September 6, 2010
Monday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough, inasmuch as you are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Corinthians 5:7-8
Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" Looking around at them all, he then said to him, "Stretch out your hand." He did so and his hand was restored. Luke 6:9-10
Piety
Lord Jesus Christ, you have given your followers an example of gentleness and humility, a task that is easy, a burden that is light. Accept the prayers and work of this day, and give us the rest that will strengthen us to render more faithful service to you who live and reign forever and ever. Amen (Night Prayer from http://www.daily-word-of-life.com/catholic_prayers.htm)
Study
Paul’s letter to the Corinthians takes up various issues of bad behavior. Measured against the standards of the early Christian community, steps must be taken to correct behavior that is outside the new norms of Christian community. Jesus, as we see in the reading from Luke, had already set new standards of behavior for the community. However, the community at that time measured Jesus’ behavior against the existing standards. Therefore, the Pharisees were enraged and started to take steps to correct Jesus’ behavior.
The dividing line is Jesus who came among us to introduce a new social contract. As a witness to this new way of living together, Jesus cured the man who had the withered hand and presented himself in the temple in the Sabbath. "I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" Rather than rest from all labor, Jesus takes us out of our old ways of living and into new directions. Paul’s metaphor to “clean out the old yeast” is at work today in both readings.
As we learn in the note in the New American Bible: “In the Jewish calendar, Passover was followed immediately by the festival of Unleavened Bread. In preparation for this feast all traces of old bread were removed from the house, and during the festival only unleavened bread was eaten. The sequence of these two feasts provides Paul with an image of Christian existence: Christ's death (the true Passover celebration) is followed by the life of the Christian community, marked by newness, purity, and integrity (a perpetual feast of unleavened bread).”
Action
As we celebrate Labor Day 2010, the world of work is moving into new directions as well. Bishop William Murphy of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops noted this change in the 2010 Labor Day statement entitled “A New ‘Social Contract’ for Today’s ‘New Things,’” which can be found online (www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/labor_day_2010.pdf).
Just like the man with the withered hand benefitted from the new social contract that Jesus set forth in today’s Good News, workers today need the same kind of outreach and action from all sectors in our culture including religion, politics, business and more.
“America is undergoing a rare economic transformation, shedding jobs and testing safety nets as the nation searches for new ways to govern and grow our economy,” said Bishop Murphy. “Workers need a new ‘social contract.’” Bishop Murphy said that creating new jobs would require new investments, initiative and creativity in the economy. He also drew on the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI, which call for placing the human person at the center of economic life and emphasize the role of civil society and mediating institutions such as unions in pursing the common good.
As you enjoy this holy day and civil holiday, read and reflect upon the implications of Bishop Murphy’s complete statement on your life whether you are a worker, manager, business owner, retiree, student about to enter the world of work (inside the home and beyond).
If you are not working for reasons such as illness, unemployment, family priorities or other reasons, how can you stretch out your hand to others, no matter what your personal circumstances to help them without boasting or pride but out of the same spirit of love and life shown by Jesus every day?
Consider also that we may be the man with the withered hand. How can we accept the aid of others in humility and with thanksgiving?
