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Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B, July 30, 2006

First reading, 2 Kings 4:42-44

The Historical Situation and Theological Background: The Books of Kings were written well after the events they describe by an author who had this intent: His main interest is in keeping his audience faithful to the Lord. So he tells the story of each king with emphasis on how the king was or was not faithful. "The faithful prosper; the unfaithful pay for their defections," as the Introduction to 1 Kings in The New American Bible explains. Unlike the hot and cold kings, Elisha, "the man of God," is reliably faithful. Several miracle stories in chapters 4, 5 and 6 of 2 Kings bolster his reputation.

Proclaiming It: Just tell it like the straightforward story that it is. The name of the man of God is pronounced "eh LISH uh" with a short e sound in the first syllable and short i sound in the second. He should not be confused with Elijah ("ee LYE juh"), his mentor, who disappeared two chapters earlier. The fellow with the few loaves came from Baal-shalishah, pronounced "BAH ahl shah LEE shah." Actually, it matters not how you pronounce the town's name; just don't improvise when you're actually proclaiming this. To the congregation, you should sound like you know what you're talking about, and that you believe what you're doing is important enough to prepare for.

Second Reading, Ephesians 4:1-6

Proclaiming It: Let your voice portray the high emotion in Paul's pleading. Remember how you've felt when two people you love show their bitterness toward each other. Paul's efforts to awaken the Ephesians to their unity in Christ were part of the mission that put him in prison. He doesn't want them to waste the blessing for which he has put himself at such risk.

Several other commentaries on these passages. All are thoughtful, all quite readable, from the scholarly to the popular. Links may be incomplete more than a few weeks before the "due date."
Lutheran pastor and college teacher Dan Nelson's notes for a study group cover our first reading and gospel. To see Dan's treatment of our second reading, click here for his page for next Sunday.	Father Roger Karban's column on these readings, from 2000 2003 column of Father Francis X. Cleary, S.J.
The Text This Week; links to homilies, art works, movies and other resources on the week's scripture themes	Saint Louis University's excellent site for Sunday liturgy Most welcome here are Reginald Fuller's commentaries.

The Lectionary selections in the frame at the left, if any, are there for your convenience. The publishers of the page in that frame have no connection, except for membership in the one Body of Christ, with the publisher of this page. Likewise the publishers of the pages on the links above.