November 8, 2012

Thursday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 488

A Reading from St. Paul's epistle to the Philippians

Phil 3:3-8a

Brothers and sisters:
We are the circumcision,

 >>>That's an interesting way of putting it.  Because frequently, St. Paul condemns circumcision.  What I think he means is that we are the new Israelites.  We are the new people of God.

Colossians 2:11

King James Version (KJV)

¹¹ In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

¹² Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

The Circumcision without hands is Baptism.

we who worship through the Spirit of God,
who boast in Christ Jesus and do not put our confidence in flesh,

 >>>Apparently, the Jews used to consider themselves holy simply because they were circumcised.   To learn more about circumcision, you need to review the Scriptures about Abraham, which begin in Genesis 12.  For now, Abraham is the one with whom God established the Covenant of Circumcision.  All who are circumcised considered themselves sons of Abraham and therefore saved.  In Romans 3 and 4, St. Paul proved that it was not those circumcised in the flesh who were saved.  But those who, by faith, placed their hope in God.  This is what Abraham did, this is why he was circumcised.  Therefore, those who place their faith in God are children of Abraham.  Not those who have faith in the physical sign of circumcision.

Therefore, St. Paul calls that, "confidence in the flesh".   Whereas, he contrasts that to those who worship in the Spirit.

although I myself have grounds for confidence even in the flesh.

 >>>St. Paul here reveals that he, himself, was a circumcised Pharisee, son of Pharisees.

If anyone else thinks he can be confident in flesh, all the more can I.
Circumcised on the eighth day,
of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin,
a Hebrew of Hebrew parentage,
in observance of the law a Pharisee,
in zeal I persecuted the Church,
in righteousness based on the law I was blameless.

 >>>He did everything they were supposed to do and believed in his righteousness according to those rituals to the point of persecuting the Church of Christ.

But whatever gains I had,
these I have come to consider a loss because of Christ.
More than that, I even consider everything as a loss
because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

 >>>But now, he realizes that all those things were as dung.  And all he longs for is union with our Lord.

Responsorial Psalm 

Ps 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (3b) Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!

R. Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.

R. Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.

R. Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

 >>>Descendants of Abraham have faith in God.

Romans 4:18-20

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁸ Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
¹⁹ And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
²⁰ He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

We can make the same mistake as the Jews.  If we begin to say to ourselves that we are saved because we have been baptized and because we go to Mass on Sundays.  Unless we put the grace of God to work according to His loving Word, we will die in our sins:

Galatians 5:6

King James Version (KJV)

⁶ For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke

Lk 15:1-10

The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
"This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

 >>>The Pharisees and Scribes objected that Jesus attracted tax collectors and other sinners.

So Jesus addressed this parable to them.
"What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them
would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert
and go after the lost one until he finds it?

 >>>So, Jesus said to them, "Which of you, having a hundred sheep and finding one missing, would not leave the 99 and go into the desert after the one lost sheep?"

And when he does find it,
he sets it on his shoulders with great joy
and, upon his arrival home,
he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them,
'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'

 >>>And upon finding that one lost sheep, would not rejoice as though he had found a whole flock?

I tell you, in just the same way
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous people
who have no need of repentance.

 >>>In the same way, all of heaven will rejoice over one repentant sinner more than over 99 righteous people.

"Or what woman having ten coins and losing one
would not light a lamp and sweep the house,
searching carefully until she finds it?

 >>>What woman, having collected her dowery (the coins given the groom upon her wedding), having lost one, would not sweep the house day and night until she found it?

And when she does find it,
she calls together her friends and neighbors
and says to them,
'Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.'

 >>>And when she does, call all her friends and neighbors and tell them all about it so they might share her joy?

In just the same way, I tell you,
there will be rejoicing among the angels of God
over one sinner who repents."

 >>>In the same way, the angels of God will rejoice over one sinner who repents.

Sincerely,

De Maria