July 10, 2007 Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

   2007년 7월 10일 연중 제14주간 화요일

 

 제1독서 창세기 32,23-33

23 바로 그 밤에 야곱은 일어나, 두 아내와 두 여종과 열한 아들을 데리고 야뽁 건널목을 건넜다. 24 야곱은 이렇게 그들을 이끌어 내를 건네 보낸 다음, 자기에게 딸린 모든 것도 건네 보냈다. 25 그러나 야곱은 혼자 남아 있었다.
그런데 어떤 사람이 나타나 동이 틀 때까지 야곱과 씨름을 하였다. 26 그는 야곱을 이길 수 없다는 것을 알고 야곱의 엉덩이뼈를 쳤다. 그래서 야곱은 그와 씨름을 하다 엉덩이뼈를 다치게 되었다. 27 그가 “동이 트려고 하니 나를 놓아 다오.” 하고 말하였지만, 야곱은 “저에게 축복해 주시지 않으면 놓아 드리지 않겠습니다.” 하고 대답하였다.
28 그가 야곱에게 “네 이름이 무엇이냐?” 하고 묻자, “야곱입니다.” 하고 대답하였다. 29 그러자 그가 말하였다. “네가 하느님과 겨루고 사람들과 겨루어 이겼으니, 너의 이름은 이제 더 이상 야곱이 아니라 이스라엘이라 불릴 것이다.”
30 야곱이 “당신의 이름을 알려 주십시오.” 하고 여쭈었지만, 그는 “내 이름은 무엇 때문에 물어보느냐?” 하고는, 그곳에서 야곱에게 복을 내려 주었다.
31 야곱은 “내가 서로 얼굴을 맞대고 하느님을 뵈었는데도 내 목숨을 건졌구나.” 하면서, 그곳의 이름을 프니엘이라 하였다. 32 야곱이 프니엘을 지날 때 해가 그의 위로 떠올랐다. 그는 엉덩이뼈 때문에 절뚝거렸다.
33 그래서 이스라엘 자손들은 오늘날까지도 짐승의 엉덩이뼈에 있는 허벅지 힘줄을 먹지 않는다. 그분께서 야곱의 허벅지 힘줄이 있는 엉덩이뼈를 치셨기 때문이다.

복음 마태오 9,32-38

그때에 32 사람들이 마귀 들려 말 못하는 사람 하나를 예수님께 데려왔다. 33 마귀가 쫓겨나자 말 못하는 이가 말을 하였다. 그러자 군중은 놀라워하며, “이런 일은 이스라엘에서 한 번도 본 적이 없다.” 하고 말하였다.
34 그러나 바리사이들은, “저 사람은 마귀 우두머리의 힘을 빌려 마귀들을 쫓아낸다.” 하였다.
35 예수님께서는 모든 고을과 마을을 두루 다니시면서, 회당에서 가르치시고 하늘 나라의 복음을 선포하시며, 병자와 허약한 이들을 모두 고쳐 주셨다. 36 그분은 군중을 보시고 가엾은 마음이 드셨다. 그들이 목자 없는 양들처럼 시달리며 기가 꺾여 있었기 때문이다. 37 그래서 제자들에게 말씀하셨다.
“수확할 것은 많은데 일꾼은 적다. 38 그러니 수확할 밭의 주인님께 일꾼들을 보내 주십사고 청하여라.”

 

 

 

 

 

 July 10, 2007

 Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

  

 Reading 1
Gn 32:23-33

In the course of the night, Jacob arose, took his two wives,
with the two maidservants and his eleven children,
and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
After he had taken them across the stream
and had brought over all his possessions,
Jacob was left there alone.
Then some man wrestled with him until the break of dawn.
When the man saw that he could not prevail over him,
he struck Jacob’s hip at its socket,
so that the hip socket was wrenched as they wrestled.
The man then said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
But Jacob said, “I will not let you go until you bless me.”
The man asked, “What is your name?”
He answered, “Jacob.”
Then the man said,
“You shall no longer be spoken of as Jacob, but as Israel,
because you have contended with divine and human beings
and have prevailed.”
Jacob then asked him, “Do tell me your name, please.”
He answered, “Why should you want to know my name?”
With that, he bade him farewell.
Jacob named the place Peniel,
“Because I have seen God face to face,” he said,
“yet my life has been spared.”

At sunrise, as he left Penuel,
Jacob limped along because of his hip.
That is why, to this day, the children of Israel do not eat
the sciatic muscle that is on the hip socket,
inasmuch as Jacob’s hip socket was struck at the sciatic muscle.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 17:1b, 2-3, 6-7ab, 8b and 15

R. (15a) In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
Hear, O LORD, a just suit;
attend to my outcry;
hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.
R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
From you let my judgment come;
your eyes behold what is right.
Though you test my heart, searching it in the night,
though you try me with fire, you shall find no malice in me.
R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word.
Show your wondrous mercies,
O savior of those who flee from their foes.
R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
I in justice shall behold your face;
on waking, I shall be content in your presence.
R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.

Gospel
Mt 9:32-38

A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus,
and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke.
The crowds were amazed and said,
“Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
But the Pharisees said,
“He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.”

 

 

 Commentary

 

Much later in the story, before he meets his brother whom he had wronged so many years before, Jacob takes his wives (Rachel and Leah) and his children, and takes them across where they will be safe. Jacob has prospered and his brothers as well. But before he meets Esau he wrestles all night with an angel (or his own soul/conscience) and his name is changed to Israel. He is blessed and marked by the struggle with God. Because of this, he limps for the rest of his life. His name is his people-those who contend with the Divine and with human beings but prevail-it is in itself another promise.

Jesus is brought a man who is mute and tormented (frustrated and unable to communicate or relate to others). Jesus casts out the demon (what hinders the man from being human) and yet he is accused of acting in the power of a demon himself. He then leaves and continues to heal, his heart wracked with pity for the crowds' needs, weaknesses, lacks, and hopes. They are prostrate with exhaustion (think of so many countries today: Sudan, Palestine, Iraq, those hit by the tsunami, by war, and other calamities). And Jesus begs us to be a laborer to go and bring in his harvest and be moved to pity by the suffering all around us.
 

 

 

 As Christians, we each have been called in Baptism to acknowledge that we ARE God images, called to be with/in God as we discover who/what we are to be in our lives.

However, most of us recognize our ‘call’ to be Christian, to be a living presence of God, through our interaction with others along our life’s journey. We officially take on our responsibility of ‘being called’ in Confirmation, but the realization of what that means in each of our lives is something that gradually dawns on us as we recognize what God calls us to be/do in our day to day lives as adults.

In today’s first reading, Jacob has prepared his family and servants to meet with Esau…sending them on ahead with messages that he is coming. However, Jacob encounters a struggle at night, when he is alone. Is this Jacob’s ‘call’ or rather, in the struggle with the man, is it an opportunity to step back to discern what God is inviting him to as the next step in his journey?

Isn’t that how most of our journeys evolve? We may ‘know’ that we are called to be God’s presence, but usually it is the day to day events/struggles/celebrations that enlighten us as to what/who/how we are really called to be. Jacob struggles through the night with the stranger and then realizes that he had seen God’s face.

Recently, we lost very dear friends, a married couple, in a terrible car accident. During the days following their death, wake, and funeral, we became aware, that as friends and family, we had to be present to one another in order to learn to accept the reality of their deaths. Yet, the real challenge is to acknowledge/let God be present in our sorrow, pain, grieving…to know that God is with us. We have seen the face of God in our friends’ lives during their time with us, we see the face of God in the family and friends gathered together to mourn, and we recognize God in the journey as we continue to be for/with one another and for/with the family left behind.

God’s call continues each day, but we need the time/place/space to listen-to discern God’s invitation to ‘be’ for with/others. This is really what Baptism is about - an invitation to go on the journey…not sure of the vistas and twists/turns of the road ahead, but willing to find God along the way, and be God’s living presence with/in each other along the way.

As today’s psalmist proclaims, “I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my word. Show your wondrous mercies.”

So, when Jesus walks among the troubled and abandoned in Matthew’s gospel, he listens and hears….and heals. He knows the struggles and sorrows and challenges of those around him and as he reminds his followers, “The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few”.

I think we are again called in many different ways to ‘be’ the ‘listeners and healers’ of those around us.
Do we hear the ‘call’ from our neighbor, our spouse, our child, our co-worker…the homeless, the poor, the sorrowful? And what/how will we respond?

 

 by
Cathy Weiss Pedersen
Campus Ministry

 

 

 "Never was anything like this seen in Israel"

What help or hope can we give to someone who has chronic distress or an incurable disease of mind or body? Spiritual, emotional, and physical suffering often go hand in hand. Jesus was well acquanited with individuals who suffered intolerable affliction - whether physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual.  A "dumb demoniac" was brought to Jesus by his friends with the hope that Jesus would set him free.  These neighbors, no doubt, took pity on this man who had a double impediment.  He had not only lost his ability to speak, but was also greatly disturbed in mind and spirit.  This was no doubt due to the influence of evil spirits who tormented him day and night with thoughts of despair and hopeless abandonment by God.  Jesus immediately set him free from the demon who tormented him and restored his ability to speak at the same time.  This double miracle brought wonder to the crowds who watched in amazement.  "Nothing like this had ever been done before in the land of Israel!"  Whenever people approached Jesus with expectant faith, he gave them freedom from the power of sin and from the forces of evil and darkness.

How could Jesus’ miracles cause both scorn and wonder at the same time from those who professed faith in God?  Don’t we often encounter the same reaction today, even in ourselves!  The crowds looked with awe at the wonderful works which Jesus did, but the religious leaders attributed this same work to the power of the devil. They disbelieved because they refused to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. Their idea of religion was too narrow and closed to accept Jesus as the Anointed one sent by the Father. They were too set in their own ways to change and they were too proud to submit to Jesus.  They held too rigidly to the observances of their ritual laws while neglecting the more important duties of love of God and love of neighbor.  The people, as a result, were spiritually adrift and hungry for God.  Jesus met their need and gave them new faith and hope in God’s saving help.  Whenever the gospel is proclaimed God’s kingdom is made manifest and new life and freedom is given to those who respond with faith. The Lord grants freedom to all who turn to him with trust.  Do you bring your troubles to the Lord with expectant faith that he can set you free? The Lord invites us to pray that the work of  the gospel may spread throughout the world, so that all may find true joy and freedom in Jesus Christ.

"Lord, may your kingdom come to all who are oppressed and in darkness. Fill my heart with compassion for all who suffer mentally and physically. Use me to bring the good news of your saving grace and mercy to those around me who need your healing love and forgiveness.”

Psalm 115:3-10

3 Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases.
4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
5 They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see.
6 They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell.
7 They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk;  and they do not make a sound in their throat.
8 Those who make them are like them; so are all who trust in them.
9 O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.
10 O house of Aaron, put your trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.

 

 

 CONTENDING OR TENDING?

'You have contended with divine and human beings.' Genesis 32:29

Jacob contended with a messenger of God in a wrestling match and prevailed (Gn 32:25, 29; Hos 12:5). 'As a man he contended with God' (Hos 12:4). There's a Jacob lurking inside of each of us. Jesus calls us to beg the Father for laborers for the harvest and to answer our prayer by becoming one of those laborers ourselves (Mt 9:37-38). Yet how often do we contend with God for long periods of time spending more time and energy trying to avoid God's call instead of answering it? (cf Jon 1:2-3)

Jesus had plenty of His own troubles when He directed us to pray for workers for the kingdom of God. He had been rejected by an entire town of Samaritans (Lk 9:53). The religious leaders had just accused Him of being in league with Satan! (Mt 9:34) Yet instead of contending with His Father or with people, Jesus' heart was filled with compassion and pity (Mt 9:36).

Jesus directs our attention to the many confused people who need shepherding (Mt 9:36). He tells us to die to ourselves, lose our lives, and follow Him in laboring for His harvest (Lk 9:23). Will we contend with Him and try to direct His attention to our own weariness and troubles? Or will we beg Jesus to give us and many others a heart of compassion for the crowds of lost, hurting people? Will we contend with the Shepherd or tend His sheep? (Jn 21:16)

Praise: Fr. Ralph still tends to the Lord's flock ten years after 'retirement.'
Prayer: Jesus, I repent of being unwilling to focus on Your priorities. 'Your kingdom come' (Mt 6:10). I beg you to grant many the grace to accept a holy, religious vocation.
Promise: Jesus 'cured every sickness and disease.' Mt 9:35

 

 

 The Pentateuch is made up of several sources.   one of the four most important sources is called the “J” source (after the name “Yahweh” which appears in this source as God’s name.)   “J” material is very anthropomorphic; that is, it is so earthy that it almost scandalizes us.   Today’s first reading speaks of Jacob “wrestling” with God.  We must swallow hard to imagine this.   It gives a popular explanation of why Hebrews do not eat the sciatic muscle.   In today’s reading, Jacob is now called “Israel;” the popular explanation of the name is “one who struggled with God.”    We are more sophisticated than the “J” source.   But we must never lose sight of the fact that God is close to us and wants to enter an intimate relationship with us.
The gospel again attributes mutism to a demon which Jesus expels.   But the point of the story is that people are like sheep without a shepherd.   They wander aimlessly, pursuing their immediate ends, but failing to realize the ultimate and profound purpose of God.

 

 

«Ask the master of the harvest to send workers to gather his harvest»

Today, the Gospel speaks of the man who was dumb because he was possessed, and of how his healing provoked different reactions between the crowd and the Pharisees who, in the face of prodigious evidence, nobody could deny, they attributed it to devilish powers «He drives away demons with the help of the prince of demons» (Mt 9:34). Instead, the crowd marvels: «Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel» (Mt 9:33). When referring to this passage St. John Chrysostom, says: «What the Pharisees truly resented was the crowds were considering Jesus superior, not only to those existing then, but to all that had ever existed».

However, the Pharisees' animadversion did not worry Jesus in the least; He faithfully went on with his mission. Not only, but before the evidence those Israel guides, instead of looking after their flock and shepherd it, what they did was to mislay it, Jesus felt sorry for those tired and depressed crowds without a true shepherd to look after them. That crowds are grateful for a good leadership and yearn for it, can be appreciated when we looked at the pastoral visits of His Holiness John Paul II to the different places in the world. How he manages to gather immense crowds around him! How they listen to him, particularly our youth! And this, despite the Pope does not make discounts, for he preaches the Gospel with all its requirements.

St. Josemaria Escriva says: «If we should be consequent with our faith, when we look around us and contemplate the scenery of history and our world, we could not but feel that, the same feelings that animated Jesus' heart, are also invading ours», which would take us to a very generous apostolic task. But the disproportion amongst the crowds waiting for the preaching of the Good News of the Kingdom of God and the scarcity of ready workers to preach it, is quite evident. At the end of the text of the Gospel, though, Jesus gives us the solution: to ask the master of the harvest to send workers to his fields (cf. Mt 9:38).
 

 

 "The harvest is plentiful."  When we look out on the world and the condition of humanity we often see chaos and desolation, what appears to be defeat and death of God.  Jesus sees it all as the harvest.  When I go to pray, I am a laborer sent out to bring in the harvest.  “The Father works until now, and I work.”  My prayer is part of the work of the Kingdom.  The Kingdom grows out of the Mystery of Christ.  As the seeds grow and become plants bringing forth fruit, and nobody sees the plant’s inner workings, so the power of the risen Christ is moving in all things and people.  My prayer, deep silent, loving, is part of the rhythm of this transformation.  “Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers. “ I will pray and I will cooperate in all that my vocation and human condition call forth from me.  Not to see the harvest of the mysterious work of transformation is to see the prince of chaos at work in everything.