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Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B, August 13, 2006 |
This passage prepares the congregation to hear today's gospel, John 6:41-51, which you should read in preparation, too.
The Historical Situation: Chapters 17-22 of 1 Kings are a collection of stories about prophets. They're set in the period of lesser kings after Solomon (Click here for 1800 years of this history in 250 words, to put these prophets and kings in context.) One of the purposes of the stories is to emphasize that the prophets were really more powerful than the kings of Judah and Israel (respectively the southern and northern kingdoms of God's somewhat divided people at this time). The prophets, after all, speak God's word, and are more faithful to God than the kings are. The context of today's passage is this:
Elijah (pronounced ee LYE juh) is running for his life. While doing the work of God, he had angered queen Jezebel, who sent murderous henchmen after him. (She's the reason that the name "Jezebel" has such awful connotations. Read the whole fascinating story in 1 Kings, chapters 17-19; imagine Anthony Quinn playing Elijah in the movie). Elijah is frightened, tired, and resigned. The drama in this passage is over Elijah's choice between giving up and dying, or carrying on.
Proclaiming the Passage: When you read the prophet's words, "This is enough, O Lord. Take my life...," let yourself sound resigned and despondent. State that he lay down and fell asleep, then pause for dramatic effect. This gives the listeners a chance to wonder, "What happens next? Does he just die? Will God intervene?"
Tell the next part simply: An angel woke him, ordering him to eat. Elijah did so, but then he lies down, as if to die, again! Here again, pause and let the questions arise.
Then, when you read the angel's words, "Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you," change your tone of voice to animated and hopeful. State the concluding sentence firmly, letting it resolve the dramatic tension. Sorely tempted, a worn out but courageous person chose to cooperate with God, and triumphed over himself.
Much of the letter to the Ephesians is meant to help a diverse community of believers live in unity. See Lector's Notes from four weeks ago, three weeks ago, and two weeks ago. In last Sunday's passage, Paul began a practical list of behaviors to avoid if the community is to be harmonious. Intervening sentences, skipped in the Lectionary, warn against lying, letting anger fester, stealing, and foul language. Today's passage sums it all up.
What does it mean to be "sealed with the Holy Spirit for the day or redemption"? The expression reminds me of Exodus 12:1-14 where a visible mark on the dwellings of the chosen ones let them escape a plague visited on their surrounding enemies. And it reminds me of my contemporary version of Saul's Tents & Sails Company, where the guards admit us if we're wearing our ID badges, and detain us if we're not. Paul seems to envision the "day of redemption" as the final judgment at which God will redeem those marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit.
Proclaiming It: Remember, this is a summary of verses your congregation has almost certainly not heard. It stands on its own, but you should read it slowly, lest it sound seriously out of context.In the past, I've heard lectors confuse "reviling" with "reveling"; even if you believe the latter is a vice, it's not condemned here.
The awkward translation "a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma" appears in the 1971 version thus: "He gave himself for us as an offering to God, a gift of pleasing fragrance." The imagery is of incense wafting heavenward. This is not to suggest you proclaim it differently from what is printed, but at least you'll know what it means.
| 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, plus the second reading that Catholics will consider next week. |
Father Roger Karban's column from 2003
and his year-2000 column
and, finally, his column from 1997.
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.