Proper Readings for
the Memorial of St. Ephrem
Biographical information for St.
Ephrem
“Cain and Abel”
by Pietro Novelli, c. 1640’s
Readings for Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time [1]
Readings
from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
Readings and Commentary: [3]
Reading 1: 1 Kings 18:41-46
Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink,
for there is the sound of a heavy rain.”
So Ahab went up to eat and drink,
while Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel,
crouched down to the earth,
and put his head between his knees.
“Climb up and look out to sea,” he directed his servant,
who went up and looked, but reported, “There is nothing.”
Seven times he said, “Go, look again!”
And the seventh time the youth reported,
“There is a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.”
Elijah said, “Go and say to Ahab,
‘Harness up and leave the mountain before the rain stops you.’”
In a trice the sky grew dark with clouds and wind,
and a heavy rain fell.
Ahab mounted his chariot and made for Jezreel.
But the hand of the Lord was on Elijah,
who girded up his clothing and ran before Ahab
as far as the approaches to Jezreel.
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Commentary on 1
Kgs 18:41-46
Elijah the prophet tells King Ahab that the three-year drought is
about to end (“Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain”).
He positions himself upon the top of Mt. Carmel in order to see the first signs
of rain, and then assumes a position of humble prayer. In the fullness of time
(symbolized by the servant’s “seventh” report), his prophecy is fulfilled, and
under the impulse of God he runs ahead of the king’s chariot as a sign of his
prophetic prowess.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 65:10, 11, 12-13
R. (2a) It is right to praise you in Zion,
O God.
You have visited the land and watered it;
greatly have you enriched it.
God’s watercourses are filled;
you have prepared the grain.
R. It is right to praise you in Zion, O God.
Thus have you prepared the land:
drenching its furrows, breaking up its clods,
Softening it with showers,
blessing its yield.
R. It is right to praise you in Zion, O God.
You have crowned the year with your bounty,
and your paths overflow with a rich harvest;
The untilled meadows overflow with it,
and rejoicing clothes the hills.
R. It is right to praise you in Zion, O God.
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Commentary
on Ps
65:10, 11, 12-13
Psalm 65 is a hymn of thanksgiving from an unworthy community.
These strophes sing of the goodness of the Lord in providing a bountiful harvest
as the agricultural year is described. This imagery is reminiscent of the
ending of the drought in 1 Kings 18:41-46.
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Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that
of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
and whoever says to his brother,
‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,
and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with
him.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”
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Commentary
on Mt
5:20-26
This passage is the first of six examples in St. Matthew’s Gospel
of conduct demanded of the Christian disciple. The first three, including this
one, take a commandment of Mosaic Law and deepen the meaning. Here the Lord
takes the commandment, “You shall not kill” (quoted from Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17), to a new
level. He traces the logic from thought, to vulgar or abusive words, to violent
action. In this translation, the Greek word "Raqa" is used to
indicate deep insult. Where the Jewish law forbids the action, Christian law
forbids the antecedents as well. The passage continues with the remedy for this
action, and a foundation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He instructs us
to be reconciled with a person with whom we have bad feelings, before coming to
the altar. The consequences of failing to do so, he warns, are judgment and
punishment.
CCC: Mt 5:20 2054; Mt
5:21-22 2054,
2257; Mt 5:21 2262,
2302; Mt 5:22-39 2262; Mt
5:22 678,
1034, 2302; Mt 5:23-24 2608,
2792, 2841, 2845; Mt 5:24 1424
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Reflection:
As we hear the Lord speak in the Gospel of St. Matthew, we wonder
what it must be like to have the mind of Christ. The mind of Christ would
accept injury, not with anger, but with regret for the person committing the
injury. The mind of Christ would accept betrayal, not with anger or hatred, but
with sorrow for the betrayer, who had consigned himself with his sin to
incredible punishment.
As difficult as it may seem, taking on the mind of Christ is what
we are asked to do. It is a process of spiritual growth that will take us a
lifetime. Like a child who must first learn their ABCs, then learn to read,
then learn to comprehend the subject matter they are reading, we too must go
through stages of spiritual growth. When we were young, we memorized (or tried
to memorize) the Ten Commandments. We were taught, when we were preparing for
our first Reconciliation, to use those commandments to examine our behavior, to
see if we had sinned.
As we grew older, our understanding of sin changed (along with the
opportunity to sin, unfortunately), and we began to understand the ways of
spiritual growth. However, just like young people who drop out of school, some
people do not know there is growth beyond learning rote prayers, and knowing
when to stand and when to kneel during Mass. To those who did not see the need to
grow beyond that point, change, when it comes in the Church, is very painful.
We saw this when the changes of Vatican II were implemented. We saw it again
when the changes to the Roman Missal were recently implemented.
Putting on the mind of Christ, when we pray, when we act, and when
we worship is something necessary and difficult for us. But we are called to
always strive to be more generous in our praise of God; more compassionate with
our brothers and sisters, and more disciplined in our attitudes. In this way,
we are told, we will find entry into the Heavenly Kingdom.
Pax
[2] S.S. Commemoratio
[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 republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
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