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15th Sunday In Ordinary Time: 10th July, 2011<\/h2>\n15th Sunday In Ordinary Time: 10th July, 2011<\/h2>\nEach week I produce notes for the upcoming Sunday Gospel for the Bible Study at St. John’s.<\/p>\n
It’s a mixture of my own random thoughts, combined with what I’ve found in commentaries, sermons. I’m toying with the idea of publishing them here each week, so this is a bit of a test-drive…<\/p>\n
If you think you’d find it helpful if I posted this each Monday evening, please let me know.<\/p>\n
The Readings for this week focus around Jesus’ “Parable of the Sower”…
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Scripture:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Thus says the LORD:<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cJust as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; my word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Suggested Questions:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Introduction:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n This chapter of Isaiah is usually entitled \u201cInvitation to the thirsty\u201d<\/em>, continuing the three themes which we saw two weeks ago of food, God\u2019s word and God\u2019s provision.<\/span><\/p>\n In this reading, a parallel is setup between water from heaven (in the form of snow & rain) and the word of God. Rain nourishes the earth bringing about life and fruitfulness. The same is true for God\u2019s word. Both come from God and have the purpose of bringing forth new life. Rain gives life to the earth and God\u2019s word gives life to the heart.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThen the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb\u201d <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u2013 Revelation 22:1<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n In light of the New Testament, the \u201cword\u201d described here could be seen as Jesus, God\u2019s Spirit or the Gospel itself.<\/span><\/p>\n This reading speaks of the creative power of God. One cannot help but recall the creation account in Genesis 1 where God speaks \u201cLet there be light\u201d<\/em> <\/span>and there is. What God says, goes. His power as creator guarantees his power as Redeemer, which found its fullest expression \u201cthe word became flesh and dwelt among us\u201d (John 1:1)<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Commentary:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cJust as from the heavens the rain and snow come down\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Rain, snow and God\u2019s word all come from \u201cheaven\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201c…and do not return there till they have watered the earth\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Both God\u2019s word and water from heaven come with purpose. This tells us that God is gracious, purposeful and seeks fruitfulness. There is a theme of grace here (unmerited, undeserved, \u2026).<\/p>\n There is also a cycle going on \u2013 what God graciously bestows upon the earth ultimately comes back to Him:<\/p>\n In what sense does God\u2019s word \u201creturn\u201d to Him? In fruitfulness? In giving glory to Him?<\/p>\n \u201c…making it fertile and fruitful…\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n The purpose of both rain and God\u2019s word is revealed \u2013 to nourish and bring forth fruitfulness and life.<\/p>\n \u201c…giving seed to the one who sows…\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n This theme of the sower will be picked up in the Gospel, but for now it is enough to see that the earth\u2019s fruitfulness as a result of the water gives rise to the possibility of blessing the earth again<\/span> through new life. God\u2019s word blesses and gives spiritual life so that it, in turn, will give more life.<\/p>\n \u201c…bread to the one who eats…\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n This fruit produces yet further nourishment in the form of \u201cbread\u201d. In this we see allusion to the Eucharistic banquet, which is brought about by God\u2019s word: this banquet was made possible by Jesus, God\u2019s Word (\u201clogos\u201d), on Calvary and it is made possible today on our altars by Jesus in the words of consecration.<\/p>\n Scripture:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n R. (Lk 8:8)\u00a0The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n You have visited the land and watered it; Thus have you prepared the land: drenching its furrows,<\/em><\/span> You have crowned the year with your bounty,<\/em><\/span> The fields are garmented with flocks<\/em><\/span> Suggested Questions:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Introduction:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The psalm echoes many of the phrases that we saw in the First Reading. It speaks of watering the land, producing a harvest and feeding the people.<\/span><\/p>\n As I read the entire psalm, I noticed something. It might be worth skipping this point as you lead the group, but it\u2019s interesting nonetheless.\u00a0<\/span>I actually think we miss out on the real impact of this psalm because certain sections are omitted in the Lectionary. In verse six, which we don\u2019t hear, the formation of the mountains is described. But how were the mountains formed? How was everything formed in Genesis 1? By His word. God declared \u201cLet there be\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/span>, his word went forth, and it came to be. In verse seven, it speaks of the \u201croaring of [the] waves\u2026the turmoil of the nations\u201d<\/em><\/span>. This, again, harkens back to creation and the primordial waters when God\u2019s Spirit \u201chovered over the waters\u201d<\/span> and brought out of chaos, cosmos. I think that, with this as our background, the central message of this psalm becomes: He who made the world by His word, continues to care for it by that same word.<\/span><\/p>\n Scripture:<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Brothers and sisters: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Suggested Questions:<\/span><\/p>\n Introduction:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n This weeks\u2019 Second Reading continues the theme from last week of \u201clife in the spirit\u201d. Paul shows how, with an eternal perspective, present suffering is insignificant. He shows how the Fall damaged both humankind and creation. They both await complete redemption.<\/span><\/p>\n (As an aside, the next verse, verse 24, is the basis of Pope Benedict\u2019s encyclical \u201cSpe Salvi\u201d, “Saved by hope”)<\/span><\/p>\n Commentary:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cBrothers and sisters\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u2026through sharing in the same Spirit.<\/p>\n \u201cI consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Present suffering is put into context \u2013 in light of eternity (as Stephen explained when he was leading the discussion last week). With this perspective earthly troubles are put into their correct place.<\/p>\n Suffering is part of God\u2019s plan to conform us to Christ (Romans 8:29). Fortunately, in this we are helped by His Spirit (Romans 8:26). See Catechism 1042-47.<\/p>\n \u201cFor creation awaits with eager expectation\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Everything got screwed up in The Fall. Creation too is waiting for redemption.<\/p>\n Cursed is the ground because of you;<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>through painful toil you will eat food from it<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>all the days of your life.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>It will produce thorns and thistles for you,<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>and you will eat the plants of the field.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>By the sweat of your brow<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>you will eat your food<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>until you return to the ground,<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>since from it you were taken;<\/em>\u00a0f<\/em>or dust you are<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>and to dust you will return.\u201d <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u2013 Genesis 3:17-19<\/span><\/p>\n The Church and creation share the same plight and the same hope.<\/p>\n \u201cawaits\u2026the revelation of the children of God\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n This is rendered in other texts as \u201cawaits for the Sons of God to be revealed\u201d<\/em><\/span>. In the same way Christ\u2019s glory was hidden, so too is ours. The full manifestation is yet to come!<\/p>\n \u201cSee what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.\u00a0Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,<\/em>\u00a0we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is\u201d <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n – 1 John 3:1-2<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c\u2026in hope\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n This is hope in God\u2019s promises, particularly God\u2019s promise in Genesis 3:15 (known as the \u201cproto-evangelium\u201d or \u201cfirst Good News\u201d) where he promises a savior:<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I will put enmity<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>between you and the woman,<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>and between your offspring<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>and hers;<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>he will crush<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>your head,<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>and you will strike his heel\u201d <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n – Genesis 3:15<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n This picks up the theme of creation, re-creation and redemption we have in the earlier readings.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n That is, death and destruction.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026all creation is groaning in labor pains\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Creation is personified as a pregnant woman. These pangs will not cease until the Sons of God are revealed and creation renewed.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFirstfruits\u201d has Old Testament connotations. It\u2019s an agricultural term, relating to the first product of the harvest. The firstfruits of the word is the Spirit of love which is poured into our hearts making us children of God and promise of a future. From this, as Paul wrote to the Corinthians (2 Cor 5:17), we are a \u201cnew creation\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026as we wait for adoption\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n This is a completion of what God has already begun.\u00a0 While Jesus is Son of God by nature, we are His children by adoption. In the culture of time adopted children had complete rights as though they were natural born and entitled to the inheritance:<\/p>\n \u201cNow if we are children, then we are heirs\u2014heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory\u201d <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u2013 Romans 8:17<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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<\/p>\nResponsorial Psalm: Psalm 65:10, 11, 12-13, 14<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
\ngreatly have you enriched it.
\nGod\u2019s watercourses are filled;
\nyou have prepared the grain.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
\n breaking up its clods,<\/em><\/span>
\n Softening it with showers,<\/em><\/span>
\n blessing its yield.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
\n and your paths overflow with a rich harvest;<\/em><\/span>
\n The untilled meadows overflow with it,<\/em><\/span>
\n and rejoicing clothes the hills.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
\n and the valleys blanketed with grain.<\/em><\/span>
\n They shout and sing for joy.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n
Second Reading: Romans 8:18-23<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
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