Scripture Reflection for July 4,2008...Ordinary Readings

Scripture: Friday of 13th week, Ordinary Time, July 4,2008. Amos
8:4-6,9-12. Psalm 119:2.10.20.30.40.131. Matthew 9:9-13. Lectionary # 381:

Matthew is the center of a call given to him by Jesus. He is a
tax-collector who hears Jesus and when the Lord says, "Follow me," he does.
The text from the Gospel traditionally said to have been written by the
same Matthew, says, "Matthew got up and followed him." We have been graced
with reading this Gospel for this year and are fed from it with the bread
of life which is the word of God for us. Matthew then in his response to
the call, has a party for Jesus and guests are invited. There are
questions about Jesus eating with a tax-collector and a sinner, but Jesus
simply uses the occasion for one of his important teachings, "I have come
to call not the self righteous but sinners." So if Matthew sinned in any
way in his dealings with others as a tax-collector, he now is on a new road
in his spiritual journey which will consist in following Jesus. The story
can be easily related to many of us upon reading it, and we can take great
comfort in the fact that are sins are forgiven once we admit them and turn
away from them as Matthew may have done had he sinned.
Today's response is our way of thanking and praising God in the
liturgy of the word and it fits in well with the fact that we attribute the
Gospel we are reading or listening to as written by Matthew himself. It is
a majestic masterpiece in its content and flow. No wonder it was used for
almost all of the Sunday Masses in the Catholic Church before the Vatican
II Council (1962-1964). In 1969 the practice of reading more of all parts
of the Scriptures is given to us through the liturgical revisions and now
we appreciate the verse taken from Matthew for our response today: "Man
does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth
of God." (Matthew 4:46).
Our prophet Amos for the readings of this week likewise refers to the
word of God in a contrasting way to Matthew's use for there is a period of
non conversion on the part of its listeners. Amos tells us, "Yes, days are
coming, says the Lord God, when I will send famine upon the land: not a
famine of bread, or thirst for water, but for hearing the word of God." We
pray then the we as listeners to that word of God may love, cherish, and
meditate upon it daily. The Scriptures are God's gift to us to help us
learn how to love and serve God, our neighbor, and ourselves in a salutary
way. We can then appreciate them and live them out for they are our bread
for the daily spiritual journey that we take up. Amen.

Feast of St. Thomas Apostle celebrated on July 3. Scipture: Ephesians
2:19-22. Psalm 117. John 20:24-29.

Our reading from Ephesians can easily be applied to the Apostle Thomas the
Twin (Didymus) who is believed to be the apostle sent to India. There he
is the patron saint. Even stamps have commemorated his living there and
dying as a martyr (issued in commemoration in 1969, and 1972). A stone is
believed to indicate the place of his martyrdom. Ephesians reads, "You are
part of a building that has the apostles and prophets for its foundations,
and Christ Jesus himself for its cornerstone." This is a house and
foundation where God lives in the Spirit.

In the New Testament only John has something to say about Thomas. They
show his growth in faith as an apostle of the Jesus and he appears several
times thus giving us a bit of a sketch of his faith development. He
appears both in the Book of Signs (chapters 1-12) and the Book of Glory
(chapters 13-21). The most significant of these passages is the
post-resurrection appearance of Jesus to him which we have in the Gospel
for today.

J.L McKenzie tells us, "Thomas is given unusual prominence in John; in
11:16 he urges the Twelve to accompany Jesus into Judea and to die with
Him; in 14:5 he asks where Jesus is going and how they may know the way.
This prompts Jesus to say, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know
the Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Yet,
Thomas still grows more in faith as the Gospel moves on. We will last hear
of him in 21:2 where he is among the disciples who are fishing and who meet
the risen Jesus.

McKenzie redeems Thomas with his insight into his peron by writing the
following: "John 11:16 suggests a generous and impetuous temperament, which
is not suggested by the most famous incident in which Thomas appears, the
episode which has created the phrase, "doubting Thomas" (John
20:24-29).(Dictionary of the Bible, p.886).

Many Catholics were taught to say silently the words of Thomas' profession
of faith when the sacred bread and precious cup are raised at Mass, "My
Lord and my God." It is the clearest expression of who Jesus is for us
both God and man. We are encouraged by the example of Thomas to grow in
our faith and trust in the Person of Christ. And we unite ourselves with
the Chrisitains in India who celebrate this feast with great solemnity.
Amen.