Monday of 14th week in Ordinary Time, July 9, 2007

Scripture: Genesis 28:10-22. Psalm 91:1-4,14-15. Matthew 9:18-26.
Lectionary # 383:

Today presents us with a thought about the similarities and differences of
the Evangelists. Matthew is stylizing in his own literary way the more
graphic, dynamic, and lively account of the Evangelist Mark. It is
worthwhile reading both healing accounts in order to develop our reflection
on this beautiful story of healing a girl probably twelve years old. Mark
gives us the original version in Mark 5:21-43; Luke also borrows from Mark
in Luke 8:40-56. I leave aside Luke who is not as dependent upon Mark as
Matthew. We learn by studying the Synoptics side by side while noting the
differences as well as the similarities. Style, placement, and point of
view are different for each of the three Gospel writers. Certainly all are
inspired and are writing the word of God that they have had handed down to
them either by oral preaching or by some written collections. St. Justin
calls some of these the "memoirs of the apostles" and that is a good way of
describing what happens before we have the written Gospels. Divine
inspiration does not take away from the individual characteristics and
interests of the authors whom we accept as inspired. God always works with
our human talents, limitations, and peculiarities. We are not a
homogenized group of people nor were the authors of the New Testament.
Matthew is even borrowing the "sandwich technique" of Mark for he places
the healing together with that of the woman with hemorrhages for twelve
years within the narrative. We start with the young girl then the healing
of the woman and then return to the healing of the child. By reading both
accounts and even that of Luke we can deepen our appreciation for these
spectacular events recorded by three different writers. The flavor is
different as we see the pastoral concerns for the communities that the
evangelists are writing for. These inspired authors make the Word become
flesh among us. All we have to do is to savor the offerings and take
spiritual nourishment from them. Permit me to digress while adding a
beautiful prayer that was sent to me from one of the readers of these
meditations: "Father, hear the prayer we offer: not for ease that prayer
shall be, but for strength, that we may ever live our lives courageously.
Not for ever in green pastures do we ask our way to be; but the steep and
rugged pathway may we tread rejoicingly. Not forever by still waters
would we idly rest and stay; but would smite the living fountains from the
rocks along our way. Be our strength in hours of weakness, in our
wanderings be our Guide; through endeavor, failure, danger, Savior, be thou
at our side."
Words: Love Maria Willis, 1864. This is also a hymn based on Psalm 23
giving it a different flavor!