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| “Saint Josaphat” Artist and Date are UNKNOWN |
Reading 1: Wisdom
7:22b-8:1
In Wisdom is a spirit
intelligent, holy, unique,
Manifold, subtle, agile,
clear, unstained, certain,
Not baneful, loving the good,
keen,
unhampered, beneficent,
kindly,
Firm, secure, tranquil,
all-powerful, all-seeing,
And pervading all spirits,
though they be intelligent,
pure and very subtle.
For Wisdom is mobile beyond
all motion,
and she penetrates and
pervades all things by reason of her purity.
For she is an aura of the
might of God
and a pure effusion of the
glory of the Almighty;
therefore nought that is
sullied enters into her.
For she is the refulgence of
eternal light,
the spotless mirror of the
power of God,
the image of his goodness.
And she, who is one, can do
all things,
and renews everything while
herself perduring;
And passing into holy souls
from age to age,
she produces friends of God
and prophets.
For there is nought God
loves, be it not one who dwells with Wisdom.
For she is fairer than the
sun
and surpasses every
constellation of the stars.
Compared to light, she takes
precedence;
for that, indeed, night
supplants,
but wickedness prevails not
over Wisdom.
Indeed, she reaches from end
to end mightily
and governs all things well.
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Commentary on Wis 7:22b-8:1
This passage from the Book of
Wisdom describes Wisdom, the spirit of God that guides the faithful. The author captures the character of this
spirit with adjectives that only serve to show us the limits of language trying
to describe what is beyond human understanding.
It does, however, give us an understanding of the omnipresent Spirit of
God in all things.
Because it is placed with
much older wisdom material (i.e. Psalms and Proverbs), the development of human
understanding of God’s revelation is somewhat obscured. We see clearly in this passage the evolution
of divine inspiration concerning the merciful character of our Heavenly
Father. This description, borrowing
heavily from Greek philosophical language, and written only 50 years before
Christ, provides us with a more comprehensive understanding of God’s will and
merciful nature than that of sacred scripture written much earlier.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm
119:89, 90, 91, 130, 135, 175
R. (89a) Your word is for ever, O Lord.
Your word, O LORD, endures
forever;
it is firm as the heavens.
R. Your word is for ever,
O Lord.
Through all generations your
truth endures;
you have established the
earth, and it stands firm.
R. Your word is for ever,
O Lord.
According to your ordinances
they still stand firm:
all things serve you.
R. Your word is for ever,
O Lord.
The revelation of your words
sheds light,
giving understanding to the simple.
R. Your word is for ever,
O Lord.
Let your countenance shine
upon your servant,
and teach me your statutes.
R. Your word is for ever,
O Lord.
Let my soul live to praise
you,
and may your ordinances help
me.
R. Your word is for ever,
O Lord.
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Commentary on Ps 119:89, 90, 91, 130, 135, 175
Placed within the body of the
Psalter, Psalm 119 invites the singer to meditate upon the joys of following
God’s law. It prepares the singer for the psalms that follow. Psalms 120-124
are called the “Songs of Ascents” they are the psalms sung as pilgrims approach
their goal – the Temple
The words in Wisdom described
the Spirit contained in it; the Psalm now describes the Word of God,
everlasting in Heaven. The indelible and
eternal character of God’s creation is proclaimed in this song of praise to
God’s Law.
CCC: Ps
119:90 2465
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Gospel: Luke
17:20-25
Asked by the Pharisees when
the Kingdom of God
Jesus said in reply,
“The coming of the Kingdom of God
and no one will announce,
‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’
For behold, the Kingdom of God
Then he said to his
disciples,
“The days will come when you
will long to see
one of the days of the Son of
Man, but you will not see it.
There will be those who will
say to you,
‘Look, there he is,’ or
‘Look, here he is.’
Do not go off, do not run in
pursuit.
For just as lightning flashes
and lights up the sky from
one side to the other,
so will the Son of Man be in
his day.
But first he must suffer
greatly and be rejected by this generation.”
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Commentary on Lk 17:20-25
In this selection from St.
Luke’s Gospel, the Pharisees ask Jesus to tell them when the Kingdom of God
Jesus’ description of the “coming days” is also a reference to the coming destruction of Jerusalem:”(1) Many of the sayings collected here appear in the Olivet Discourse, where they more explicitly refer to the doom that awaits the city and the Temple (Matthew 24-25; Mark 13). (2) Mention of the days of the Son of man (17:22) is echoed later in Luke when reference is made to the “days” when foreign armies will besiege the city (Luke 19:43) and the “days” when the Temple will be devastated (Luke 21:6).”[5]
To his disciples he makes it clear that his coming passion will cause them to flee and that doubt will assail them. He reassures them of his eternal presence as he tells them that once he has gone from them he will not be coming back but at the same time he will always be with them (“…just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be (in his day).”)
Jesus’ description of the “coming days” is also a reference to the coming destruction of Jerusalem:”(1) Many of the sayings collected here appear in the Olivet Discourse, where they more explicitly refer to the doom that awaits the city and the Temple (Matthew 24-25; Mark 13). (2) Mention of the days of the Son of man (17:22) is echoed later in Luke when reference is made to the “days” when foreign armies will besiege the city (Luke 19:43) and the “days” when the Temple will be devastated (Luke 21:6).”[5]
To his disciples he makes it clear that his coming passion will cause them to flee and that doubt will assail them. He reassures them of his eternal presence as he tells them that once he has gone from them he will not be coming back but at the same time he will always be with them (“…just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be (in his day).”)
CCC: Lk
17:19-31 2463
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Reflection:
Today scripture begs us to
unzip the bag of skin we live in and look inside. The reading from the Book of Wisdom describes
the Spirit of the Wisdom, how when it is taken up by those who believe, it
becomes a force within us that guides and heals, that infuses us with holiness
itself.
The Lord says the same thing
in St. Luke’s Gospel. He is asked by the
Pharisees when the Kingdom
of God kingdom of God kingdom
of God
They don’t understand, of
course, unless they are among those who already believe that Jesus is the
Messiah, the Son of God. Then they would
see. The Kingdom of God Kingdom of God
He explains that once he is
physically taken up, that “Kingdom of God” must flash to every part of God’s
creation, “…just as lightning flashes and lights up
the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be (in his day). “
So that lightning flash has
happened and the Lord seared his presence in our hearts as the Holy Spirit
entered us in Baptism. We refresh it
with the Sacraments to keep the Grace (that indwelling connectedness, our share
of God’s life) strong within us. And
today we look inside and thank God for that gift that gives us strength to face
all things and endure all obstacles.
Pax
[2]
The picture is “Saint Josaphat” Artist and Date are UNKNOWN
[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.
[4]
Jerome Biblical Commentary, Prentice Hall, Inc., © 1968, 44:125, pp.150
[5]
Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, © 2010, Ignatius Press, San Francisco , CA. pp.140
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