Reading 1 Jer 11:18-20

I knew their plot because the LORD informed me;
at that time you, O LORD, showed me their doings.

Yet I, like a trusting lamb led to slaughter,
had not realized that they were hatching plots against me:
"Let us destroy the tree in its vigor;
let us cut him off from the land of the living,
so that his name will be spoken no more."

But, you, O LORD of hosts, O just Judge,
searcher of mind and heart,
Let me witness the vengeance you take on them,
for to you I have entrusted my cause!

Responsorial Psalm Ps 7:2-3, 9bc-10, 11-12

R. (2a) O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.
O LORD, my God, in you I take refuge;
save me from all my pursuers and rescue me,
Lest I become like the lion's prey,
to be torn to pieces, with no one to rescue me.
R. O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.
Do me justice, O LORD, because I am just,
and because of the innocence that is mine.
Let the malice of the wicked come to an end,
but sustain the just,
O searcher of heart and soul, O just God.
R. O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.
A shield before me is God,
who saves the upright of heart;
A just judge is God,
a God who punishes day by day.
R. O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.

Verse Before the Gospel See Lk 8:15

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and yield a harvest through perseverance.

Gospel Jn 7:40-53

Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said,
"This is truly the Prophet."
Others said, "This is the Christ."
But others said, "The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he?
Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David's family
and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?"
So a division occurred in the crowd because of him.
Some of them even wanted to arrest him,
but no one laid hands on him.

So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees,
who asked them, "Why did you not bring him?"
The guards answered, "Never before has anyone spoken like this man."
So the Pharisees answered them, "Have you also been deceived?
Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?
But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed."
Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them,
"Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him
and finds out what he is doing?"
They answered and said to him,
"You are not from Galilee also, are you?
Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee."

Then each went to his own house.

From: Jeremiah 11:18-20

Jeremiah’s First “Confession”

[18] The LORD made it known to me and I knew;
then thou didst show me their evil deeds.
[19] But I was like a gentle lamb
led to the slaughter.
I did not know it was against me
they devised schemes, saying,
“Let us destroy the tree with its fruit,
let us cut him off from the land of the living,
that his name be remembered no more.”
[20] But, O LORD of hosts, who judgest righteously,
who triest the heart and the mind,
let me see thy vengeance upon them,
for to thee have I committed my cause.

*********************************************************************************************
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)

[40] When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This is really the
prophet.” [41] Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to
come from Galilee? [42] Has not the Scripture said that the Christ is descended
from David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” [43] So
there was a division among the people over Him. [44] Some of them wanted to
arrest Him, but no one laid hands on Him.

[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).

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible by Darton, Longman & Todd

Readings at Mass

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'

The Lord revealed it to me; I was warned. O Lord, that was when you opened my eyes to their scheming. I for my part was like a trustful lamb being led to the slaughter-house, not knowing the schemes they were plotting against me, ‘Let us destroy the tree in its strength, let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name may be quickly forgotten!’

But you, the Lord of Hosts, who pronounce a just sentence,

who probe the loins and heart,

let me see the vengeance you will take on them,

for I have committed my cause to you.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 7:2-3,9-12 ©

Lord God, I take refuge in you.

Lord God, I take refuge in you.

From my pursuer save me and rescue me,

lest he tear me to pieces like a lion

and drag me off with no one to rescue me.

Lord God, I take refuge in you.

Give judgement for me, Lord; I am just

and innocent of heart.

Put an end to the evil of the wicked!

Make the just stand firm,

you who test mind and heart,

O just God!

Lord God, I take refuge in you.

God is the shield that protects me,

who saves the upright of heart.

God is a just judge

slow to anger;

but he threatens the wicked every day.

Lord God, I take refuge in you.

Gospel Acclamation	Ezk33:11

Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!

I take pleasure, not in the death of a wicked man

– it is the Lord who speaks –

but in the turning back of a wicked man

who changes his ways to win life.

Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!

Or:	cf.Lk8:15

Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!

Blessed are those who,

with a noble and generous heart,

take the word of God to themselves

and yield a harvest through their perseverance.

Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!

Gospel	John 7:40-52 ©

The Law does not allow us to pass judgement on a man without hearing him

Several people who had been listening to Jesus said, ‘Surely he must be the prophet’, and some said, ‘He is the Christ’, but others said, ‘Would the Christ be from Galilee? Does not scripture say that the Christ must be descended from David and come from the town of Bethlehem?’ So the people could not agree about him. Some would have liked to arrest him, but no one actually laid hands on him.

The police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees who said to them, ‘Why haven’t you brought him?’ The police replied, ‘There has never been anybody who has spoken like him.’ ‘So’ the Pharisees answered ‘you have been led astray as well? Have any of the authorities believed in him? Any of the Pharisees? This rabble knows nothing about the Law – they are damned.’ One of them, Nicodemus – the same man who had come to Jesus earlier – said to them, ‘But surely the Law does not allow us to pass judgement on a man without giving him a hearing and discovering what he is about?’ To this they answered, ‘Are you a Galilean too? Go into the matter, and see for yourself: prophets do not come out of Galilee.’

“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, Christ’s 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 sun’s life giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s 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 Satan’s spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart’s idolatry,
Against the wizard’s 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.

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

40. Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
41. Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?
42. Has not the Scripture said, That Christ comes of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
43. So there was a division among the people because of him.
44. And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.
45. Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said to them, Why have you not brought him?
46. The officers answered, Never man spoke like this man.
47. Then answered them the Pharisees, Are you also deceived?
48. Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?
49. But this people who knows not the law are cursed.
50. Nicodemus said to them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)
51. Does our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he does?
52. They answered and said to him, Are you also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee arises no prophet.
53. And every man went to his own house.

AUG. Our Lord having invited those, who believed in Him, to drink of the Holy Spirit, a dissension arose among the multitude: Many of the people therefore, when they heart these saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

THEOPHYL. The one, that is, who was expected. Others, i.e. the people said, This is the Christ.

ALCUIN. These had now begun to drink in that spiritual thirst, and had laid aside the unbelieving thirst. But others still remained dried up in their unbelief: But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Has not the Scripture said, That Christ comes of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? They knew what were the predictions of the Prophets respecting Christ, but knew not that they all were fulfilled in Him. They knew that He had been brought up at Nazareth, but the place of His birth they did not know; and did not believe that it answered to the prophecies.

CHRYS. But be it so, they knew not His birth-place: were they ignorant also of His extraction? that He was of the house and family of David? Why did they ask, Has not the Scripture said, that Christ comes of the seed of David? They wished to conceal His extraction, and therefore put forward where He had been educated. For this reason, they do not go to Christ and ask, How say the Scriptures that Christ must come from Bethlehem, whereas you come from Galilee purposely and of malice prepense they do not do this. And because they were thus inattentive, and indifferent about knowing the truth, Christ did not answer them: though He had lauded Nathanael, when he said, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? and called Him an Israelite indeed, as being a lover of truth, an well learned in the ancient Scriptures.

So there was as a division among the people concerning Him.

THEOPHYL. Not among the rulers; for they were resolved one way, viz. not to acknowledge Him as Christ. The more moderate of them only used malicious words, in order to oppose Christ's path to glory; but the more malignant wished to lay hands on Him: And some of them would haze taken Him.

CHRYS. The Evangelist says this to show, that they had no concern for, and no anxiety to learn, the truth.

But no man laid hands on Him.

ALCUIN. That is, because He Who had the power to control their designs, did not permit it.

CHRYS. This were sufficient to have raised some compunction in them; but no, such malignity believes nothing; it looks only to one thing, blood.

AUG. They; however who were sent to take Him, returned guiltless of the offense, and full of admiration: Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said to them, Why have you not brought Him?

ALCUIN. They who wished to take and stone Him, reprove the officers for not bringing Him.

CHRYS. The Pharisees and Scribes profited nothing by seeing the miracles, and reading the Scriptures; but their officers, who had done neither, were captivated with once hearing Him; and they who went to take hold of Him, were themselves taken hold of by the miracle. Nor did they say, We could not because of the multitude: but made themselves proclaimers of Christ's v wisdom;: The of officers answered, Never man spoke like this Man.

AUG. He spoke thus, because He was both God and man.

CHRYS. Not only is their wisdom to be admired, for not wanting miracles, but being convinced by His teaching only, (for they do not say, Never man did such miracles as this Man, but, Never man spoke like this Man,) but also their boldness, in saying this to the Pharisees, who were such enemies of Christ. They had not heard a long discourse, but minds unprepossessed against Him did not require one.

AUG. The Pharisees however rejected their testimony: Then answered them the Pharisees, Are you also led away? As if to say, We see that you are charmed by His discourse.

ALCUIN. And so they were led away; and laudably too, for they had left the evil of unbelief, and were gone over to the faith.

CHRYS. They make use of the most foolish argument against them: Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on Him? but this people who knows not the law are cursed? This then was their ground of accusation, that the people believed, but they themselves did not.

AUG. They who knew not the law, believed on Him who had given the law, and they who taught the law condemned Him; thus fulfilling our Lord's words, I am come, that they which see not might see, and that they which see might be made blind.

CHRYS. How then are they cursed, who are convinced by the law? Rather are you cursed, who have not observed the law.

THEOPHYL. The Pharisees answer the officers courteously and gently, because they are afraid of their forthwith separating from them, and joining Christ.

CHRYS. As they said that none of the rulers believed on Him, the Evangelist contradicts them: Nicodemus said to them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them.)

AUG. He was not unbelieving, but fearful; and therefore came by night to the light, wishing to be enlightened, but afraid of being known to go. He replies, Does our law judge any man before it hear him, and know what he does? He thought that, if they would only hear Him patiently, they would be overcome, as the officers had been. But they preferred obstinately condemning Him, to knowing the truth.

AUG. He calls the law of God, our law; because it was given to men.

CHRYS. Nicodemus shows that they knew the law, and did not act according to the law. They, instead of disproving this, take to rude and angry contradiction: They answered and said to him, Are you also of Galilee?

AUG. i.e. led away by a Galilean. Our Lord was called a Galilean, because His parents were of the town of Nazareth; I mean by parents, Mary.

CHRYS. Then, by way of insult, they direct Him to the Scriptures, as if He were ignorant of them; Search and look, for out of Galilee arises no prophet: as if to say, Go, learn what the Scriptures say.

ALCUIN. They knew the place where He had resided, but never thought of inquiring where He was born; and therefore they not only denied that He was the Messiah, but even that He was a prophet.

AUG. No prophet indeed arises out of; Galilee, but the Lord of prophets arose thence.

And every man went to his own house.

ALCUIN. Having effected nothing, devoid of faith, and therefore incapable of being benefited, they returned to their home of unbelief and ungodliness.

Catena Aurea John 7

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March 17, 2018

Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Reading 1 Jer 11:18-20

Responsorial Psalm Ps 7:2-3, 9bc-10, 11-12

Verse Before the Gospel See Lk 8:15

Gospel Jn 7:40-53

Readings at Mass