| PITH Press |
| July 2009 Readings |
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July 5, 2009, XIV SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Read: Ez. 2: 2-5 2 Cor. 12: 7- 10 Mk. 6: 1-6 "Jesus departed from there and returned to his own part of the country followed by his disciples. When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue." (Mk. 6: 1-6)In the Old Testament, the precept of dedicating one day of the week to the Lord was a strictly held teaching. The purpose of the Sabbath was to remember that life, health and very existence comes as a gift from the Lord. "On six days work may be done, but the seventh day shall be sacred to you as the sabbath of complete rest to the Lord. Anyone who does work on that day shall be put to death. You shall not even light a fire in any of your dwellings on the sabbath day." (Ex. 35: 1-3)Jesus only negated the harsh interpretation of the law. (Lk. 6: 5, Mt. 12: 10-12). Jesus faithfully went to the synagogue on the sabbath to participate in the communal prayer and religious instruction in His town. In accord with the most ancient customs of the Church, we Christians celebrate the day that Jesus rose from the dead, and keep that day as the Sabbath day (Sunday). On Sundays, we must suspend our activities and take a "change of pace" in our routine, to dedicate ourselves to God with sincerity. It is not only the few moments that we spend at Mass that belongs to God. Rather it is the entire Sunday that is to be dedicated to the Him. Sunday is a day of rest for us to renew ourselves in Christ and our neighbor. Reflection and commentary Psalm 119: "You have commanded that your precepts be diligently kept. O, that I might be firm in the ways of keeping your statutes." |
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