Saturday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time Year 1 2023

Title

What Do You Seek?

Outline

What do you want in life?

We have the to-us strange narrative in Ruth of a woman who has lost all she wanted: lost her husband, lost her children, lost her future, lost her reputation (for surely this suffering was from God) only to gain more than she could hope for through a daughter-in-law who sought the God she had not grown up with and showed loyalty to Naomi that was a virtue in Israel and then followed the custom of gleaning, hoping for success, just to get food and God does the rest, granting her favor and a chance to live her virtue in the right man’s field, then more favor when she proposes levirite marriage to him despite his age, and finally marriage and children that puts her, a former pagan, in the line of the Davidic king no one in the story expects. She sought God and followed virtue and received more than she could have dreamed of.

But some who know do not seek

The Pharisaic scribes knew: “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you” - they knew Torah and taught it, but functioned in a sense ex opere operando in that they function accurate due to office, but not in their behavior: “do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice.” But they do not know that they do not practice, for they can explain their behavior. And do we not know of sisters and brothers and priests and (in my case, for sure) professors who are like that? Or at least seem to be like that.

They want to be thought of as religious (in their contextual sense), treated as religious, have the titles of religious - or an academic or a leader - that is what they seek. They do not seek God. I think of a prophet who was accurate, but in unguarded comments seemed too interested in women (ostensibly for marriage) or money. I think of a professor I overheard in an elevator asking where the most expensive restaurant was in the area, for a publisher wanted to have a dinner meeting. I think of Facebook posts flaunting great accomplishments of academics. And then there are bishops and priests etc who speak as if they were Pope or judge of the Pope.

Now titles are useful if they describe function, responsibility, and skill so long as they are not held onto. St Seraphim of Sarov was a priest, and did not rebuke anyone for addressing him appropriately as a priest, but referred to himself as “my unworthiness.” And as it is appropriate for my son to refer to me as “father,” so is it appropriate for those for whom I function as a religious father, so long as I remain keenly aware that it is only God’s grace that has placed me in that position and enables me to function. I try to pray the chaplet from In Sinu Jesu weekly, for it is all about praying for mercy on the sins of priests. It is a relief that in the Catholic Church I can leave the academic titles of doctor and professor behind me - they are too dangerous. In the Catholic Church God has spared me from the temptation that positions like pastor or the like might bring me. It is much better to come before his throne honestly saying, “Here I am, my unworthiness, a priest by grace,” hoping at least to hear, “I am pleased with your honesty,” Than to come with titles and positions in my life in the world and hear, “You received the accolades and titles, but you preached and did not do.” It is there that we will learn what we really sought in this life - although sometimes in his mercy our Father enlightens us while we still can do something about it.

Sisters, there are the two examples

There is the woman who knew little, but who sought the God she knew a little about and lived his faithfulness. There are the men who could quote the Torah from memory and yet were seeking prestige and position while failing to do what they knew.

Let us ask God to do what he must to make us like the former and prevent us from being like the latter.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 8-26-2023: Saturday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

Ruth 2:1–3, 8–11, 4:13–17

1 Naomi had a powerful relative named Boaz, through the clan of her husband Elimelech. 2 Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “I would like to go and glean grain in the field of anyone who will allow me.” Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” 3 So she went. The field she entered to glean after the harvesters happened to be the section belonging to Boaz, of the clan of Elimelech.

8 Boaz then spoke to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Do not go to glean in anyone else’s field; you are not to leave here. Stay here with my young women. 9 Watch to see which field is to be harvested, and follow them. Have I not commanded the young men to do you no harm? When you are thirsty, go and drink from the vessels the young people have filled.” 10 Casting herself prostrate upon the ground, she said to him, “Why should I, a foreigner, be favored with your attention?” 11 Boaz answered her: “I have had a complete account of what you have done for your mother-in-law after your husband’s death; you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom previously you did not know.

13 Boaz took Ruth. When they came together as husband and wife, the LORD enabled her to conceive and she bore a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the LORD who has not failed to provide you today with a redeemer. May he become famous in Israel! 15 He will restore your life and be the support of your old age, for his mother is the daughter-in-law who loves you. She is worth more to you than seven sons!” 16 Naomi took the boy, cradled him against her breast, and cared for him. 17 The neighbor women joined the celebration: “A son has been born to Naomi!” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Catholic Daily Readings 8-26-2023: Saturday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 128:4

4 Just so will the man be blessed

who fears the LORD.

PSALM

Psalm 128:1b–5

1 A song of ascents.

Blessed are all who fear the LORD,

and who walk in his ways.

2 What your hands provide you will enjoy;

you will be blessed and prosper:

3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine

within your home,

Your children like young olive plants

around your table.

4 Just so will the man be blessed

who fears the LORD.

5 May the LORD bless you from Zion;

may you see Jerusalem’s prosperity

all the days of your life,

Catholic Daily Readings 8-26-2023: Saturday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Matthew 23:9b, 10b

9 Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven.

10 Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Messiah.

GOSPEL

Matthew 23:1–12

1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. 3 Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens [hard to carry] and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. 5  All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6  They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, 7 greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ 8 As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. 10 Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you must be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 8-26-2023: Saturday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 2023 | ORDINARY TIME

SATURDAY OF THE TWENTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR 1 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Ruth 2:1–3, 8–11, 4:13–17

Response Psalm 128:4

Psalm Psalm 128:1b–5

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 23:9b, 10b

Gospel Matthew 23:1–12

GREEN