Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, A
Isaiah 55: 1-3
Psalm 145
Romans 8: 35, 37-39
Matthew 14: 13-21
Today’s Scriptures talk about eating. The First Reading is from the book of the prophet Isaiah, in which the Lord invites all those who are hungry and thirsty to come to Him and be satisfied. “Come to Me heedfully—listen, that you might have life.” The Responsorial Psalm picks up that idea, and sings in the refrain, “The hand of the Lord feeds us; He answers all our needs.” The Gospel for today is the Matthean version of the feeding of the five thousand by Jesus, with five loaves and a few fish. The feel of the text is eucharistic/paschal in character: He has the crowds sit down (recline); he takes; looks up to heaven; gives thanks (blesses); breaks the bread; distributes it. All are fed to satisfaction. St. Ephrem the Syrian, speaking about this passage, says: “Our Lord in a desert place changed a few loaves into many…thus, before the time came to give men and women His own body and blood to feed on, He accustomed their palates to His bread, giving them a taste of the transitory, to teach them to delight in His life-giving body…He awakened our desire by things pleasing to the palate, in order to draw us to that which gives life to the soul…Humans who practice any craft always fall short of their customers’ desires—they are unable to meet their requirements; but what God does goes beyond anyone’s desire.” (Diatessaron 12)
The in-course reading of Romans continues this week. Last week, we heard of the good things God has in store for us. This week, Paul asks the rhetorical question: “Who will separate us from the love of Christ?” and answers it by saying, “Nothing (and he gives quite a list of things!) will be able to separate us from the love of God, that comes to us in Christ Jesus our Lord.” He emphatically states, “Yet in all this we are more than conquerors because of Him who has loved us!” The last two lines of the Responsorial Psalm today are a wonderful lead-in to the Second Reading: “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.”
A very strong setting of part of today's Second Reading, "Who Shall Separate Us?" by American composer John Ness Beck, can be heard on the compact disc, "Music for the Year of Matthew," recorded by the Schola Cantorum of St. Peter's in the Loop and published by The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN (www.litpress.org)
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Hymn: 18 OT A
The meter of this hymn is 76.76.D. The tune is "Aurelia," which is found in Worship III at #618 together with the text, "O Christ the Great Foundation."
The crowd had followed Jesus
Into the wilderness;
He saw their needy number,
Which caused His heart distress.
As evening came upon them,
He had them all recline.
There with some loaves and fishes
Christ made them all to dine.
This gen'rous care for hungry
And thirsty souls still calls:
All you who have no money,
Seek not for food that palls;
Come unto Christ and listen
With all your heart and mind--
In Jesus, we encounter
God's love and peace entwined.
God's love that comes in jesus
Shown forth upon the cross
And in His resurrection
Will nver be our loss;
For we are more than conqu'rors
In Christ, who reigns above;
Nor present nor the future
Can steal us from God's love.
The crowd had followed Jesus
Into the wilderness;
He saw their needy number,
Which caused His heart distress.
As evening came upon them,
He had them all recline.
There with some loaves and fishes
Christ made them all to dine.
This gen'rous care for hungry
And thirsty souls still calls:
All you who have no money,
Seek not for food that palls;
Come unto Christ and listen
With all your heart and mind--
In Jesus, we encounter
God's love and peace entwined.
God's love that comes in jesus
Shown forth upon the cross
And in His resurrection
Will nver be our loss;
For we are more than conqu'rors
In Christ, who reigns above;
Nor present nor the future
Can steal us from God's love.
Commentary: 17 OT A
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, A
I Kings 3: 5, 7-12
Psalm 119
Romans 8: 28-30
Matthew 13: 44-52
The readings converge at valuing God and His wisdom above all else. The First Reading tells of the dream of Solomon where, in response to an offer from God, the king chooses “an understanding heart to judge Your people wisely and to distinguish right from wrong.” The Lord was pleased with the request and granted it to him. The Responsorial Psalm reflects Solomon’s choice of wisdom over riches or long life, saying, “For I love Your command more than gold, however fine.” Loving the Lord’s commands, then, is the path to life and to wisdom. Today’s Gospel is a series of parables: the buried treasure, the pearl of great price, and the dragnet, all of which are used to emphasize the importance of choosing God’s kingdom above all other things in this world. Even the sneakiness of the man who finds the buried treasure and reburies it so that he can buy the field without disclosing its real worth—this is an example of how the kingdom of God requires our utmost to acquire it. We see in the parable of the dragnet that “what was useless was thrown away—that is how it will be at the end of the world.” In discussing the pearl of great price, Origen says: “If you ask what is to be sought, and what will be found by everyone who seeks for it, I say with all confidence: pearls—especially that pear which will be acquired by those who give their all, who sacrifice everything for it, the pearl which Paul meant when he said, ‘I have accepted the loss of everything in order to gain Christ.’ Everything means beautiful pearls; to gain Christ refers to the one pearl, the pearl of great price.” (Commentary on the Gospel according to Matthew)
The in-course reading from Romans continues this week. Given what Paul has already discussed, he announces that we have assurance that all will be well. With what we have already experienced God to have done through Christ, we have hope: “We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His decree.” As we are experiencing the life in Christ through the Church now, we know that something even greater is held in store for us.
The hymn written for this Sunday is recorded in an anthem version on the compact disc, "Music for the Year of Matthew," sung by the Schola Cantorum of St. Peter's in the Loop, and available for purchase from The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN (www.litpress.org)
I Kings 3: 5, 7-12
Psalm 119
Romans 8: 28-30
Matthew 13: 44-52
The readings converge at valuing God and His wisdom above all else. The First Reading tells of the dream of Solomon where, in response to an offer from God, the king chooses “an understanding heart to judge Your people wisely and to distinguish right from wrong.” The Lord was pleased with the request and granted it to him. The Responsorial Psalm reflects Solomon’s choice of wisdom over riches or long life, saying, “For I love Your command more than gold, however fine.” Loving the Lord’s commands, then, is the path to life and to wisdom. Today’s Gospel is a series of parables: the buried treasure, the pearl of great price, and the dragnet, all of which are used to emphasize the importance of choosing God’s kingdom above all other things in this world. Even the sneakiness of the man who finds the buried treasure and reburies it so that he can buy the field without disclosing its real worth—this is an example of how the kingdom of God requires our utmost to acquire it. We see in the parable of the dragnet that “what was useless was thrown away—that is how it will be at the end of the world.” In discussing the pearl of great price, Origen says: “If you ask what is to be sought, and what will be found by everyone who seeks for it, I say with all confidence: pearls—especially that pear which will be acquired by those who give their all, who sacrifice everything for it, the pearl which Paul meant when he said, ‘I have accepted the loss of everything in order to gain Christ.’ Everything means beautiful pearls; to gain Christ refers to the one pearl, the pearl of great price.” (Commentary on the Gospel according to Matthew)
The in-course reading from Romans continues this week. Given what Paul has already discussed, he announces that we have assurance that all will be well. With what we have already experienced God to have done through Christ, we have hope: “We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His decree.” As we are experiencing the life in Christ through the Church now, we know that something even greater is held in store for us.
The hymn written for this Sunday is recorded in an anthem version on the compact disc, "Music for the Year of Matthew," sung by the Schola Cantorum of St. Peter's in the Loop, and available for purchase from The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN (www.litpress.org)
Hymn: 17 OT A
The readings for this Sunday are: I Kings 3;5, 7-12; Romans 8:28-30; Matthew 13: 44-46.
The meter of the text is 88.88 (also known as LM, or "Long Meter"). This text was intended to be sung to the melody called "Tallis' Canon," which is found in Worship III at #652, O God of Love, O King of Peace.
The Lord appeared with a dream
When Solomon was deep in sleep;
And offered him his heart's delight,
A precious gift for him to keep.
Of all the things he could have had,
The monarch chose a gift of grace,
An understanding heart, that he
Might wisely govern all his race.
The reign of God (as Jesus taught)
Is seen by folk of single heart
Who, having found the precious pearl,
Will never from their treasure part.
All things, for those who love the Lord,
Our God will cause to work out well.
The loving heart, the focused mind,
Will lose no chance God's praise to tell.
The meter of the text is 88.88 (also known as LM, or "Long Meter"). This text was intended to be sung to the melody called "Tallis' Canon," which is found in Worship III at #652, O God of Love, O King of Peace.
The Lord appeared with a dream
When Solomon was deep in sleep;
And offered him his heart's delight,
A precious gift for him to keep.
Of all the things he could have had,
The monarch chose a gift of grace,
An understanding heart, that he
Might wisely govern all his race.
The reign of God (as Jesus taught)
Is seen by folk of single heart
Who, having found the precious pearl,
Will never from their treasure part.
All things, for those who love the Lord,
Our God will cause to work out well.
The loving heart, the focused mind,
Will lose no chance God's praise to tell.
Commentary: 16 OT A
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, A
Wisdom 12: 13, 16-19
Psalm 86
Romans 8: 26-27
Matthew 13, 23-43
The readings come together today on the concept of God’s provision of time for repentance. In the First Reading, the author of the book of Wisdom says: “And You gave Your sons good ground for hope that You would permit repentance for their sins.” The Responsorial Psalm picks up on this theme in its refrain, “Lord You are good and forgiving,” and by saying twice in the body of the psalm, “You are good and forgiving, abounding in kindness.” The Gospel is three parables: the weeds and the wheat, the mustard seed, and the yeast kneaded into dough. At the conclusion of these, Psalm 78:2 is quoted, connecting Jesus’ use of parables with a citation from the Hebrew Scriptures. The allegorical interpretation of the first parable then follows. Both the parable of the weeds and wheat and its interpretation stress that God gives to all the time that is needed to repent—not on our timetable, but on His. Whoever we tend to identify as “weeds,” we need to be aware that God cares for them, and will deal with them in His own way at His own time. In commenting on this pericope, St. Gregory Palamas says: “The fact is that many godlesssinners, living among people who are upright and devout, repent in time and are converted, and by learning new habits of piety and virtue they cease to be weeds and become wheat.” (Homily 27)
The in-course reading from Romans continues this week. Even though some verses are omitted between last week’s Second Reading and this week’s, there is continuity. Since we, who have the Spirit as first-fruits, are inwardly groaning (that was last week), we are aided by the Spirit, who intercedes for us “with groanings which cannot be expressed in speech” (that is this week). By prayer, we participate in the life of the Holy Trinity, through the Spirit who dwells within each of the baptized.
You can hear a chant with a text taken from the Gospel Reading---"Collegite primum", on the compact disc "Music for the Year of Matthew," sung by the Schola Cantorum of St. Peter's in the Loop, available from The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN (www.litpress.org
Wisdom 12: 13, 16-19
Psalm 86
Romans 8: 26-27
Matthew 13, 23-43
The readings come together today on the concept of God’s provision of time for repentance. In the First Reading, the author of the book of Wisdom says: “And You gave Your sons good ground for hope that You would permit repentance for their sins.” The Responsorial Psalm picks up on this theme in its refrain, “Lord You are good and forgiving,” and by saying twice in the body of the psalm, “You are good and forgiving, abounding in kindness.” The Gospel is three parables: the weeds and the wheat, the mustard seed, and the yeast kneaded into dough. At the conclusion of these, Psalm 78:2 is quoted, connecting Jesus’ use of parables with a citation from the Hebrew Scriptures. The allegorical interpretation of the first parable then follows. Both the parable of the weeds and wheat and its interpretation stress that God gives to all the time that is needed to repent—not on our timetable, but on His. Whoever we tend to identify as “weeds,” we need to be aware that God cares for them, and will deal with them in His own way at His own time. In commenting on this pericope, St. Gregory Palamas says: “The fact is that many godlesssinners, living among people who are upright and devout, repent in time and are converted, and by learning new habits of piety and virtue they cease to be weeds and become wheat.” (Homily 27)
The in-course reading from Romans continues this week. Even though some verses are omitted between last week’s Second Reading and this week’s, there is continuity. Since we, who have the Spirit as first-fruits, are inwardly groaning (that was last week), we are aided by the Spirit, who intercedes for us “with groanings which cannot be expressed in speech” (that is this week). By prayer, we participate in the life of the Holy Trinity, through the Spirit who dwells within each of the baptized.
You can hear a chant with a text taken from the Gospel Reading---"Collegite primum", on the compact disc "Music for the Year of Matthew," sung by the Schola Cantorum of St. Peter's in the Loop, available from The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN (www.litpress.org
Hymn: 16th OT A
The readings for this Sunday are Wisdom 12;13, 16-19; Romans 8:26-27; and Matthew 13: 24-43.
This meter of this hymn is 88.88.88, and was originally intended to be sung to the tune, Vater unser in Himmelreich (Luther's paraphrase of the Lord's Prayer). Those adventurous enough can still do so. However, the average Roman Catholic congregation is more likely to know the tune St. Catherine, which occurs in Worship III at #743, to the text "Within Your House, O God, Today."
The reign of God can be compared
To farmers planting best of seeds;
When crops began to fully grow,
The wheat was mixed throughout with weeds.
There both of them were left to grow
Till harvest's work the best will show.
O God, Your mercy is displayed
In patience toward repentant hearts;
Your justice, tempered by Your grace,
Supplies, to all who seek, fresh starts.
Though You rebuke those who do wrong,
Your clemency becomes their song.
The Spirit searches ev'ry heart
And helps us in our weariness;
The Spirit intercedes for all
To turn us from our wickedness
That we in holiness may shine;
The Spirit thus will each refine.
This meter of this hymn is 88.88.88, and was originally intended to be sung to the tune, Vater unser in Himmelreich (Luther's paraphrase of the Lord's Prayer). Those adventurous enough can still do so.
The reign of God can be compared
To farmers planting best of seeds;
When crops began to fully grow,
The wheat was mixed throughout with weeds.
There both of them were left to grow
Till harvest's work the best will show.
O God, Your mercy is displayed
In patience toward repentant hearts;
Your justice, tempered by Your grace,
Supplies, to all who seek, fresh starts.
Though You rebuke those who do wrong,
Your clemency becomes their song.
The Spirit searches ev'ry heart
And helps us in our weariness;
The Spirit intercedes for all
To turn us from our wickedness
That we in holiness may shine;
The Spirit thus will each refine.
Commentary: 15 OT A
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, A
Isaiah 55: 10-11
Psalm 65
Romans 8: 18-23
Matthew 13: 1-23
The commonality of the readings today is on the comparison of the Word of God with seed. In the First Reading, the prophet Isaiah gives an analogy of the natural world (as the rain/snow) with the supernatural world (so My word). The Responsorial Psalm is one that uses a Gospel text (here, from a parallel version of this parable: Luke 8:8) for its refrain: “The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest,” which then brackets the text of Psalm 65 with its thanksgiving for the fruitful earth and puts it into the context of the spread of God’s Word. The Gospel is the parable of the sower. The shorter form of the parable, taken by itself, is a promise of God’s generosity on the spread of the Gospel of the kingdom—even to the point of absurdity (“yielding grain at a hundred- or sixty- or thirty-fold!”). The longer form, which gives the allegorical interpretation of the parable, illustrates the difficulties and dangers which the followers of Jesus can experience in their walk with Christ. Pope St. Gregory the Great, preaching on this pericope, says: “Be careful, then that the word you have received through your ears remains in your heart. Be careful that the seed does not fall along the path, for fear that the evil spirit may come and take it from your memory. Be careful that the seed is not received in stony ground, so that it produces a harvest of good works without the roots of perseverance. Many people are pleased with what they hear and resolve to undertake some good work, but as soon as difficulties begin to arise and hinder them, they leave the work unfinished…But the seed on the good soil, as the Lord said, brings forth fruit by patience—because, since they humbly endure misfortunes, they are welcomed when these are over into a place of rest in heaven. (Forty Gospel Homilies 1)
The in-course reading of Romans continues. Last week, Paul connected our renewal in Christ to baptism into the death and resurrection of Jesus. This week, we hear him discuss the renewal of the whole creation in the paschal mystery. Creation fell in Adam’s fall (i.e., “became subject to futility”). Now creation itself longs “for the glorious freedom of the children of God.” Redemption is not just “me and Jesus”—it is about the restoration of all things to the relationship God intended them to have at creation, when God made it “and saw that it was very good.”
You can hear an anthem based on the Gospel Reading---"The Seed is God's Word", by the German Renaissance composer Melchior Franck---on the compact disc "Music for the Year of Matthew," sung by the Schola Cantorum of St. Peter's in the Loop, available from The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN (www.litpress.org).
Isaiah 55: 10-11
Psalm 65
Romans 8: 18-23
Matthew 13: 1-23
The commonality of the readings today is on the comparison of the Word of God with seed. In the First Reading, the prophet Isaiah gives an analogy of the natural world (as the rain/snow) with the supernatural world (so My word). The Responsorial Psalm is one that uses a Gospel text (here, from a parallel version of this parable: Luke 8:8) for its refrain: “The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest,” which then brackets the text of Psalm 65 with its thanksgiving for the fruitful earth and puts it into the context of the spread of God’s Word. The Gospel is the parable of the sower. The shorter form of the parable, taken by itself, is a promise of God’s generosity on the spread of the Gospel of the kingdom—even to the point of absurdity (“yielding grain at a hundred- or sixty- or thirty-fold!”). The longer form, which gives the allegorical interpretation of the parable, illustrates the difficulties and dangers which the followers of Jesus can experience in their walk with Christ. Pope St. Gregory the Great, preaching on this pericope, says: “Be careful, then that the word you have received through your ears remains in your heart. Be careful that the seed does not fall along the path, for fear that the evil spirit may come and take it from your memory. Be careful that the seed is not received in stony ground, so that it produces a harvest of good works without the roots of perseverance. Many people are pleased with what they hear and resolve to undertake some good work, but as soon as difficulties begin to arise and hinder them, they leave the work unfinished…But the seed on the good soil, as the Lord said, brings forth fruit by patience—because, since they humbly endure misfortunes, they are welcomed when these are over into a place of rest in heaven. (Forty Gospel Homilies 1)
The in-course reading of Romans continues. Last week, Paul connected our renewal in Christ to baptism into the death and resurrection of Jesus. This week, we hear him discuss the renewal of the whole creation in the paschal mystery. Creation fell in Adam’s fall (i.e., “became subject to futility”). Now creation itself longs “for the glorious freedom of the children of God.” Redemption is not just “me and Jesus”—it is about the restoration of all things to the relationship God intended them to have at creation, when God made it “and saw that it was very good.”
You can hear an anthem based on the Gospel Reading---"The Seed is God's Word", by the German Renaissance composer Melchior Franck---on the compact disc "Music for the Year of Matthew," sung by the Schola Cantorum of St. Peter's in the Loop, available from The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN (www.litpress.org).
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