Monday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time September 4, 2023

Today’s Readings:

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090423.cfm

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Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy, our readings each describe times of fulfillment.

In prose rich with imagery, Paul paints a picture of the final coming of Christ. Many early Christians had expected this Second Coming to occur very quickly after the Resurrection. When it did not, they became confused and wondered what it meant for those who died in the meantime.

To answer their concerns, Paul draws on the images Jesus himself used:

At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.

Mark 13:26-27

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In today’s Gospel, Jesus announces that the First Coming has occurred. His listeners, too, had expected the Messiah for ages. And now he was here – no clouds, no trumpets, no attending angels. Just the quiet unrolling of a scroll and the simple proclamation, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

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I like to pray with this passage by imagining myself somewhere in that synagogue, hearing those astounding words. Would I be the person who had longed to hear them and who responded wholeheartedly? Or would I hardly be paying attention, so distracted by my many concerns? Maybe I would be the skeptic who took any religious comment with a grain of salt and a drop of vinegar. Or maybe I would feel my heart fully embraced by that “Gracious Word” who is Jesus Christ.

And all spoke highly of him
and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.

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“Gracious” is such a beautiful word. The early Greek transcripts denote it as a word akin to “charity” or selfless love

χάριτος – charitos

As we try to imagine Jesus at this opening moment of his ministry, we might think of the most gracious person we know and multiply that by infinity.

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Poetry: Thou Gracious Power – Oliver Wendell Holmes

Thou gracious Power,
whose mercy lends
The light of home, the smile of friends,
Our families in Thine arms enfold
As in the peaceful days of old.


Wilt Thou not hear us while we raise,
In sweet accord of solemn praise,
The voices that have mingled long
In joyous flow of mirth and song?


For all the blessings life has brought,
For all its sorrowing hours have taught,
For all we mourn, for all we keep,
The hands we clasp,
the loved that sleep.


The noontide sunshine of the past,
These brief, bright
moments fading fast,
The stars that gild our darkening years,
The twilight ray from holier spheres.


We thank Thee, Father; let Thy grace
Our narrowing circle still embrace,
Thy mercy shed its heavenly store,
Thy peace be with us evermore.

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Music: How Deep, How Simple – Kathryn Kaye