of Persia, whom God calls his ‘anointed’ or ‘messiah’, because he did God’s work. Thus all men, including Gentiles, though they do not know him, will know that there is only one God, the Lord.

For the last 5 Sundays of Ordinary Time we read from Paul’s first letter to the church in Thessalonica, which he founded about AD 50. Thessalonica is about 60 miles west of Philippi, and also on the road from Byzantium to Rome. Paul later sent Silvanus and Timothy back to support the new community. This letter was written from Corinth after Timothy returned to tell Paul about the church’s progress. It is the earliest Christian writing we have. Centuries before the idea of the Trinity developed, Paul distinguishes clearly between “God our Father”, “our Lord Jesus Christ”, and “the Holy Spirit”.

Over the next three weeks we hear the final three discussions in Matthew’s Gospel between Jesus and the Jewish leaders. They ironically address Jesus as “Teacher”, but he silences them: he alone has the authority to interpret the Jewish Scriptures.

Psalm Response: Give the Lord glory and power

From my heart to your heart

by Father Bernadino

DON’T CHANGE

Robert was a victim of a few addictions. He felt miserable. His family felt miserable. His friends felt miserable. Every person approached him to make him to change. He was a liar, a cheater and would make fun of all those who dared to give him advice. There were threats, bribes, promises, begging but he looked insensitive to everyone.
One day, after so many frustrations and so many friends quitting on him, and after so many prayers, Robert looked like a different man. He became sober, clean, hard worker, with a great sense of humour, a loving husband and a loving father. Nobody could believe in what was happening. All his acquaintances felt tempted to think and to say “Boy… this man looks like Robert. I wish Robert became like him”.
Finally, slowly, everyone admitted that this man was the real Robert and everyone was very happy about him.
All his friends wanted to know the secret. What happened to you and how did it happen?
Robert with a smile, where they could see a mixture of happiness and sadness, shared what had happened:
I was feeling sick. I was feeling miserable. I had no hope. Nothing mattered in my life. I had no reasons to live. When my friends greeted me they didn’t even ask me: “How are you, Robert”? The only thing they used to say was: “Change your life Robert. Please change. If you don´t change you are going to die and especially your family is going to feel happy that you have died. Please change, Robert”. Even my best friend Joe kept telling me: “Change Robert, change. I love you. I am your best friend. Do that for me, Robert”. But I could not change. I felt helpless. My self esteem was zero. It seemed that I was already doomed to hell before my death and after my death.
One day, my best friend Joe came to me and said: “Robert! I came to have a cup of coffee with you and tell you something very important: Don´t change. You don´t have to change. I love you the way you are. No strings attached. No conditions attached. I love you the way you are. I will always be here for you. Count always on me”.
Then a miracle happened. On that day I changed.
One of the slogans of People Helping People is “Only love frees”. Mother Teresa used to say that: “If you start by judging people you are too busy to love them”. And finally these are the words of a Man who inspired the project People Helping People: “Don´t judge others and God will not judge you. God will be as hard on you as you are on others” (Math. 7: 1-2). The name of that Man is Jesus.

Scripture Readings

Isa 25:6-10 Ps 22 Phil 4:12-14, 19-20 Matt 22:1-14

After the desolation of the earth and the final judgement, Isaiah describes in mouth-watering detail the great banquet the Lord will provide. It will be on Mount Zion and all peoples are invited. Not only will all sorrows be wiped away, but also the ultimate worry – death – will be destroyed. The familiar Psalm 22 repeats these assurances.

Our readings from Paul’s letter to the Philippians conclude with Paul again thanking them for their continued support and the money they had sent him. God’s help enables him to be content whatever his problems, but their thoughtfulness is especially welcome now that he is in prison. He ends his letter with a fond farewell: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit”.

The first reading helps us to understand Matthew’s parable of the wedding feast. The kingdom of heaven is to be compared to a feast – the heavenly banquet to which all are invited. But if we accept the invitation we must prepare adequately and be willing to participate fully. Otherwise we may still be thrown out. Our membership must be visible to others. We must do more than just belong. Like the Philippians we must share what we have with the community we have joined, and with those in need.

Psalm Response: In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell for ever and ever.

Scripture Readings

Isa 5:1-7 Ps 79 Phil 4:6-9 Matt 21:33-43

First Isaiah was writing before 700 BC, when Assryia threatened and eventually overwhelmed Israel. Isaiah insists that only being faithful to God will protect the nation from disaster. Just in case his hearers don’t get the message, Isaiah adds that the unproductive vineyard is the house of Israel, where the Lord looked for justice but received bloodshed. The Lord had lavished care on Israel but they sinned against him, especially with crimes of injustice.

In his affectionate farewell to the Philippians, Paul urges them to “rejoice in the Lord always”, not anxious, but thinking about all that is good, letting the Lord know all their needs. Paul challenges them to imitate him in the way he relies on the Lord. Then God’s grace will bring them peace. Our God is the God of peace. He not seeking to catch us out, but longs for us to accept the peace he offers and to rely on him totally.

It is easy to see where Matthew got the idea for his parable in today’s Gospel, which follows immediately after last week’s story of the two sons. Matthew has brought Isaiah’s tale up to date with the murder of the prophets and even the Lord’s son. As with Isaiah’s prediction, Israel would again be devastated, in AD70.

Psalm Response: The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel

The Day’s Readings

Jer 20:7-9        Ps 62   Rom 12:1-2    Mt 16:21-27

Jeremiah, probably before 600 BC, and so before the exile, criticised Israel for worshipping other gods. So Pashtur, the chief priest, beat Jeremiah and put him in the stocks. Next day, when he was released, Jeremiah told Pashtur that he would go to Babylon, where he and all his friends would die. Jeremiah then continued with this lament that God had misled him, because he had to suffer so much on the Lord’s behalf, and had begun to wonder – or doubt – whether his call from God was real.
After marvelling last week at the impossibility of understanding God’s plans, Paul goes on to encourage the Romans to “let your behaviour change”. Like Jeremiah, they must “not be conformed to this world”, but be “transformed by the renewal of your mind”, discovering and doing the will of God.
In Matthew’s gospel Jesus starts to instruct the disciples how he is to suffer, in accordance with God’s will. Peter objects, but Jesus turns on Peter with similar words he used to Satan after his Baptism. Poor Peter! He has just been given the power to bind and loose, but now he is told he is not on God’s side, but is thinking like the world!
 
Psalm Response:         My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

MY HEART TO YOUR HEART

Fr. Bernardino Andrade

“Respect Life Sunday” in America

Today is “Respect Life Sunday” in America, where I lived and worked for 32 years. Today, I am on the mainland of Portugal taking part in a retreat for people who have gone through a tragic and traumatic experience of an abortion. It is called “Project Rachel”. Nobody will be able to forget a son/daughter who was not born. It is a compassionate and healing retreat for those who suffer the trauma of killing their babies.
It is obvious that especially today my heart is with the babies who have been destroyed in what was supposed to be the safest place in the world(the womb of their mother). But my heart is also with the mothers who, in a moment of confusion, made a decision that would become a nightmare for the rest of their lives.
From an American publication(Fr. Tony Kadavill) I got this information:
The number of unborn children slaughtered in the wombs of their mothers in the last 25 years is 1200 million in the world and 37 million in the USA(4400 per day in the US). Almost half of the women in the US over the age of 40 have undergone an abortion, with or without the consent of the baby’s father.
The Church cares about the women who have had abortions, forgives them, heals them and brings them peace with God, with their lost children and with themselves. The Church reminds us that abortion is a mortal sin, but promises any woman who has had an abortion that if she truly repents of her sin, she will find welcome and forgiveness.

Thoughts on Today’s Scripture Readings

Isa 55:6-9      Ps 144    Phil 1:20-24, 27    Matt 20:1-16a

A few weeks ago Isaiah 55 invited us to the joyful banquet the Lord has prepared for us. In every Mass before Communion we are “called to the supper of the Lamb”. Today’s reading from the same chapter of Isaiah urges us to “seek the Lord while he may be found”: hidden and unimaginably different from us, yet he is near and wanting to give us his forgiveness. The Psalm sums it all beautifully: The Lord is kind, just, and “close to all who call him”.
For the next four weeks the second reading is from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, probably written about 57 AD from Ephesus. Paul’s writes to thank the Philippians for the money they had sent him while he was in prison, and to encourage them to support each other in their pagan surroundings. Paul is very clear about his future life with Christ immediately after death. Sharing in Christ’s suffering means also sharing in the joy of the union with Christ which such suffering brings. Paul is torn between wishing to be gone and so be with Christ, or staying alive suffering in the Lord’s work.
In Matthew’s gospel even those rejected by others are swept up into the Lord’s vineyard. Justice to those hired first is balanced by mercy to the latecomers.

Psalm Response:    The Lord is close to all who call him.

FROM MY HEART TO YOUR HEART

Fr. Bernardino Andrade

NO OTHER PLANS

A beautiful old story tells us tells us of how Jesus, after His Ascension into Heaven, was surrounded by the Holy Angels who began to enquire about His work on earth. Jesus told them about His birth , life, preaching , death and resurrection, and how He had accomplished the salvation of the world.

The angel Gabriel asked, “Well, now that you are back in Heaven, who will continue your work on earth?”
Jesus said, “While I was on earth, I gathered a group of people around me who believed in me and loved me. They will continue to spread the Gospel and carry on the work of the Church.”
Gabriel was perplexed. “You mean Peter, who denied you thrice and all the rest who ran away when you were crucified? You mean to tell us that you left them to carry on your work? And what will you do if this plan doesn’t work?”.
Jesus said:”I have no other plan – it must work”.

Jesus has no other plan than to depend on the efforts of his followers. Jesus has no other plans than to depend on you and me. The tragedy is that you and I have power to sabotage the plans of Jesus.