Monday of the Second Week of Lent
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Shades of Gray
http://www.usccb.org/nab/031306.shtml
Reflection:
How many times have parents or teachers heard from two or more children the words; "That's not fair. His piece was bigger." We quickly learn that the easiest way to solve the problem is to have one child cut or separate what ever it is to be shared and the other child get to choose first which they want. This ends arguments about fairness right from the start.
What we have in the Gospel for Monday is the Lord's way of saying the same thing about forgiveness and judgment. It amazes me that the commentary on this is so small because in my humble estimation it is one of the more important principles the Lord gave us. It certainly goes to the heart of Christian Justice (the equitable distribution of physical wealth).
In our own lives it has a couple of impacts. First, since this is Lent and we are focused on Prayer, Fasting and Alms Giving, this speaks clearly to the Alms Giving part. Jesus tells us; "Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap." This hits us pretty hard since most of the people I know have a fairly tight budget. But it is true, the more one gives, the more they seem to receive. (I could go on and on here and I'm sure Fr. Jeff would like me to but time is limited.)
This Gospel also lets us set the standard by which we will be judged to some degree. Sure there are some absolutes in God's law but much or our moral theology is composed of shades of gray. Jesus tells us that the depth of those shades of gray in which we paint others will be applied to us. That takes us back to the sharing story above. Pax
I am posting my reflections in the evening of the day before as opposed to first thing in the morning of the day before. I am doing so because the folks who are using these as part of their own daily reflection may be confused that I post 24 hours ahead. If my brothers in ministry who use these unworthy notes as part of their homiletic reflection need them sooner, let me know and I can email them to you by 7:00 am the day before. JM
I welcome your comments. If you would like to make one and are not registered on Myspace, you can email me at miles_jj@excite.com and, if you wish, I will post your response as a comment. Thanks.
Scripture[1] from Dn 9:4b-10
Jerome Biblical Commentary[2]
4b Lord, great and awesome God, you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you and observe your commandments!
5 We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws.
6 We have not obeyed your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers, and all the people of the land.
7 Justice, O Lord, is on your side; we are shamefaced even to this day: the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, and all Israel, near and far, in all the countries to which you have scattered them because of their treachery toward you.
8 O LORD, we are shamefaced, like our kings, our princes, and our fathers, for having sinned against you.
9 But yours, O Lord, our God, are compassion and forgiveness! Yet we rebelled against you
10 and paid no heed to your command, O LORD, our God, to live by the law you gave us through your servants the prophets.
4-20. This' whole section is a later addition to the chapter, which originally read: (v. 3) "I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes; (v. 21) and while I was still occupied in prayer, Gabriel, in human form, whom I had seen before in vision, came to me," etc. This mention of Daniel praying, although no prayer is given, suggested to a later scribe the possibility of inserting a prayer here. The older, inspired prayer that he inserted is written in much better Hebrew than that of the rest of the book. It is not a prayer of an individual but of the community, and it is not a plea for enlightenment on the meaning of Jeremiah's prophecy, as the context would demand, but an acknowledgment of public guilt and a supplication for the restoration of Zion. To the later scribe are also attributed the connecting links of vv. 4a and 20.
[1] All biblical references -New American Bible United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1194 (202) 541-3000 December 09, 2002 Copyright © by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
[2] All references to Jerome Biblical Commentary, Prentice Hall, Inc.© 1968
Scripture from Ps 79:8, 9, 11 and 13
Jerome Biblical Commentary
8 Do not hold past iniquities against us; may your compassion come quickly, for we have been brought very low.
9 Help us, God our savior, for the glory of your name. Deliver us, pardon our sins for your name's sake.
11 Let the groans of prisoners come before you; by your great power free those doomed to death.
13 Then we, your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; through all ages we will declare your praise.
Ps 79. A lament of the community over the destruction of the Temple (587? certainly not Maccabean times). Structure: 1-4, the complaint; 5-10, several pleas with motifs to move God to intervene; 11-13, final plea, and confident vow of thanksgiving.
9-10. There is no attempt to escape their own guilt, but the "nations" are described so as to move Yahweh to intervene.
Scripture from Lk 6:36-38
Jerome Biblical Commentary
36 Be merciful, just as (also) your Father is merciful.
37 13 "Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.
13 [37-42] See the notes on Matthew 7:1-12; 7:1; 7:5.
36. be merciful: Mt reads "be perfect." In the OT, mercy is attributed to God, rarely to men, while perfection is a goal to be sought by man (T. W. Manson, The Sayings of Jesus [London, 1949] 55).
38 Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you."
(iv) On judging (6:37-42). See Mt 7:1-5;15: 14; 10 : 24f. 38. measure: The word used in Mt is a standard of judgment, but in Lk it is the capacity of one's generosity. into your lap: That is, the fold of a garment that hangs over the belt (Is 65 :7).
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Shades of Gray
http://www.usccb.org/nab/031306.shtml
Reflection:
How many times have parents or teachers heard from two or more children the words; "That's not fair. His piece was bigger." We quickly learn that the easiest way to solve the problem is to have one child cut or separate what ever it is to be shared and the other child get to choose first which they want. This ends arguments about fairness right from the start.
What we have in the Gospel for Monday is the Lord's way of saying the same thing about forgiveness and judgment. It amazes me that the commentary on this is so small because in my humble estimation it is one of the more important principles the Lord gave us. It certainly goes to the heart of Christian Justice (the equitable distribution of physical wealth).
In our own lives it has a couple of impacts. First, since this is Lent and we are focused on Prayer, Fasting and Alms Giving, this speaks clearly to the Alms Giving part. Jesus tells us; "Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap." This hits us pretty hard since most of the people I know have a fairly tight budget. But it is true, the more one gives, the more they seem to receive. (I could go on and on here and I'm sure Fr. Jeff would like me to but time is limited.)
This Gospel also lets us set the standard by which we will be judged to some degree. Sure there are some absolutes in God's law but much or our moral theology is composed of shades of gray. Jesus tells us that the depth of those shades of gray in which we paint others will be applied to us. That takes us back to the sharing story above. Pax
I am posting my reflections in the evening of the day before as opposed to first thing in the morning of the day before. I am doing so because the folks who are using these as part of their own daily reflection may be confused that I post 24 hours ahead. If my brothers in ministry who use these unworthy notes as part of their homiletic reflection need them sooner, let me know and I can email them to you by 7:00 am the day before. JM
I welcome your comments. If you would like to make one and are not registered on Myspace, you can email me at miles_jj@excite.com and, if you wish, I will post your response as a comment. Thanks.
Scripture[1] from Dn 9:4b-10
Jerome Biblical Commentary[2]
4b Lord, great and awesome God, you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you and observe your commandments!
5 We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws.
6 We have not obeyed your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers, and all the people of the land.
7 Justice, O Lord, is on your side; we are shamefaced even to this day: the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, and all Israel, near and far, in all the countries to which you have scattered them because of their treachery toward you.
8 O LORD, we are shamefaced, like our kings, our princes, and our fathers, for having sinned against you.
9 But yours, O Lord, our God, are compassion and forgiveness! Yet we rebelled against you
10 and paid no heed to your command, O LORD, our God, to live by the law you gave us through your servants the prophets.
4-20. This' whole section is a later addition to the chapter, which originally read: (v. 3) "I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes; (v. 21) and while I was still occupied in prayer, Gabriel, in human form, whom I had seen before in vision, came to me," etc. This mention of Daniel praying, although no prayer is given, suggested to a later scribe the possibility of inserting a prayer here. The older, inspired prayer that he inserted is written in much better Hebrew than that of the rest of the book. It is not a prayer of an individual but of the community, and it is not a plea for enlightenment on the meaning of Jeremiah's prophecy, as the context would demand, but an acknowledgment of public guilt and a supplication for the restoration of Zion. To the later scribe are also attributed the connecting links of vv. 4a and 20.
[1] All biblical references -New American Bible United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1194 (202) 541-3000 December 09, 2002 Copyright © by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
[2] All references to Jerome Biblical Commentary, Prentice Hall, Inc.© 1968
Scripture from Ps 79:8, 9, 11 and 13
Jerome Biblical Commentary
8 Do not hold past iniquities against us; may your compassion come quickly, for we have been brought very low.
9 Help us, God our savior, for the glory of your name. Deliver us, pardon our sins for your name's sake.
11 Let the groans of prisoners come before you; by your great power free those doomed to death.
13 Then we, your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; through all ages we will declare your praise.
Ps 79. A lament of the community over the destruction of the Temple (587? certainly not Maccabean times). Structure: 1-4, the complaint; 5-10, several pleas with motifs to move God to intervene; 11-13, final plea, and confident vow of thanksgiving.
9-10. There is no attempt to escape their own guilt, but the "nations" are described so as to move Yahweh to intervene.
Scripture from Lk 6:36-38
Jerome Biblical Commentary
36 Be merciful, just as (also) your Father is merciful.
37 13 "Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.
13 [37-42] See the notes on Matthew 7:1-12; 7:1; 7:5.
36. be merciful: Mt reads "be perfect." In the OT, mercy is attributed to God, rarely to men, while perfection is a goal to be sought by man (T. W. Manson, The Sayings of Jesus [London, 1949] 55).
38 Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you."
(iv) On judging (6:37-42). See Mt 7:1-5;15: 14; 10 : 24f. 38. measure: The word used in Mt is a standard of judgment, but in Lk it is the capacity of one's generosity. into your lap: That is, the fold of a garment that hangs over the belt (Is 65 :7).
posted by Deacon Jim | 1:50 AM
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