June 1, 2007 Memorial of Saint Justin, martyr

  2007년 6월 1일 연중 제 8주간 금요일

 

 제1독서 집회서 44,1.9-13
1 이제는 훌륭한 사람들과 역대 선조들을 칭송하자.
9 어떤 이들은 아무도 기억해 주지 않고 존재한 적이 없었던 듯 사라져 버렸다. 그들은 태어난 적이 없었던 것처럼 되었으며, 그 뒤를 이은 자녀들도 마찬가지다. 10 그러나 저 사람들은 자비로워, 그들의 의로운 행적이 잊혀지지 않았다. 11 그들의 재산은 자손과 함께 머물고, 그들의 유산은 후손과 함께 머물리라.
12 그들의 자손은 계약을 충실하게 지키고, 그들 때문에 그 자녀들도 그러하리라. 13 그들의 자손은 영원히 존속하고, 그들의 영광은 사라지지 않으리라.

 

 

 복음 마르코 11,11-25
[예수님께서 군중의 환호를 받으시면서] 11 예루살렘에 이르러 성전에 들어가셨다. 그리고 그곳의 모든 것을 둘러보신 다음, 날이 이미 저물었으므로 열두 제자와 함께 베타니아로 나가셨다.
12 이튿날 그들이 베타니아에서 나올 때에 예수님께서는 시장하셨다. 13 마침 잎이 무성한 무화과나무를 멀리서 보시고, 혹시 그 나무에 무엇이 달렸을까 하여 가까이 가 보셨지만, 잎사귀밖에는 아무것도 보이지 않았다. 무화과 철이 아니었기 때문이다. 14 예수님께서는 그 나무를 향하여 이르셨다. “이제부터 영원히 어느 누구도 너에게서 열매를 따 먹는 일이 없을 것이다.” 제자들도 이 말씀을 들었다.
15 그들은 예루살렘으로 갔다. 예수님께서는 성전에 들어가시어, 그곳에서 사고팔고 하는 자들을 쫓아내기 시작하셨다. 환전상들의 탁자와 비둘기 장수들의 의자도 둘러엎으셨다. 16 또한 아무도 성전을 가로질러 물건을 나르지 못하게 하셨다. 17 그리고 그들을 가르치시며 이렇게 말씀하셨다. “‘나의 집은 모든 민족들을 위한 기도의 집이라 불릴 것이다.’ 라고 기록되어 있지 않으냐? 그런데 너희는 이곳을 ‘강도들의 소굴’로 만들어 버렸다.”
18 수석 사제들과 율법 학자들은 이 말씀을 듣고 그분을 없앨 방법을 찾았다. 군중이 모두 그분의 가르침에 감탄하는 것을 보고 그분을 두려워하였던 것이다.
19 날이 저물자 예수님과 제자들은 성 밖으로 나갔다. 20 이른 아침에 그들이 길을 가다가, 그 무화과나무가 뿌리째 말라 있는 것을 보았다. 21 베드로가 문득 생각이 나서 예수님께 말하였다. “스승님, 보십시오. 스승님께서 저주하신 무화과나무가 말라 버렸습니다.”
22 그러자 예수님께서 제자들에게 말씀하셨다. “하느님을 믿어라. 23 내가 진실로 너희에게 말한다. 누구든지 이 산더러 ‘들려서 저 바다에 빠져라.’ 하면서, 마음속으로 의심하지 않고 자기가 말하는 대로 이루어진다고 믿으면, 그대로 될 것이다. 24 그러므로 내가 너희에게 말한다. 너희가 기도하며 청하는 것이 무엇이든 그것을 이미 받은 줄로 믿어라. 그러면 너희에게 그대로 이루어질 것이다.
25 너희가 서서 기도할 때에 누군가에게 반감을 품고 있거든 용서하여라. 그래야 하늘에 계신 너희 아버지께서도 너희의 잘못을 용서해 주신다.”

 

 

 

 June 1, 2007

 Memorial of Saint Justin, martyr

 Reading 1
Sir 44:1, 9-13

Now will I praise those godly men,
our ancestors, each in his own time.
But of others there is no memory,
for when they ceased, they ceased.
And they are as though they had not lived,
they and their children after them.
Yet these also were godly men
whose virtues have not been forgotten;
Their wealth remains in their families,
their heritage with their descendants;
Through God’s covenant with them their family endures,
their posterity, for their sake.

And for all time their progeny will endure,
their glory will never be blotted out.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b

R. (see 4a) The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.

R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel
Mk 11:11-26

Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple area.
He looked around at everything and, since it was already late,
went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

The next day as they were leaving Bethany he was hungry.
Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf,
he went over to see if he could find anything on it.
When he reached it he found nothing but leaves;
it was not the time for figs.
And he said to it in reply, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again!”
And his disciples heard it.

They came to Jerusalem,
and on entering the temple area
he began to drive out those selling and buying there.
He overturned the tables of the money changers
and the seats of those who were selling doves.
He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area.
Then he taught them saying, “Is it not written:

My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples?
But you have made it a den of thieves.”

The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it
and were seeking a way to put him to death,
yet they feared him
because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching.
When evening came, they went out of the city.

Early in the morning, as they were walking along,
they saw the fig tree withered to its roots.
Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look!
The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”

Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God.
Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain,
‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’
and does not doubt in his heart
but believes that what he says will happen,
it shall be done for him.
Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer,
believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.
When you stand to pray,
forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance,
so that your heavenly Father may in turn
forgive you your transgressions.”

 

 

 Commentary

 

 Jesus has entered Jerusalem. He goes to the temple, but it is late and he leaves. This will be Jesus' last visit to the temple. The next day, on his way out of Bethany, Jesus observes a fig tree. It has many leaves, but there are no figs. He curses it, even though it was not the season for figs. Then he enters the temple and drives the moneychangers and sellers out. He calls the temple a den of thieves. on his way back, passing by the fig tree again, he sees that it is now withered to its roots. The fig tree is an ancient symbol of Israel, of peace and plenty, and in this case it is Jerusalem specifically that has rejected Jesus and no longer gives life. Its religion and leaders are withered and give nothing to the people to eat. Jesus exhorts us to have faith and to approach God with trust, to forgive so that God the Father can forgive us. Is our life of faith bearing fruit or has it withered? Are we there when others are hungry for life?

 

 

 Today the universal Church celebrates the feast of a philosopher turned martyr, one of the noblest personalities of early Christian literature," St. Justin. He was put to death near the middle of the second century for proclaiming his faith in Jesus Christ and refusing to sacrifice to idols. His is a rare case because we actually have an authentic account of his trial! When asked about his faith, Justin confessed: "Yes, I am a Christian ... I hope that I shall enter God's house if I suffer...For I know that God's favor is stored up until the end of the whole world for all who have lived good lives ...No one who is right-thinking stoops from true worship to false worship...We do not sacrifice to idols."

Our first reading praises people like St. Justin, godly men and women, whose unforgettable virtues ensure that their memory will never die and "their glory will never be blotted out." I suggest that we reflect upon our own lives today, our discipleship, our fidelity, our endurance. Am I willing to be counted among those who follow Jesus even unto death? What is my way of bridging the world of faith with the secular, pluralistic, consumer world I am part of? How do I give witness to the values of Jesus Christ? Am I willing to speak the truth that sets us free even at the cost of suffering and separation from people and things I love?

Then I suggest we take a careful look at the Gospel passage featuring Jesus' cursing of the fig tree as an image of the faith we are called to profess. The truly extraordinary promise of Jesus, that faith can indeed move mountains, that confident, believing, ardent prayer always gets what it asks for -- provided we always practice forgiveness -- is it not a deep call to us all to trust more fully in the power of prayer, which is God's power? Again, this is a good time for each of us to examine how confidently we are responding to the invitation of Jesus: "Have faith in God," and "Have faith also in me" (the Gospel of John). Even as his apostles were astonished at this strong teaching of Jesus about the power of prayer, I can allow my own heart to skip with joy and once again commit myself to what is supposedly also the motto of our country: "In God do we trust."

So, on this feast day of St. Justin, Martyr, we pray for the same grace he received back in the century after Christ was crucified and rose to new and everlasting life, the grace to live constantly and daily a life of faith. In this first week of Ordinary Time after Easter, let us remember that time is no longer ever ordinary; it is always the time of Resurrection, a time when our prayers will unfailingly be answered whenever we pray with all our hearts!

 

 by
Bert Thelen, S.J.
St. John's Church

 

 

"My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations"

 

Why did Jesus curse a fig tree? Fig trees were a common and important source of food for the Jews.  Bad figs or a decaying fig tree was linked with evil deeds and spiritual decay.  The unfruitful fig tree symbolized the outcome of Israel's unresponsiveness to the word of God.  The prophets depicted the languishing fig tree as signifying the desolation and calamity of Israel due to her unfaithfulness to God (see Joel 1:7,12; Habakuk 3:17; and Jeremiah 8:13). The history of Israel is one long preparation for the coming of the Promised one.  But the promise is unfulfilled in those who reject Jesus through unbelief. (See also Jesus’ parable of the barren fig tree in Luke 13:6-9).   Jesus’ cursing of a fig tree is a prophetic action against the faithlessness of those who rejected his message. For faith to be fruitful and productive, it must be nourished with the word of God (2 Tim. 3:16; Col. 3:16)and be rooted in love (Galatians 5:6).

Jesus’ cleansing of the temple was another prophetic action. In this incident we see Jesus' startling and swift action in cleansing the temple of those who were using it to exploit the worshipers of God. The money changers took advantage of the poor and forced them to pay many times more than was right–  in the house of the Lord no less! Their robbery of the poor was not only dishonoring to God but unjust toward their neighbor. In justification for his audacious action Jesus quotes from the prophets Isaiah (56:7) and Jeremiah (7:11). His act of judgment aims to purify the worship of God's people and to discipline their erring ways.

 After this incident Jesus exhorts his disciples to “have faith in God”.  They are to pray with expectant faith  no matter how difficult the situation may be. The phrase “to remove mountains” was a common Jewish ｅxpression for removing difficulties.  A wise teacher who could solve difficulties was called a “mountain remover”.  If we pray with faith God will give us the means to overcome difficulties and obstacles.  If we want God to hear our prayers we must forgive those who wrong us as God has forgiven us.  Do you pray with expectant faith?

"Lord increase my faith and make my fruitful and effective in serving you. Help me to forgive others just as you have been merciful towards me"

Psalm 96:10-13

10 Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns! Yea, the world is established, it shall never be moved;  he will judge the peoples with equity."
11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12 let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy
13 before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth.  He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.

 

 

 You smell a fig tree before you see it.  The scent is as delicious as the fruit itself.  Why would anyone destroy a fig tree?  Above all, why would Jesus? 

            The Scriptures are full of echoes and cross-references.  Not only the words but the deeds of Jesus have resonances that are difficult for us, at this distance, to hear.  In the present case, the echoes are in the writings of the prophets Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and Joel.  The withering of a fig tree symbolised for them the desolation of Israel because of her unfaithfulness to God.  “When I wanted to gather them, says the Lord, there are no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree; even the leaves are withered.” (Jeremiah 8:13).  So when Jesus made the fig tree to wither, this was a prophetic deed, with the same meaning as in Jeremiah and the other prophets. 

The deed was all the more significant because he was on his way to the Temple, where he would drive out the buyers and sellers.  Their exploitative practices were a clear instance of unfaithfulness to the covenant.  These people, and the custom that authorised them, were the withered fig tree, the withered heart.  His cleansing of the Temple was also a prophetic deed.  He quoted Isaiah as its meaning:  “[Those who] hold fast my covenant: these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer… for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (Isaiah 56:7).  Instead, he said, it had been turned into “a den of robbers” (Jeremiah 7:11). 

In both of these incidents Jesus is acting like the prophets of old, standing in line with them, and quoting their words. 

Next day, the withered fig tree is still standing there.  “In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots.”  The fig tree, in its way, was asking a question: what do you do when you are living at a time when the institutions are corrupt?  “Have faith in God,” Jesus said  -  not in the institutions.  It seems impossible, but you will be able the move mountains, he said.  The ｅxpression “to move mountains” was a common Jewish ｅxpression for removing difficulties.  A wise teacher who could solve difficulties was called a “mountain mover”.  The disciples should not measure the difficulties against their own puny strength but against the strength of God.  And finally, a wonderful echo: “For even though the fig does not blossom, nor fruit grow on the vine; even though the olive crop fail, and fields produce no harvest; even though flocks vanish from the folds and stalls stand empty of cattle  -  yet I will rejoice in the Lord and exult in God my saviour.  The Lord my God is my strength.  He makes me leap like the deer, he guides me to the high places.” (Habakkuk 3:2-4, 13, 15-19). 

 

 

 JJustin tried everything before he tried Christianity.  He searched for the meaning of all things in every possible philosophy.  Then Christ found him and drew him to himself.   Justin found meaning in Christ alone.  one converted, he became the first of the great “Apologists” of the early Church.   He put philosophy at the service of the faith in order to explain the faith to those outside. 
Many of Justin’s writings have come down to us.  They are priceless for the knowledge of the beliefs of the Church in the Second Century.   They show us that the Church of the Second Century is the same in belief and teaching as the Church in the Twenty-First Century.
Justin was condemned to death for refusing to sacrifice to pagan gods.  The court record of his martyrdom is authentic.  It is a testimony to what Catholics were willing to endure for the sake of Christ.   The question to us might be: What are we willing to endure for Christ?  Do we truly find in him the meaning of all things.
Today’s first reading begins a section which recounts the holy patriarch, prophets, and ancestors of Israel.   It continues through chapter 50.  Unfortunately, we have only this small section in the liturgy.   This section is testimony to the acceptance of books of the Bible, the only way in which these persons could have been known.    We should read these chapters and see the heritage of holy Israel.
Bethany is on the other side of the Mount of Olives.   The other gospels tell us that the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus was there.   Jesus stayed with them when he was in the Jerusalem area.
Today’s gospel selection does not mention the triumphal entry into Jerusalem.   It emphasizes the cursing of the fig tree.   This is very strange to us, but it is a “prophetic sign,” a sign that Israel had not borne good fruit.  
The cleansing of the temple was expected when the Messiah came.   Some thought that the temple would be destroyed, and a new temple would come down from heaven.   Others thought that the Messiah would cleanse the earthly temple.   Everyone knew that there was corruption: The high-priestly family got a kickback on the changing of money and the buying and selling of items in the temple precincts.   Even Jewish sources speak of the corruption of the high priestly family of Annas and Caiaphas.  

 

 

«Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it»

Today, fruit and prayer are the key words to this Gospel. The Lord notices a fig tree and finds nothing but leaves: and He reacts by cursing it. According to St. Isidore of Seville, “fig” and “fruit” have the same root. Early next morning the Apostles, surprised, tell him: «Master, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered» (Mk 11:21). In reply, Jesus Christ speaks to them of faith and prayer: «Have faith in God» (Mk 11:22).

There are people that almost never pray and, when they do it, it is with the hope God will solve problems they do not know how to handle themselves. And they justify it with the words from Jesus we have just heard: «Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it shall be done for you» (Mk 11:24). They are right, and it is quite human, understandable and legitimate that, in front of a problem too difficult for us, we trust in God, in a much higher force.

But we must also add that prayers are “useless” («for your Father knows what you need before you ask him»: Mt 6:8), as long as they do not have a practical and direct utility, as —for instance— switch on a light. We do not receive anything for our prayer, because what we receive from God is grace upon grace.

Should we, therefore, not pray...? Of course, we should: now that we know that by prayer we obtain the grace, our prayer has become more worthy and valuable: because it is “useless” and it is “costless”. Furthermore, there are three benefits we do receive from the petition prayer: interior peace (to find our friend Jesus and to trust God is relaxing); to mull over a problem, rationalize it, and knowing how to raise it, is to solve half of it; and, in the third place, praying helps us to discern between what is good and what, maybe out of some personal whim, are the actual intentions of our prayers. Then, later on, we shall understand with the eyes of the faith what Jesus says: «Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son» (Jn 14:13).
 

 

 The Gospel is all about prayer.  Christ cleanses the temple in order that it may be a house of prayer for all nations.  Prayer is not commerce.  Prayer must lead to the fruits of being a branch in the vine that is Christ.  Cursed is the tree that does not bear fruit.  And when you stand in prayer in the dignity of a child of God, believe in the power of your prayer and again let its fruit be mercy and forgiveness, as the content of our prayer is for mercy from God.  Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us.