Celebración de la palabra

Friday June 5

Friday of 9th Week of Ordinary Time

JESUS MORE THAN A HUMAN PERSON

Introduction

The author of 2 Timothy asks Timothy to learn from Paul how to bear persecution and difficulties. He assures Timothy that the persecutors will be punished. Then, he asks Timothy to hold on firmly to the faith and to the sacred writings that express it. The Scriptures are inspired by God and like a handbook for a life of faith.
Using a rabbinic form of argumentation, Jesus states that he is more than a descendant of David. No king would have addressed his son as Lord. The Savior is more than a human being. Early Christianity understood this title of “Son” and “Lord” in the divine sense.

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
the person who laid down his life
to save us from our human limitations
and to let us live in your world
is your own Son and our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Give us the true wisdom
to accept him as the Lord of our lives
and your presence among us.
Let him lead us to you,
our God, for ever and ever.

First Reading 2 Tim 3:10-17

You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Responsorial Psalm: 119: 157, 160, 161, 165, 166, 168.

R. O Lord. Grave peace have they who love your law.
Many are the foes who persecute me, but I have not turned from your statutes.
R. O Lord. Grave peace have they who love your law.
All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.
R. O Lord. Grave peace have they who love your law.
Rulers persecute me without cause, but my heart trembles at your word.
R. O Lord. Grave peace have they who love your law.
Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
R. O Lord. Grave peace have they who love your law.
I wait for your salvation, LORD, and I follow your commands.
R. O Lord. Grave peace have they who love your law.
I obey your precepts and your statutes, for all my ways are known to you.
R. O Lord. Grave peace have they who love your law.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your word is a lamp for my feet,
and a light on my path
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Mk 12:35-37

While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”’ David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?” The large crowd listened to him with delight.

Commentary

The praise of the scriptures in today’s reading from Timothy underscores its centrality in the Christian life. It is honored and respected as inspired by God. How inspiration takes place is widely discussed by scholars; opinions on the subject are numerous. But the fact remains that from earliest times certain compositions have been confirmed by the church as inspired, while numerous competitors have not. They include books that have been received from the Hebrew tradition as well as those written in the light of New Testament revelation.
These books are normative for the Christian life. We are not free to pick and choose, although we certainly have our favorites. We are told that the scriptures are useful for correction and refutation. Since they constitute the inspired norm of our faith life, deviations can lead to wrong judgment and error. But most important, the Bible is important for teaching, to make us equipped for teaching in holiness and for every good work.
Today’s Gospel is a classic example of biblical teaching. The first and greatest commandment is the love of God and neighbor. With this as our guiding norm, we quickly realize that there is no commandment or precept that falls outside its domain. To be schooled in the scriptures is to be totally at one with God’s will.
In the past fifty years there has been a remarkable growth in our understanding of the Bible. Scripture formation is now part of the life of many parishes. We learn from the Bible’s towering figures and from the mistakes of some of its heroes. Above all, Christ stands as its center and heart. The scriptures are multifaceted, a rich source of inspiration.

Points to Ponder

Daily scripture reading
The Bible: inspired and inspiring
Teaching from the scriptures.

Intercessions

That we may recognize and love Jesus as one of us, who knows us and shares our struggles and concerns, we pray:
That people everywhere may accept Christ as more than a great human person and as our Lord and Savior, we pray:
That our communities may recognize Christ and his Spirit as the binding force of love and friendship among us we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
accept in this bread and this wine
our faith and our commitment to Jesus
as our Savior and Lord.
May he help us grow
in faith and patience,
in love and constancy,
that we may be ready for any good work
and encounter you and people
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
your Son is with us
as our brother and Savior.
It is our joy
that he has become one of us,
human, breathing, living.
We want to go his way.
Let his suffering be our victory,
his humiliation our honor,
his innocence our justice,
his death our life,
his resurrection our comfort,
for he is our Lord for ever.

Blessing

We believe in Jesus Christ, born of the virgin Mary and one of us, human, but more than a human person: the Son of God and our Savior. May Almighty God confirm your faith and bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.