Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

367 Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

CCC Cross Reference:
Mt 5:43-44 1933, 2844; Mt 5:44-45 2303, 2608; Mt 5:44 1825, 1968, 2262; Mt 5:45 2828; Mt 5:46-47 2054; Mt 5:47 1693; Mt 5:48 443, 1693, 1968, 2013, 2842

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Reading 1
2 Cor 9:6-11

Brothers and sisters, consider this:
whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.
Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you,
so that in all things, always having all you need,
you may have an abundance for every good work.
As it is written:

He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.

The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food
will supply and multiply your seed
and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

You are being enriched in every way for all generosity,
which through us produces thanksgiving to God.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 112:1bc-2, 3-4, 9

R. (1b) Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Blessed the man who fears the Lord,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Wealth and riches shall be in his house;
his generosity shall endure forever.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Lavishly he gives to the poor;
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel
Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door,
and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to others to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

First reading 2 Corinthians 9:6 – 11

Do not forget: thin sowing means thin reaping; the more you sow, the more you reap. Each one should give what he has decided in his own mind, not grudgingly or because he is made to, for God loves a cheerful giver. And there is no limit to the blessings which God can send you – he will make sure that you will always have all you need for yourselves in every possible circumstance, and still have something to spare for all sorts of good works. As scripture says: He was free in almsgiving, and gave to the poor: his good deeds will never be forgotten.

The one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide you with all the seed you want and make the harvest of your good deeds a larger one, and, made richer in every way, you will be able to do all the generous things which, through us, are the cause of thanksgiving to God.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 111(112): 1-4,9

Happy the man who fears the Lord.
or
Alleluia!

Happy the man who fears the Lord,
  who takes delight in all his commands.
His sons will be powerful on earth;
  the children of the upright are blessed.

Happy the man who fears the Lord.
or
Alleluia!

Riches and wealth are in his house;
  his justice stands firm for ever.
He is a light in the darkness for the upright:
  he is generous, merciful and just.

Happy the man who fears the Lord.
or
Alleluia!

Open-handed, he gives to the poor;
  his justice stands firm for ever.
  His head will be raised in glory.

Happy the man who fears the Lord.
or
Alleluia!

Gospel Matthew 6:1 – 18

Jesus said, ‘Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men’s admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

‘And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them; I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

‘When you fast do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they pull long faces to let men know they are fasting. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that no one will know you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.’

Readings and Commentary from the Navarre Bible

Wednesday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time

From: 2 Corinthians 9:6-11

Blessings To Be Expected
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[6] The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. [7] Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. [8] And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. [9] As it is written, "He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever." [10] He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. [11] You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

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Commentary:

6-15. The collection appeal ends with some remarks about the benefits that accrue from it. First, St Paul says that the generous almsgiving of the Corinthians will stand to them in this life and in the next (vv. 6-10), and then he refers to its effects on the faithful in Jerusalem: they will praise God and feel closer to the Christians of Corinth (vv. 11-15).

A person who is generous in almsgiving draws down on himself the blessings of God. St Augustine says: "Your Lord says this to you, [...] Give to me and receive. In due course I will give back what is due to you. What will I give back? You gave little to me, you will receive a great deal; you gave me earthly things, I will give back heavenly things; you gave me temporal things you will receive eternal things; you gave me what was mine, you will receive me, myself [...].' See whom you lent to. He nourishes (others) and (yet he himself) suffers hunger for your sake; he gives and is needy. When he gives, you wish to receive; when he is needy, you are unwilling to give. Christ is needy when a poor man is needy. He who is disposed to give eternal life to all his own has deigned to receive temporal things in (the person of) anyone who is needy' ("Sermon 33", 8).

6. This image of sowing and reaping is often used in Sacred Scripture to indicate the connection between one's actions and reward or punishment in the next life (cf. Prov 22:8; Mt 25:24-26; Gal 6:7f). What the Apostle says here reminds us of our Lord's promise: "Give and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap" (Lk 6:38). However much we give God in this life, he will reward us with much more in the next.

7. "God loves a cheerful giver": a teaching often found in Scripture (cf. Deut 15:10; Ps 100:2; Sir 35:11; Rom 12:8). An alms or a service done reluctantly can never please anyone, particularly God our Lord: "If you give bread and it makes you sad to do so," St Augustine comments, "you lose both the bread and the reward" (St Augustine, "Enarrationes in Psalmos", 42, 8); whereas the Lord is delighted when a person gives something or gives himself lovingly and spontaneously, not as if he were doing a great favor (cf. "Friends of God", 140).

8-10. St Paul emphasizes the abundant divine blessings--both temporal and spiritual--which generous almsgiving brings. In the Old Testament we read in the Book of Tobias: "Give alms from your possessions to all who live uprightly, and do not let your eye begrudge the gift when you make it. Do not turn your face away from any poor man, and the face of God will not be turned away from you. If you have many possessions, make your gift from them in proportion; if few, do not be afraid to give according to the little you have. So you will be laying up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity. For charity delivers from death and keeps you from entering the darkness; and for all who practice it charity is an excellent offering in the presence of Most High" (4:7-11). To almsgiving can be applied our Lord's promises about the hundred-fold in this life and then everlasting life--promises made to all those who give up something in his name (cf. Mt 19:28f).

"Righteousness" is equivalent to holiness. In the Bible the person is described as righteous or "just" who strives to do God's will and serve him to the best of his ability (cf., e.g., notes on Mt 1:19; 5:6).

10. "For," comments St John Chrysostom, "if even to those who sow the earth and to those who are concerned about the needs of the body, God gives in great abundance, much more will he give to those who till the soil of heaven and apply themselves to the salvation of their souls, for he wills that we should spare no sacrifice in that regard [...].

"This holy apostle gives these two principles: in temporal things one should limit oneself to what is necessary; but in spiritual things one should seek as much as possible. Therefore he asks that we should not simply give alms, but give alms generously. That is why he calls alms 'seed'. Just as corn cast into the ground produces a crop, so generous alms produces righteousness and abundant harvest" ("Hom. on 2 Cor", 20).

11-15. The collection is designed to relieve the material needs of the brethren in Jerusalem, but St Paul expects it to produce spiritual fruit above all—thanksgiving to God, on the part of those who receive the aid, for the faith and fraternal charity of the Corinthians, and prayer for them; and this will make for greater solidarity between Christians of Jewish origin and those of Gentile origin. This unity of the churches was one of the Apostle's prime objectives (cf., e.g., 1 Cor 1:10ff).

This concern about the needs of others, such as we see among the first Christians (cf. Acts 2:44-47; 4:34-37), which St Paul impresses on the faithful in the new communities he founds, should always stand to us as an example no Christian should be indifferent to the needs, spiritual or material, of others; he should generously try to meet these needs.

11. "Through us": in the sense that it will be Paul and his co-workers who bring the collection to Jerusalem.

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From: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

An Upright Intention in Almsgiving, Prayer and Fasting
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(Jesus said to His disciples,) [1] "Beware of practising your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in Heaven.

[2] "Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. [3] But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, [4] so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

[5] "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. [6] But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

[16] "And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. [17] But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, [18] that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

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Commentary:

1-18. "Piety", here, means good works (cf. note on Matthew 5:6). Our Lord is indicating the kind of spirit in which we should do acts of personal piety. Alms-giving, fasting and prayer were the basic forms taken by personal piety among the chosen people--which is why Jesus refers to these three subjects. With complete authority He teaches that true piety must be practised with an upright intention, in the presence of God and without any ostentation. Piety practiced in this way implies exercising our faith in God who sees us--and also in the safe know-ledge that He will reward those who are sincerely devout.

5-6. Following the teaching of Jesus, the Church has always taught us to pray even when we were infants. By saying "you" (singular) our Lord is stating quite unequivocally the need for personal prayer--relating as child to Father, alone with God.

Public prayer, for which Christ's faithful assemble together, is something necessary and holy; but it should never displace obedience to this clear commandment of our Lord: "When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father".

The Second Vatican Council reminds us of the teaching and practice of the Church in its liturgy, which is "the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; it is also the fount from which all her power flows [...]. The spiritual life, however, is not limited solely to participation in the liturgy. The Christian is indeed called to pray with others, but he must also enter into his bedroom to pray to his Father in secret; furthermore, according to the teaching of the Apostle, he must pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)" ("Sacrosanctum Concilium", 10 and 12).

A soul who really puts his Christian faith into practice realizes that he needs frequently to get away and pray alone to his Father, God. Jesus, who gives us this teaching about prayer, practised it during His own life on earth: the holy Gospel reports that He often went apart to pray on His own: "At times He spent the whole night in an intimate conversation with His Father. The Apostles were filled with love when they saw Christ pray" (St. J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 119; cf. Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16; etc.). The Apostles followed the Master's example, and so we see Peter going up to the rooftop of the house to pray in private, and receiving a revelation (cf. Acts 10:9-16). "Our life of prayer should also be based on some moments that are dedicated exclusively to our conversation with God, moments of silent dialogue" ("ibid", 119).

16-18. Starting from the traditional practice of fasting, our Lord tells us the spirit in which we should exercise mortification of our senses: we should do so without ostentation, avoiding praise, discreetly; that way Jesus' words will not apply to us: "they have their reward"; it would have been a very bad deal. "The world admires only spectacular sacrifice, because it does not realize the value of sacrifice that is hidden and silent" (St. J. Escriva, "The Way", 185).

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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. We encourage readers to purchase The Navarre Bible for personal study. See Scepter Publishers for details.

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