Posted on 03/16/2018 10:32:24 PM PDT by Salvation
KEYWORDS: catholic; jn7; lent; prayer; saints;
Please FReepmail me to get on/off the Lenten Ping List.
From: Jeremiah 11:18-20
Jeremiah’s First “Confession”
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
11:18-12:6. Then are five passages in the book usually called the “confessions
of Jeremiah”, (cf. the note on 11:1-20:18)—trusting prayers in which the prophet
opens his heart to the Lord and tells him his deepest feelings. They are given
this name because they are reminiscent of St Augustine’s well-known book
with that title.
Some commentators think that this first “confession” goes back to the early
years of the prophet’s ministry when the priests of Anathoth opposed him be-
cause his preaching provided backing for Josiah’s religious reform (the preceding
passage, 11:1-17, would only go to show that). The reform went against the ves-
ted interests of those priests, because it sought to concentrate all formal reli-
gious worship in the temple of Jerusalem. In any event, Jeremiah complains to
God about being persecuted by his fellow citizens and even by members of his
own family (11:18-21; 12:6). That explains why Christian tradition has seen Je-
remiah as a figure of Jesus Christ, who was also rejected by his own people (cf.
Mt 13:57; Mk 6:4; Lk 4:24; Jn 7:3-5) and who was sacrificed as the Lamb of God
to atone for the sins of men (11:19; cf. Is 53:7; Jn 1:29; 19:31). St Jerome, com-
menting on this passage, says: “All of the churches believe that what is said of
Jeremiah refers also to the person of Christ” (”Commentarii in Ieremiam”, 2, 11).
The words of the prophet, similar to those found in Job and in the Psalms (cf.
Job 21:7-13; Ps 37, 49, 73), express the pain, puzzlement and feelings of some-
one who sees the wicked prosper and is only too aware of his personal limita-
tions when he tries to do what God asks of him (12:1-4). The Lord’s answer
seems very harsh: the opposition shown the prophet by his family is only the
start: he needs to be more circumspect and to be ready to cope with even
more difficult situations (12:5-6).
The fact that Jeremiah puts on record not only his inner complaint to God but
also the uncompromising answer he is given, indicates that he accepted that
answer, it invites us always to respond to God generously and bravely, and not
to give importance to obstacles. Commenting on this passage, St John of the
Cross has this to say to those who seem to want to serve God but who balk at
the effort entailed: “If you continue to satisfy the comfort and tastes of the flesh,
your sensuality, and never arm yourself for battle or deny your body in anything,
how will you ever desire to enter the troubled waters of the spiritual trials and
works that lie deep within? O souls that desire to journey calmly and safely
through the life of the Spirit! If only you knew that suffering is the source of true
calm and safety, [...] you would never seek consolation from God or take com-
fort in created things. You would take up the cross, and be crucified, and drink
the vinegar and gall (cf. Jn 19:29), and you would discover that by dying to this
life and to yourself, you are brought to life in the joy of God” (”Flame of Living
Love”, 2, 27-28).
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
From: John 7:40-53
Different Opinions About Jesus (Continuation)
[45] The officers then went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to
them, “Why did you not bring Him?” [46] The officers answered, “No man ever
spoke like this man!” [47] The Pharisees answered them, “Are you led astray,
you also? [48] Have any of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in Him?
[49] But this crowd, who do not know the law, are accursed.” [50] Nicodemus,
who had gone to Him before, and who was one of them, said to them, [51] “Does
our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?”
[52] They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and you will see that no pro-
phet is to rise from Galilee.” [53] They went each to his own house, but Jesus
went to the Mount of Olives.
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
40-43. “The prophet” refers to Deuteronomy 18:18, which predicts the coming of
a prophet during the last times, a prophet to whom all must listen (cf. John 1:21;
6:14); and “the Christ” (”the Messiah”) was the title most used in the Old Testa-
ment to designate the future Savior whom God would send. This passage shows
us, once again, the range of people’s attitudes towards Jesus. Many Jews — not
taking the trouble to check—did not know that He had been born in Bethlehem,
the city of David, where Micah (5:2) says the Lord will be born. It was their own
fault that they used this ignorance as an excuse for not accepting Christ. Others,
however, realized from His miracles that He must be the Messiah. The same pat-
tern obtains throughout history: some people see Him simply as an extraordinary
man, not wanting to admit that His greatness comes precisely from the fact that
He is the Son of God.
46. The truth begins to influence the straightforward souls of the servants of the
Sanhedrin but it cannot make headway against the obstinacy of the Pharisees.
“Notice that the Pharisees and scribes derive no benefit either from witnessing
miracles or reading the Scriptures; whereas their servants, without these helps,
were captivated by a single discourse, and those who set out to arrest Jesus
went back under the influence of His authority. And they did not say, ‘We can-
not arrest Him, the people will not let us’; instead they extolled Christ’s wisdom.
Not only is their prudence admirable, for they did not need signs; it is also im-
pressive that they were won over by His teaching on its own; they did not say,
in effect, ‘No man has ever worked such miracles,’ but ‘No man ever spoke like
this man.’ Their conviction also is worthy of admiration: they go to the Pharisees,
who were opposed to Christ, and address them in the way they do” (St. John
Chrysostom, “Hom. On St. John”, 9).
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
Liturgical Colour: Violet.
First reading |
---|
Jeremiah 11:18-20 © |
'Let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name may be quickly forgotten' |
---|
Responsorial Psalm |
---|
Psalm 7:2-3,9-12 © |
Gospel Acclamation | Ezk33:11 |
---|
Or: | cf.Lk8:15 |
---|
Gospel | John 7:40-52 © |
---|
The Law does not allow us to pass judgement on a man without hearing him |
---|
“St. Patrick’s Breastplate”
I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same
The Three in One and One in Three.
I bind this today to me forever
By power of faith, Christs incarnation;
His baptism in Jordan river,
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb,
His riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom
I bind unto myself today.
I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of cherubim;
The sweet Well done in judgment hour,
The service of the seraphim,
Confessors faith, Apostles word,
The Patriarchs prayers, the prophets scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord
And purity of virgin souls.
I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the star lit heaven,
The glorious suns life giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling winds tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea
Around the old eternal rocks.
I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward;
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.
Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility
I bind to me these holy powers.
Against all Satans spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the hearts idolatry,
Against the wizards evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave, the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.
In Thee, O Lord, do we find refuge. May the inspiring words of St. Patrick’s Breastplate strengthen us as we walk through life. Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all!
John | |||
English: Douay-Rheims | Latin: Vulgata Clementina | Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000) | |
John 7 |
|||
40. | Of that multitude therefore, when they had heard these words of his, some said: This is the prophet indeed. | Ex illa ergo turba cum audissent hos sermones ejus, dicebant : Hic est vere propheta. | πολλοι ουν εκ του οχλου ακουσαντες τον λογον ελεγον ουτος εστιν αληθως ο προφητης |
41. | Others said: This is the Christ. But some said: Doth the Christ come out of Galilee? | Alii dicebant : Hic est Christus. Quidam autem dicebant : Numquid a Galilæa venit Christus ? | αλλοι ελεγον ουτος εστιν ο χριστος αλλοι ελεγον μη γαρ εκ της γαλιλαιας ο χριστος ερχεται |
42. | Doth not the scripture say: That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and from Bethlehem the town where David was? | nonne Scriptura dicit : Quia ex semine David, et de Bethlehem castello, ubi erat David, venit Christus ? | ουχι η γραφη ειπεν οτι εκ του σπερματος δαυιδ και απο βηθλεεμ της κωμης οπου ην δαυιδ ο χριστος ερχεται |
43. | So there arose a dissension among the people because of him. | Dissensio itaque facta est in turba propter eum. | σχισμα ουν εν τω οχλω εγενετο δι αυτον |
44. | And some of them would have apprehended him: but no man laid hands on him. | Quidam autem ex ipsis volebant apprehendere eum : sed nemo misit super eum manus. | τινες δε ηθελον εξ αυτων πιασαι αυτον αλλ ουδεις επεβαλεν επ αυτον τας χειρας |
45. | The ministers therefore came to the chief priests and the Pharisees. And they said to them: Why have you not brought him? | Venerunt ergo ministri ad pontifices et pharisæos. Et dixerunt eis illi : Quare non adduxistis illum ? | ηλθον ουν οι υπηρεται προς τους αρχιερεις και φαρισαιους και ειπον αυτοις εκεινοι δια τι ουκ ηγαγετε αυτον |
46. | The ministers answered: Never did man speak like this man. | Responderunt ministri : Numquam sic locutus est homo, sicut hic homo. | απεκριθησαν οι υπηρεται ουδεποτε ουτως ελαλησεν ανθρωπος ως ουτος ο ανθρωπος |
47. | The Pharisees therefore answered them: Are you also seduced? | Responderunt ergo eis pharisæi : Numquid et vos seducti estis ? | απεκριθησαν ουν αυτοις οι φαρισαιοι μη και υμεις πεπλανησθε |
48. | Hath any one of the rulers believed in him, or of the Pharisees? | numquid ex principibus aliquis credidit in eum, aut ex pharisæis ? | μη τις εκ των αρχοντων επιστευσεν εις αυτον η εκ των φαρισαιων |
49. | But this multitude, that knoweth not the law, are accursed. | sed turba hæc, quæ non novit legem, maledicti sunt. | αλλ ο οχλος ουτος ο μη γινωσκων τον νομον επικαταρατοι εισιν |
50. | Nicodemus said to them, (he that came to him by night, who was one of them:) | Dixit Nicodemus ad eos, ille qui venit ad eum nocte, qui unus erat ex ipsis : | λεγει νικοδημος προς αυτους ο ελθων νυκτος προς αυτον εις ων εξ αυτων |
51. | Doth our law judge any man, unless it first hear him, and know what he doth? | Numquid lex nostra judicat hominem, nisi prius audierit ab ipso, et cognoverit quid faciat ? | μη ο νομος ημων κρινει τον ανθρωπον εαν μη ακουση παρ αυτου προτερον και γνω τι ποιει |
52. | They answered, and said to him: Art thou also a Galilean? Search the scriptures, and see, that out of Galilee a prophet riseth not. | Responderunt, et dixerunt ei : Numquid et tu Galilæus es ? scrutare Scripturas, et vide quia a Galilæa propheta non surgit. | απεκριθησαν και ειπον αυτω μη και συ εκ της γαλιλαιας ει ερευνησον και ιδε οτι προφητης εκ της γαλιλαιας ουκ εγηγερται |
53. | And every man returned to his own house. | Et reversi sunt unusquisque in domum suam. | και απηλθεν εκαστος εις τον οικον αυτου |
Apolytikion of Patrick, Enlightener of Ireland
Third Tone
O Holy Hierarch, equal of the Apostles, Saint Patrick, wonderworker and enlightener of Ireland: Intercede with the merciful God that He grant unto our souls forgiveness of offences.
Kontakion of Patrick, Enlightener of Ireland
Fourth Tone
The Master revealed thee as a skillful fisher of men; and casting forth nets of Gospel preaching, thou drewest up the heathen to piety. Those who were the children of idolatrous darkness thou didst render sons of day through holy Baptism. O Patrick, intercede for us who honour thy memory.
Thanks for your contributions.
Pray for Pope Francis.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.