Sunday Readings Commentary and Reflections 26 th Sunday in the Ordinary Time B September 7, 2015 In preparation for this Sunday’s liturgy As aid in focusing our homilies and sharing Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

1 st reading: Numbers 11:25-29  25 The LORD then came down in the cloud and spoke to him. Taking some of the spirit that was on Moses, he bestowed it on the seventy elders; and as the spirit came to rest on them, they prophesied. 26 Now two men, one named Eldad and the other Medad, were not in the gathering but had been left in the camp. They too had been on the list, but had not gone out to the tent; yet the spirit came to rest on them also, and they prophesied in the camp. 27 So, when a young man quickly told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp," 28 Joshua, son of Nun, who from his youth had been Moses' aide, said, "Moses, my lord, stop them." 29 But Moses answered him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets! Would that the LORD might bestow his spirit on them all!" The focus is on prophecy.

Textual Context of Numbers 11:25-29 Part I In the Desert of Sinai: Preparation for the Journey (1,1-10,10) Part II On the Journey from Sinai to Moab (10,11-22,1) Events in the Desert of Paran (10,11-19,22) Last Stops along the way (20,1-22,1) Part III On the Plains of Moab: Preparations for Life in the Land (22,2-36,13) Used with permission from the PBS /UBS.

1 st reading: Numbers 11:25-29  25 The LORD then came down in the cloud and spoke to him. Taking some of the spirit that was on Moses, he bestowed it on the seventy elders; and as the spirit came to rest on them, they prophesied. 26 Now two men, one named Eldad and the other Medad, were not in the gathering but had been left in the camp. They too had been on the list, but had not gone out to the tent; yet the spirit came to rest on them also, and they prophesied in the camp. 27 So, when a young man quickly told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp," 28 Joshua, son of Nun, who from his youth had been Moses' aide, said, "Moses, my lord, stop them." 29 But Moses answered him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets! Would that the LORD might bestow his spirit on them all!" Commentary:  V.25 talks about the spirit being bestowed upon the 70 elders to prophesy.  V.26 speaks of a kind of anomaly of the bestowal of the gift of prophecy. Two men were not present in the gathering, yet the spirit went upon them and they also prophesied.  Vv talk about a young man trying to stop the two from prophesying.  In v.29, Moses reprimands him and expresses his desire that God bestows his spirit to all, that all could prophesy.  Prophecy is a gift given by God in a mysterious way, not according to our expectations.

Reflections on the 1 st reading  God works in a very mysterious way.  He grants his spirit (of prophecy) to any one whom he likes.  God operates beyond our rules, expectations and limitations.  We should be thankful to God if he has bestowed gifts even to unexpected people.  We should not disqualify them, even if they have not attended our meetings. However, the reading should not be made an excuse for not attending meetings.

Resp. Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14  R. (9a) The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.  8 The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul; 10 the decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.  12 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are true, all of them just.  13 Though your servant is careful of them, very diligent in keeping them, Yet who can detect failings? Cleanse me from my unknown faults!  14 From wanton sin especially, restrain your servant; let it not rule over me. Then shall I be blameless and innocent of serious sin.

Resp. Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14  R. (9a) The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.  8 The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul; 10 the decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. (R) 12 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are true, all of them just. (R)  13 Though your servant is careful of them, very diligent in keeping them, Yet who can detect failings? Cleanse me from my unknown faults! (R) 14 From wanton sin especially, restrain your servant; let it not rule over me. Then shall I be blameless and innocent of serious sin. (R) Commentary  The psalm is classified as hymn of praise and wisdom psalm.  The psalmist affirms the power of God’s law.  Vv.8,10, & 12 enumerate the characteristics of the law: Perfect, refreshes the soul, v.8 Trustworthy, gives wisdom, v.10 Endures for ever, true, just v.12  In v.13, the psalmist tells he is careful to observe God’s laws.  Yet, he may still be at fault without knowing it.  In v.14, the psalmist prays that God may keep him out of sin that he may be blameless, innocent and without fault.

Reflections on the Psalm  Some find joy in violating rules.  They are prone to violating the rights of other people.  The psalmist finds joy in following the law of God.  We must be like the psalmist, who enjoys obeying God’s laws.  Taking pleasure in obeying laws keeps us away from sin, danger and destruction.

2 nd reading: James 5:1-6  1 Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. 2 Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten, 3 your gold and silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire. You have stored up treasure for the last days.  4 Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous one; he offers you no resistance. The focus is on the miseries of the rich.

2 nd reading: James 5:1-6  1 Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. Miseries enumerated 2 Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten, 3 your gold and silver have corroded,  and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire. You have stored up treasure for the last days. Criminal activities of the rich 4 Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous one; he offers you no resistance. Verses are re-indented for easier reading.

Textual Context of James 5,1-6 DIVISION ACCORDING TO CONTENTS (TOPICS): (R. Brown)  1:1: Greetings (Opening Formula)  1:2-18: The role of trials and temptations  1:19-27: Words and deeds  2:1-9: Partiality toward the rich  2:10-13: Keeping the whole Law  2:14-26: Faith and works  3:1-12: Power of the tongue  3:13-18: Wisdom from above  4:1-10: Desires as the cause of division  4: 11-12: Judging one another as judging the Law  4:13-17: Further arrogant behavior  5:1-6: Warning to the rich  5:7-11: Patience till the coming of the Lord  5:12-20: Admonitions on behavior within the community

2 nd reading: James 5:1-6  1 Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. Miseries enumerated  2 Your wealth has rotted away,  your clothes have become moth-eaten,  3 your gold and silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire.  You have stored up treasure for the last days. Commentary  The text is an indictment of the rich.  The Letter of James has very strong feelings against the rich, who are insensitive to the poor.  There are a lot of reasons why the rich should weep and wail.  Vv.2-3 enumerate what will happen to their wealth. What they have accumulated will be taken away from them. All those that they consider important will be destroyed.

2 nd reading: James 5:1-6 Criminal activities of the rich  4 Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.  5 You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter.  6 You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous one; he offers you no resistance.  The injustices committed by the rich are not hidden from the eyes of the author.  They are enumerated in vv.4-6. Withholding of wages of daily wage earners (= tantamount to killing those workers, wage now = food for the morrow) Living in scandalous luxury and pleasure Murdering the righteous one (prophet, good leader in the community), the one who pinpoints their mistakes.

Reflections on the 2 nd reading  The reading is not just for the rich.  James discourages us all to accumulate wealth because it does not last.  We should not spend so much time for what is passing and ephemeral (transitory).  We should not be the cause of the sufferings of others (by withholding our love and support to those who need us).  We should not be oppressive to the poor.  We must overhaul our value system.  We must show we are humane, not sharks, predators and victimizers.

Gospel reading: Mk 9:38-43, 45,  38 John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us." 39 Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward. 42 "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe (in me) to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, 48 where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' The focus is on avoiding scandal.

Textual Context of Mark 9,30-37 Part I The Mystery of the Messiah: Revelation of Jesus' Person (1,14--8,30) Three sections, each beginning with a summary of the activity of Jesus and a narrative concerning the disciples and concluding with the adoption of an attitude in regard to Jesus. A. Jesus and the Crowds 1,14--3,6 (1,14f, 16-20; 3,60) B. Jesus and his Own 3,7--6,6a (3, ; 6,1-6a) C. Jesus, the Disciples and the Gentiles 6,6b- 8,30 (6,6b; 6,7-31; 8,27-30) Conclusion and Transition 8,27-33 Confession of Peter First Prophecy of the Passion Correction of Peter Part II The Mystery of the Son of Man: Revelation of Jesus' sufferings 8,31-16,8 A. The Way of the Son of Man 8,31--10,52 Indicated by 3 announcements of the fate of the Son of Man and 3 instructions on the lot of the disciples. B. Jesus in Jerusalem 11,1--13,37 C. Passion and Resurrection 14,1--16,8 The Later Ending 16,9-20

v.33 They came to Capernaum. Jesus was teaching here. Immediate Context (Mk 9) of our Text Transfiguration First Prediction of the Passion Healing of a Boy with a Demon Second Prediction Greatest in the Kingdom Our Text Marriage Divorce Blessing of Children

Gospel reading: Mk 9:38-43, 45, Welcoming those who don’t belong  38 John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us." 39 Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward. Avoiding scandals  42 "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe (in me) to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, 48 where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' A simple outline! The focus is on avoiding giving scandal.

Gospel reading: Mk 9:38-43, 45, Welcoming those who don’t belong  38 John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us." 39 Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward. Commentary  The story in vv is similar to that of the first reading.  The message is the same: Do not prevent…  The reason is different:  The one who performs miracles in his name Cannot speak against him He is not against us, so he is for us.  In v.41, God rewards those who give a cup of water to the disciples, because of him.

Gospel reading: Mk 9:38-43, 45, Avoid scandals  42 "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe (in me) to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, 48 where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'  On avoiding scandals, the author (or Jesus) uses exaggerations.  In practice, the Church has not taken vv literally.  But these verses should be enough to warn us of the gravity of the act of leading others and oneself to sin.  Our relationships in the community must be characterized by respect.  We join the community (church) in order to be holy, to be helped in our search for God.  Scandalizing acts and attitudes on the part of church leaders and members is a grave injustice to the Church.  Vv.44 and 46 do not exist in the Bible.

Reflections on the gospel reading  The gospel reading is against ostracizing anyone just because “he/she does not belong to our inner circle.”  God may be using other people to do his plans. Let us not forbid them.  As Christians, we must be accommodating.  It is a grievous sin to scandalize (leading other people into sin, to leave the community of faith, to renounce the faith).  We better watch our words and actions when dealing with the other members of the community, especially the new ones.  We must avoid occasions for sins. We stay away from temptations. We don’t play with fire.

Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm  The first reading talks about prophecy and forbids exclusivism.  The psalm talks about following God’s rules.  The second reading serves as a warning to those who discriminate against the poor, and enrich themselves.  The gospel reading is strong against ostracizing others and giving scandals.  We focus on the proper attitude on welcoming others to our fold.

How to develop your homily / sharing  Describe how in your community / church, some members try to exclude others simply because “they don’t belong.”  Enumerate the reasons why some members have left the Catholic Church.  This bogs down to a single culprit: poor and scandalous attitude.  It turns off a lot of new members, who might be more decent than the old ones.

 The first reading tells us that God can use people who do not belong to our inner circle.  Some gifted people should not be disqualified because one time they did not appear in our meeting.  We have no right to exclude anyone in our community for trivial reasons.

 The psalm affirms that God loves the God- fearing people.  God-fearing people keep God’s rules.  They trust that God’s laws are for their own benefit.  There is pleasure in obeying God’s law.

 The second reading warns rich and powerful people for their excesses.  They will be punished for their injustices (withholding wages, putting the innocent into jail, etc.)  What they have accumulated and stored through the years will soon become naught.  What a waste of time “enjoying false values and pleasures and oppressing the poor!”

 The gospel reading tells us never to ostracize anyone, especially if he is doing God’s work.  Whoever does what is right in Jesus’ name belongs to God.  The gospel also tells us to remove all occasions of sin.  As we are not supposed to lead others to sin, we are not supposed to induce ourselves to sin.

 Let not our churches, families and offices be places to commit sin.  These are supposed to be places where we can practice holiness.  People gather together into groups or associations because of their need to belong.  Christians are here to foster healthy and welcoming relationships among themselves.

 In the eucharist, we are called to celebrate fraternity.  Jesus welcomes all of us in this sacrament who practice justice and keep God’s laws. He is generous with his love.  Those who cause scandal are not entitled to receive communion. It is contradiction in terms.  The right disposition to the eucharist leads to integration of our communities and families.

Our Context of Sin and Grace  Pasaway  Exclusivism  Discriminatory  Xenophobic  Ostracizing  Extreme nationalism, racism  Elitism  Scandalous  Judgmental  Hospitable  Welcoming  Accommodating  Fraternal, forgiving  Careful with words and actions  Broadminded  Networking  Ecumenical  Dialogical

Suggested Songs  Glory to God, new (OFM)  We are family.  We are one in the Spirit.  Sharing