July 11, 2007 Memorial of Saint Benedict, abbot

  2007년 7월 11일 성 베네딕토 아빠스 기념일

 

 제1독서 창세기 41,55-57; 42,5-7ㄴ.17-24ㄱ

그 무렵 55 이집트 온 땅에 기근이 들자, 백성이 파라오에게 빵을 달라고 부르짖었다. 그러자 파라오는 모든 이집트인에게 말하였다. “요셉에게 가서 그가 시키는 대로 하여라.”
56 기근이 온 땅에 퍼지자, 요셉은 곡식 창고를 모두 열고 이집트인들에게 곡식을 팔았다. 이집트 땅에 기근이 심하였지만, 57 온 세상은 요셉에게 곡식을 사려고 이집트로 몰려들었다. 온 세상에 기근이 심하였기 때문이다.
42.5 가나안 땅에도 기근이 들었기 때문에, 이스라엘의 아들들은 이집트로 곡식을 사러 가는 다른 사람들 틈에 끼어 그곳으로 들어갔다. 6 그때 요셉은 그 나라의 통치자였다. 그 나라 모든 백성에게 곡식을 파는 이도 그였다.
그래서 요셉의 형들은 들어와서 얼굴을 땅에 대고 그에게 절하였다. 7 요셉은 형들을 보자 곧 알아보았지만, 짐짓 모르는 체하며 그들에게 매몰차게 말하면서 물었다. “너희는 어디서 왔느냐?”
17 그러고 나서 그들을 사흘 동안 감옥에 가두었다.
18 사흘째 되던 날 요셉이 그들에게 말하였다. “너희가 살려거든 이렇게 하여라. 나도 하느님을 경외하는 사람이다. 19 너희가 정직한 사람들이라면, 너희 형제들 가운데 한 사람만 감옥에 남아 있고, 나머지는 굶고 있는 너희 집 식구들을 위하여 곡식을 가져가거라. 20 그리고 너희 막내아우를 나에게 데려오너라. 그러면 너희 말이 참되다는 것이 밝혀지고, 너희는 죽음을 면할 것이다.”
그들은 그렇게 하기로 하였다. 21 그들이 서로 말하였다. “그래, 우리가 아우의 일로 죗값을 받는 것이 틀림없어. 그 애가 우리에게 살려 달라고 애원할 때, 우리는 그 고통을 보면서도 들어 주지 않았지. 그래서 이제 이런 괴로움이 우리에게 닥친 거야.”
22 그러자 르우벤이 그들에게 말하였다. “그러기에 내가 ‘그 아이에게 잘못을 저지르지 마라.’ 하고 너희에게 말하지 않았더냐? 그런데도 너희는 말을 듣지 않더니, 이제 우리가 그 아이의 피에 대한 책임을 지게 되었다.”
23 그들은 자기들과 요셉 사이에 통역이 서 있었기 때문에, 요셉이 알아듣는 줄을 알지 못하였다. 24 요셉은 그들 앞에서 물러 나와 울었다.

복음 마태오 10,1-7

그때에 1 예수님께서 열두 제자를 가까이 부르시고 그들에게 더러운 영들에 대한 권한을 주시어, 그것들을 쫓아내고 병자와 허약한 이들을 모두 고쳐 주게 하셨다.
2 열두 사도의 이름은 이러하다. 베드로라고 하는 시몬을 비롯하여 그의 동생 안드레아, 제베대오의 아들 야고보와 그의 동생 요한, 3 필립보와 바르톨로메오, 토마스와 세리 마태오, 알패오의 아들 야고보와 타대오, 4 열혈당원 시몬, 그리고 예수님을 팔아넘긴 유다 이스카리옷이다.
5 예수님께서 이 열두 사람을 보내시며 이렇게 분부하셨다. “다른 민족들에게 가는 길로 가지 말고, 사마리아인들의 고을에도 들어가지 마라. 6 이스라엘 집안의 길 잃은 양들에게 가라. 7 가서 ‘하늘 나라가 가까이 왔다.’ 하고 선포하여라.”

 

 

 

 

 

 July 11, 2007

 Memorial of Saint Benedict, abbot

  

 Reading 1
Gn 41:55-57; 42:5-7a, 17-24a

When hunger came to be felt throughout the land of Egypt
and the people cried to Pharaoh for bread,
Pharaoh directed all the Egyptians to go to Joseph
and do whatever he told them.
When the famine had spread throughout the land,
Joseph opened all the cities that had grain
and rationed it to the Egyptians,
since the famine had gripped the land of Egypt.
In fact, all the world came to Joseph to obtain rations of grain,
for famine had gripped the whole world.

The sons of Israel were among those
who came to procure rations.

It was Joseph, as governor of the country,
who dispensed the rations to all the people.
When Joseph’s brothers came and knelt down before him
with their faces to the ground,
he recognized them as soon as he saw them.
But Joseph concealed his own identity from them
and spoke sternly to them.

With that, he locked them up in the guardhouse for three days.

On the third day Joseph said to his brothers:
“Do this, and you shall live; for I am a God-fearing man.
If you have been honest,
only one of your brothers need be confined in this prison,
while the rest of you may go
and take home provisions for your starving families.
But you must come back to me with your youngest brother.
Your words will thus be verified, and you will not die.”
To this they agreed.
To one another, however, they said:
“Alas, we are being punished because of our brother.
We saw the anguish of his heart when he pleaded with us,
yet we paid no heed;
that is why this anguish has now come upon us.”
Reuben broke in,
“Did I not tell you not to do wrong to the boy?
But you would not listen!
Now comes the reckoning for his blood.”
The brothers did not know, of course,
that Joseph understood what they said,
since he spoke with them through an interpreter.
But turning away from them, he wept.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 33:2-3, 10-11, 18-19

R. (22) Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
Sing to him a new song;
pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
The LORD brings to nought the plans of nations;
he foils the designs of peoples.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Gospel
Mt 10:1-7

Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out
and to cure every disease and every illness.
The names of the Twelve Apostles are these:
first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew;
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Philip and Bartholomew,
Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;
James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus;
Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot
who betrayed Jesus.

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,
“Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’“

 

 

 Commentary

 

 Joseph, sold by his brothers into slavery, has risen to the highest position under Pharaoh in Egypt. Famine strikes, but Joseph has planned ahead and there is much grain available in Egypt. All come to Joseph for food, and his own brothers are in the long lines of those who come begging. He confines them and then tests them-letting all of them go, bringing food to their father and country but insisting that they return with their youngest brother. The brothers see this as retribution for what they did to Joseph. But Joseph weeps for them in his heart although he does not reveal himself to them. They must live with and take responsibility for what they have done-even though God has been their protector and guide all the time.

Jesus chooses 12 disciples in honor of the 12 tribes of Israel-all will be invited to become part of his new community/household of faith. They are named, with bits of detail given to some and the last, being described as the one who betrayed him. They are to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel first and to declare that God's reign is at hand. Today in your community are there 12 who are the leaders (women included) along with bits and pieces of information about them? And there are always those who betray-often it is our own name that is found there.

 

 

 Ephesus, A.D. 67, at the home of John and Mary, with visitors and new converts, Linus and Agnes.

John: It is so good of you to visit us, dear Linus and Agnes.

Linus: It is a deep honor for us, beloved John and mother, Mary.

Mary: Come and sit down and let me wash your feet.

Agnes: Oh, Mary, please, don't bother for us.

John: Dear friends, let her show you this graciousness.

Linus: Thank you, dearest mother. As you know, we have recently been baptized and received the Holy Spirit. We believe it is the Holy Spirit who has brought us to you to ask you a few questions about your memories of Jesus. To be with his own mother and his beloved disciple, for even a brief time, would be such a special grace for us.

Mary: You must know that we love to talk about Jesus. And, please trust and believe that whenever we are gathered together in his name, he is really with us. Thank you for letting me wash your feet. There, now you are at home in our home.

John: What do you wish to ask us about Jesus?

Linus: Well, we have been thinking about our discipleship and the mission Jesus gives us to wash each other's feet, as you have done for us, dear mother. So, naturally, we have asked ourselves what qualifications Jesus had for his own disciples while he walked this earth.

Agnes: Specifically, we know that you were both there the day he named the Twelve. How did he come upon those Twelve? Why them? We know about you, as the disciple he loved. Of course, we know about Peter, who was recently crucified in Rome, shedding his blood for the faith. We've heard of James and his ministry in Jerusalem. We've heard the stories about Andrew and Nathaniel, and, of course, Thomas. We know the tragic story of Judas who betrayed him. But, we know so little about the others. Why did he pick those Twelve?

John: (Laughing) Stop smiling like that, mother.

Mary: We are smiling like this, dear brother and sister, because Jesus was just like that. He surprised us so much by the way he broke through all the conventions. All of the Twelve were in our group, from the beginning, but no one would have guessed he'd pick that group. There were other disciples who were more educated in the tradition of our ancestors and there were others who showed more potential for leadership or had earned the respect of the group. (Smiling again) But, Jesus had his ways. And, he showed us his way, in everything he did.

John: It was a wonderful day. Everyone who was there that day felt this powerful attraction to him. I somehow knew that he would fill everything that was lacking in me. But, when he announced our names, my heart started beating faster and I was shocked and thrilled. And when he told us to share the news that "the Kingdom of God was at hand," you could have felt the excitement in the crowd.

Agnes: That must have been so exciting.

Linus: But, did you have a sense of why he called you, specifically?

John: No. I had no sense at all.

Mary: Jesus had such a sense of the human heart. I'm sure, now that he is so completely in the Father and the Father is in him, he reads our hearts even more deeply. He picked those twelve because he loved the openness of their hearts, even though he knew there was weakness in each of them.

John: He knew each of us had fear in our hearts, too. He knew we weren't completely free. He knew the vulnerabilities each of us had. But, we knew he loved us and had chosen us.

Mary: I watched those twelve men very closely during those years, and we formed a close knit community as we traveled together with him. They all grew. Yes, Peter was impulsive, but all of us could tell that Jesus knew he could use Peter. Nathaniel was so innocent. Thomas was so precious in his demand to be sure before he believed. And, of course, Judas, the one who betrayed him, was so complex and resistant to surrendering to Jesus' way.

Agnes: So, Jesus picked them BECAUSE they were weak?

John: It is probably better to say that Jesus knew then and knows now that we are all sinners. Whoever he had chosen would have been weak. He picked them - and, I might add, he chose you and Linus - desiring to help us all know we need a Savior. Touching our hearts with his loving mercy, he is better able to send us to do the one thing he calls us to do: love others - including other sinners - the same way he loves us.

Mary: The important thing to remember, dear friends, is that if you hear Jesus' words and keep them close to your heart and live them, you will be as close to him as we are. Let him love you and forgive you. And remember, it was the gift of the Holy Spirit that set all of his apostles' hearts on fire. Judas, unfortunately, wanted Jesus to come around to Judas' way of seeing and doing things. Let the Spirit help you come around to Jesus' way of seeing and doing things, and you will become his followers all the days of your lives.

 

 by
Andy Alexander, S.J.
University Ministry & The Collaborative Ministry Office

 

 

"Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out"

 

Do you know and experience in your life the power of the gospel?  The core of the gospel message is quite simple: the kingdom (or reign) of God is imminent! What is the kingdom of God? It is that society of men and women who submit to God and who honor him as their King and Lord. In the Lord's prayer we pray for God to reign in our lives and in our world: May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus' preaching of God's kingdom was  accompanied by signs and wonders. People were healed not only spiritually, but physically as well. Jesus' words are just as relevant today, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. We cannot buy heaven; but those who know the love and mercy of Jesus already possess heaven in their hearts! Do you believe in the power of God's kingdom?

Jesus commissioned his disciples to carry on the works which he did -- to speak God's word and to bring his healing power to the weary and oppressed. In the choice of the twelve apostles we see a characteristic feature of God's work: Jesus chose very ordinary people. They were non- professionals, had no wealth or position.  They were chosen from the common people who did ordinary things, had no special education, and no social advantages.  Jesus wanted ordinary people who could take an assignment and do it extraordinarily well.  He chose these men, not for what they were, but for what they would be capable of becoming under his direction and power.  When the Lord calls us to serve, we must not think we have nothing to offer.  The Lord takes what ordinary people, like us, can offer and uses it for greatness in his kingdom.  Do you believe that God wants to work through and in you for his glory?

"Lord, you have chosen me to be your disciple.  Take and use what I can offer, however meager it may seem, for the greater glory of your name."

Psalm 105:2-7

2 Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his wonderful works!
3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
4 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his presence continually!
5 Remember the wonderful works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
6 O offspring of Abraham his servant, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
7 He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

 

 

 GUILT-RIDDEN

'Alas, we are being punished because of our brother.' Genesis 42:21

When something bad happens to you, do you feel you're being punished? The Lord may not be punishing you, but you may be punishing yourself because of guilt. For example, Joseph's brothers were still arguing and feeling guilty thirty years after attempting to kill Joseph and finally selling him into slavery (Gn 42:22).

Jesus wants to free you from the torture-chamber of guilt (see Mi 7:18-19). Maybe you feel guilty of sexual sin. If you have not confessed your sin, do so in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Pray with David: 'Have mercy on me, O God, in Your goodness; in the greatness of Your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me' (Ps 51:3-4). Ask for healing. Dump all your garbage not on yourself but on Calvary (Zec 5:6).

When Satan tries to talk you out of your forgiveness and freedom, refuse to meet with him. Refer him to Jesus and curtly inform him that you are not at liberty to discuss your sin and guilt since they are now in Jesus' hands. That will shut him up.

Your heavenly Father says you're forgiven. The blood of Jesus says you're forgiven. The Spirit of Truth says you're forgiven. God's Church agrees. You're forgiven, washed clean, and free from guilt.

Praise: St. Benedict died standing before the altar having just received Holy Communion. Praise the mercy of God!
Prayer: Clean at last! Lord God almighty, clean at last!
Promise: Jesus 'summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority to expel unclean spirits and to cure sickness and disease of every kind.' Mt 10:1

 

 

 Benedict never became a priest; he probably did not think of himself as the founder of a new religious order. When he saw the decadence of society in his day, he withdrew to Subiaco to become close to God. Others followed him, and he wrote he holy Rule. He borrowed from Augustine, from Basil, and from others. The Rule is eminently practical and flexible. The general motto is “Ora et Labora” — “Pray and work.”

The Rule balances work and prayer and recreation. The community of monks is a family, not an institution. The day is divided into “hours” or times for prayer and for work. There are also times for solitude. Benedict balances a passion for holiness with a realization of the effects of original sin. There is a balance between human nature and our call to grace. Problems which arise are taken care of publicly in the presence of the community chapter when monks accuse themselves of their faults.

The Rule does not say it, but there is a tradition about what must be done about a recalcitrant monk who will not be corrected. “Let two strong monks take him outside (the chapter), and in the name of God persuade him of the matter.” Apparently a little muscular Catholicity is in order at times!

The entire day is centered on the Conventual (community) Mass, from which comes all grace and to which flows all work and prayer. Little by little this holy Rule became the standard for monasteries in the West. It was imposed by Charlemagne and Louis the Pious. Gradually, various monasteries came together in the Benedictine federation. And many other Orders stemmed from this holy Rule. The Benedictine monasteries preserved Western civilization through what are called the “Dark Ages.”

Today we begin using the Book of Exodus as our first reading at Mass. We shall use Exodus for the next three weeks. The setting is about four hundred years after the end of the book of Genesis. The Hebrews who had settled in Egypt propitiously under Joseph now find themselves in slavery. They have become so numerous that Pharaoh is bent on killing them.

For the past several days, our gospel has been taken from the tenth chapter of Matthew. This chapter is often called the “Apostolic Discourse” or Jesus’ sermon to his apostles as he sends them forth. The conclusion of the sermon (today) is that they must not expect peace and quiet. The Jews thought that perfect peace, justice, and tranquility would come when the Messiah came. But Jesus is Messiah, and he promises dissension and persecution! He does not will or intend this, but if we are faithful to his message, we shall be opposed, just as He was. We must take up our cross to follow him. We must serve him — not because of what we are going to get out of it — but because he is true.

 

 

«Go and proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near’»

Today, the Gospel shows us Jesus sending his Apostles on mission: «Jesus sent these twelve on mission with these instructions...» (Mt 10:5). The twelve make up the “Apostolic College”, that is “missionaries”. For the Church, in its earthly pilgrimage, is a Missionary Community, as its origin lies in the fulfillment of the mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit, after the God Father's divine intentions. In the same way as Peter and the other Apostles, by institution of our Lord, constituted a single Apostolic College, the Roman Pontiff, Peter's successor, and the Bishops, successors of the Apostles, form a body which the duty to announce the Gospel everywhere, falls upon.

Among the disciples sent on mission we find those with an outstanding position, given by Christ, and a bigger responsibility, such as Peter; and others, as Thaddaeus, whom we practically know nothing about; however, the Gospels, which communicate us the Good News, were not intended to satisfy our curiosity. on our side, we are supposed to pray for all the bishops, for the famous and for the not so famous ones, while living in communion with them: «See that you all follow the bishop as Jesus Christ follows the Father and the presbytery as you would the apostles...» (St. Ignatious of Antioch). Jesus was not looking for cultivated persons, but simply for available ones, willing and able to follow him to the end. This teaches me that, as a Christian, I must also feel responsible of a part of Jesus' plan of salvation. Do I keep away from evil? Do I help my fellow-men?

As their mission was just beginning, Jesus hurries up to give them instructions with some limitations: «Do not visit pagan territory and do not enter a Samaritan town. Go instead to the lost sheep of the people of Israel. Go and proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near’» (Mt 10:5-6). Today we must do what we can, with the certainty that God will call all pagans and Samaritans in another phase of the missionary work.
 

 

 My silent, interior prayer is never separate from the inner life of the Church,  “the fullness of Him who fills all things.”  At the center of the Church is the Mystery of Christ, the ever present and working relationship of the Son to the Father in the Spirit.  "And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out and to heal every disease and infirmity."  Called into Him so that they, in their visible, institutionalized, corporate entity, might become the bearers of the Mystery of Christ.  Through their successors they are the signs and reality of the Church.  It is not necessary to rehearse this aspect of the Revelation each time I pray, but it is the foundation of my life in Christ.  “They who see you see me.”  “Blessed are those who have not seen me but believe because of your word.”  "I do not pray only for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word …."  The Church in her sacraments and dogma is the sure door by which I enter into the Mystery of Christ, into divine union with the Holy Trinity.  This is the essence of my prayer.

 

‘Go and preach, “The Kingdom of heaven is near”.’

Jesus sent out the twelve to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven was near. In one sense it was far from near, but with the proclamation of Jesus’ message and his death and resurrection, the kingdom was certainly becoming more a reality.

The kingdom we all strive for is a reign of love and joy, of peace and truth. Of course, this will never be realised on this earth, but we must continue to strive for its coming despite the seemingly insurmountable obstacles that present themselves.

We pray with fortitude to continue loving God, serving our neighbour, and working with hope for the coming of the kingdom.