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

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.

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.