Readings for Sunday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Isaiah 49:14-15
Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me;
my LORD has forgotten me.”
Can a mother forget her infant,
be without tenderness for the child of her womb?
Even should she forget,
I will never forget you.
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Commentary on Is 49:14-15
This reading from Isaiah is a part of the second “Servant of the Lord” oracles. The servant has promised salvation to the captives and light to those in darkness. The response from Zion is the Lord has forsaken them. To which we hear the tender response; “Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.” God’s fidelity and faithfulness is assured.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 62:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
R. (6a) Rest in God alone, my soul.
Only in God is my soul at rest;
from him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all.
R. Rest in God alone, my soul.
Only in God be at rest, my soul,
for from him comes my hope.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed.
R. Rest in God alone, my soul.
With God is my safety and my glory,
he is the rock of my strength; my refuge is in God.
Trust in him at all times, O my people!
Pour out your hearts before him.
R. Rest in God alone, my soul.
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Commentary on Ps 62:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
Psalm 62 is a hymn in praise of God as rock and fortress. This song is one of deep and abiding faith. The singer trusts only in God and is at peace in God’s abiding love.
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Reading 2: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Brothers and sisters:
Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ
and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Now it is of course required of stewards
that they be found trustworthy.
It does not concern me in the least
that I be judged by you or any human tribunal;
I do not even pass judgment on myself;
I am not conscious of anything against me,
but I do not thereby stand acquitted;
the one who judges me is the Lord.
Therefore do not make any judgment before the appointed time,
until the Lord comes,
for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness
and will manifest the motives of our hearts,
and then everyone will receive praise from God.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Cor 4:1-5
St. Paul concludes this section of his First Letter to the Corinthians on Christian Wisdom with an exhortation to the community not to pass judgment on their leaders. The words St. Paul uses to describe the roles are, in the first instance “servants of Christ” Hypēretēs- a word that designated rowers on the lowest rank of a galley later coming to mean assistant or helper. The word “Stewards” (or managers) was oikonomos a name given to servants put in charge of their master’s property. The sense of this selection is even the evangelist cannot judge his contributions to the Kingdom of God – this can only be done by the Lord at the Parousia.
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Gospel: Matthew 6:24-34
Jesus said to his disciples:
“No one can serve two masters.
He will either hate one and love the other,
or be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink,
or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds in the sky;
they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns,
yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are not you more important than they?
Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?
Why are you anxious about clothes?
Learn from the way the wild flowers grow.
They do not work or spin.
But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor
was clothed like one of them.
If God so clothes the grass of the field,
which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow,
will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’
or ‘What are we to drink?’or ‘What are we to wear?’
All these things the pagans seek.
Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given you besides.
Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.
Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 6:24-34
Jesus continues his Sermon on the Mount, being very clear about what must be placed first in the life of his disciples. Here the word Mammon is used, an Aramaic word meaning wealth. The Lord does not deny that people need the physical things of the world (i.e. food, clothing, and water) but tells them that if they have faith in God and pursue the things of God’s Kingdom, the heavenly Father will provide for them. He goes further to say that, if they are constantly focused on material goods, they will not extend their lives even a little.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Isaiah 49:14-15
Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me;
my LORD has forgotten me.”
Can a mother forget her infant,
be without tenderness for the child of her womb?
Even should she forget,
I will never forget you.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Is 49:14-15
This reading from Isaiah is a part of the second “Servant of the Lord” oracles. The servant has promised salvation to the captives and light to those in darkness. The response from Zion is the Lord has forsaken them. To which we hear the tender response; “Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.” God’s fidelity and faithfulness is assured.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 62:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
R. (6a) Rest in God alone, my soul.
Only in God is my soul at rest;
from him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all.
R. Rest in God alone, my soul.
Only in God be at rest, my soul,
for from him comes my hope.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed.
R. Rest in God alone, my soul.
With God is my safety and my glory,
he is the rock of my strength; my refuge is in God.
Trust in him at all times, O my people!
Pour out your hearts before him.
R. Rest in God alone, my soul.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 62:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
Psalm 62 is a hymn in praise of God as rock and fortress. This song is one of deep and abiding faith. The singer trusts only in God and is at peace in God’s abiding love.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reading 2: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Brothers and sisters:
Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ
and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Now it is of course required of stewards
that they be found trustworthy.
It does not concern me in the least
that I be judged by you or any human tribunal;
I do not even pass judgment on myself;
I am not conscious of anything against me,
but I do not thereby stand acquitted;
the one who judges me is the Lord.
Therefore do not make any judgment before the appointed time,
until the Lord comes,
for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness
and will manifest the motives of our hearts,
and then everyone will receive praise from God.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Cor 4:1-5
St. Paul concludes this section of his First Letter to the Corinthians on Christian Wisdom with an exhortation to the community not to pass judgment on their leaders. The words St. Paul uses to describe the roles are, in the first instance “servants of Christ” Hypēretēs- a word that designated rowers on the lowest rank of a galley later coming to mean assistant or helper. The word “Stewards” (or managers) was oikonomos a name given to servants put in charge of their master’s property. The sense of this selection is even the evangelist cannot judge his contributions to the Kingdom of God – this can only be done by the Lord at the Parousia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Matthew 6:24-34
Jesus said to his disciples:
“No one can serve two masters.
He will either hate one and love the other,
or be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink,
or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds in the sky;
they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns,
yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are not you more important than they?
Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?
Why are you anxious about clothes?
Learn from the way the wild flowers grow.
They do not work or spin.
But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor
was clothed like one of them.
If God so clothes the grass of the field,
which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow,
will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’
or ‘What are we to drink?’or ‘What are we to wear?’
All these things the pagans seek.
Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given you besides.
Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.
Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 6:24-34
Jesus continues his Sermon on the Mount, being very clear about what must be placed first in the life of his disciples. Here the word Mammon is used, an Aramaic word meaning wealth. The Lord does not deny that people need the physical things of the world (i.e. food, clothing, and water) but tells them that if they have faith in God and pursue the things of God’s Kingdom, the heavenly Father will provide for them. He goes further to say that, if they are constantly focused on material goods, they will not extend their lives even a little.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
The sacred history of God’s involvement with mankind demonstrates repeatedly the lesson Jesus tries to teach in the selection proclaimed from the Sermon on the Mount. People who place physical wealth and power first in their lives parish with it. Those who worship the idols of avarice and greed, ignoring God who created all things, find only dust at the end of their earthly lives.
Jesus, who is trying desperately to show the people the depth of God’s love, tells the disciples and those with them, that loving wealth, power, and material goods leaves the soul empty. What comfort and consolation does a bar of Gold give when one is frightened or ill? What strength does a mansion of bricks and mortar give when our mortal shell begins to fail? What genuine love is received from hirelings paid to serve?
It is only in the Lord, whose love for us is unimaginable, that the comfort, consolation, and strength may be found. It is only with the strength of spirit, bolstered by the indwelling Holy Spirit that allows us to look into the eye of defeated death and walk forward unafraid.
As disciples of the Lord, we are reminded once more that our energy and focus in life must be to embrace the spiritual treasure that the Lord offers us. It is by prizing him above all else that this treasure is accumulated. We pray today that our minds constantly flow to Him who, with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, are the authors of our creation.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture is “The Worship of Mammon”, by Evelyn De Morgan, 1909
[3] 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.
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