Daily Readings September 12, 2012

Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 439

First Reading from the 1st letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians
1 Cor 7:25-31

Brothers and sisters:
In regard to virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord,
but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.

It is evident here, that St. Paul was not aware that his teachings were considered Holy Scripture.  This is surprising because St. Peter clearly did know:

2 Peter 3:16
¹⁶ As also in all his (i.e. Paul's) epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

The parenthesis above are my addition.  I just wanted to highlight that St. Peter here equates St. Paul's epistles to the Holy Scriptures.  This must have been an illumination of the Holy Spirit to which St. Paul himself was not privy.

So this is what I think best because of the present distress:
that it is a good thing for a person to remain as he is.
Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek a separation.
Are you free of a wife? Then do not look for a wife.
If you marry, however, you do not sin,
nor does an unmarried woman sin if she marries;
but such people will experience affliction in their earthly life,
and I would like to spare you that.

I love this verse because it shows that the Catholic disciplines of chastity and abstinence are perfectly Biblical.  Here, St. Paul is advising young men and women not to marry.  He speaks to this more directly in another verse:

1 Corinthians 7:31-33
King James Version (KJV)
³¹ And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.³² But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:³³ But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

I tell you, brothers, the time is running out.
From now on, let those having wives act as not having them,
those weeping as not weeping,
those rejoicing as not rejoicing,
those buying as not owning,
those using the world as not using it fully.
For the world in its present form is passing away.

This is a very difficult verse to which I can add little insight.  Apparently, St. Paul thought the end of the world was imminent.  And so, he advised everyone to set aside the common things of life and focus upon the heavenly things.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 45:11-12, 14-15, 16-17

Response. (11) Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.

Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear,
forget your people and your father's house.
So shall the king desire your beauty;
for he is your lord, and you must worship him.

R. Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.

All glorious is the king's daughter as she enters;
her raiment is threaded with spun gold.
In embroidered apparel she is borne in to the king;
behind her the virgins of her train are brought to you.

R. Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.

They are borne in with gladness and joy;
they enter the palace of the king.
The place of your fathers your sons shall have;
you shall make them princes through all the land.

R. Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.

In this Psalm, we are the daughter who is called to forget all else and focus on God, our King.

Gospel
Lk 6:20-26

In this verse, we will see the New Testament version of the Blessings and Curses.  You can compare to the Old Testament if you read Deuteronomy Chapters 27 and 28.

Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said:
"Blessed are you who are poor,
for the Kingdom of God is yours.

As I understand the word, "poor" in this sense, Jesus is speaking of anyone, including the wealthy, who does not put their faith in any material wealth.  A poor person who seeks to be wealthy to the exclusion of God, would not fall under this blessing.  A wealthy person who does not rely upon his wealth but upon God, would fall under this blessing.  

Blessed are you who are now hungry,
for you will be satisfied.

This "hunger" is a reference to fasting from material things and to a hunger for spiritual knowledge.

Blessed are you who are now weeping,
for you will laugh.

This "weeping" is a reference to those holy people who are astonished at the heights of evil to which men will reach.  But in the end, they will see justice reign over the whole world and will then laugh.  It is also a reference to the suffering which we endure in the name of Christ.

Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil
on account of the Son of Man.
"Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!
Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.

For their ancestors treated the prophets
in the same way.


This is a reference to the fact that good and righteous people have been persecuted throughout the history of mankind.  But in the end, their reward will be great in heaven.

But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.

Cursed are they who put their trust in material wealth rather than God who gave them that wealth.

But woe to you who are filled now,
for you will be hungry.

Cursed are they who give no thought but to their own bellies and do not turn their eyes to heaven in thanksgiving for the food they receive.  Their bellies are full now, but their hearts will be empty in the next life.

Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will grieve and weep.

Cursed are they who see the suffering in this life and lift not a finger to assist them.  They will suffer in the next.

Woe to you when all speak well of you,
for their ancestors treated the false
prophets in this way."

Cursed are they who seek the praise of man but neglect to do the things which please God.  they have received their reward.

Sincerely,

De Maria