Saturday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

(Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary) 
 
On Saturdays in Ordinary Time when there is no obligatory memorial, an optional memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary is allowed. [1] Mass texts may be taken from the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, from a Votive Mass, or from the special collection of Masses for the Blessed Virgin Mary. (USCCB recommends: #24. The Blessed Virgin Mary, Seat of Wisdom.)
 

“Madonna of Humility”
by Domenico Di Bartolo, 1433

Readings for Saturday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time [2]
 
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [3]
 
Readings and Commentary: [4]
 
Reading 1: Romans 11:1-2a, 11-12, 25-29
 
Brothers and sisters:
I ask, then, has God rejected his people?
Of course not!
For I too am a child of Israel, a descendant of Abraham,
of the tribe of Benjamin.
God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.
Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah,
how he pleads with God against Israel?
 
Hence I ask, did they stumble so as to fall?
Of course not!
But through their transgression
salvation has come to the Gentiles,
so as to make them jealous.
Now if their transgression is enrichment for the world,
and if their diminished number is enrichment for the Gentiles,
how much more their full number.
 
I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers and sisters,
so that you will not become wise in your own estimation:
a hardening has come upon Israel in part,
until the full number of the Gentiles comes in,
and thus all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
 
The deliverer will come out of Zion,
he will turn away godlessness from Jacob;
and this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.
 
In respect to the Gospel, they are enemies on your account;
but in respect to election,
they are beloved because of the patriarch.
For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.
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Commentary on Rom 11:1-2a, 11-12, 25-29
 
St. Paul asks his Jewish audience if God has rejected them. The answer: “Of course not!” He identifies himself as an Israelite and begins his ironic description of how God used the rejection of the Messiah as a reason to invite the Gentiles to participate in God's salvation. He goes on, in the passages omitted, to indicate that the Israel remains holy in the eyes of God, but the majority, which has rejected the Lord, paved the way for God’s plan to invite the world into that favored status.
 
The text he quotes is Isaiah 59:20-21 joined with Isaiah 27:9 providing a positive offering to the Jews, whom he had previously condemned (v.8 ff) for rejecting the Lord. The concluding verse makes it clear that, even though the Jewish people who rejected the Gospel of Christ are “enemies on your account,” their election as the chosen people is irrevocable – the offer of salvation is not withdrawn.
 
CCC: Rom 11:12 674; Rom 11:13-26 755; Rom 11:25 591, 674; Rom 11:26 674; Rom 11:28 60; Rom 11:29 839
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 94:12-13a, 14-15, 17-18
 
R. (14a) The Lord will not abandon his people.
 
Blessed the man whom you instruct, O LORD,
whom by your law you teach,
Giving him rest from evil days.
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
 
For the LORD will not cast off his people,
nor abandon his inheritance;
But judgment shall again be with justice,
and all the upright of heart shall follow it.
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
 
Were not the LORD my help,
my soul would soon dwell in the silent grave.
When I say, “My foot is slipping,”
your mercy, O LORD, sustains me.
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
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Commentary on Ps 94:12-13a, 14-15, 17-18
 
Psalm 94 is an individual lament. The strophes used here reflect faith and confidence in God who will continue to support them in the face of their enemies. The singer calls those called to have faith in the Lord "Blessed." They will have God's help and support always; he will not abandon his adopted children.
 
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Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-11
 
On a sabbath Jesus went to dine
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees,
and the people there were observing him carefully.
 
He told a parable to those who had been invited,
noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.
“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet,
do not recline at table in the place of honor.
A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him,
and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say,
‘Give your place to this man,’
and then you would proceed with embarrassment
to take the lowest place.
Rather, when you are invited,
go and take the lowest place
so that when the host comes to you he may say,
‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’
Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
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Commentary on Lk 14:1, 7-11
 
This parable, found only in the Gospel of St. Luke, gives us Jesus teaching the need for humility. The Lord’s indirect criticism of those who seek the attention of the rich, and ignore the poor, sets the stage for the next passage and the parable of the great banquet. Jesus is giving some wisdom of his own. He first speaks of the charism of humility using the example of a feast (just like the one to which he was invited), saying that one should assume the lowly station and be invited up, rather than assuming the higher station and being dismissed.
 
CCC: Lk 14:1 575, 588
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Reflection:
 
The Gospel parable from St. Luke requires that we examine humility, our own virtue, with regards to pride and our desire to assimilate into the secular culture. True humility can only come if a person has faith in God! It will flow from the knowledge that God is omniscient, and always present in his triune nature, creator of all that is. How can personal pride stand when we know that not only did God create us and give us life in the flesh, but also gave up his only Son so that we could enjoy eternal life? Can a person who recognizes that they owe everything that they have and are to God be prideful, self-indulged, or self-absorbed?
 
Going even further, once we understand that the Savior of mankind walks with us daily, that through the Holy Spirit he is with us constantly, how can we take pride in what we do? If that activity serves God’s purpose, is it not God who should be praised? It is his strength and wisdom, poured out for us, that allows us to do what we do. And even further still, if we also know that God not only created and gave us life, but also created and gave life to all living creatures, how could we disrespect the dignity of another person or casually destroy God’s creation?
 
True and virtuous humility comes from faith in God (and should not be confused with self-deprecation or low self-esteem which would fly in the face of faith, since God’s created should rejoice in their adoption). That same faith demands that we also respect ourselves, the very personal gift God gave us. How can we think that we are anything but beautiful in the eyes of God? We are his favorite creation, and he loves us more than anyone can imagine. Who are we to think poorly of ourselves? In humility we must prize what we are, as God created us.
 
As the Lord tells the Pharisees in the Gospel: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” In all humility we must respect others, not because they demand respect, but because they too are loved by God. It is the great paradox of faith that in humility we are glorified. Today we pray that our faith in the Father, his Only Son, and the Holy Spirit, inspire us with awe and wonder imparting to us true humility and grace.
 
Pax

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[1] General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar Miscellaneous Notes no. 5: “Outside Advent, Christmas Time, Lent, and Easter Time, on Saturdays which have no commemoration having the rank of Obligatory Memorial or higher, a Mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary may be celebrated. This is indicated in the calendar by “BVM.” The readings and prayers may be selected from the Collection of Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”
[2] The picture is “Madonna of Humility” by Domenico Di Bartolo, 1433.
[3] S.S. Commemoratio
[4] 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 republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.