Posted on 01/16/2010 9:38:57 AM PST by GonzoII
January 17, 2010
First Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5
Psalm: 96:1-3, 7-10
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
Gospel Reading: John 2:1-11
QUESTIONS:
Catechism of the Catholic Church: §§ 486, 495, 969, 1335, 1613, 2618
When our hands have touched spices, they give fragrance to all they handle. Let us make our prayers pass through the hands of the Blessed Virgin. She will make them fragrant.
-St. John Vianney
מה־לי ולך
ma-li ulakh, -- what-to-me and-to-you
... of either hostility
Let's see.
Judges 11:12.
Jephte, the bastard mercenary, attempts diplomacy before fighting the Ammonites. Remember, Jephte is one who has no direct stake in the fight, he is there to gain legitimacy. So he tries a deal first: "what is it to you and to me that we fight at all?". As we know, there was no deal, Jephte pledges his daughter, wins the war and the daughter is sacrificed. Ther is a good reason for young Jesus to remember this story of a innocent dying for her nation. Pssibly, that was on His mind indeed when His Blessed Mother unwittingly set Him on the road to His sublime sacrifice. But there is no hostility to the King of Ammon in Jepthe's words, quite the opposite; it is a desire not to enter into a war.
2 Chron 35:21
Josias just finished celebrating a holocaust sacrifice as Nechao king of Egypt requests passage through his land to fight someone else. Nechao is trying diplomacy pointing out that the is hostility is against another house: "what is it to you and to me?". But the pleas for understanding is lost on Josias, who unnecessarily fights against Nechao and dies in battle. Once again, a theme of a feast and sacrifice intertwines with the theme of avoiding a war. Another Bible episode Jesus might have had on His mind at Cana. But again, "what is it to you and to me" are not words of hostility, but rather of wistful hesitation before a drama unfolds.
Lastly, 1 Kings 17:18.
A poor widow does not spare her pot to feed Elijah, who then blesses her with an ever-filling pot. Yet, later her son dies and the grieving widow accuses Elijah, who, she now supposes, comes to accuse her of her sin. "What is it to me and to thee, man of God?" Grief is palpable there, but no, there is no hostility. Elijah restores the son to life (never hesitate to ask a saint to make you whole, is the moral). We see how this episode might have weighed heavily on Jesus' mind and inspired His choice of words. But no hostility to His Holy Mother is there and obviously no hint of a rebuke.
Whoever put this "Catholic" NAB with its wretched commentary together badly needs our prayers.
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