September 13, 2004 - Monday, 24th Week in Ordinary Time
ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, Bishop, Church doctor

THE TABLE OF UNITY

Readings:
Cor 11:17-26, 33; Ps 40:7– 8a, 8b – 9, 10, 17; Lk 7:1-10

Introduction

St John, monk and bishop of Constantinople, was called "Chrysostom," that is "mouth of gold," on account of his great eloquence. Though often in poor health, he deserved this name also for being outspoken against corruption at the court and neglect and exploitation of the poor by the mighty. For this reason he was banned twice from his city and died in exile. We owe him much of the Orthodox liturgy.

Opening Prayer

God, our Father,
you entrusted your good news
to St. John Chrysostom.
Loyally and without fear
he sowed your word as a seed
that it might bear fruit
also when it was accepted reluctantly.
Give us trust in your word,
make it grow in us
that it may become in all of us
really good news to live by.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction:
       Paul makes a strong statement against the Corinthians for their division between rich and poor at the eucharistic celebration. Underlying his reprimand is that the Corinthians act against something basic to Christianity: the eucharistic body of Christ builds up the Church as his ecclesial body. If they eat the one body of Christ and share the same cup, they ought to be one. They are to be the sign of the unity of all humankind in Christ.

First Reading: 1 Cor 11:17 –26, 33

Brothers and sisters:
In giving this instruction, I do not praise the fact that your
meetings are doing more harm than good. First of all, I hear
that when you meet as a Church there are divisions among
you, and to a degree I believe it; there have to be factions among
you in order that also those who are approved among you may
become known. When you meet in one place, then, it is not to
eat the Lord’s supper, for in eating, each one goes ahead with
his own supper, and one goes hungry while another gets drunk. Do you not have houses in which you can eat and drink? Or do
you show contempt for the Church of God and make those
who have nothing feel ashamed? What can I say to you? Shall
I praise you? In this matter I do not praise you.
For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you,
that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took
bread and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This
is my Body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In
the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is
the new covenant in my Blood. Do this, as often as you drink
it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread
and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until
he comes.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, when you come together
to eat, wait for one another.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 40:7– 8a, 8b – 9, 10, 17

R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.

Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, “Behold I come.”
R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.

“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!”
R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.

I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.

May all who seek you
exult and be glad in you
And may those who love your salvation
say ever, “The LORD be glorified.”
R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.

Gospel Introduction:

Gospel Reading: Lk 7:1-10

When Jesus had finished teaching to the people, he went to Capernaum.

There was a captain whose servant was very sick and near to death, a man very dear to him. So when he heard about Jesus, he sent some elders of the Jews to persuade him to come and save his servant's life. The elders came to Jesus and begged him earnestly, saying, "He deserves this of you, for he loves our people and even built a synagogue for us."

Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the captain sent friends to give this message, "Sir, do not trouble yourself for I am not worthy to welcome you under my roof. You see I didn't approach you myself. Just give the order and my servant will be healed. For I myself, a junior officer, give orders to my soldiers and I say to this one: 'Go,' and he goes; and to the other: 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant: 'Do this,' and he does it."

On hearing these words, Jesus was filled with admiration. He turned and said to the people with him, "I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith." The people sent by the captain went back to his house; there they found that the servant was well.

Commentary

THE "captains" of this translation are the "centurions" of other translations. As the name implies, they were the officers in command of 100 foot-soldiers. In a Roman legion there would be 60 centurions in charge of 6,000 men. In the time of Jesus there were two such legions in Palestine. These 120 men left an entirely favorable impression, according to the gospels-strange for an occupying army! The one in today's reading left more than a good impression; "he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us."

This centurion was also particularly sensitive to Jewish custom. He knew that Jews would not allow Gentiles to enter their houses, nor would they enter the house of a Gentile, so he sent messengers to Jesus. When Jesus came near the house, the centurion said, "Sir, I am not worthy to receive you in my house...." (The centurion Cornelius in Acts 10-also written by Luke-had the same sensitivity, "When Peter reached the house Cornelius went out to meet him.") And still he thought like an army man: in terms of orders being carried out. "I say 'Go!' and he goes!" And he thought that Jesus could just issue an order to the sickness and it would just go, like an army private!

Which goes to show that an army man doesn't have to give his soul to the army; he can be a human being at the same time. Sartre's famous illustration of "bad faith" was an army man who had become an army man body and soul: someone who had found his complete identity in being a soldier. Those New Testament centurions, pagans though they were, have much to teach us about work and humanity.

Intentions

- That the day may come when all who believe in Christ may sit at the same table to break the bread of the Lord, we pray:

- That the eucharist may build us up more as Church, uniting us more as the body of Christ in prayer, thanksgiving to God, and concern for the weak, we pray:

- That the eucharist may unite the whole community in mutual forgiveness, acceptance and sharing, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
the harvest in our fields
has yielded its fruits
and here is bread and wine
to bring us strength and joy.
Let them become the body and blood of Jesus,
to keep us growing in the life
that he brought us by his death
and his rising to life,
until we are ready for your harvest.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God,
you have called us again
through the body of your Son
to make the body of his Church more an more
the living sign of your presence
and of your action in the world.
Make us dialogue with this world and Church
and criticize and challenge
what ought to be changed,
that they become your Church and your world
in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Blessing

It is a real shame that people who meet in the Lord, listen to his word, and eat the eucharist from his table are divided and discriminate against one another. May in his goodness God bless you all, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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