He bore our sufferings himself.
Who would believe what we have heard?
To whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
The servant grew up like a sapling before him,
like a shoot from the parched earth;
there was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him,
nor appearance that would attract us to him.
He was spurned and avoided by people,
a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity,
one of those from whom people hide their faces,
spurned, and we held him in no esteem.
Yet it was our infirmities that the servant bore,
our sufferings that he endured,
while we thought of him as stricken,
as one smitten by God and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our offenses,
crushed for our sins,
upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole,
by his stripes we were healed.
Though he was harshly treated, he submitted
and opened not his mouth;
like a lamb led to the slaughter
or a sheep before the shearers,
he was silent and opened not his mouth.
Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away,
and who would have thought any more of his destiny?
When he was cut off from the land of the living,
and smitten for the sin of his people,
a grave was assigned him among the wicked
and a burial place with evildoers,
though he had done no wrong
nor spoken any falsehood.
But the LORD was pleased
to crush his servant in infirmity.
If he gives his life as an offering for sin,
he shall see his descendants in a long life,
and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him.
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Commentary on Is 53:1-5, 7-10
This passage is taken from the fourth "Suffering Servant" lament from Isaiah. It is considered to be a testament to the prophet’s own ill treatment. We see in it also a prediction of the passion beginning with the scourged servant and flowing into the salvific image (“Yet it was our infirmities that he bore”). We are reminded that what the servant bore, he took upon himself willingly (“Though he was harshly treated, he submitted”).
In this selection the explicit forms of abuse suffered become a prophetic vision of Christ's passion. While Christians see clearly the messianic prophecy in the lament, the overall message extols the virtue of expiatory suffering. The Suffering Servant, and Christ, did not suffer in themselves so much as they accepted their suffering that others might not suffer. Their suffering was offered as a sacrifice to God on behalf of others; that God, in his great mercy, would accept that sacrifice and pour out graces upon those for whom the suffering was offered. In offering this sacrifice, the selection concludes, the one who does so shall be justified before God.
CCC: Is 53:1 591; Is 53:4-6 1505; Is 53:4 517, 1505; Is 53:7-8 601; Is 53:7 608; Is 53:8 627; Is 53:10-12 440, 615; Is 53:10 623
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RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Mary set out
What happens to the person who, like our Blessed Mother Mary, takes God's words to heart, literally? The Magnificat is a perfect example. Mary lays her entire being before God. She pledges her self, spirit and soul, to the service of the Lord, accepting even her highest honor and greatest burden, as vessel of the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ.
Throughout her life on earth she demonstrated for us the fidelity and faith of true discipleship. Its effects on her were many, but what shows through so clearly was her ability to be serenely at peace even at the most horrific of times (e.g. her son's passion and death). We see her enduring, without complaint, the vicissitudes of life. There is no doubt that the spirit of one so pure shows us the healing mercy of God through the peace of Christ.
As we reflect upon the Blessed Virgin's example for us, let us pray that we too can put our trust so deeply in God's hands that the trials of this life may be accepted with grace, and our burdens offered as sacrifice to our Father. May we begin this prayer as Mother Mary did: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God, my savior."
Pax
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
R. (1a, 3b) My soul, bless the Lord, who heals all your ills.
Bless the LORD, my soul;
all my being, bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, my soul;
do not forget all the gifts of God.
R. My soul, bless the Lord, who heals all your ills.
Who pardons all your sins,
heals all your ills,
delivers your life from the pit,
surrounds you with love and compassion.
R. My soul, bless the Lord, who heals all your ills.
The LORD does righteous deeds,
brings justice to all the oppressed.
God's ways were revealed to Moses,
mighty deeds to the people of Israel.
R. My soul, bless the Lord, who heals all your ills.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger, abounding in kindness.
God has not dealt with us as our sins merit,
nor requited us as our deeds deserve.
R. My soul, bless the Lord, who heals all your ills.
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Commentary on Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8 and 10
Psalm 103 praises God for this compassion and forgiveness. Three of God’s blessings are enumerated: forgiveness, healing, and salvation. It recalls Moses’ mission and the salvation brought through it. They express the love of Christ as well, welling up from his Most Sacred Heart.
CCC: Ps 103 304
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GOSPEL
Why should I be honored with a visit from the mother of my Lord?
Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
"Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled."
And Mary said:
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever."
Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.
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Commentary on Lk 1:39-56
The Gospel selection from St. Luke gives us the story of Mary’s journey from Nazareth, over the mountains to Hebron, south of Jerusalem, to visit her cousin St. Elizabeth, who was also with child. St. Elizabeth’s greeting gives us substance for the “Hail Mary,” and Mary’s response is the great Canticle of Mary, which exemplifies her faith and faithfulness appropriate for the Mother of Jesus, who is the Christ.
Mary’s meeting with Elizabeth follows the annunciation by Gabriel that she would carry the Son of God, which proclaims the coming of the Lord, and the faith of Mary before the nativity event. We note that Elizabeth is first to identify Jesus as Lord as she says: ”how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” She not only professes the identity of the infant, but foreshadows Mary’s leadership standing, elevating the stature of her much younger cousin with reverence. Elizabeth continues her praise of Mary by establishing that her (Mary’s) faith had allowed her to accept even the incredible role God had offered her.
In response we hear Mary’s humility as she gives us the Magnificat: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior....” These opening phrases establishes that the Blessed Mother gives herself to God eternally (her eternal self -soul) and completely (the very core of her being -spirit). What follows in her great song is an expression of confidence in the Father’s omnipotence, and her own humility and awe in the face of his request of her to carry God’s only Son.
CCC: Lk 1:41 523, 717, 2676; Lk 1:43 448, 495, 2677; Lk 1:45 148, 2676; Lk 1:46-55 722, 2619, 2675; Lk 1:46-49 2097; Lk 1:48 148, 971, 2676, 2676; Lk 1:49 273, 2599, 2807, 2827; Lk 1:50 2465; Lk 1:54-55 706; Lk 1:55 422
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Reflection:
There was a study reported in Time Magazine that: "If a long life is what you’re after, going to church may be the answer to your prayers." As usual in publications that are generally secular humanist in their leanings and biases, they focus on the physiological rationale of a person of faith, rather than our metaphysical understanding of God's active participation in our lives through his love and mercy. We are instantly reminded of the quote from St. Augustine: "Resentment is like taking poison and hoping the other person dies." The discipleship required of a Christian demands that resentment and its synonyms be absent from our thoughts and vocabulary.
What happens to the person who, like our Blessed Mother Mary, takes God's words to heart, literally? The Magnificat is a perfect example. Mary lays her entire being before God. She pledges her self, spirit and soul, to the service of the Lord, accepting even her highest honor and greatest burden, as vessel of the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ.
Throughout her life on earth she demonstrated for us the fidelity and faith of true discipleship. Its effects on her were many, but what shows through so clearly was her ability to be serenely at peace even at the most horrific of times (e.g. her son's passion and death). We see her enduring, without complaint, the vicissitudes of life. There is no doubt that the spirit of one so pure shows us the healing mercy of God through the peace of Christ.
As we reflect upon the Blessed Virgin's example for us, let us pray that we too can put our trust so deeply in God's hands that the trials of this life may be accepted with grace, and our burdens offered as sacrifice to our Father. May we begin this prayer as Mother Mary did: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God, my savior."
Pax
(alt.) The Lectionary for Special Masses for the BVM uses a different translation of the psalter than the Lectionary for Mass.
