Jesus said, "Follow Me"
Friday of the Thirteenth week in Ordinary Time Friday, 05 July 2013
Genesis 23:1-4.19.24:1-8.62-67.
The span of Sarah's life was one hundred and twenty-seven years.
She died in Kiriatharba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham performed the customary mourning rites for her.
Then he left the side of his dead one and addressed the Hittites:
"Although I am a resident alien among you, sell me from your holdings a piece of property for a burial ground, that I may bury my dead wife."
After this transaction, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field of Machpelah, facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
Abraham had now reached a ripe old age, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.
Abraham said to the senior servant of his household, who had charge of all his possessions: "Put your hand under my thigh,
and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not procure a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live,
but that you will go to my own land and to my kindred to get a wife for my son Isaac."
The servant asked him: "What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I then take your son back to the land from which you migrated?"
"Never take my son back there for any reason," Abraham told him.
"The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and the land of my kin, and who confirmed by oath the promise he then made to me, 'I will give this land to your descendants'--he will send his messenger before you, and you will obtain a wife for my son there.
If the woman is unwilling to follow you, you will be released from this oath. But never take my son back there!"
Meanwhile Isaac had gone from Beer-lahai-roi and was living in the region of the Negeb.
One day toward evening he went out. . . in the field, and as he looked around, he noticed that camels were approaching.
Rebekah, too, was looking about, and when she saw him, she alighted from her camel
and asked the servant, "Who is the man out there, walking through the fields toward us?" "That is my master," replied the servant. Then she covered herself with her veil.
The servant recounted to Isaac all the things he had done.
Then Isaac took Rebekah into his tent; he married her, and thus she became his wife. In his love for her Isaac found solace after the death of his mother Sarah.
She died in Kiriatharba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham performed the customary mourning rites for her.
Then he left the side of his dead one and addressed the Hittites:
"Although I am a resident alien among you, sell me from your holdings a piece of property for a burial ground, that I may bury my dead wife."
After this transaction, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field of Machpelah, facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
Abraham had now reached a ripe old age, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.
Abraham said to the senior servant of his household, who had charge of all his possessions: "Put your hand under my thigh,
and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not procure a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live,
but that you will go to my own land and to my kindred to get a wife for my son Isaac."
The servant asked him: "What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I then take your son back to the land from which you migrated?"
"Never take my son back there for any reason," Abraham told him.
"The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and the land of my kin, and who confirmed by oath the promise he then made to me, 'I will give this land to your descendants'--he will send his messenger before you, and you will obtain a wife for my son there.
If the woman is unwilling to follow you, you will be released from this oath. But never take my son back there!"
Meanwhile Isaac had gone from Beer-lahai-roi and was living in the region of the Negeb.
One day toward evening he went out. . . in the field, and as he looked around, he noticed that camels were approaching.
Rebekah, too, was looking about, and when she saw him, she alighted from her camel
and asked the servant, "Who is the man out there, walking through the fields toward us?" "That is my master," replied the servant. Then she covered herself with her veil.
The servant recounted to Isaac all the things he had done.
Then Isaac took Rebekah into his tent; he married her, and thus she became his wife. In his love for her Isaac found solace after the death of his mother Sarah.
Ps 106(105):1-2.3-4a.4b-5.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Who can tell the mighty deeds of the LORD,
or proclaim all his praises?
Blessed are they who observe what is right,
who do always what is just.
Remember us, O LORD, as you favor your people.
Visit me with your saving help,
that I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones,
rejoice in the joy of your people,
and glory with your inheritance.
for his mercy endures forever.
Who can tell the mighty deeds of the LORD,
or proclaim all his praises?
Blessed are they who observe what is right,
who do always what is just.
Remember us, O LORD, as you favor your people.
Visit me with your saving help,
that I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones,
rejoice in the joy of your people,
and glory with your inheritance.
Matt 9:9-13.
As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him.
While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
He heard this and said, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."
Commentary of the day :
While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
He heard this and said, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."
Commentary of the day :
Thanks to all the recent people who have followed me on Twitter. I find it a curious word to use (Followers) of those who connect with you or are interested in reading your "tweets". Of course it would not be the same as used of the religious followers who listen to and obey the words of their religious leaders.
I have had a recent debate with someone about the active promotion of accepting more and more asylum seekers from Islamic nations. My simplistic answer has been that you can't be naïve enough to assume that none of those seeking asylum from Muslim nations are coming for reasons other than because they are fleeing oppression. I am convinced as I have been informed that many Islamic militants and terrorists are secreting themselves among the exiles and have evil intentions for coming to Western countries.
You don't know if I am wrong but in time you will find out if I am right.
I prefer to err on the side of caution and assume guilty until proven innocent (just like I am treated every time I enter an airplane and am searched from hat to shoes and my bags are scanned).
If it sounds extremely cruel for those awaiting processing that they have to stay five years in isolation until we are convince of their credibility, it is our country so we can make the rules. I'm sure it goes the same for them if we were seeking to come and stay for free in Islamic countries.
If it sounds extremely cruel for those awaiting processing that they have to stay five years in isolation until we are convince of their credibility, it is our country so we can make the rules. I'm sure it goes the same for them if we were seeking to come and stay for free in Islamic countries.
I don't want terrorists coming to my country so I would want our government to be extremely vigilant in assessing the claims of authentic refugee status before allowing them to come to school with my children (which is extremely unlikely because they will be attending Islamic schools and taught why they should NOT associate with nor befriend Christian infidels).
Followers of Jesus were taught to be peaceful and forgiving. But followers of Islam are taught hate and murder. Read the Quran before you dispute.
Saint Ambrose (c.340-397), Bishop of Milan and Doctor of the Church commenting on this passage said:
[After the healing of the paralytic] there then comes the call of the tax gatherer to Christ's mysteries. Christ commands him to follow him, not with physical, bodily movements but with a change of heart. And this man who, up to that moment, greedily drew profit from commerce and unmercifully exploited the hard labour and dangers of the workers, left everything at one call. He who took others' possessions forsakes his own. Leaving his unworthy counter he follows wholeheartedly after Christ. And he prepared a great feast: for he who receives Christ into his interior abode is filled with immeasurable well-being, with abounding joy. As for the Lord, he willingly goes into the house and sits down at the table prepared by the love of him who believed. But now see how the malevolence of unbelievers is stirred up... and, at once, the difference is revealed between the disciples of the Law and the disciples of grace. To hold fast to the Law is to endure hunger without relief in a fasting heart. To welcome the Word of God into the interior depths of one's heart is to be revived by food in plenty and the eternal spring. It is to hunger and thirst no more (Jn 6,35).
No comments:
Post a Comment