The parable of the talents, A.N. Mironov, 2013, photo from the artist’s personal website artmiro.ru. Used with permission.
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Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31
November 15, 2020

Many of the Jews in the Greek and Roman world may have wished to be somewhat apart from the most popular contemporary trends of thought. Yet as the Holy Land was in the middle of an important trade route and many Jews lived in large cities in the Middle East and beyond, this was impossible. Some may have been influenced by the great “academic” philosophers of the day like Plato and Aristotle, but most would have had contact with popular ethics or morality. This was called wisdom and it would have had adherents throughout the Mediterranean. Traces of this “International Wisdom” can be found in the books of Job, Wisdom, Ecclesiastes, many Psalms, and the Book of Proverbs as we read today. The Wisdom teaching that was committed to writing was a compendium of reflections used to train young members of the governing class to be wise leaders. The Jewish Elders wanted to show that they could answer the questions of their young in a way that would have made sense to their children who may have wished to show contemporary learning, but also reflected their traditions and belief in the LORD

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, Wilhelm von Schadow, 1838-1842, Städel Museum

Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the First Reading
Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Wisdom 6:12–16
November 8, 2020

Today, we read for the first time in many months a passage from the “Wisdom of Solomon.” Let us make a quick review of it. Although it sounds ancient, it is perhaps the more recent book in the Old Testament and could have been written as late as 30 BC. Also, although it takes the name of King Solomon of Jerusalem from about 1000 BC, it was most likely written in Alexandra Egypt for the children of the Jewish elite who were immersed in the Roman world and tempted to give up their faith.

All Saints I, Wassily Kandinsky, 1911, Lenbachhaus
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Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the Psalm
Solemnity of All Saints
Psalm 24:1BC-2, 3-4AB, 5-6
November 1, 2020

This Sunday we celebrate All Saints’ Day and both non-gospel readings are from the New Testament. This provides the opportunity to look at the Psalm for the day. It is Psalm 24 and is one that has a universal meaning and appeal but one which also speaks powerfully to our time.

The Psalms are the church’s great songs. Like many of the Psalms, we are unsure when Psalm 24 was written. It is called a Psalm of David (Ps. 24:1) and some scholars think it could have been written in the early monarchy. Whether it does or not, the psalmist begins with a bold statement of the LORD’S power in the world:

Last week we posted online, the Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship document from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Many of our parishioners read it and have made positive comments but also asked many questions. It is not a voter’s guide. It very clearly does not attempt to distill the candidate’s ideas on important issues and then compare them. Several Dioceses have created voter’s guides for their residents, but our Bishop has not. Also, many organizations that call themselves Catholic have issued them, but none are official. Indeed a few of these groups have only tenuous connections with the Church.

Continue reading “Follow-up on Faithful Citizenship” →

Israel in Egypt, Edward Poynter, 1867, Guidhall Art Gallery

Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the First Reading
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Exodus 22:20-26
October 25, 2020

The Jewish people knew themselves to be a people of the covenant. A covenant is more than a recognition that a relationship exists, but one so important that the terms must be clearly defined and accepted. It is more than a contract for goods and services, but a sharing of flesh and blood. A covenant includes a sacrifice in which the contracting parties share a meal as a sign of this union. Continue reading “30th Sunday of Ordinary Time – The Fullness of God’s Compassion” →

Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 45:1, 4-6
October 18, 2020

This week, we continue reading the book of Isaiah, but we will move from Jerusalem around 700 BC to Babylon around 530 BC and the second person to use that name. Like his namesake, he believes in the sovereignty of the LORD, that the LORD works in history, and that Jews have a vocation to the world. He will however bring a distinct perspective and greater subtlety to his analysis and prophecy.