Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings for Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time[i][ii]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[iii]
Reading 1 1 Kings 17:1-6
Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab:
“As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve,
during these years there shall be no dew or rain except at my word.”
The Lord then said to Elijah:
“Leave here, go east
and hide in the Wadi Cherith, east of the Jordan.
You shall drink of the stream,
and I have commanded ravens to feed you there.”
So he left and did as the Lord had commanded.
He went and remained by the Wadi Cherith, east of the Jordan.
Ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning,
and bread and meat in the evening,
and he drank from the stream.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Kgs 17:1-6
This passage begins the section from 1 Kings called “Stories of the Prophets”. “Elijah the Tishbite: one of the most important figures in Old Testament history. As his name indicates ("Yahweh is my God"), Elijah was the successful leader in the struggle to preserve the knowledge and worship of Yahweh against the encroaching worship of Baal introduced into Israel by Jezebel, the Tyrian wife of Ahab.“[iv]
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 121:1bc-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
R. (see 2) Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
I lift up my eyes toward the mountains;
whence shall help come to me?
My help is from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
May he not suffer your foot to slip;
may he slumber not who guards you:
Indeed he neither slumbers nor sleeps,
the guardian of Israel.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The Lord is your guardian; the Lord is your shade;
he is beside you at your right hand.
The sun shall not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The Lord will guard you from all evil;
he will guard your life.
The Lord will guard your coming and your going,
both now and forever.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 121:1bc-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
Psalm 121 is a hymn of blessing given prior to a long and difficult journey. These strophes explain that God is faithful and will protect the traveler from harm – God is always with us (“…he is beside you at your right hand. The sun shall not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.”)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.
Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 5:1-12
This section of the Sermon on the Mount begins the first of five great discourses in St. Matthew’s Gospel. He begins using a formula common in the Wisdom literature of the Old Testament with “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” This designation identifies those without material resources, completely dependent upon God. (This distinction is for the devout poor). The discourse continues blessing they who mourn, who are meek, who “hunger” for righteousness (to adopt the Lord’s law of love in their hearts), the merciful, the clean of heart (those who are reconciled to God), the peacemakers, the persecuted, and finally those who will be reviled because they profess faith in Christ.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
The final reference in the Beatitudes from St. Matthew “Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you” is exemplified by the situation unfolding in 1 Kings for the Prophet Elijah. Elijah is told by God to flee to the “Wadi Cherith” to avoid being killed by the worshipers of Baal. God protects the great prophet by keeping him safe and feed during his sojourn. The Lord
blesses Elijah for his faithful witness in the face of persecution.
Jesus’ litany of blessings was so necessary. He extols Christian virtue which flies in the face of the wisdom of the world. He holds up those who are powerless as beloved of God. He expresses his abiding love for those who seek the face of God and encourages those who face the most difficult path. Faith in Christ is not an easy path and his support in this passage assures us of his unfailing faithfulness.
This great discourse provides hope and consolation for all of us. And each of us goes through different times in our life of faith that brings us from being the “poor in spirit” to being “peacemakers” to being “persecuted”. In each stage the Lord extends his blessings. And how do we experience this love of his? We find it in the sacraments where it is extended through his visible presence in the world- the Church. We also find his reassurance in prayer, his voice one of consolation, reminding us we are not alone in our struggles; that he is with us.
Today we hear once more the words of comfort and challenge in the beatitudes. We are called once more to rededicate ourselves to the principles of Christian virtue and accept the blessings of our loving Father.
Pax
[i] ALTRE
[ii] The picture is of a plaque by and unknown Dutch potter “Elijah Fed by Ravens” 1577-78
[iii] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[iv] See NAB footnote on 1 Kings 17; 1
Readings for Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time[i][ii]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[iii]
Reading 1 1 Kings 17:1-6
Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab:
“As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve,
during these years there shall be no dew or rain except at my word.”
The Lord then said to Elijah:
“Leave here, go east
and hide in the Wadi Cherith, east of the Jordan.
You shall drink of the stream,
and I have commanded ravens to feed you there.”
So he left and did as the Lord had commanded.
He went and remained by the Wadi Cherith, east of the Jordan.
Ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning,
and bread and meat in the evening,
and he drank from the stream.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Kgs 17:1-6
This passage begins the section from 1 Kings called “Stories of the Prophets”. “Elijah the Tishbite: one of the most important figures in Old Testament history. As his name indicates ("Yahweh is my God"), Elijah was the successful leader in the struggle to preserve the knowledge and worship of Yahweh against the encroaching worship of Baal introduced into Israel by Jezebel, the Tyrian wife of Ahab.“[iv]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 121:1bc-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
R. (see 2) Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
I lift up my eyes toward the mountains;
whence shall help come to me?
My help is from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
May he not suffer your foot to slip;
may he slumber not who guards you:
Indeed he neither slumbers nor sleeps,
the guardian of Israel.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The Lord is your guardian; the Lord is your shade;
he is beside you at your right hand.
The sun shall not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The Lord will guard you from all evil;
he will guard your life.
The Lord will guard your coming and your going,
both now and forever.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 121:1bc-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
Psalm 121 is a hymn of blessing given prior to a long and difficult journey. These strophes explain that God is faithful and will protect the traveler from harm – God is always with us (“…he is beside you at your right hand. The sun shall not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.”)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.
Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 5:1-12
This section of the Sermon on the Mount begins the first of five great discourses in St. Matthew’s Gospel. He begins using a formula common in the Wisdom literature of the Old Testament with “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” This designation identifies those without material resources, completely dependent upon God. (This distinction is for the devout poor). The discourse continues blessing they who mourn, who are meek, who “hunger” for righteousness (to adopt the Lord’s law of love in their hearts), the merciful, the clean of heart (those who are reconciled to God), the peacemakers, the persecuted, and finally those who will be reviled because they profess faith in Christ.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
The final reference in the Beatitudes from St. Matthew “Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you” is exemplified by the situation unfolding in 1 Kings for the Prophet Elijah. Elijah is told by God to flee to the “Wadi Cherith” to avoid being killed by the worshipers of Baal. God protects the great prophet by keeping him safe and feed during his sojourn. The Lord
blesses Elijah for his faithful witness in the face of persecution.
Jesus’ litany of blessings was so necessary. He extols Christian virtue which flies in the face of the wisdom of the world. He holds up those who are powerless as beloved of God. He expresses his abiding love for those who seek the face of God and encourages those who face the most difficult path. Faith in Christ is not an easy path and his support in this passage assures us of his unfailing faithfulness.
This great discourse provides hope and consolation for all of us. And each of us goes through different times in our life of faith that brings us from being the “poor in spirit” to being “peacemakers” to being “persecuted”. In each stage the Lord extends his blessings. And how do we experience this love of his? We find it in the sacraments where it is extended through his visible presence in the world- the Church. We also find his reassurance in prayer, his voice one of consolation, reminding us we are not alone in our struggles; that he is with us.
Today we hear once more the words of comfort and challenge in the beatitudes. We are called once more to rededicate ourselves to the principles of Christian virtue and accept the blessings of our loving Father.
Pax
[i] ALTRE
[ii] The picture is of a plaque by and unknown Dutch potter “Elijah Fed by Ravens” 1577-78
[iii] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[iv] See NAB footnote on 1 Kings 17; 1
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