Words of the Word

Voices ever ancient, ever new. Tuesday-Week29-2013.

“Gird your loins and light your lamps …” (Luke 12:35)

In commenting on this verse from the Gospel according to Saint Luke from today’s Gospel, Cyril of Alexandria writes:

“The girding of our loins signifies the readiness of the mind to work hard in every thing praiseworthy. Those who apply themselves to bodily labors and are engaged in strenuous toil have their loins girded. The lamp apparently represents the wakefulness of the mind and intellectual cheerfulness. We say that the human mind is awake when it repels any tendency to slumber off into that carelessness that often is the means of bringing it into subjection to every kind of wickedness. When sunk in stupor, the heavenly light within the mind is liable to be endangered, or even already is in danger from a violent and impetuous blast of wind. Christ commands us to be awake. To this, his disciple also arouses us by saying, “Be awake. Be watchful.” Further on, the very wise Paul also says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead: and Christ shall give you light.” (Commentary on Luke, Homily 92)”

Glory to You Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning is now
and will be forever. Amen!

Voices ever ancient, ever new. Monday-Week29-2013.

“And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods.” (Luke 12:18)

Saint Augustine of Hippo comments on this verse from today’s Gospel:

“The redemption of a man’s soul is his riches.” This silly fool of a man did not have that kind of riches. Obviously he was not redeeming his soul by giving relief to the poor. He was hoarding perishable crops. I repeat, he was hoarding perishable crops, while he was on the point of perishing because he had handed out nothing to the Lord before whom he was due to appear. How will he know where to look, when at that trial he starts hearing the words “I was hungry and you did not give me to eat”? He was planning to fill his soul with excessive and unnecessary feasting and was proudly disregarding all those empty bellies of the poor. He did not realize that the bellies of the poor were much safer storerooms than his barns. What he was stowing away in those barns was perhaps even then being stolen away by thieves. But if he stowed it away in the bellies of the poor, it would of course be digested on earth, but in heaven it would be kept all the more safely. The redemption of a man’s soul is his riches.” (Sermon 36)

Almighty ever-living God,
grant that we may always
conform our will to Yours and
serve Your majesty in sincerity of heart.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Glory to You Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning is now
and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia!

Voices ever ancient, ever new. Sunday-Week29-2013.

“I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8)

In commenting on this verse from the Gospel according to Saint Luke from today’s Gospel, Cyril of Alexandria writes:

“People sell the word of righteousness and make many abandon sound faith. They involve them in the inventions of devilish error. As Scripture says, they belch things out of their own hearts and not out of the mouth of the Lord. He foretold this saying, “When the Son of man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” It did not escape his knowledge. How could it, since he is God, who knows all things? In his own words, he tells us that the love of many will grow cold. In the end times, some will depart from a correct and blameless faith. They will be going after seducing spirits and listening to the false words of people who have a seared conscience. Against these, we come near to God as faithful servants, begging him that their wickedness and their attempts against his glory may have no effect.” (Commentary on Luke, Homily 119)

Glory to You Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning is now
and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia!

Voices ever ancient, ever new. Saturday-Week28-2013. Canadian (North American) Martyrs

“When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say. (Luke 12:11-12).”

Saint Basil the Great offers the following insight on this verse from today’s Gospel:

“The Christian should not fear or be distressed in difficult circumstances and thus be distracted from trust in God. He should take courage as if the Lord were at hand directing his affairs and strengthening him against all his adversaries. It is as if the Holy Spirit were instructing him even as to the very replies he should make to his enemies. (The Morals, 63)”

Today is the feast of the Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests and Companions. The National Shrine to the Canadian Martyrs offers biographies on each of the Canadian Martyrs.

Blessed John Paul II visited Canada in 1984 and spoke about these martyrs when visiting the Shrine.

Here is an excerpt from the spiritual diaries of Saint John de Brebeuf, which is the Second Reading in today’s Liturgy of the Hours, Office of Readings.

O God,
Who chose to manifest the blessed hope
of your eternal Kingdom by the toil of
Saints John de Brebeuf, Isaac Jogues and
their companions and by the shedding of their blood,
graciously grant that through their intercession
the faith of Christians may be strengthened day by day.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever.

Glory to You Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning is now
and will be forever. Amen!

VOICES EVER ANCIENT, EVER NEW. FRIDAY-WEEK28-2013. SAINT LUKE, EVANGELIST

“Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. (Luke 10:3).”

Saint Ambrose of Milan offers the following insight on this verse from today’s Gospel:

“He says this to the seventy disciples whom he appointed and sent out in pairs before his face. Why did he send them two by two? Pairs of animals were sent into the ark, that is, the female with the male, according to number, unclean but cleansed by the sacrament of the church … Those animals are opposites, so that the one eats the other. A good shepherd does not know how to fear wolves for his flock, and therefore he sends those disciples not against a prey but to grace. The forethought of the good Shepherd prevents the wolves from harming the lambs. He sends lambs among wolves in order that the saying may be fulfilled, “Then wolves and lambs shall feed together.” (Exposition of the Gospel of Luke, 7)”

Today is the feast of Saint Luke, Evangelist. A very good overview of this Gospel is posted in the New American Bible section of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Fr Felix Just SJ provides great resources for many aspects of theological study, including links to insights on prayer from the Gospels, particularly the Gospel according to Saint Luke. Perhaps today can also be an opportunity for some further study about the Sacred Scriptures found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church beginning at paragraph 50 and continuing through to paragraph 141. Also well worth prayerful study are two Church documents, Sancta Mater Ecclesiae (Instruction concerning the Historical Truth of the Gospels) and Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, Vatican II).

Lord God,
Who chose Saint Luke
to reveal by his preaching and writings
the mystery of your love for the poor,
grant that those who already glory in your name,
may persevere as one heart and one soul and
that all nations may merit to see your salvation.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever.

Glory to You Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning is now
and will be forever. Amen!

VOICES EVER ANCIENT, EVER NEW. WEDNESDAY-WEEK28-2013.

“Do you suppose, then, you who judge those who engage in such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?” (Romans 2:3)

Origen of Alexandria offers the following insight on this Pauline verse:

“For this reason it is right for each person to examine his own conscience first and then debate the deeds of the person whom he is judging. If this were to happen, all desire for high ecclesiastical office would vanish from those appointed to it, if those who want to preside over the people were more concerned to judge themselves than to judge others. No one should imagine that he can escape the judgment of God, as the prophet also says: “Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” These things apply most of all to those who preside over the judgment of the people. Scripture also says elsewhere that “judgment will begin at the house of God.” Therefore judgment begins with the children of God first of all, for God chastises everyone whom he accepts into the number of his children. Indeed, I think that even if it were possible, nobody should try to escape God’s judgment, for not to come to God’s judgment is not to come to improvement, to health or to a cure (Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans).”

Glory to You Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning is now
and will be forever. Amen!

VOICES EVER ANCIENT, EVER NEW. TUESDAY-WEEK28-2013.

“But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you (Luke 11:41).”

Saint Augustine of Hippo offers the following insight on this verse from today’s Gospel:

“What our Lord says, “Give alms, and behold, all things are clean to you,” applies to all useful acts of mercy. It does not apply just to the one who gives food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, clothing to the naked, hospitality to the wayfarer or refuge to the fugitive. It also applies to one who visits the sick and the prisoner, redeems the captive, bears the burdens of the weak, leads the blind, comforts the sorrowful, heals the sick, shows the erring the right way, gives advice to the perplexed, and does whatever is needful for the needy. Not only does this person give alms, but the person who forgives the trespasser also gives alms as well. He is also a giver of alms who, by blows or other discipline, corrects and restrains those under his command. At the same time he forgives from the heart the sin by which he has been wronged or offended or prays that it be forgiven the offender. Such a person gives alms not only because he forgives and prays but also because he rebukes and administers corrective punishment, since in this he shows mercy. There are many kinds of alms. When we do them, we are helped in receiving forgiveness of our own sins. (Enchiridion, 19)”

Today is the memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus. In February 2011, Pope Benedict XVI devoted his weekly audience to a reflection on the life and insights of this Doctor of the Church. An excerpt from of Saint Teresa’s work is provided here. This is also the Second Reading in today’s Liturgy of the Hours, Office of Readings.

As a Doctor of the Church, Saint Teresa’s teachings and writings provide authentic help in living the life of Jesus Christ. Among many of her contributions, Saint Teresa is known for her teachings on prayer. The Catechism of the Catholic Church provides some points to ponder concerning prayer. Some of the references are from Saint Teresa’s works.

O God,
Who through your Spirit
raised up Saint Teresa of Jesus
to show the Church the way to seek perfection,
grant that we may always be nourished
by the food of her heavenly teaching
and fired with longing for true holiness.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever.

“Christ has no body now on earth but yours,
no hands but yours, no feet but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which to look out
Christ’s compassion to the world.
Yours are the feet with which
He is to go about doing good.
Yours are the hands with which he is to bless men now.”

Glory to You Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning is now
and will be forever. Amen!

ἐλεέω (eleeo): MERCY - a WORD for SUNDAY.

From this Sunday’s Gospel: “As he was entering a village, ten lepers met [Him]. They stood at a distance from Him and raised their voice, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity (ἐλέησον, eleeson) on us (Luke 17:11-12)!”

When 10 lepers saw Jesus and cried out “Have pity on us,” what were they expecting? It is a question worth asking because it can, among many points of interest, help us appreciate what pity or mercy meant in the time of Jesus. The Greek verb ἐλεέω (eleeo), translated in this Sunday’s proclamation as [to] have pity, can also be rendered into English as “to have compassion” as well as “give, show, obtain or receive mercy” according to a variety of lexicons. But even with that information, it does not seem to give us a clear meaning of what it means ‘to pity’ or ‘to show mercy.’

ἐλεέω (eleeo), around the time of Plato, described a feeling (or an emotion) that responded to unfortunate events that befell another person or persons. Whatever the other person experienced, ἐλεέω (eleeo) clearly conveyed that things were not good. As a response, ἐλεέω (eleeo) furthermore implied, in the words of Jerry Seinfeld, “that’s a shame.” In other words, one recognized that what happened was bad AND I am happy, happy, happy that it did not happen to me! Certainly, decorum dictated that this aspect of ἐλεέω (eleeo)’s meaning was not voiced.

In time, ἐλεέω (eleeo) began to mean more than a feeling or emotion. It is hard to determine precisely and clearly, but some textual and historical evidence seems to suggest that ἐλεέω (eleeo) was influenced by Jewish life expressed by the Hebrew word hesed. In fact, when the Hebrew Scriptures were translated into Greek (the Septuagint), ἐλεέω (eleeo) was the Greek word used for hesed. But ἐλεέω (eleeo) at that time did not have the depth of meaning conveyed by hesed. Among the Jewish people, hesed was grounded in the context of relational living, regardless of whether or not the relationship was between or among equals. In other words, hesed factored into relationships whether one was speaking of God and humanity, friend to friend or a king and his slave. In these an other relationships, hesed acknowledged a connection among persons and because of that connection a person had to act - 'had to do hesed' when another person was in need. hesed, consequently, expressed action not emotion or feeling alone.

Thus by the time of Jesus’ Public Ministry, ἐλεέω (eleeo) was understood an action done to alleviate the burden that had befallen another person. ἐλεέω (eleeo) responded to what was judged a lack of some element necessary for life. It became clearer when this pointed to the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Those who have no food, no companionship, no clothing do not want a sentiment or a feeling. People in those situations want food, companionship and clothing – to name only a few. People who are in need of forgiveness, comfort or prayer do not want ‘nice thoughts’ or a good intentions – they need forgiveness, comfort and prayer. It is the obligation of the disciple of Jesus to do all in his/her power to make it happen to the best of his/her grace-initiated and grace-assisted abilities. As far as Jesus is concerned, eternal life hangs in the balance – a point Archbishop Charles Chaput made bluntly in an interview when asked if there would be cutbacks on services to the poor: “If we don’t love the poor, and do all we can to improve their lot, we're going to go to Hell!”

So what did the 10 lepers want when they cried out to Jesus? No doubt, each of them wanted their skin cleansed and healed, just ask anyone with any type of skin affliction - it’s a ‘no-brainer.’ Yet Jesus knew they needed more – they needed a connection with Him (the Gift of Faith) which one of them was able to recognize because he was thankful.

Voices ever ancient, ever new. Sunday-Week28-2013.

“So Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times, according to the word of the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean (II Kings 5:14).”

Saint Ephrem the Syrian offers the following insight on these verses from today’s First Reading:

“After Naaman had been persuaded by the prophet and had washed seven times in the Jordan, he eventually acknowledged his error. He was astonished, and a deep bewilderment took him when he realized that he had been delivered from his filthiness. And he thanked God for his healing and testified that the Lord of the universe, in his profound care for him, had conceded him that extraordinary power by simply using water. He also proclaimed that his healing could not have derived from the water of the river but had been caused by Elisha’s command. That is why he offered royal presents, but the prophet did not accept them and was not persuaded by the donor, even though he had pressed him many times. For that magnificently and very clearly prefigured the mystery of the healing, which is freely granted to all nations of the earth by our Lord through the intercession of the apostles. And this had been promised in advance to those masters by the prophet Isaiah, when he said, “You were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money.” Since all diseases are a sort of bondage, the prophet necessarily fixed the healing at the seventh bath, in parallel with the fact that the Law, too, orders and promises freedom for the slave at the seventh year (On the Second Book of Kings, 5).”

May your grace, O Lord, we pray,
at all times go before us
and follow after and make us
always determined to carry out good works.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Glory to You Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning is now
and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia!

Voices ever ancient, ever new. Saturday-Week27-2013.

“While he was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it. (Luke 11:28-29)”

Saint Augustine of Hippo offers the following insight on these verses from today’s Gospel:

“Mary was more blessed in accepting the faith of Christ than in conceiving the flesh of Christ. To someone who said, “Blessed is the womb that bore you,” he replied, “Rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it.” Finally, for his brothers, his relatives according to the flesh who did not believe in him, of what advantage was that relationship? Even her maternal relationship would have done Mary no good unless she had borne Christ more happily in her heart than in her flesh. (Holy Virginity, 3)”