Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 8-02-03, Optl, St. Eusebius/Vercelli, St. Peter Julian Eymard

Reading I
Lev 25:1, 8-17

The LORD said to Moses on Mount Sinai,
"Seven weeks of years shall you count–seven times seven years–
so that the seven cycles amount to forty-nine years.
Then, on the tenth day of the seventh month, let the trumpet resound;
on this, the Day of Atonement, the trumpet blast shall re-echo
throughout your land.
This fiftieth year you shall make sacred
by proclaiming liberty in the land for all its inhabitants.
It shall be a jubilee for you,
when every one of you shall return to his own property,
every one to his own family estate.
In this fiftieth year, your year of jubilee,
you shall not sow, nor shall you reap the aftergrowth
or pick the grapes from the untrimmed vines.
Since this is the jubilee, which shall be sacred for you,
you may not eat of its produce,
except as taken directly from the field.

"In this year of jubilee, then,
every one of you shall return to his own property.
Therefore, when you sell any land to your neighbor
or buy any from him, do not deal unfairly.
On the basis of the number of years since the last jubilee
shall you purchase the land from your neighbor;
and so also, on the basis of the number of years for crops,
shall he sell it to you.
When the years are many, the price shall be so much the more;
when the years are few, the price shall be so much the less.
For it is really the number of crops that he sells you.
Do not deal unfairly, then; but stand in fear of your God.
I, the LORD, am your God."

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 67:2-3, 5, 7-8

R (4) O God, let all the nations praise you!
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R O God, let all the nations praise you!
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R O God, let all the nations praise you!
The earth has yielded its fruits;
God, our God, has blessed us.
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R O God, let all the nations praise you!

Gospel
Mt 14:1-12

Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus
and said to his servants, "This man is John the Baptist.
He has been raised from the dead;
that is why mighty powers are at work in him."

Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison
on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip,
for John had said to him,
"It is not lawful for you to have her."
Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people,
for they regarded him as a prophet.
But at a birthday celebration for Herod,
the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests
and delighted Herod so much
that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for.
Prompted by her mother, she said,
"Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist."
The king was distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests who were present,
he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison.
His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl,
who took it to her mother.
His disciples came and took away the corpse
and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.

From: Leviticus 25:1, 8-17

Rules About the Sabbatical Year

[1] The LORD said to Moses on Mount Sinai,

Rules About the Jubilee Year

[8] "And you shall count seven weeks' of years, seven times seven years, so
that the time of the seven weeks of years shall be to you forty-nine years.
[9] Then you shall send abroad the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the
seventh month; on the day of atonement you shall send abroad the trumpet
throughout all your land. [10] And you shall hallow the fiftieth year, and
proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants; it shall be a
jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of
you shall return to his family. [11] A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be
to you; in it you shall neither sow, nor reap what grows of itself, nor
gather the grapes from the undressed vines. [12] For it is a jubilee; it
shall be holy to you; you shall eat what it yields out of the field.

[13] "In this year of jubilee each of you shall return to his property. [14]
And if you sell to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor, you shall not
wrong one another. [15] According to the number of years after the jubilee,
you shall buy from your neighbor, and according to the number of years for
crops he shall sell to you. [16] If the years are many you shall increase
the price, and if the years are few you shall diminish the price, for it is
the number of the crops that he is selling to you. [17] You shall not wrong
one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the LORD your God."

Commentary:

25:1-7. Here we can see concern for the conservation of land, trying to
ensure that short-term productivity is not obtained at the cost of
deterioration in the long term. It is always made clear that the earth is a
gift from God: therefore, God's sovereignty over the land has to be
periodically acknowledged. This is the primary reason for these rules about
allowing the land to lie fallow.

Exodus 23:10-11 also talks about the sabbatical year, but here there is
reference to additional reasons for it, to do with the welfare of the
under-privileged. These rules did not all have to be put into effect at the
same time, because that might have created a huge problem of generalized
idleness. In the book of Maccabees, for example, there are references to
difficulties that arose at that time due to one sabbatical year (cf. 1 Mac
6:49).

25:8-22. Here again the number seven, by being applied to the calendar,
creates a special situation. Now we have seven weeks of years, that is a run
of forty-nine years; and this leads to the following year, the fiftieth,
being a jubilee year. The rules about letting the land lie fallow are
applied to the jubilee year; special clauses are added, such as that to do
with the redemption of property. So, in the jubilee year, land acquired had
to be returned to its original owner This custom meant that what in fact was
sold was the usufruct of the land and its price would be a function of the
number of years' use the buyer was getting.

Again, underlying this is the idea that the land is a divine gift which
ought always to revert to those to whom the Lord originally granted it. Even
so, these regulations were not obeyed very well. Thus, we find the prophets
vigorously denouncing the way some people built up land holdings to the
detriment of others. The basic reason for their complaint was not just a
fine sense of social justice but the fact that God's rules were being
violated (cf. Is 5:8; Mic 2:2).

Verses 14-15 here are [as in the Spanish edition, which is also in line with
most modern vernacular translations] divided differently from the Nev
Vulgate division.

Verses 18-22 round off the previous passage and introduce what follows. They
remind people about the promises God makes to those who are faithful to his
commandments, and they are meant to encourage those who might be tempted to
think that God will not look after them if they have to face three years
without harvest (the sabbatical year, the jubilee year and the year after
it, at the end of which a harvest would be reaped). A provident God will
ensure that those who stay true to him will experience no want.

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

From: Matthew 14:1-12

The Death of John the Baptist

[1] At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus;
[2] and he said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist, he has been
raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him."
[3] For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison, for
the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; [4] because John said
to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." [5] And though he
wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him
to be a prophet. [6] But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of
Herodias danced before the company, and pleased Herod, [7] so that he
promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. [8] Prompted
by her mother, she said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on
a platter." [9] And the king was sorry; but because of his oaths and
his guests he commanded it to be given; [10] he sent and had John
beheaded in the prison, [11] and his head was brought on a platter and
given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. [12] And his
disciples came and took the body and buried it; and they went and told
Jesus.

Commentary:

1. Herod the tetrarch, Herod Antipas (see the note on Mt 2:1), is the
same Herod as appears later in the account of the Passion (cf. Lk
23:7ff). A son of Herod the Great, Antipas governed Galilee and Perea
in the name of the Roman emperor; according to Flavius Josephus, the
Jewish historian ("Jewish Antiquities", XVIII, 5, 4), he was married to
a daughter of an Arabian king, but in spite of this he lived in
concubinage with Herodias, his brother's wife. St. John the Baptist,
and Jesus himself, often criticized the tetrarch's immoral life, which
was in conflict with the sexual morality laid down in the Law (Lev
18:16;20:21) and was a cause of scandal.

3-12. Towards the end of the first century Flavius Josephus wrote of
these same events. He gives additional information--specifying that it
was in the fortress of Makeronte that John was imprisoned (this
fortress was on the eastern bank of the Dead Sea, and was the scene of
the banquet in question) and that Herodias' daughter was called Salome.

9. St Augustine comments: "Amid the excesses and sensuality of the
guests, oaths are rashly made, which then are unjustly kept" ("Sermon
10").

It is a sin against the second commandment of God's Law to make an oath
to do something unjust; any such oath has no binding force. In fact, if
one keeps it--as Herod did--one commits an additional sin. The
Catechism also teaches that one offends against this precept if one
swears something untrue, or swears needlessly (cf. "St Pius V
Catechism", III, 3, 24). Cf. note on Mt 5:33-37.

The Word Among Us

Saturday, August 02, 2003

Meditation
Matthew 14:1-12

Despite his powerful role as governor of Galilee, Herod was essentially a weak person. He could no more exercise authority over his wife and step-daughter than he could discipline his own lustful appetites. Thus, because he had so little interior self-control, he failed in his official duty. God placed Herod in a position where he could have been an instrument for justice, but when he found himself caught between having to save face and doing something that was right but may have embarrassed himself, he wavered. “The king was sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests . . . he sent and had John beheaded in the prison” (Matthew 14:9-10).

Had Herod held fast to the commandments of God, it’s doubtful he would have been caught in such a dilemma in the first place. But that’s the nature of personal failings: They invariably have effects far beyond a person’s own inner life. In this way, Herod is a lot like Pilate. Both of them allowed an innocent man to die because they were too weak to stand up for righteousness.

What of our own lives? God asks us to examine our consciences and identify when fear or weakness have moved us to put aside our God-given dignity and authority. We are nothing less than children of God, and we can live that role to the fullest by praying, reading Scripture, and serving the body of Christ. Whatever other roles we may have, we must be true to this touchstone of our lives. Our relationship with Jesus can have a profound influence on the rest of our lives. It will shape the way we fulfill our roles as parents, pastors, coworkers, parishioners, and neighbors.

As we allow Jesus’ words to pierce our hearts, his power and his wisdom will flow through us. It saddens Jesus to see people walking about shackled by sin or depressed by their circumstances. He wants to send us into the world with the message of hope that will lift their hearts. Let’s take the story of Herod as a cautionary tale and strive to do everything he failed to do. After all, if God is for us, how can we ever feel weak or helpless?

“Lord, let me see myself the way you see me, as your beloved child. Strengthened by that vision, may I boldly take up the authority you’ve given me in this world.”

One Bread, One Body

<< Saturday, August 2, 2003 >>

St. Eusebius of Vercelli
St. Peter Eymard

Leviticus 25:1, 8-17

Psalm 67

Matthew 14:1-12

View Readings

KNOW JESUS — KNOW PURITY

“John had told him, ‘It is not right for you to live with her.’ ” —Matthew 14:4

John the Baptist was martyred for telling Herod: “It is not right for you to live with her.” Because today many people are living together outside of marriage, we also have numerous opportunities to repeat John’s words to today’s Herods and be persecuted, even martyred, as John was.

However, John’s last recorded words must be heard in the context of his earlier words in reference to Jesus: “Look! There is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29) It is at best useless to tell people to repent of sin, including sexual sin, without telling them of the only One Who can forgive their sin and save them from being trapped in sin forever (Rm 7:24-25). In our promiscuous society, we need courageous crusaders for purity and against sexual sin. However, these crusaders will be successful only if they are above all evangelizers constantly pointing to Jesus, the Lamb of God.

At Holy Communion, we proclaim: “Behold, the Lamb of God.” Let us do this frequently in our daily lives. Then we and those around us will be able to be pure and holy.

Prayer: Father, make my love for Jesus the source of my purity (see 1 Jn 3:3).

Promise: “This fiftieth year you shall make sacred by proclaiming liberty in the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you.” —Lv 25:10

Praise: St. Eusebius fixed his eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:2). He wrote: “I forget my past sufferings. Consolations surround me on all sides: your firm faith, your love, your good works.”

FEAST OF THE DAY

In 1811, St. Peter Julian Eymard was born in a small town in the
diocese of Grenoble, France. As Peter was growing up, he spent his
free hours studying and learning Latin. At the age of 20, Peter
entered the seminary at Grenoble to begin studying for the
priesthood. Peter was ordained in 1834. For five years, Peter did
parish work but he felt called to the religious life. His bishop gave his
consent and Peter joined the Marists.

Throughout his life, Peter felt a great love and devotion to the
Eucharist. After efforts to include adoration of the Blessed
Sacrament to be included in the rule of the order, Peter set off to
start an order devoted to adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with
the blessing of his superiors.

In 1856, Peter started a religious order known as the Priests of the
Blessed Sacrament, and two years later formed an order of sisters,
the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament. Both had a special love for
Jesus in the Holy Eucharist and were devoted to adoration of Jesus.
As one of the labors of the order, Father Eymard started parish
organizations to help people, especially adults, be prepared to
receive First Communion. Peter did not limit his work to instruction;
he also tried to reach out to those who were estranged from the
church and to evangelize them. As well as preaching, Peter also
wrote many works, which have been translated into many languages
and are still available. He died on August 1, 1868, at the age of fifty-
seven. Pope John XXIII proclaimed him a saint on December 9,
1962.

St. Eusebius was born at the beginning of the fourth century in
Sardinia. As a child, Eusebius' mother ensured that he received a
Christian education. He became a priest and was elected the first
bishop of Vercelli in 345. He evangelized through preaching and
established monastic life in his diocese. As a bishop he worked with
St. Athanasius and St. Hilary against the Arian heresy, a heresy that
denied the divinity of Christ. This work earned him exile to Palestine
by order of the Emperor Constantius. During his exile, Eusebius
endured much suffering for holding to his faith and fighting the
Arians. After his exile, he returned to Vercelli and continued worked
against the Arian heresy. Eusebius died in 371. St. Eusebius is
considered the founder of the canons regular in the West.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Our Lord gives to souls of prayer a deep understanding of Himself.
He never deceives them. -St. Peter Julian Eymard

TODAY IN HISTORY

257 Death of St. Stephen I, Pope
640 Death of Pope Severinus
686 Death of Pope John V
1552 Death of St. Basil the Blessed

TODAY'S TIDBIT

Regular canons, mentioned in today's biography of St. Eusebius,
combine aspects of monastic life with aspects of clerical, but non-
monastic, life. This lifestyle seeks to minister to others while
maintaining a strong community and communal prayer life. This
model was copied by many later religious founders including St.
Norbert, the founder of the Canons Regular of Premontre.

INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Please pray, through the intercession of St. Peter Julian Eymard,
that all people may develop a greater love and devotion to the
Eucharist.

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