The Fall Of Jerusalem

 "O GOD, the pagans have invaded YOUR inheritance; they have defiled YOUR holy temple and reduced Jerusalem to rubble.

They have given YOUR servants' corpses to the birds, and the flesh of YOUR saints, to the beasts of the earth.

They have poured out the blood of YOUR faithful, like water around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them.

Mocked and reviled by those around us, we are scorned by our neighbors.

How long will this last, O YAHWEH?  Will YOU be angry forever?  Will YOUR wrath always burn to avenge YOUR rights?

Do not remember against us the sins of our fathers.

Let YOUR compassion hurry to us, for we have been brought very low.

Help us, GOD, our savior, for the glory of YOUR name; forgive us, for the sake of YOUR name."

- Psalm 79:1-2. 3-5. 8. 9

(This psalm almost certainly refers to the fall of Jerusalem in the year 586 B.C.  There is a confession of guilt--the guilt of an earlier generation.  It is interesting that this ingredient should enter the solution of the problem of suffering: Has this man sinned--or his parents?  And, indeed, we may blame our ancestors, for some of our condition, so long as we realize that we may, and do, contribute to the unhappiness of our children.  We are the context into which they will be born, for better or for worse.  But the psalmist evidently does not will to call GOD's attention to the sins of his own generation except in passing,

As long as there are captives and blood is poured in this our land, whenever we live under the weight of guilt, it is a good time to pray with this psalm.)

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The Law Of YAHWEH Is Perfect

 "The law of YAHWEH is perfect:

it gives life to the soul.

The word of YAHWEH is trustworthy:

it gives wisdom to the simple.

The precepts of YAHWEH are right:

they give joy to the heart.

The commandments of YAHWEH are clear:

they enlighten the eyes.

The fear of YAHWEH is pure,

it endures forever;

the judgments of YAHWEH are true,

all of them just and right.

They are more precious than gold--

pure gold of a jeweler;

they are much sweeter than honey

which drops from the honeycomb."

- Psalm 19:8. 9. 10. 11

(The splendor of heaven gives us a glimpse of the glory of GOD.  We are also aware of HIS presence, when we meditate on HIS commandments, which are light and joy for the soul.

This psalm is adequate to revise one's life in the presence of GOD in creation and in the Law.  JESUS in the Gospels has taught us how to pray.  If we add this psalm to our morning prayer, it will make us feel great and ready to start the day well.)

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The Testimony Of Nathanael

 "When JESUS saw Nathanael coming, HE said of him, 'Here comes an Israelite, a true one; there is nothing false in him.'  Nathanael asked HIM, 'How do you know me?'  And JESUS said to him, 'Before Philip called you, you were under the fig tree, and I saw you.'

Nathanael answered, 'Master, YOU are the Son of GOD!  YOU are the king of Israel!'  But JESUS replied, 'You believe because I said, 'I saw you under the fig tree.'  But you will see greater things than that.

Truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened, and the angels of GOD ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.'" - John 1:47-51 

(These two disciples recognized JESUS.  It would be more exact to say that JESUS recognized those whom the FATHER had entrusted to HIM.  Thus HE recognized Nathanael when he was under the fig tree.  Among the Jews, this expression referred to a teacher of the law engaged in teaching religion, since ordinarily they taught under the shade of a tree.  In the same way, JESUS recognized Simon whom the FATHER chose to be the first Rock of the Church [Matthew 16:13].)

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JESUS Unwelcome In A Samaritan Village

 "As the time drew near when JESUS would be taken up to heaven, HE made up HIS mind to go to Jerusalem.  HE sent ahead of HIM  some messengers, who entered a Samaritan village to prepare a lodging for HIM.  But the people would not receive HIM, because HE was on HIS way to Jerusalem.  Seeing this, James and John, HIS disciples, said, 'LORD, do YOU want us to call down fire from heaven to reduce them to ashes?'  JESUS turned and rebuked them, and they went on to another village." - Luke 9:51-56 

(The first paragraph reminds us that between the two provinces of Galilee and Judea, there was Samaria.  Its people were Samaritans, non-Jews, and the two people really hated each other.  When Jews from Galilee were going on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, every door was closed to them throughout Samaria.

It would seem that each time JESUS meets Samaritans, it is to teach us a new way of seeing those who do not share our faith.  Religions have often been aggressive, at times very violent, especially those religions that see themselves as a revelation of the only GOD.  This was already the case in the Old Testament.  JESUS is not part of such fanaticism, teaching us not to confuse GOD's cause with ours nor with the interests of our religious community.  There is absolute respect for those GOD leads by another road.  What a contrast with the legends of the past that this account awakens in verse 54 [see 2 Kings 1:9].

Here JESUS tells HIS apostles to be less impulsive: the Samaritans who refuse to welcome JESUS on this occasion are not guiltier than those who close their doors to a stranger.  Why destroy this little village, if by doing this they still had to look for a place in another village?  It was better to move on without delay.)

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Who Is The Greatest?

 "One day, the disciples were arguing about which of them was the most important.  But JESUS knew their thoughts, so HE took a little child and stood him by HIS side.  Then HE said to them, 'Whoever welcomes this little child in MY name, welcomes ME; and whoever welcomes ME, welcomes the one who sent ME.  And listen: the one who is found to be the least among you all, is the one who is the greatest.'

Then John spoke up, 'Master, we saw someone who drives out demons by calling upon YOUR name, and we tried to forbid him, because he doesn't follow YOU with us.  But JESUS said, 'Don't forbid him.  He who is not against you is for you.'" - Luke 9:46-50 

(Mark remarks that JESUS took a child in HIS arms: something unusual for people of that time since children did not count, and religious teachers only urged that they be well disciplined.  The model of religion seemed to be a serious man who did not laugh, did not run, did not look at people in lower positions, especially women and children.  Oftentimes, such a mentality is seen in those who criticize child baptism and first communion.

JESUS does not answer the apostles' question: Who is the greatest?  Because what matters is not to become great, but to be close to CHRIST.  In order to receive CHRIST, we must welcome HIM in the person of the little ones.)

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The Misfortunes Of The Rich

 "So, now, for what concerns the rich, cry and weep, for the misfortunes that are coming upon you.  Your riches are rotting, and your clothes, eaten up by the moths.  Your silver and gold have rusted, and their rust grows into a witness against you.  It will consume your flesh, like fire, for having piled up riches, in these, the last days.

You deceived the workers who harvested your fields, but, now, their wages cry out to the heavens.  The reapers' complaints have reached the ears of the LORD of hosts.  You lived in luxury and pleasure in this world, thus, fattening yourselves for the day of slaughter.  You have easily condemned, and killed the innocent since they offered no resistance." - James 5:1-6 

(The rich will lose all they have stockpiled through injustice.  Just as serious as having stolen from the salaries of workers and having condemned those who spoke of justice is the sin against hope.  "The last days already came and you were looking for riches!"  The last days are those that began with the coming of CHRIST, with the kingdom already there.  James sees the second coming of the LORD as if it was imminent and it is the only way to rightly judge riches.

What was taking place in the poor civilization of James' time is happening again today.  The prosperity of a quarter of the world depends on the system that leaves two billion people in misery.

In our countries money destroys hope in the Christian meaning of the word; life is considered as a fortune to be enjoyed by oneself, without accepting responsibilities, beginning with the transmission of life.  Far removed from us, the safeguarding of our privileges involves, like a series of cascades, the unjust death of millions of people because of famine, oppression and wars.)

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Time Is Running Out For JESUS

 "And all who saw it were astonished at GOD's wonderful work.

But while all were amazed at everything JESUS did, HE said to HIS disciples, 'Listen, and remember what I tell you now: The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men.'  But the disciples didn't understand this saying; something prevented them from grasping what HE meant, and they were afraid to ask HIM about it." - Luke 9:43-45 

(Time is running out for JESUS.  HE now dedicates HIMSELF chiefly to preparing the group of apostles who will have the tremendous responsibility of continuing HIS work.  They did not understand about HIS death and resurrection: these things cannot be understood until they have happened.  They prefer not to question or know; leaving JESUS very isolated.)

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Longing For GOD's Dwelling Place

 "Make justice, O GOD, and defend my cause

against an ungodly people;

deliver me from the wicked and deceitful.

YOU are my GOD, my stronghold,

why have YOU cast me out?

Why should I go about mourning,

oppressed by the enemy?

Send forth YOUR light and YOUR truth;

let them be my guide,

let them take me to YOUR holy mountain,

to the place where YOU reside.

Then will I go to the altar of GOD,

to GOD, my gladness and delight.

I will praise YOU with the lyre and harp,

O GOD, my GOD."

- Psalm 43:1. 2. 3. 4

(The author of this psalm recalls with nostalgia, the Temple in Jerusalem and the splendid ceremonies of past times.  He is now living in a foreign land, where his words, his culture, his faith, mean nothing to anyone.  'Where is your GOD?' they say, and he asks himself: 'Who am I?'  A fervent call to GOD and cries of hope are features of this psalm, like a refrain repeated three times.  Who among us would not be able to personalize this psalm?  Human progress, be it ever so great and salutary, brings new problems and stirs up in us new desires.  We are at times mindful that we have been created for something greater.  Nothing of that fully gratifies us, and death is always at the end.  How can we revive those moments when we knew true joy?

This psalm is very appropriate to experience the felt absence of GOD and ardently desire HIS presence.)

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Praise To The GOD Of Victories

 "Alleluia!

Sing to YAHWEH a new song,

sing HIS praise in the assembly of HIS saints.

Let Israel rejoice in his Maker;

let the people of Zion glory in their King!

Let them dance in praise of HIS name;

and make music for HIM with harp and timbrel.

For YAHWEH delights in HIS people;

HE crowns the lowly with victory.

The saints will exult in triumph;

even at night, on their couches,

let the praise of GOD be on their lips;

and in their hands, two-edged swords;

to execute on them, the written sentence:

this is the glory of all HIS saints.  Alleluia!"

- Psalm 149:1-2. 3-4. 5-6. 9

(We join in the song of victory, the triumph of GOD, the crushing of the serpent's head; for we have our part in the victorious struggle, wearing the armor of GOD, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit.  Our battle must be 'against the spirits and supernatural forces of evil' [Ephesians 6:12].  Evil and sin in our world are an affront to our Creator; the pain of the humble is the pain of the LORD.  We pray with this psalm, in union with all those who are hungry and thirsty for justice.  They are blessed.)

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JESUS Sends The Twelve On A Mission

 "Then JESUS called HIS Twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal diseases.  And HE sent them to proclaim the kingdom of GOD and to heal the sick.  HE instructed them, 'Don't take anything for the journey, neither staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and don't even take a spare tunic.  Whatever house you enter, remain there until you leave that place.  And wherever they don't welcome you, leave the town and shake the dust from your feet: it will be as a testimony against them.'

So they set out, and went through the villages, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere." - Luke 9:1-6 

(JESUS has began HIS mission, HE forms and sends out missionaries.

Apostles mean "sent" and "mission" also means "being sent."  The FATHER has sent HIS Son to earth, and the Son, in turn, sends HIS apostles.  The FATHER sends messengers of HIS word, but HE also sends HIS Spirit to touch the hearts and minds of those who listen.  Through the Spirit they recognize the word of GOD in the poor preaching of these messengers who have received no great instruction.  The Spirit will give signs: healings and astounding graces supporting the witness of the missionaries.)

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