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Scripture Insights

“Today we hear the psalmist cry out to God for defense against the haughty and ruthless who seek his life. Similarly, Wisdom displays a mocking test for “the just one” when transgressors of the law decide to torture and kill him; if he is truly just, then God will deliver and defend him. The psalmist provides the answer to the test: God heard and helped him. The Gospel reveals Jesus as the Just One, who was tortured and killed but then delivered by God from death. Jesus predicts that he will be killed and rise again, but the disciples do not understand. The death of their misunderstanding is revealed in what they discuss as they walk along the way: Which of them is the greatest, Jesus must have been horrified. Have they learned nothing of his humble, gentle way? Have they not yet grasped that the path to greatness in the kingdom leads downward toward suffering, self-renunciation, and service, rather than upward toward good reputations and worldly glory? TO teach them, he centers attention on a child, a person of the lowest social status in that society. But it is these – the lost and the least – who are counted great in God’s economy. James writes to Christians scattered throughout the Roman Empire, warning them against jealousy and selfish ambition. “Ask and it will be given to you,” promised Jesus (Matthew 7:7). But James tells his listeners, “You ask but do not receive.” Why? Because they ask God to assist them in their war against one another; they make requests out of ambitious desires rather than from peace, mercy, and gentleness. The tormenters in the Book of Wisdom look for proof of the just one’s gentleness and patience. Gentleness, peace, patience, and endurance are among the marks of a righteous person, just as they marked Jesus himself (Matthew 11:29).

• Would you be willing to renounce your social status to serve God?

• Do you seek to be marked by gentleness, peace, and patience?

• How do your prayers extend past your desires to seek mercy for others?” AT HOME with the WORD 2021, Liturgy Training Publications, page 131.

Saints Kit – All the saints of the Roman Calendar and More
by Sister Mary Kathleen Glavich, S.N.D., and other Sisters of Notre Dame, Chardon

September 21^st is the feast day of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist.  “St. Matthew (first century), referred to as the “tax collector,” is one of the Twelve Apostles and the Evangelist who authored the first of the four accounts of the Gospel.  His account has a two-fold purpose: one, to announce that Jesus is the eternal king of all creation; and two, to encourage faith in the face of doubt, especially regarding persecution.  We have very little information about him, other than he invited Jesus to his home to dine with societal outcasts (see Matthew 9:9-13), and that he preached the Good News after the Resurrection.  Tradition says he began preaching in Judea, then moved on to Ethiopia, Persia, Syria, Macedonia, and possibly Ireland.  He is venerated as a martyr, even though history does not tell us how or where he died.” Companion to the Calendar – A guide to the Saints, Seasons, and Holidays of the Year, Second Edition, page 118.  St. Matthew teach us to be humble.  Humility is not a virtue as honoured in our society…look around today for a humble person.

Catholic WORD of the Week

“Koimesis > The Greek term meaning “a falling-asleep.”  In the Byzantine Church this is applied to death in general; in particular, koimesis refers to the holy dormition (assumption) of the Mother of God, observed on August 15.  July 25 marks the koimesis of St. Anne, the mother of Mary.”   Our Sunday Visitor’s CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA, page 559