SHARE YOUR RESOURCES – AUGUST 1ST EIGHEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR {C} Lk 12: 13-21)

John Wesley’s rule of life was to save all he could and give all he could. When he was at Oxford he had an income of 30 pounds a year. He lived on 28 pound and gave 2 pound away. When his income increased to 120 pound a year, he still lived on 28 pounds and gave the balance away. The Accountant – General for Household Plate demanded a return from him, his reply was ‘I have two silver tea spoons at London and two at Bristol. This is all the plate I have at present; and I shall not buy any more, while around me want bread.

1. It is not up to Christ or his Church to solve the world's problems. This is up to human institutions, the authorities charged with the task. The Church’s mission is to proclaim the Gospel of the kingdom of God.

2. Jesus did not come to abolish all evils here below, but to free men from the gravest slavery, sins which thwarts them in their vocation as God’s sons and causes all forms of human bondage.

3. Human development is not limited to economic development alone. Economic development is only one aspect of human development. The real development is the development of his/her being. The rich man was not dishonest. He did not cheat anyone. The mistake he made was to live forgetful of God and of his neighbour. The rich man was greedy.

4. There is no parable which is so full of the words, I, me, my and mine. This can be even called as ‘Aggressive Pronouns’ the rich man was aggressively self-centered. We should reduce the use of aggressive pronouns.

5. Jesus is not ordering us to live in a shiftless, thriftless, reckless way. What he tells is to do our best and leave the rest to God. I, you and we elements should always be there. Our self gets meaning only in relation with the others and God.

The Romans had a proverb which said that money was like sea water; the more you drink the more the thirstier you become. Similarly, as long as our attitude is that of the rich fool our desire will always be to get more- and that is the reverse of the Christian way. We should not forget that the instant culture which the media propagates induces us to become radical consumerists. The moment we begin to consider money as the end, our end is also determined.

Courtesy

Words of Eternal life

William Barclay’s Commentary

HEROD THE PRIDE– JULY 31ST SATURDAY (Mt 14: 1-12) (FEAST OF IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA)

1. Tetrarch – Matthew calls Herod Antipas correctly as tetrarch which means ‘ruler of a fourth or one of four rulers. After the death of Herod the great, the kingdom was divided and was divided among his sons. Antipas was in control over Galilee and Perea.

2. The powers are at work in him: The powers allude to miraculous happenings. The mighty deeds done by Jesus are attributed to supernatural powers at work in John the Baptist ‘living again’ – based on the new powers granted to John after his resurrection from the dead.

3. Herodias: She is not actually the wife of Philip. She was first married to a paternal – half uncle named Herod who she abandoned to marry another half-uncle Antipas. She was just waiting for a chance to take revenge on John the Baptist who was constantly rebuking her.

4. It is not lawful: The law in question is Lev 18: 16 “You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife...” It is also on the ground of impropriety of divorce and remarriage.

5. Herod’s Birthday: The banquet took place in Tiberius rather than Machaerus. According to Josephus the Historian, the daughter of Herodias is ‘Salome’. It seems she later married her uncle Philip the Tetrarch. That a Herodian princess should perform a dance in the setting of Herod’s birthday party seems odd. It is also believed that she was aged less than twelve.

Herod killed John the Baptist just for the sake of his ego. He did not want to reconsider the promise he gave to his daughter in the presence of his guest. What would have happened if he had denied the favour. At the most the guests might have made fun of him, Herodias would have frowned at him and the girl would have been given something else which would have really made her happy. But the human pride will never allow one to think. Our ego is capable of killing others even literally. This is a great lesson for all of us. Let us not sacrifice the nobler realities for the sake of empty pride.

Courtesy

Word Biblical Commentary

Sacra Pagina Series

The Pulpit Commentary

PROPHET IN THE HOMETOWN -JULY 30TH FRIDAY (Mt 13: 54-58)

‘When Columbus, meditating the discovery of America, had to seek patrons not of his own country’

1. Jesus left Nazareth after the arrest of John the Baptist, moved to Capernaum and areas around sea of Galilee. Now he returns to his hometown and begins to teach in synagogue, the very place in which he had worshipped as a young man. Though nothing of Jesus’ emotions is mentioned here, it would have been something special and unique.

2. The response of the people: They were amazed but did not move them to faith but skepticism. They judge them by their previous knowledge of him.

3. Only here he is referred to as ‘son of carpenter’ – his profession is revealed here. His mother ‘Miriam’ or ‘Maria’, brothers and sisters are also mentioned here. A lot of debate is still going on in finding out whether the brothers and sisters mentioned here are related to Jesus in blood. We believe it to be his cousins although there are no sure proofs on both the sides.

4. His own household and family members were indignant at the pretensions of one who was to them so familiar and hence thought to be ordinary. Mary is not accused of this as she kept pondering on these things with faith.

5. Familiarity with Jesus became a liability; since he was forced into a preconceived framework. Always outsiders have the advantage. For it is just this kind of familiarity and set of pre-conceptions that have been responsible for Jewish unbelief in the gospel and it made the Gentiles more objective in their understanding.

‘Unbelief is a sin that locks up the heart of a sinner and binds up the hand of the savior’ (Flavel) ‘Unbelief is an impediment to the performance of miracles. People did not believe in Jesus Christ because he was a carpenter’s son but this carpenter was of the house and lineage of David – His mother Mary by descent a princess of the great house of David. People do change but our mentality does not. We never change our first impression of things, this leads to a lot of problems when it comes to living together. Families break, communities shatter because of the prejudice we carry. We are in no way different from the people of Nazareth. We will continue to lock the hands of Jesus from working miracles as long as we lack deeper faith and trust in God.

Courtesy

The Pulpit Commentary

The Word Biblical Commentary

Sacra Pagina Series

THE FISHING NET – JULY 29TH THURDAY (Mt 13: 47-53)

47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous, 50 and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. 51 "Have you understood all this?" They said to him, "Yes." 52 And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old." 53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there.


1. Christ gave the disciples the drag-net which is the word of the kingdom. He taught them how to use it. They heard his preaching. His almighty energy went with them. They are not supposed to make distinction among the hearers. In the kingdom of God all are welcome.

2. The disciples of Jesus were fisher of people. They were called to do this service. Among them some were literally fisher folks. From the lower they were promoted to the higher fishing grounds. We do not always get fish in our nets and even if we get not all the fish can be eaten. This should not discourage the fishermen.

3. when it has been filled – the term ‘filled’ is related to the full number assigned to the Gentiles in (Rom 11: 25.) Here there is no Jew – Gentile distinction rather, it is righteous versus wicked (those who hear Jesus words and those who do not)

4. ‘the bad ones’ – the term ‘sapra’ refers to inedible sea- creatures and unclean fish. These do not have fins and scales (Lev 11: 10-12). The bad ones are thrown out not thrown back into the sea. After the judgment there will not be any bad people left.

5. like a householder – The comparison is with the householder who brings out his treasury new things and old things. Both new and old are valued; the new does not make the old useless. That the Messiah should dignify and perfect the Law of Moses was nothing new to the Jews. They looked for this, but the manner of its accompaniment shocked and annoyed them.



A true disciple is one trained in the mysteries of the kingdom, who is able to maintain a balance between the continuity and discontinuity existing between the era inaugurated by Jesus and that of the past. He must represent a Christianity encompassing both Testaments. Yahweh is our God not only of Jews. There is a tendency in all of us to ignore the Old Testament which is the backbone of the New Testament. We should never forget that ‘Old is Gold’

Courtesy
Pulpit Commentary
Sacra Pagina Series
Word Biblical Commentary

HIDDEN TREASURE – JULY 28TH WEDNESDAY (Mt 13: 44-46)

A nobleman once gave a celebrated actress a Bible, telling her at the same time there was a treasure in it. She thinking he meant religion laid the Bible aside. She died and all she had was sold. The person who bought the Bible in turning over its leaves found a five hundred pound note in it. Had the actress read the book she might not only have found the note but the ‘pearl of great price’

From the Pulpit Commentary


1. What is hidden?
• The chief good here is the treasure. The allusion here may be a pot of money or a casket of jewels hidden in a field or probably a mine of precious ore.
• Christ unites in himself all qualities of excellence and values.
• He represents the kingdom’s wealth and glory.
• Treasure of pardons for the guilty
• In him we find the riches of purity for the believer.

2. Why is it hidden?
• To rouse our faculties and to quicken our diligence
• We value things according to the price we will pay/have paid.
• They are hidden to conceal them from the unworthy fro they will trample on it.

3. From whom are they hidden?
• From the wise and understanding namely in their own conceits.
• From the self-righteous (Pharisees)
• From the sensual – the treasure of gospel is spiritual
• From the worldly – they see only the surface of the field.

4. Where is it found?
• In this present world – the field is the world – once the treasure was hidden in Palestine. Today it has to be found wherever the merchantman/ woman with sufficient diligent may seek for it.
• In the word of God, in the ordinances of religions and in the believing hearts.

5. How is it to be found?
• Sometimes it is found without seeking – the gospel found the gentiles when they sought not for it. But it is our duty to seek.
• The purpose of seeking must be simple. “To the babes is revealed the wisdom hidden from the wise and understanding”

The wise people buy the field. What do they give? All that they have- What had they before meeting Christ? Nothing but sin – Then what did they sell? Simply sins and all their sins! Unless we sell our sins we will not inherit the treasure!


Courtesy
The Pulpit Commentary
Sacra Pagina Series
Life Application New Testament Commentary

PRIVATE LESSON WITH THE LORD – JULY 27TH TUESDAY (Mt 13: 36-43)

1. At the heart of the discourse, Matthew placed Jesus’ private and detailed explanations of the parable of weeds. The central theme here is ‘patient perseverance’. Most probably this happened in Peter’s house in Capernaum.

2. Those who wished to follow Jesus should not merely satisfy themselves from what they read and hear from the Scripture. The levels of understanding differ from person to person. They should go in for deeper study to understand God’s word.

3. This is the only one of Matthew’s three sowing parables where Jesus identified who the sower is. Here the sower is the son of man, God’s seeds represent the sons of the kingdom, and field represents the world. The Son of Man is no less that the king himself who plants and grows kingdom citizens in his world at his discretion.

4. The gathering and burning of the weeds represent the gathering of all men and women out of his kingdom for judgment. It may be seem that the sinner escapes the consequences of it in this world but it cannot be carried on in the next.

5. Jesus often uses the term ‘weeping and gnashing of teeth’ to refer to the coming judgment. Weeping indicates sorrow or remorse and gnashing of teeth shows extreme anxiety or pain. Those who say they do not care what happens to them after they die, don’t realize what they are saying.

As Christians all of us have the obligation to preach the word of God. When we preach the word of God we should be careful not to give our own interpretation and water down the message of Christ. We should try to understand the context in which the text was written and then give it to people matching to today’s context. This needs a deeper study on scripture, personal time with the Lord and most of all the inspiration of the Holy Sprit. If one of the elements is missing we might fail to give God’s word convincingly to the people.

Courtesy
Holman’s New Testament Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary
William Barclay’s Commentary

MUSTARD SEED AND YEAST – JULY 26TH MONDAY (Mt 13: 31-35)

1. Some say the birds are those in the world who find their lodging in the kingdom – the kingdom (The Church) that had so small a beginning but is now growing into a world movement. Many in the world believers and non-believers alike have found help and safely under its branches. A great empire is said to be like birds who lodge under its shadow.

2. The mustard plant of Palestine was very different from the mustard plant which we know in our places. To be strictly accurate, the mustard seed is not the smallest seed of the cypress tree, for instance is still smaller; but in the Middle East it was proverbial for smallness. It grows to be great bush, a bush as large as a tree. Its characteristics were loftiness, expansion and prominence.

3. It is the fact of history that the greatest things must always begin with the smallest beginnings.
• An idea which may well change civilization begins with one person.
• A witness must begin with the single person.
• A reformation begins with one person.

4. This was one of the most personal parables Jesus ever spoke. His disciples must have been in despair. How would they believe that their little band could win and change the whole world? Yet with Jesus, an invincible force entered the world. It is an encouragement to us in our personal lives and in our ministry. No matter how small we may begin, we must continue on. If we continue, our lives and efforts will grow.

5. Parable of the Leaven or Yeast: The whole point of the parable lies in one thing – the transforming power of the leaven. Leaven changed the character of a whole baking. Unleavened bread is like a water biscuit, hard, dry, unappetizing and uninteresting; bread baked with leaven is soft and porous and spongy, tasty and good to eat. The introduction of the leaven causes a transformation in the dough. The coming of the kingdom causes transformation in life.

Let us make a positive impact on the people we meet. We are called to be like the mustard seed and the yeast. Our lives should positively influence people and bring hope in their lives. As the people belonging to the kingdom we should not consciously work on our popularity rather we should help other to become popular in the eyes of God.


Courtesy
The Preacher’s Outline and the Sermon Bible
William Barclay’s Commentary

TEACH US TO PRAY – JULY 25TH - 17TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (Lk 11: 1-13)

1. It was the regular custom for a Rabbi to teach his disciples a simple prayer which they might habitually use. John had done that for his disciples, and now Jesus’ disciples came asking him to do the same for them. The prayer begins by calling God ‘Father’. The very first word tells us that in prayer we are not coming to someone out of whom gifts have to be unwillingly extracted, but to a father who delights to supply his children’s needs.

2. Travelers often journeyed late in the evening to avoid the heat of the midday sun. In Jesus’ story just such a traveler had arrived towards midnight at this friend’s house. In the Middle East hospitality is a sacred duty. But unfortunately in the villages only enough for the day’s needs was baked. This puts the householder in an embarrassing situation, and he has to meet the sacred obligation of hospitality at all cost.

3. The poorer Palestinian house consisted of one room with only one little window. Families were large and they slept close together for warmth. For one to rise was inevitable to disturb the whole family. Further it was the custom to bring the livestock, the hens and cocks and the goats, into the house at night.

4. Jesus is not telling us to batter at God’s door until we finally compel him to give us what we need but to tell us, ‘if a churlish and unwilling householder can in the end be coerced by friend’s shameless persistence into giving him what he needs, how much more will God who is a loving Father supply all his children’s needs?

5. If we do not receive what we pray for, it is not because God grudgingly refuses to give it but because he has some better thing for us. There are no such things as unanswered prayer. The answer given may not be the answer we desired or expected; but even when it is a refusal it is the answer of the love and the wisdom of God.

Today all of us get dejected when our prayers go unanswered. We begin to lose our faith and immediately start questioning God’s existence. We need to be persistent and patient. Naturally the person who went on knocking the door would have felt bad at the reaction of the neighbour, but we cannot help it because the cause for which he came knocking becomes the priority. So also when someone comes in search of us in the wrong time we get annoyed. We try to avoid them and get irritated at their insensitivity. It is here we should show our magnanimity and sensitivity. We might be good hearted but if we fail to help the other in the right time, our goodness loses meaning.

For more insights on our father check out in the blog archive on 17th of June at davidgospeldaily.blogspot.com

Courtesy
William Barclay’s Commentary
Sacra Pagina Series

WHEAT OR WEED – JULY 24TH SATURDAY (Mt 13: 24-30)

1. The Attempt to make the field of the world appear uniform has been one of the most disastrous hindrances of the growth of religion. This measure of the servants has effected a more frightful desolation and barrenness than anything which the existence of the tares or the weeds could have done.

2. Within the Church it is often very difficult to know what wheat is and what is not. An opinion which is condemned as scandalous or full of danger may turn out to be true and wholesome.

3. Weeds actually here refer to a noxious weed that in its early stages closely resembles wheat and cannot be readily distinguished from it.

4. The picture of weeds planted in the fields was a known practice in ancient warfare and feuds- one destroys another’s agricultural base and his military power.

5. The owner deiced that the wheat and weeds should grow together until the harvest – a common metaphor for final judgment (Jer 51:33, Hosea 6:11). Jesus was making the point that while his coming signaled the arrival of kingdom its consummation could be delayed.

Good and bad always exists together. All of us are good but we cannot say that we are good always. God the supreme goodness does not condemn us even if we fail to manifest goodness in our day today life. The moment we do certain good we try blaming others who fail to do good. We have the mentality of the servants to do away completely with the weeds. Who knows one day with the grace of God even a weed can give fruit provided it is given a space to grow.


Courtesy
The Pulpit Commentary
Sacra Pagina Series
Life Application Bible Commentary

PARABLE OF SOWER EXPLAINED – JULY 23RD FRIDAY (Mt 13: 18-23)

1. This parable also has an impact on those who sow. The disciples were faced with a situation in which Jesus seemed to rouse nothing but hostility in the religious leaders, and nothing but is very short-lived response in the crowd. It is in no way surpassing it in the hearts of the disciples; there was sometimes deep disappointment.

2. When we sow the seed of the word, we do not know what we are doing or what effect the seed is having. It is our task to sow the seed and to leave the rest to God.

3. When we sow the seed, we must not look for quick results. There is never any haste in nature’s growth. It takes long time before the seed germinates in the heart of the individual.

4. The line between sowing the word and reaping the kingdom harvest is not straight and unproblematic. The word encounters many difficulties between its original sowing and its eventual harvest.

5. Although the response and actions of believers do not affect the final coming of the kingdom the choices they make are ultimately important, for they determine which side they are on at the final harvest.

We all sow seeds in our day today lives. Every thought, word and action could be a seed. Every seed will sprout in due time but we cannot expect bad seed to sprout as a good plant. Therefore we need to be careful in our day to day dealings. An unnecessary harsh word might hurt another person for his life time. A word of encouragement could elevate a person to greater heights. We should be careful in the choice of the seed as well the place where we sow it!

Courtesy
Sacra Pagina Series
William Barclay’s Commentary
New Interpreter’s Bible

MARY MAGDALENE – JULY 22ND THURSDAY (Jn 20:1, 11-18)

1. No one ever loved Jesus as much as Mary Magdalene. Tradition has always had it that Mary was a scarlet sinner, whom Jesus reclaimed and forgave and purified. Mary had sinned much and she loved much and love was all she had to bring.

2. When she arrived at the tomb she was amazed and shocked. Tombs in ancient times were not commonly closed by doors. It was closed with a huge circular stone. Two things may have entered her mind
• She might have thought that the Jews had taken away Jesus’ body to inflict further indignities on him.
• There were also people who made it their business to rob tombs.

3. Someone has called this story the greatest recognition scene in all literature. To Mary belongs the glory of being the first person to see the risen Christ. The whole story is scattered with indications of her love. She was the first one to proclaim the Christ event to the disciples which is the core of our faith.

4. She could not recognize him because of her tears. They blinded her eyes so that she could not see. When we lose a dear one, there is always sorrow in our hearts and tears shed or unshed in our eyes. Sometimes our sorrow is in essence selfish. We cannot be weeping for one who has gone to be the guest of God; it is for ourselves we weep.

5. She could not recognize Jesus because she insisted on facing in the wrong direction. She could not take her eyes of the tomb and so had her back to him. We forget that only the worn-out body lies there the real person is in the heavenly places.

The only message we Christians are asked to proclaim to the whole world is the message of Christ-event (Passion-Death and Resurrection). This is the core message of our faith. Mary becomes the first and privileged person to outsmart even the apostles. This speaks about the attitude of Jesus towards sinners and women who were ostracized by the society in various degrees. When Jesus asks her why she was crying, it appears to be strange. A person mourning for the dead is very much expected to shed tears but Jesus’ question was much deeper. Why should she cry when the person for whom she was crying is right in front? Today’s gospel is a great source of encouragement and hope for all those who have lost someone dear to them and who think that they are sinners and moreover for all those who have lost their self-esteem.


Courtesy
William Barclay’s Commentary
The Preacher’s Outline and the Sermon Bible

PARABLE OF SOWER – JULY 21ST WEDNESDAY (Mt 13: 1-9)

1. The farmer or sower is either the Lord Jesus Christ or a servant of His. The seed is the Word of God or the Word of the kingdom. It is called the imperishable seed.

2. Way side path – gospel hardened to: In the day of Christ there were no fences to separate property line. Instead, long narrow foot paths were used for the traveling public. These paths were trodden down as hard as pavement by the constant use of the traveling public. These people hear the Word but they do not understand it. They are in the church regularly and the Word falls on them. They are there with closed heart and minds.

3. Stony Places – Rocky Places – Backsliding – False Profession: Some received the Word in rocky, stony places. In some parts of Palestine lying right beneath the ground is a layer of limestone. When seed falls upon this ground something dramatic happens. The limestone holds the rain and heat from the sunlight right under the surface, therefore the fallen seed sprouts and dramatically. But it has no root. The application is very clear this person has what appears to be a dramatic conversion. He changes very fast but the change lasts only for a season.

4. Thorns – Worldliness – Wealth: Some received the Word among thorns. The thorny ground is deceptive ground. It looks good and clean, appearing to be clear of weeds and thorns but it is not. Right under the surface of the soil is a chain of roots ready to spring up. The fact that the roots are already there means that the thorns will be stronger and grow faster than the good seed. These people do not truly repent; they just try to take God and add Him to their collection in life.

5. Only a small number allowed the Word to take permanent root. A person who allows Word to take permanent root represents the honest and good heart.
• This person hears the Word of God and understands it. His heart is soft and tender towards God so he listens, mediates, concentrates and thinks.
• He is fruitful. He bears the fruit of God’s Word and Spirit of his own life

It is understood from the parable that all the seeds were in good condition. The only problem was with the atmosphere, conditions and the situations in which the seeds grew. We have a natural inclination to be closer with God but due to peer pressure, family backgrounds, wrong ideologies which are the real rocks, thorns, hard grounds we tend to fall away from the Lord. Let us make a serious attempt to keep our hearts and minds open to the Lord and He will surely make us capable of yielding hundredfold.


Courtesy
The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible
The Interpreter’s Bible

THE TRUE FAMILY – JULY 20TH TUESDAY (Mt 12: 46-50)

1. Jesus redefines the meaning of true discipleship and kinship. For him his disciples are those by their words and actions do the will of the Father.

2. Whatever hinders faith must be forsaken, even if it is one’s own family. Although religious commitment may well weaken family ties, the disciple will not thereby be left alone, without a family. Christians will join the household of faith the Church in which there is a Father (God) and in which there are brothers and sisters to love him/her.

3. We should not mean to imply that Jesus paid no attention to family ties, we may be sure that Jesus was devoted to his home and held his kindred and friends in dear regard. His simple message is that the spiritual bond between disciples and the kingdom of God is paramount over even blood bonds.

4. Friendship is founded on a common experience, and on the memories which come from it. When two people passed through some great experience and when they can together look back on it the real friendship begins. Friendship is founded on a common ideal. People different in background, mental capacity and even their methods can be fine friends.

5. This passage is rather controversial as to what exactly the word brothers of Jesus mean? From the fourth century onwards both in Eastern and Western traditions it was believed to be the cousins of Jesus. Did Mother Mary misunderstand Jesus? Certainly she would have found it difficult to understood Jesus but she was always with Him giving him the necessary support, care and concern.

Instead of thinking that Jesus’ own family rejected Him, we should understand that there is always a possibility that even our own can reject us. Usually good friends make bitter enemies so also familiarity breeds contempt. We are living in a situation where broken families are not uncommon. The agony of the children born in these families is immeasurable. Many suffer depression, stress, and loneliness thinking that there is no one for them. But we forget that there is Heavenly Father waiting with his arms wide open to embrace us and fill us with His love and mercy. How do we experience it? Is it in the life after? No! Here and now we can experience this great love if we are ready to spend little time with Him in prayer.

Courtesy
International Critical Commentary
The Interpreter’s Bible
The Anchor Bible Series
Sacra Pagina Series
William Barclay’s Commentary

FAITH NEEDS NO PROOF – JULY 19TH MONDAY (Mt 12: 38-42)

1. Sign: This word does not simply mean miracle, since Jesus had already supplied many of them, it must refer to some assurance or authentication that Jesus is truly from God.

2. Evil and Adulterous generation – the term is used as a metaphor to describe infidelity with respect to God. God’s relationship with his people is that of a marriage covenant (Hos 1-3, Is 57:3, Jer 3:9)

3. Sign of Jonah: According to St. Luke, the sign of Jonah is Jesus’ preaching of repentance to the marginalized as Jonah preached to the Pagan people of Nineveh, with reference to death and resurrection. The point in common is return to life after apparent/real death not so much to do with the number of days (three days and night in the belly of the fish and three days in the tomb)

4. The Pagan Ninevites who repented at Jonah’s preaching will condemn people of Jesus’ generation for their failure to repent in response for Jesus’ preaching. They repented even though they were pagans and had a lesser preacher (Jonah)

5. Queen of South: Queen of Sheba (Saba in South West Arabia) came to hear Wisdom of Solomon from a great distance, People of Jesus’ own generation failed to respond to his preaching to them.

Asking for a proof or a sign is a very normal thing. The world is full of signs and miracles which our Lord Jesus performs every moment but we fail to take notice of it. If something bad happens we blame it on God and if something good happens we think, it is by chance. We are in no way different from people who lived in Jesus milieu. When sometimes we see the people of other religions praying in our Churches with deep reverence, it make us bit uncomfortable and Jesus tell us today that the people who have faith in Him irrespective of their religion will be the first ones to taste salvation. It naturally leaves a warning for us Christians who take salvation for granted!

Courtesy
Sacra Pagina Series
Life Application Commentary

MARTHA VS MARY – 16TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – JULY 18TH (Lk 10: 38-42)

I cannot choose; I should have liked so much
To sit at Jesus’ feet, - to feel the touch
Of His kind, gentle hand upon my head
While drinking in the gracious words He said

Worship or service – which? Ah, that is best
To which He calls us, be it toil or rest
To labour for Him in life’s busy stir
Or seek His feet, a silent worshipper
Caroline A. Mason

1. Two temperaments: There are some natures which are essentially passive whose power is in their receptivity and whose chief ministry is in their presence. Their lives pronounce benedictions just as the activities of other confer benefactions.

2. Mary had done all that she thought necessary for comfort and decency; and she valued her Guest enough to desire to get something out of His visit than mere pleasure of seeing Him eat or the gratification of having Him praise her viands.

3. The contrast drawn here is not between two types of character, one of which is held to be inferior to the other. Jesus would not want all his Marthas to become Marys and all His Marys, Marthas. The only thing to keep in mind is Christ should be first everywhere

4. Doing and Being: Neither sister could fill the other’s place. Martha would have made a most fidgeting Mary and Mary a most unconcerned Martha. The one was a perfect head of the house and the other was the heart of the home. It is easier to do than to be. We have a strong an impulse towards doing and we take pleasure in doing almost by a necessity of our nature. The life of being is higher than the life of doing.

5. First things first: Union with God is the only thing needful for eternal happiness and unless that union is attained already here, we do not have surety that we will attain it life after.

When giving a gift to our beloved it is not the cost of the gift that matters but that of the expression of love. The costlier gift which is given without real concern may have a high market value but not the real value. Martha wants to make Jesus feel at home but she failed to perceive the real need of the guest. This guest does not come to feast but to share his unconditional love. Mary was quite prudent in discerning what was the best and Jesus appreciates her choice. A lot of interpretations can be given between contemplation and action but it is always good to have a balance without shutting one aspect completely.

Courtesy
Great texts of the Bible
Sacra pagina Series
The Preacher’s Outline and sermon Bible

MESSIAH IS THE CHOSEN SERVANT OF GOD – JULY 17TH SATURDAY (Mt 12: 1-8)

1. Why did Jesus withdraw and charge the people not to make Him known?
• Jesus did not wish to provoke the religionists to a deliberate conflict putting Himself in premature peril.
• Jesus did not wish to be pushed forward by public acclaim to assume kingship.
• Jesus needed time to teach the people what true Messiahship meant.

2. Christ submitted Himself to do God’s will; therefore He was given a great work to do and He experienced the great trust and love of God.

3. Jesus Christ is God’s beloved Son. There are two precious thoughts here.
• Christ has been in the bosom of the Father throughout all eternity. God has always held Christ to be very dear and very precious to Him.
• Christ was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in God’s presence.

4. God puts His Sprit upon everyone whom He chooses. This means at least two things
• God gives spiritual gifts and power to every chosen vessel.
• God also bestow some of His image, some of his likeness upon every chosen person.

5. Christ loved and encouraged all human beings. He did not come to destroy but to heal the ‘bruised reed’, those who were hurt, battered, crushed, discouraged, depressed, down, and insecure and the inferior.

Jesus Christ never wanted publicity. His only purpose was to give glory to His Father. We are living in times when everyone wants to grab the attention of the others. Self Promotion and Self Campaigning are the order of today. Humility is no more considered as virtue rather it is considered as a liability to be eliminated. Christ’s message may apparently sound irrelevant, but as His followers we need to become humble like him. Humility will promote all of us to the status of beloved sons and daughters of the Lord.

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The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible

MESSIAH IS GREATER THAN SABBATH – JULY 16TH FRIDAY (Mt 12: 1-8)

1. The Pharisees’ complaint against Jesus’ disciples interprets their actions as infringing upon Exodus 34:21. There is a list of thirty nine labours that are prohibited on the Sabbath. The labour that best correspond to what the disciples did is reaping.

2. There are rules in the Torah itself that allow priests to do work in the Temple on the Sabbath like setting the bread of the presence (Lev 24:8) and doubling the daily burnt offering (num 28: 9-10). By finding precedents within the Torah, Matthew places the activity of Jesus’ disciples on the Sabbath within the confines of Jewish law.

3. To pick the heads of wheat and to eat: The disciples’ action follows Deut 23:25 ‘when you go into your neighbour’s standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you may not put the sickle to your neighbour’s standing grain’

4. For Christians Sunday is the Sabbath. Necessary work is any work that is needed to sustain life and worship and mediate upon God. Sabbath or Sunday rest is not to hinder the worship of God but to give time for it and to encourage it.

5. The Messiah is the Lord of the Sabbath and of religion. As Lord, He is the One who determines what true religion is.
• It is loving God by believing on the name of His son Jesus Christ
• It is loving our neighbours as ourselves – ministering to them and caring for them.

Rules are made for human beings not the other way. This should be the attitude with which we should follow the rules. This does not mean we should take exceptions from the rules as and when we want but should try keeping it. When dealing with others we normally do not allow them to take exceptions but in our case we often take exceptions. We should learn to be strict with ourselves and be liberal with others without making compromises.

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Sacra Pagina Series
The Preacher’s outline and sermon Bible

THE GREAT INVITATION – JULY 15TH THURSDAY (Mt 11: 28-30)

1 . It was an age of political revolution. The old stern morality which had made Rome was breaking up like rotten ice. Marriage became a mere temporary convenience. It was an age of social unrest. And the greater suicides at that time in the Roman Empire pointed to the despair which was creeping over soul after soul.

2 . The Lake District Galilee was rich in national product with fertile fields, good catch of fish and with a mine of wealth. But the wealth of Galilee went to feed the luxury of Rome. Hence the husbandmen and fishermen in worst sense labored and were heavy laden.

3 . Sin is the cause of all unrest, the poison which has fevered every life. Sin is the root of all weakness and weariness which rob life of its true quality. Christ offers rest to the weary and heavy laden – proposing to deal with the sin which has created their need.

4 . Rest is a gift; it is not earned. It is not the emolument of toil but the dowry of grace. The rest Christ gives is based on a perfect reconciliation to God. We enter into the truest rest when we believe that He takes part with us and that we can depend upon Him.

5 . Christ also lays a yoke upon us. Justin the Martyr taking the information from the now lost ‘Gospel according to the Hebrews’ tells us that Jesus was a carpenter at Nazareth. He knew what kind of yoke would be hard to wear and what would be easy. If Jesus is thoughtful in making a yoke for dumb animals, how much more will be considerate to human souls?

Today all of us need rest. Rest should not be understood as being lazy but being with our own selves. When we pass through the busy roads of cities we wonder why people rush so madly at a speed which is fatal. We are preoccupied with so many things and we have lost the purpose of our lives. Jesus is inviting us to rest a while with Him. Jesus is not freeing us from the yoke but makes it easier. The concrete way of resting would be to attend a retreat or at least to spend a few hours in silence. Shall we give it a try?

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The Great Texts of the Bible
Sacra Pagina Series
Life Application Bible Commentary

FATHER – SON RELATIONSHIP – JULY 14TH WEDNESDAY (Mt 11: 25-27)

“Still to the lowly soul
He doth himself impart,
And for his dwelling and his throne
Chooseth the pure in heart”
-Percy Dearmer

1. Jesus is not condemning the intellectual power but intellectual pride. A. Plumner says “The heart, not the head is the home of the gospel” It is not cleverness which shuts out, it is pride. It is not stupidity which admits; it is humility.

2. The wise here refers to scribes and Pharisees who reject Jesus. It can also include others like the inhabitants of the un-repented cities.

3. Infants here means simple minded, uneducated, shepherds and in particular Jesus’ disciples who hear him and perceive his significance. They are referred to as little ones because of their lack of social standing and expertise in religious matters.

4. Jesus makes three claims to having a special relationship with God.
• My father has given me authority over everything: It explains shared knowledge. There is no secret between Father and the Son.
• No one really knows the son except the Father: In the Old Testament, knowing meant more than knowledge, it implied intimate relationship.
• No one knows the Father except the son: For anyone else to know God, God must reveal Himself to that person, by the son’s choice. People can approach God only through Jesus.

5. Those to whom the son chooses to reveal him can also participate in this divine intimacy with the Father.

Pride could be too dangerous and its effect is that of the slow poisoning. There is no reason for anyone to be pride after all we have received everything from the Lord at free of cost. We should be grateful to Jesus for having chosen us to reveal the Father through Baptism and other sacraments. The moment we are engulfed by Pride our visions will be blurred and eventually we will never be able to participate in the divine intimacy with the Father.

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Hermeneia – A critical and historical Commentary on the Bible
Sacra Pagina Series
Life Application Bible Commentary
Holmans’ Commentary on the New Testament

PRIVILEGE DEMANDS RESPONSIBILITY – JULY 13TH TUESDAY (Mt 11:20-24)

1. Since Chorazin and Bethsaida had rejected Jesus, they would suffer greater punishment that the so called wicked cities who had not seen Jesus. These people had less opportunity to believe and therefore they would be accountable for less. Similarly nations with Churches on every corner and Bible in every home will not have excuse on judgment day if they do not repent.

2. A short note on the cities mentioned
• Chorazin: This town in upper Galilee is located two miles north of Capernaum. Recent excavations have revealed that a medium sized town with a public building and synagogue existed around Jesus time.
• Bethsaida : literally means house of the fisherman. It is located at the north eastern corner of the sea of Galilee where Jordan flows in. Herod Philip raised it to the dignity of a city.
• Tyre and Sidon: Both were on Mediterranean coast in southern Lebanon. These two were mentioned in several prophetic literature (Is 23: 1-12, Jer 25:22, Ezek 28: 11-23) in context of destruction.
• Capernaum: It is located on the North West shore of Sea of Galilee. It is the geographical centre of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee and identical as his city.
• Sodom: It is one of the five cities of the valley located at the southern end of Dead Sea. – Emerges as a negative example of inhospitality and sexual perversity.

3. The severity of judgment is determined by the extent of privilege. One is accountable for no more and no less than which has come within the range of his opportunity and competence.

4. The most serious fact about sin is that it is alike a disease, it carries within itself the seeds of self-destruction. Sin carries ruin within itself.

5. Jesus did many miracles in Chorazin and Bethsaida yet there are no records of the miracles or works. We must always remember that what we have in the New Testament is only a small number of the miracles and works that Christ did.


Jesus words keep disturbing us. It should disturb us all the more because as Christians we are given a lot or privileges. Rights and responsibility are the two sides of the coins. Most of the times, we fight for our rights forgetting the aspect of responsibility. As members of the Church we are given a lot of privileges like meeting the Lord in the Eucharist, reading God’s words in the Bible, listening to the promptings of the spirit through the Church documents etc. These privileges call for greater responsibility. We are called to live a life of holiness by saying no to sins and inclinations of evil. Failing to realize these duties will surely make us culpable before God.

Courtesy
The Broadman Bible Commentary
Sacra Pagina Series
The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible
Hermeneia – A critical and historical Commentary on the Bible
Life Application Bible Commentary

JESUS DISTURBS – JULY 12TH MONDAY (Mt 10: 34- 11:1)

1. I did not come to bring peace: He did not come to give His approval or sanction to the physical corruption and decay of the earth. He came to war against aging decay and death. He did not come to give His approval to the sin and evil of the earth. He came to bring a sword to earth to war against sin and evil and to destroy all the evil that is both within and without human being.

2. Jesus’ presence automatically causes division. This is because the believers’ godly and divine nature is so completely opposite from his fallen and Adamic nature.

3. Family division: Jesus sets the believer against his family. It is important to see that it is Jesus who causes the division. Jesus calls a person out of the world and separates him from the world so that he can go about correcting the evil of the world.
• The believer struggles to save his loved one, no matter what opposition he may face.
• The family member is capable of rebelling against the righteousness and efforts of the believer.

4. We must love God supremely, putting Him before all others even before our family members. When we do this our families are assured of being everything they should be and of being looked after and cared for by God (Mt 6:33). Therefore a man’s decision to follow Christ no matter the sacrifice to his family is a wise decision.

5. A person must not search for his life on this earth. If he finds life on earth, he will lose his life why?
• The flesh, with all its goose pimples and chills and butterflies, is not life
• Wealth, with all the things it can purchase is not life
• Recognition and fame, with all the ego it can boost, is not life
• Power, with all the rights and pomp it can give is of life
• Pride with all the self image it can build, is not life

Jesus’ message would disturb all of us. We tend to take shelter in things we like most. For an intellectual -books, for an emotional person – relationships, for a lazy person – sleep, for a pastoral minded person – the active ministry etc. It is good to have our own liking but we should not make it an absolute. Jesus disturbs all of us who are comfortably sitting on laurels – and tells forcefully the need to take shelter in Himself, which demands certain discipline, commitment, faith and hope from our part!

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Preacher’s outline and Sermon Bible
Sacra Pagina Series

GOOD SAMARITAN – 15TH SUNDAY – JULY 11TH (Lk 10: 25-37)

1. The expert who asked Jesus knows the Law of Moses. He quoted from Duet 6:5, Leviticus 19:18. Law implies two types of relationships, vertical and horizontal. A person cannot maintain good vertical relationship without also caring for neighbors.

2. Jerusalem to Jericho – the distance was about seventeen miles on road that was notoriously dangerous. Jerusalem is 2500 feet above the sea level, Jericho is 700 feet below and so the journey is downwards. Priest who served in the Temple, the temple assistant were concerned over defilement – they would not be able to worship. The next person is Samaritan, nobody would have thought that he would help a Jew but he did.

3. A scorned Samaritan knows how to show love to his neighbours, whereas a priest and Levite who had intimate knowledge of God’s law do not.

4. Oil was used to soothe wounds; wine was used as a disinfectant. The Samaritan if he paid a typical rate of one-twelfth of a denarius a day, paid for twenty four days at the inn, he has spent a lot of his money. Given the man had been robbed, such support was necessary. Compassion is concretely expressed in both time and money.

5. The point of the story is not to show contrast between Jews and Samaritans to the advantage of the latter but a contrast between those who were established and recognized as part of the people and those who were not.

All of us are so familiar with this parable that it may sound as a cliché. We may fail to understand the real meaning of the gospel. Today we have a lot of neighbors but very few good Samaritans. The priest and Levite were not actually bad people but they gave their priority to institution forgetting the person. Whenever we encounter a person who meets with an accident, most of us feel pity but are not ready to take the risk of helping the person in need. We are worried about the formalities it would demand. Certainly the Samaritan had to take a huge risk. He had to give his donkey, money and time for a person whom he might have hated from his childhood. Let us not pass through this day without becoming a Good Samaritan for at least one person who is in need!
Courtesy
New Illustrated Bible Commentary
Bible Background Commentary
Sacra Pagina Series

THE PRIVILEGE OF PERSECUTION – JULY 10TH SATURDAY (Mt 10: 24-33)

1. The disciple knows that their fate will be no different from that of their master and therefore should not fear those who mistreat and vilify them before a court of law.
2. 2. Beelzebub is an Israelite term of mockery for a Philistine God. It means literally “ Lord of the flies”
3. The price of sparrows used in sacrifices is intended to emphasize the insignificance of bird; while the numbering of one’s hair emphasizes how much the Father values and cares for his child.
4. There are several reasons why men are not to be feared.
• Men can kill only the body, not the soul. Their power is limited and they can go no further.
• Men can only send us out of this world, not out of heaven. “ To be with Christ is better by far”
• Men can only separate us from this world, not from life.
5. Fearing men causes several things
• It causes a person to become disturbed within heart and mind: loss of peace
• It causes a person to be sidetracked and to give up what he knows to be God’s will: the loss of mission and meaning and purpose
• It causes a person to lose his fervor and his sense of commitment.

Today’s gospel passage is clear and direct. Calvin said “These things are matters more for meditation than for explanation, for they are sufficiently clear in themselves” . We are not above our master and Lord Jesus Christ and therefore we should be ready to walk in his footsteps. Jesus promises not only persecution but also care and protection to the extent of knowing every hair of person’s head. We should be fortunate to be His disciples and should make every effort to keep our souls pure and holy.

Courtesy
Hermeneia - A critical and historical commentary on the Bible
Life Application N.T. Commentary
The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible

BE PRUDENT LIKE SERPENTS – JULY 9TH FRIDAY (Mt 10: 16-23)

1. The Lord’s people and messengers are exposed to a world of evil people (wolves). Therefore they are to do two things.
 Be wise or shrewd as snakes. In facing danger, the snake acts wise..
• It tries to escape
• It takes shelter out of sight if possible
• Is quiet
• Does not expose itself needlessly
• Seeks preservation first of all
 Be innocent or harmless as doves. The dove is
• Mild and meek
• Bears no ill or hurt
• Is innocent, harmless and inoffensive
• Is a symbol of peace not of war

2. We often find the claim borrowed from ancient literature that the snake when attacked coils up and protects its head with its body. In the same way clever Christians should protect their head, Christ.

3. Be on your guard
• Do not naively entrust yourself to men
• Do not without good cause make them angry
• Do not fall into the traps of their catchy questions
• Do nothing that might enable them to bring a valid change against you

4. God’s spirit would speak through the messengers. It does not mean believers do not have to prepare to present the gospel. We are to make carefully prepared thoughtful statements.
 Thomas Aquinas appeals in warning that God’s promise is valid for the preachers only if he has no time for preparation. He must not tempt God when he has time for reflection.

5. Opposition from the family: Nothing hurts more than having our own family oppose us when we make a decision to follow Christ. When our families oppose and persecute us, it hurts us deeply. In some cases the most severe opposition comes from family members. The reason is two fold
• They feel their influence should be respected
• They feel that the whole family is affected by what its members do.

All of us can learn a great lesson from this gospel passage. We need to be prudent and this does not mean being diplomatic in our approach. It is the attitude that differentiates prudence and diplomacy. A well reputed religious person, who goes to a bar daily to console and help an addict, will surely be misunderstood by those who see him. Having good will alone is not sufficient; we should also be shrewd as serpents.

Courtesy
Hermeneia - A critical and historical commentary on the Bible
Life Application N.T. Commentary
The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible

JESUS COMISSIONING THE DISCIPLES – JULY 8TH - THURSDAY (Mt 10: 7-15)

1. Jesus gives a principle to guide the disciples as they were sent for their ministry. ‘Give as freely as you have received’. The disciples received ‘Salvation and the Kingdom’ without the cost and now they have to give them to the others. This is practically realized in giving to others our time, love and possession.

2. Jesus’ travel plans are contrary to normal travel plans. It reveals the urgency of the task. He sends them two by two because He wants a full report of their ministry. The disciples were to leave at once, without extensive preparation.

3. The command to stay in one place is to ‘never offend the hosts by looking for a better lodging in a home that is more comfortable’. The worthy were those who would respond and believe the gospel message.

4. Those who would receive the disciples also would receive the Messiah. Those who cared for God’s emissaries would receive their blessing in return.

5. Jesus makes it clear that the listeners were responsible for what they did with the gospel. The disciples are not responsible when others reject Christ’s message of salvation, but they do have the responsibility to share the gospel clearly and faithfully.

Jesus commissions all of us for this great mission of spreading the message of salvation. By vocation to Priesthood and religious, some are specifically called only to do that and a lot of directives are given to them. Sometimes there is a tendency in ministers to get attached only to a family or two at the cost of neglecting others. In general the faithful of today always receive the disciples with reverence. God’s blessings are assured to all of them. Some disciples as they move from place to place keep increasing the number of travel bags in the name of the ministry. This gospel passage of today can be a great challenge for many of us.


Courtesy
Life Application N.T. Commentary
The IVP Bible Background Commentary

JESUS AND HIS 12 APOSTLES – JULY 7TH WEDNESDAY (Mt 10:1-7)

1. Having portrayed Jesus’ power in chapters 8 and 9, Matthew portrays Jesus as sharing these powers with disciples. Jesus gives them the power to heal the sick, cast the demons, and raise the dead. Only here in Matthew are the twelve collaborators called ‘apostles’.

2. The theme of Israel as the mission field of Jesus should be understood in right perspective. Jesus does not deliberately avoid the Gentiles, He just want his disciples not to lose their focus. The images of flock, shepherd and the number 12 denoting twelve tribes of Israel again stresses the mission field of Jesus.

3. Criteria for choosing disciples: His selections prove to all spiritual generations to come that he will use anyone for his kingdom. The credit goes to Him not to human beings. Jesus looks at their availability than ability.

4. Symbolic meaning in the list of apostles, Peter the first (privileged position) and Judas the last.

5. Jesus is sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The turning point is marked by his death and resurrection after which the mission field extends to the whole of the world.

It might seem that Jesus narrows down the mission field only to the people of Israel. We should understand it in perspective. It was the belief among the people of Israel that the Messiah would come only to redeem them. In the initial stages if our focus is too wide we may not do justice to our duty. It is obligatory for all us to know our target audience properly before we preach the good news. The disciples were Jews and therefore they should stick only to Jews. After a period of formation they will be sent to the ends of the earth for the same mission.


Courtesy
Sacra Pagin Series
Holman’s Commentary on the New testament
Believers Bible Commentary

SHEEP WITHOUT THE SHEPHERD - JULY 6TH TUESDAY – Mt 9: 32-38)

1. When we analyze the miracles of Jesus in Chapter 9 of Mathew, first we see Jesus giving life to the dead; then sight to the blind and speech to the dumb. There seems to be a spiritual sequence in the miracles here. Life first, then understanding and then testimony.

2. Harvest: The harvest is defined as ‘the close of the age’. This identification is based on the Old Testament texts (Is 24:13; Joel 3:13). The close of the age will witness a coming together of all peoples for judgment. The workers can help people prepare for the harvest.

3. Disciples and the spiritual off springs were Jesus’ plan for continuing his ministry to a lost world. If he failed to prepare his workers, his ministry would die when he left. Every spiritual leader today should not stop with mentoring but should also multiply. Jesus did not identify the Lord of the Harvest. In 10:5 He Himself sends out the disciples and so it is clear that the Lord of the Harvest is Jesus Himself.

4. Sheep without a Shepherd: The image of Israel as the lost sheep is rooted in many O.T texts. Jesus shows compassion towards his people and wishes to serve as their shepherd. The word compassion or mercy here means ‘intestines’, ‘bowels’. Jesus was physically moved by a stomach wrenching empathy when he saw the plight of the people.

5. The attitude of the Pharisees and the people stands in contrast. People were amazed but the Pharisees suspected Jesus to have His source in Satan. To attribute the miracles which He performed by the Holy Spirit to the power of the Satan was the sin against the Holy Spirit of which Jesus speaks.

Every Christian is called to be the disciple of Jesus Christ. The very fact we know Jesus Christ, we are already counted among the sheep under the protection of our chief Shepherd. We have the duty to bring all the scattered sheep back to the fold. To do that we need to first belong to our Shepherd (Jesus) and the sheep fold (The Church). It demands deep trust and faith on our part. Most of the times, it is we who are suspicious about the spiritual realities and last ones to believe in the miraculous power of our Lord. We need to come down from our mere objective faith (rational and notional) to trusting faith without falling into superstitions.

Courtesy
Sacra Pagina Series
Holman’s Commentary on the New Testament
Believer’s Bible Commentary

JESUS – THE LITTLE GIRL – THE WOMAN (JULY 5TH MONDAY –Mt 9: 18-26)

1. The ruler, whose daughter was raised from the dead, came to Jesus when everything else had failed. He was a ruler of the synagogue and therefore should be a pillar of Jewish orthodoxy. No doubt he tried every kind of doctor and as a last resort he comes to Jesus.

2. Jesus might well have refused help to a man who came to him like that. But he bore no grudge. Injured pride and the unforgiving spirit had no part in the mind of Jesus.

3. There was wailing for the dead, there were the flute players. These are the people who are hired when someone dies. They do not really mourn for the dead but they make the visitors mourn for the dead by their professional crying and playing. That is the reason they laughed when Jesus said that the girl was sleeping. Many of us mourn for the dead like these women and flute players.

4. We have another character in the gospel that comes for a healing. From the Jewish point of view, this woman could not have suffered from any more terrible or humiliating disease than an issue of blood which made her unclean for several years.

5. When she touched his garment, Jesus halted; for the moment it seemed that for him no one but that woman and her need existed. She was not simply a poor woman lost in the crowd; she was someone to whom Jesus gave the whole attention.

We can have two lessons from today’s gospel. Like the father of the little girl, we rush to God at the eleventh hour. Jesus is not going to refuse His aid but it reflects our inadequate faith. We need to respond to God in faith not merely when we at an utter loss but also when we are in a comfortable position. The woman does not dare to touch Jesus and ask publicly for a healing since it was her private issue. She symbolically touches the garment of Jesus which is part of His body and gets healed of her bodily ailment. Jesus shows his sensitivity towards a woman by healing her without making the issue known to the other; and that could be a great lesson for the men folk.

Courtesy

William Barclay’s Commentary

LABOURERS FOR THE HARVEST – 14TH SUNDAY – JULY 4TH (Lk 10: 1-9)

1. The number seventy was symbolic to the Jews.

· It was the number of the elders who were chosen to help Moses with the task of leading and directing the people in the wilderness (Numbers 11: 16-17)

· It was the number of the Sanhedrin, the supreme council of the Jews.

· It was held to be the number of nations in the world.

2. Jesus is keen on sending the disciples two by two. It is always good to go in twos; it ensures safety; when two people move from place to place they can deepen their relationship by their sharing on the way. It will prevent one from becoming individualistic.

3. The preacher must not be preoccupied with the material goods. The preacher is to concentrate on the task in hand and greet no one on the way. It implies that he must not linger on the lesser things when the great things call him.

3. The preacher must not be in the work for what can be got out of it, but eat whatever is offered to him. He should not move from house to house seeking the luxury and comforts.

4. To have heard God’s word is a great responsibility. We will be judged according to what we have had the chance to know. We allow things in a child that we condemn in an adult. Privilege means also responsibility.

The scope for the ministry is too big. There are still several million people who have not received the word of God and therefore we have the responsibility to ask God for more labourers. In God’s kingdom everyone is expected to become a labourer in his/her own capacity. In a very special way we need to pray for the vocations to priesthood, and all of us have the duty to take care of the priests who are sent by the Lord himself to bring Peace ‘Shalom’ (which means wishing the good of the others) to the people whom they encounter.

Courtesy

William Barclay’s Commentary