So let's talk about today's readings 7/31/09

[cheeto1]

usccb.org/nab/073109.shtml

"Beginning with the day after the sabbath,
the day on which you bring the wave-offering sheaf,
you shall count seven full weeks,
and then on the day after the seventh week, the fiftieth day,
you shall present the new cereal offering to the LORD.

–This part of the first reading reminds me very much of Ash Wednesday, and Lent.
Then, on the fiftieth day, Pentecost, a new offering of the Lord. Easter is missing,
Jesus has not yet been born and risen from the dead. Also I note that it is all
beginning the day after the sabbath, Sunday.

“There shall be no strange god among you”
– This part of the psalm makes me think of how much people enjoy Greek
mythology. It gets taught to school children on a regular basis, and I don’t
believe in it. Why should people be taught the joy and entertainment of
other gods? Supposing they believe in them, then what have you done?
And supposing that they don’t, but they are now “taught” that God is probably
not real either?

“Is he not the carpenter’s son?
Is not his mother named Mary
and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
Are not his sisters all with us?”

– I am noticing that Jesus’ whole family was there to support Him on His big day.
I wonder how many there were from His family? But, why does it imply that His
father was not there? Is it because He died? He wasn’t at work, it was the
Sabbath. And why do they say “the carpenter’s son”? Was Joseph the only
carpenter in town? If he died already, then why do they still call him "THE
carpenter? Doesn’t the town have a carpenter at all now?(if Joseph died)
I wonder what Jesus’ family thought when He was almost thrown off a cliff?

Today is the day of St. Ignatius of Loyola, a soldier turned priest.

So what struck you about today’s readings? :bible1::twocents:

 

[Huiou_Theou]

usccb.org/nab/073109.shtml
Also I note that it is all
beginning the day after the sabbath, Sunday.

Yes, it begins on the first day of the week; Sunday – but, then, Pentecost would appear to be a Monday in a strict 7 day week. Exactly 7 weeks plus 1 day. Also, though I’m not sure it makes any difference, they were lunar calendar people.
But sabbath is not always a Saturday – and it is a mistake to think that Sabbath is only a specific day. Look at the rest of the reading and there is one which says a sabbath on the first day and the seventh day – that’s two Sabbaths inside of 7 days. If the earlier one is Sunday, the later one is Saturday.
Also, by numbers, there is mentioned a sabbath on the Eighth day. If the Sabbath is the Seventh day of the week (the normal idea), then the eighth has to be a new week; a new Sunday sabbath.
I find it interesting, that this Eighth day is when the sacrifice becomes acceptable…

But, why does it imply that His father was not there? Is it because He died? He wasn’t at work, it was the Sabbath. And why do they say “the carpenter’s son”?

I would think he died; But looking at the sentence structure – I think “The” carpenter’s son might be emphasizing a tight family relationship. An extra “The” is often used in that context. Eg: Perhaps as Jesus’ immediate father, rather than his grandfather … and the expression: Like father, Like son.

The comment made about Mary is also carrying immediacy; because it isn’t how others call her, but what name she says of herself continuously. Names hint at relationship among cousins; and perhaps the non-family members are wondering if that is her real name.

“The carpenter’s son” does seem to carry a specific slam of some kind toward Joseph in English – as if he, specifically, was massively non-miraculous, or perhaps “slow”/"lower “class”/etc. I wonder if that was thought of carpenters in general, or Just Joseph… it seems to be specific to him. That’s sad. A holy and upright man, even if simple; is not something to scorn.

I suppose they thought wisdom only came from those educated and rich. The powers too, were thought to belong to the priestly class; a highly respected one.
The envy is almost the opposite of the American idea of the self-made-man; rather Jesus appears too high for his “caste”; a Galilean, as it was thought… from Nazereth.

 

[Huiou_Theou]

Oops,

If the first day of each week is Sunday, then so is Pentecost…
Pentecost was a sabbath on a Sunday.