Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

“Prayer in the Garden”
by Sebastiano Ricci, c. 1730

Readings for Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time [1]
 
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
 
Readings and Commentary: [3]
 
Reading I: James 1:1-11
 
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, greetings.
Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters,
when you encounter various trials,
for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
And let perseverance be perfect,
so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
But if any of you lacks wisdom,
he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly,
and he will be given it.
But he should ask in faith, not doubting,
for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea
that is driven and tossed about by the wind.
For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,
since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways.
 
The brother in lowly circumstances
should take pride in high standing,
and the rich one in his lowliness,
for he will pass away “like the flower of the field.”
For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass,
its flower droops, and the beauty of its appearance vanishes.
So will the rich person fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
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Commentary on Jas 1:1-11
 
We see in this introduction to the Epistle of James that it is almost certainly not the apostle named James (the Greater) who writes it. The introduction, which would have identified the author as such, rather says he is: “slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ." It is most likely this letter was composed by St. James (the Lesser), often called the “Brother of the Lord.”
 
"Chapter 1 is an overview of the themes developed in the rest of the letter. These included encouragement in times of trial (James 1:2-4; 5:7-11), the need for wisdom (James 1:5; 3:13-18), the necessity of faith (James 1:5-8; 5:13-18), the treatment of the rich and poor (James 1:9-11; 2:1-7; 4:13 ̶ 5:6), the call to put faith into action (James 1:22-25; 2:14-26), and the need for a controlled tongue (James 1:26; 3:1-12).[4]
 
He begins his letter using the Old Testament reference to “the twelve tribes in the dispersion,” or diaspora, referring to non-Palestinian Jews. In these opening verses, the author addresses the value of trials and temptation. The objective of these obstacles is to bring the Christian to spiritual maturity. These opening verses conclude with a theme frequently stated in this letter: the idea that secular success is not necessarily a sign of God’s favor, and the person who enjoys such success should accept it with humility.
 
CCC: Jas 1:5-8 2633, 2737
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119:67, 68, 71, 72, 75 76
 
R. (77a) Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
 
Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I hold to your promise.
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
 
You are good and bountiful;
teach me your statutes.
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
 
It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
that I may learn your statutes.
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
.
The law of your mouth is to me more precious
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
 
I know, O LORD, that your ordinances are just,
and in your faithfulness you have afflicted me.
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
 
Let your kindness comfort me
according to your promise to your servants.
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
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Commentary on Ps 119:67, 68, 71, 72, 75 76
 
Psalm 119 is a lament of King David. In the verses given today (this is a very long psalm used frequently throughout the year) the author reflects upon his past weakness and accepts the justice of God’s law. He reflects that Mosaic Law is a symbol of God’s care for his people, and a source of salvation.
 
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Gospel: Mark 8:11-13
 
The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus,
seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.
He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said,
“Why does this generation seek a sign?
Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
Then he left them, got into the boat again,
and went off to the other shore.
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Commentary on Mk 8:11-13
 
Ironically, this passage follows the story of the “Multiplication of the Loaves.” It is clear from the language here that the Pharisees who confront him have gotten word of this event and are hoping for something to prove that Jesus’ announcement of the kingdom of God is valid. “The objection of the Pharisees that Jesus' miracles are unsatisfactory for proving the arrival of God's kingdom is comparable to the request of the crowd for a sign in John 6:30-31. Jesus' response shows that a sign originating in human demand will not be provided; cf. Numbers 14:11, 22.” [5]
 
It is interesting to note from the parallel passage in Matthew 16:1-4,that the phrase used: "The Pharisees and Sadducees came and, to test him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven." is identical in the Greek to the phrase used by the Evil One when he came to test Christ in the desert (Matthew 4:1ff). [6] Jesus gives those who also want to test him the same answer.  He turns his back on them.
 
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Reflection
 
As a people of faith, we are constantly faced with obstacles to our faith.  Our belief in a loving and merciful God is put to the test. We have observed that any time we successfully overcome a trial with our faith sustaining us, the Lord takes us to the next step by testing us even further. The way our interior faith supports us is miraculous. It is also generally surprising to those observing us as we go through these trials.
 
How many times have we seen a friend or a relative going through the most horrendous situation and wondered “How can they do what they do?” We gaze in wonder thinking we would collapse under such a load of sorrow, illness, or despair. Yet when we find ourselves in similar situations, the Holy Spirit seems to step into that place of human weakness and keep us from folding up and giving in. Oh, and just because we observe this miraculous support, we should not assume that our prayers are not needed: rather the opposite, our prayers strengthen the faith of the beneficiary, giving additional grace to both the loved and the lover.
 
St. James says that these trials are a blessing from God; that they bring us to spiritual maturity and should be welcomed. Perhaps that is why he is already in the presence of God, and we still have a ways to go. But there is ample scriptural support for his view and as fellow travelers on that road to the kingdom of God, we must look for such difficulties and pray for the strength to overcome what lies ahead.
 
Ironically, we also are told what we should NOT pray for in the Gospel of St. Mark. It is clear that the Pharisees who meet Jesus at Dalmanutha (that is where he went following his great revelation at the multiplication of the loaves) were looking for something really big to demonstrate that Jesus was the Messiah, the great deliverer. It is also clear that Jesus saw them as seriously lacking in faith (or smelling of sulfur, since he had been similarly tested in the wilderness by one using the same words). Not only was there not going to be a sign, but by depending upon such visible interventions by God, this group was going to be left behind when God’s revelation came to the world.
 
Today we hear both the call to faith and dependence upon our indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit, and the warning that we cannot tell God what to do in bringing us to that faith. Today we humbly lay our needs before the Lord of mercy and ask, as the Lord did in the garden; “But thy will, not mine, be done.”
 
Pax

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[1] The picture is “Prayer in the Garden” by Sebastiano Ricci, c. 1730.
[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.
[4] Ignatius Catholic Study Bible (Ignatius Press, San Francisco, CA. © 2010), 439.
[5] NAB footnote on Mark 6:3.
[6] Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis, Fire of Mercy Heart of the Word Volume II (Ignatius Press, San Francisco, CA, © 2003), 487.