The Divine Lamp

Note: You can place your mouse on the blue links without “clicking” and a pop-up box will appear containing the cited biblical text. The translation is that of the Douay-Rheims, but the pop-up box allows you to view the text in several different translations. Red/orange links must be “clicked on.”

Vote for this post on Pickafig.

Introit: The introit comes (in the following order) from Psalm 74:20; Psalm 74:19; Psalm 74:23; Psalm 74:1. The Psalm is a communal lament occasioned by the destruction of the temple by the Babylonians in 587 BC. As is often the case in the liturgy, the verses employed are used in an accommodated sense. In keeping with the purpose of the introit, they touch upon themes in the readings. We ask God to look to is covenant. In the context of the Mass the covenant referred to is the one God made with Abraham after the near sacrifice of Issac (Genesis 22:15-18). As St Paul will argue in the Epistle reading, this covenant was not, and could not be superseded by the Mosaic Covenant which came latter (Galatians 3:16-22).

We ask God that He “Forsake not forever the lives of your afflicted ones.” Notice the highly personal relationship between God and the afflicted. In the Gospel reading (Luke 17:11-19), ten lepers will call upon Jesus to have pity on their condition, but only one, a non-Jew, will return to give Him thanks, thus exhibiting faith, like Abraham, the Father of the Jewish people through whom all gentiles (gentes=People of the nations) will find blessing.

We ask that God Arise and defend His cause, which is the New Covenant He established with men by offering His beloved Son on the cross for the salvation of men from every nation, people, and language (see Dan 7:13-14).

“Why, O God, have you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?”

Notice that these words are in the form of a question, not a statement. They serve a two-fold purpose: (1) They call us to personal reflection regarding our status as God’s sheep. Are we content being sheep in his pasture, fed by His hand (Psalm 95:7), or have we refused to hear the voice of the Shepherd (Psalm 95:8; John 10:3-4) and hardened our hearts in sin (Psalm 95:9-11)? (2) They are a subtle reminder to God that He is faithful in spite of our unfaithfulness (2 Tim 2:11-13). It is because He is faithful in spite of our infidelities that He takes us back (Deut 30:2-11) with great joy (Luke 15:1-7).

Epistle Reading: Galatians 3:16-22.

That what the Jews called the Aqedah (binding) of Isaac is behind this passage is rather clear. For the Christological importance of that passage see HERE under the heading “Binding Issac.” For a more in depth study see HERE.

Gospel Reading: Luke 17:11-19

Luke begins by noting that Jesus was going to Jerusalem. This remark calls to mind the start of that Journey which St Luke introduced with the words: “He steadfastly set his face (literally: “hardened his face”) to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51) This is a chilling phrase, for in the Old Testament it or similar phrasing is indicative of judgment (Ezekiel 21:2-3; see also, Ezekiel 6:2; 13:17). Jesus was headed to Jerusalem in judgment (Luke 13:34-35), knowing that most in the city would not recognize the time of divine visitarion (Luke 19:41-44). The Mosaic covenant and its temple had not been allowed to fulfill the purpose it was intended for, the gathering of the nations to God (Luke 19:45-46).

Against this background it is significant that the healing of the ten lepers took place in the territory of the half-pagan Samaritans, for when Jesus’ journey began, the Samaritans had refused to have any dealings with Jesus, causing James and John to desire their destruction, but Jesus would have none of that (Luke 9:52-55). Samaritans were capable of showing neighborly goodness and openness to others (Luke 10:30-37). Now we see that they were capable of showing faith and thanksgiving to God. Many who were first according to the covenant with Moses-the descendants of Abraham according to the flesh-will find themselves last and thrust out of the Kingdom when others come from the east and west, north and south to sit at the messianic banquet with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the prophets; for they had not recognized by faith that the Kingdom of God was in their midst, in the person of Jesus, the son of the promise made to Abraham (Epistle reading, see Luke 13:22-30).

Trackback URI | Comments RSS