Daily Liturgy
Wednesday 30 June
THIRTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
OUTCASTS ARE PEOPLE
Introduction
God fulfilled at least a bit of his promise to Abraham, that in him, the families of the earth would be blessed. Ishmael, the son of the slave girl, would not inherit the promises made to Abraham, but God took pity on this outcast and made him the ancestor of nomadic Bedouin tribes.
Jesus takes pity on people considered possessed by the devil, outcasts of little value to their pagan fellow citizens, who are more concerned about the loss of their pigs than over the cure of these outcasts. This text is difficult to understand unless we pay attention to the underlying theme of impurity. The outcasts from whom Jesus will exorcise demons live in an impure place, a cemetery; the demons are driven out into pigs, unclean animals for the Jews. The pagans of the region do not yet recognize Jesus and this seems to indicate that the story is symbolic of times still to come: evil is still rampant. But in any case, the power of Jesus is already working.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
Your Son, Jesus Christ, took pity
on people rejected by their society
and restored them as human beings.
Never allow us to judge anyone
and to reject people from our communities.
Make us leave the judgment to you
for you alone know what is going on
in the hearts of people.
Make us mild and compassionate
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Reading 1: Gen 21:5,8-20;
Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham held a great banquet on the day of the child’s weaning.
Sarah noticed the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham playing with her son Isaac; so she demanded of Abraham: “Drive out that slave and her son! No son of that slave is going to share the inheritance with my son Isaac!” Abraham was greatly distressed because it concerned a son of his. But God said to Abraham: Do not be distressed about the boy or about your slave woman. Obey Sarah, no matter what she asks of you; for it is through Isaac that descendants will bear your name. As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a nation of him also, since he too is your offspring.
Early the next morning Abraham got some bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. Then, placing the child on her back, he sent her away. As she roamed aimlessly in the wilderness of Beer-sheba, the water in the skin was used up. So she put the child down under one of the bushes, and then went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away; for she said to herself, “I cannot watch the child die.” As she sat opposite him, she wept aloud. God heard the boy’s voice, and God’s angel called to Hagar from heaven: “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not fear; God has heard the boy’s voice in this plight of his. Get up, lift up the boy and hold him by the hand; for I will make of him a great nation.” Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went and filled the skin with water, and then let the boy drink.
God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the wilderness and became an expert bowman.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 34:7-8, 10-11, 12-13
R: The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
This poor one cried out and the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and he saves them.
R: The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Fear the LORD, you his holy ones;
nothing is lacking to those who fear him.
The rich grow poor and go hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
R: The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Come, children,* listen to me;
I will teach you fear of the LORD.
Who is the man who delights in life,
who loves to see the good days?
R: The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Gospel: Mt 8:28-34
When he came to the other side, to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one could travel by that road. They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?” Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding. The demons pleaded with him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.” And he said to them, “Go then!” They came out and entered the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned. The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.
Intercessions
– For the Church, that like our God, it may care for those who are least favored and least loved, so that the Gospel may be good news to them, we pray:
– For governments and public officials, that they may not tolerate favoritism or discrimination of any kind and that they may defend the oppressed and restore their rights, we pray:
– For those considered outcasts by “respectable” society, that we may not judge them, but that our goodness, respect and understanding may help them to integrate themselves in our communities, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord, loving God,
your Son Jesus, died on the cross
as an outcast deserted by his people,
but that was the way in which he saved us.
Let this offering of bread and wine express
that we are one with Jesus,
and that with him, we accept people
the way you accept them and want to save them.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
God our Father,
you have let us share the table of your Son
and let us join him in giving praise and thanks to you.
By his power, we want to continue
giving you honor and thanks
with the whole of our everyday lives
through deeds of justice, love
and endless compassion for people
who lose their struggle with the difficulties of life.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Blessing
“Let justice flow like water, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” If we can be just and good, the Lord will listen to us and accept our offering, for then, it will be part of the sacrifice of Jesus. May God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Commentary
The ambivalent feelings of the Hebrews toward the Ishmaelites, at a later date, is reflected in today’s reading. As the son of Abraham and Sarah’s maidservant Hagar, the young boy Ishmael has a certain status. On the other hand, as the eponymous ancestor of an historically hostile people, the negative side could not be overlooked. Sarah insists that Hagar and her son bring an end to their association with her son Isaac. Afraid that Ishmael might find favor with her husband, Sarah tells him to send mother and son away. Although dismayed by her request, Abraham at God’s direction carries out Sarah’s request. It is stated clearly that Ishmael is not the child of promise but in subsequent history will be a considerable force.
The presence of Jesus’ power over evil is evident in the story of the Gadarene demoniacs. The desire of the demons to enter the swine was in accordance with Jewish attitudes about both pigs and demons. The demons enter the swine and precipitate their headlong charge into the sea. The herdsmen are justifiably upset, as well as the local citizens. They ask that Jesus not further damage their livelihood and leave the region.
Evil will be dealt with effectively by God in whatever form it comes, however uncomfortable it might be for us to observe it. This is a sobering thought for us today.
Points to Ponder
Isaac: the exclusive heir of the promise
The lot of Ishmael
Jesus as the opponent of evil