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

Hab 1:2-3,2:2-4; Ps 94(95); 2 Tim 1:6-8,13-14; Lk 17:5-10

Habbakuk appears to have prophesied while Judah was being threatened by Babylon, who destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC. Habbakuk expresses the ever-present frustration of mankind that evil people always seem to triumph. Since God is good and just, why doesn’t He intervene to help those who worship Him? Instead of punishing his erring people by a nation even more wicked? God’s answer here is that “the upright man will live by his faithfulness”. So Habbakuk agrees to “quietly wait” for the invaders to be punished.

The Psalm invites us to praise and worship the Lord daily, for he is our king and shepherd. We must not lose faith in God, as did the Israelites in their desert journey.

In the first of four readings from Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he is urged to “bear the hardships” relying on God’s power, using and developing his skills to testify to the good news. You should “guard the rich truth that has been entrusted to you” the truth that Jesus, “has abolished death”.

In Luke’s Gospel Jesus continues to teach on his way to Jerusalem. We must have confidence in God’s plan, carrying out the tasks God has given us. We must not expect God to put this world to rights in our lifetime.

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

Amos 6:1, 4-7, Ps 145(146):6-10,1 Tim 6:11-16, Lk 16:19-31

Amos warns both the northern kingdom, Israel, ie Samaria, and the southern kingdom, Judea, with its capital Zion or Jerusalem, that the idle rich in both kingdoms will be the first to go into exile. 40 years later, in 721 BC, Samaria was conquered, and later Judea followed into exile.

The Psalm, echoed by Mary in Luke’s Magnificat, confirms that God’s justice will prevail: the hungry will be fed, the blind given sight, but the wicked will lose out.

Instructing Timothy how to organise the early Christian church, Paul also insists the rich should use their wealth for good deeds. Christians should ideally aspire to show the Christian virtues as examples to all, and so witness to the truth, until our Lord Jesus Christ returns to appear in glory as King of kings. And Paul insists that only God “has immortality”: we do not simply have souls that live on after death – our creed says we believe in “the resurrection of the body”, a gift from God in which our whole person, body and soul, lives for ever.

The Gospel graphically illustrates the dangers of riches: the rich man, who is not named, asks that the poor man – who is named – Lazarus – be sent to relieve his torments in hell. Abraham tells him the rich should listen to the prophets.

Psalm Response: My soul, give praise to the Lord.

(Amos 6:1, 4-7, Ps 145(146):6-10,1 Tim 6:11-16, Lk 16:19-31)

Wisdom 9:13-18; Ps 89(90):3-17; Phlm 9-10, 12-17; Lk 14:25-33

The Book of Wisdom was written in 1st century BC. Greek and other pagan religions gave inadequate answers to life’s questions, especially why the wicked prosper and the just suffer. How does a just God mete out justice? Wisdom’s solution, distilled from all Jewish Scriptures, is that the just continue to live with God after their deaths: a developing Jewish belief in resurrection, though not of the body. Man’s knowledge and powers of reasoning are inadequate compared with God’s Wisdom. So we ask God to give us Wisdom for our guide.

The Psalm contrasts God’s eternity with our short lives, confident that God cares for us and that some good will come from our trials.

In this moving letter Paul asks Philemon to accept back the slave Onesimus and forgive him. But Paul is pleading for something more: Onesimus means “profit”, and Paul wants Philemon to see the “profit” of forgiving Onesimus out of Christian love, and not because Paul could “force this act of kindness”. In this way Philemon can gain wisdom and spiritual benefit.

In Luke’s gospel, after a parable about “I’m too busy” excuses, Jesus insists we must “hate” our parents: not emotionally but in our actions. We must weigh our options carefully and willingly carry the Cross.

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

(Wisdom 9:13-18; Ps 89(90):3-17; Phlm 9-10, 12-17; Lk 14:25-33)

Eccles 1:2, 2:21-23; Ps 89(90):3-17; Col 3:1-5, 9-11; Lk 12:13-21

Qoheleth 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. With no idea of life after death, the Preacher’s only solution is to trust that God will make it right eventually.

The Psalm contrasts the shortness of our lives with God’s eternity, seeing suffering and death as punishment for sin. But also prays that God will grant some happiness before death.

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 Preacher’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 insists that we must help the poor 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(90):3-17; Col 3:1-5, 9-11; Lk 12:13-21)

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 coming with Jesus’ resurrection.

The Psalm praises God’s power as revealed throughout history but especially during the Exodus.

This fond farewell concludes our readings from Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Human distinctions and marks on our flesh like circumcision no longer signify. We have become a new Spirit-filled 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, affecting our whole lives.

In the reading from Luke’s gospel last week, Jesus “set himself to travel to Jerusalem”. For the rest of Ordinary Time, the “ordinally numbered weeks”, all our gospel readings are from his journey, as Jesus; 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 her mind about Jesus.

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

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

The Books of Kings give some of the history of the two kingdoms of Israel in the north and Judah around Jerusalem. They are mostly concerned with how many of the kings led their people away from God, and so ultimately into exile. And with prophets trying to stop them. By burning his plough Elisha shows his commitment to accepting Elijah’s prophetic mantle.

The Psalm expresses the Jews’ total loyalty to God, keeping him ever in mind, confident of the resurrection he promises.

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. “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. “Self-indulgence”, the “opposite of (guidance by) the Spirit” tends to disrupt community and is not acceptable in God’s kingdom.

In Luke’s gospel, Jesus refuses to call down fire from heaven on unwelcoming villagers, as did Elijah on Ahab’s idolatrous priests. Instead, as he sets his face towards Calvary, Jesus gives examples of the unswerving faith and loyalty he demands.

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

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

Proverbs 8: 22-31; Psalm 8:4-9; Romans 5: 1-5; John 16: 12-15

Written after the return from the exile in Babylon, the Wisdom books contain the practical knowledge of both the Israelites and the peoples around them, accumulated over two thousand years. Wisdom is the art of living a life at peace with God and with other people. It was developed by reflecting on the great questions: life, death, suffering, love, evil, relationships. It was seen to be a universal guide for living, and so given by God. So Wisdom came to be seen as a person – the caring, feminine side of God, existing from all eternity. In today’s reading from Proverbs Wisdom speaks of sharing God’s delight in His work at the beginning of creation.

The Psalm expresses our amazement at the dignity the infinite God has given to mankind’s finite nature in his wonderful creation.

In his letter to the Romans Paul insists that being justified, or made “at peace” with God, means that our previous alienation from God is overcome. God’s love “poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit” has brought us into an intimate relationship with God, but we confidently hope in a more glorious intimacy in the future.

No wonder Jesus says in John’s Gospel “I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now”. The Spirit gives us understanding.

Psalm Response: How great is your name, O Lord our God, through all the earth!

(Proverbs 8: 22-31; Psalm 8:4-9; Romans 5: 1-5; John 16: 12-15)

Chris

Acts 2: 1-11; Psalm 103(104); Romans 8: 8-17; John 14: 15-16, 23-26

The Jewish feast of Pentecost, 50 days after Passover, was less well known than the other two pilgrimage feasts. Passover was linked to the nomadic sacrifice of lambs and the barley harvest in the Spring. Tabernacles after the grape harvest was associated with the wanderings in the desert. Recently it was realised that Pentecost was associated with God giving the Covenant on Sinai. So the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles at Pentecost fits neatly with this Covenant feast: the formal birth of the Christian Church. Acts lists the regions where the Church was to grow.

The Psalm calls us to praise God’s creative wisdom. Filled with wonder at the details of God’s glorious works, this psalm is well worth reading in full.

Paul urges the Romans to live by the Spirit who, with Christ, has made his home in us. We are now Sons of God. If we are led by the Spirit within us to follow God’s laws, we will have confidence that the Father will “give life to our mortal bodies”, just as Jesus was raised.

In John’s Gospel we hear from Jesus’ long Last Supper talk, promising that his Father would send the Advocate, through whom he and the Father would be with his church for all time.

Psalm Response: Send forth your Spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth.

(Acts 2: 1-11; Psalm 103(104); Romans 8: 8-17; John 14: 15-16, 23-26)

Acts 7:55-60, Ps 96 (97), Rev 22:12-14, 16-17, 20, John 17:20-26

Our final reading from Acts before Pentecost describes the martyrdom of Stephen, in which he echoes Jesus’ words of forgiveness on the Cross. Stephen’s death was followed both by persecution of Greek-speaking believers who fled, spreading the gospel outside Jerusalem, and by Paul’s life-changing journey to Damascus.

The Psalm rejoices in God’s justice: as judge over all the world those obedient to God’s Law will be rewarded, and the disobedient will be punished.

The book of Revelation ends with these promises: God’s justice will be seen in action, “reward will be given to every man according to what he deserves” in everlasting life in the New Jerusalem; all who ask may have the water of life; Maranatha, come Lord Jesus, Jesus come as Lord.

In John’s Gospel, at the climax of the Last Supper, immediately before his arrest, Jesus makes this heart-felt “high-priestly prayer” to his Father. He has done all that his Father asked; like Isaac he is willing to be the sacrifice of his Father’s only son. Before going to his death he prays that his followers may be as united as He and the Father are, and that they may share in the Father’s love.

Psalm Response: The Lord is king, most high over all the earth.

(Acts 7:55-60, Ps 96 (97), Rev 22:12-14, 16-17, 20, John 17:20-26)

<h2>Acts 15:1-2, 22-29; Psalm 66(67); Rev 21:10-14, 22-23; John 14:23-29</h2> 

In Acts, after the success of the first mission of Paul and Barnabas in setting up Gentile churches, Jewish Christian visitors from Jerusalem came to Antioch saying Gentiles must be circumcised to be saved. So Barnabas and Paul went up to Jerusalem for what is called the First Council of the church. The issue appears simple, but underneath were two other issues: whether Christianity could remain within Judaism; and whether Paul’s new Gentile Christian communities could remain in communion with the rest of the church. The Holy Spirit leads the discussion to a decision.

The Psalm calls on all peoples to praise the Lord because he governs wisely and makes the earth give food.

From Revelation we have part of John’s vision of the new Jerusalem, the church, founded on the apostles. Here Christ dwells among men, so no Temple needed.

In John’s gospel, Jesus’ Last Supper discourse shows his joy that he will soon return to his Father. He promises to send “another” Advocate who will make Jesus present in his church for the rest of time. The name “advocate” captures the several roles the Holy Spirit plays in the church and for us. He both consoles and advises or counsels us, while also representing us to God in the heavenly court.

Psalm Response:    Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

(Acts 15:1-2, 22-29; Psalm 66(67); Rev 21:10-14, 22-23; John 14:23-29)