Father Denny Dempsey

Readings for Sunday, November 4, 2007

Reading 1, Wisdom 11:22-12:2   In the earlier works of the Old Testament, God is presented as being vengeful, easily upset by sins, and reacting with a desire to destroy the offenders. Little wonder. That’s how people tend to react, and it would take centuries for people to understand that God is different from ourselves…a God of love, understanding and forgiveness. The book of Wisdom was written about 100 years before the birth of Christ, by which time Jewish understandings of God had changed dramatically.

Sunday Readings Preview for October 28,2007

The readings can be found at http://www.usccb.org/nab/

Reading 1: Sirach 35:12-14,16-18  Like a mother responding to the cry of her infant child or paramedics responding to a 911 call, God is alert to those in need. This word of divine attention from Sirach, quoted by his grandson in the book named for him, is accompanied by a warning to anyone responsible for the suffering of others. If the mother discovers that her child is crying from being picked on by another child, she will find a way to deal with both of them. Sirach indicates that God will find a way to do the same when people suffer an injustice.

Preview of Readings for Sunday October 21, 2007

Reading 1, Exodus 17:8-13  The Amaleks were a semi-nomadic people of southern Palestine and the Sinai peninsula who attacked the Israelites passing through their area on their way to the promised land. While the soldiers contend below, Moses prays. Emphasis is given here to Moses’ prayer posture. As long as his hands are raised to God with his staff in hand, the battle goes well. As he tires, Aaron and Hur support his arms…support his prayer. People take different postures in prayer, sometimes kneeling, standing with hands raised, sitting quietly, or lying face down. Prayer posture expresses an integration of one’s whole self in prayer. How long can you hold your hands up? How long can you maintain yourself in prayer? What postures help you express yourself to God in prayer? Do you ever find it easier to maintain yourself in prayer with the help of others as did Moses?

Preview of Readings for Sunday October 14, 2007

Reading 1, 2 Kings 5:14-17  Naaman, general of the army of the king of Damascus, Israel’s more powerful neighbor to the north, had leprosy. A Jewish slave girl told him the prophet Elisha in Israel could cure him. He went but balked when Elisha told him to bathe seven times in the Jordan. The rivers of Syria were clearer. He eventually went, however, and was cured. Most people of that era believed in many gods, each having power in a specific territory. Thus, Naaman asks for earth from Israel so he can sacrifice in the land of Elisha’s God. We believe that God is everywhere, but even many Catholics believe God is more powerful in certain churches or pilgrimage destinations (Lourdes, Fatima, Guadalupe, etc.). What do you think?