8th Week in Ordinary Time
02nd June 2023 (Firday) Readings and Reflection
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Sirach 44:1, 9-13
1 Let us now sing the praises of famous men, our ancestors in their generations. 9 But of others there is no memory; they have perished as though they had never existed; they have become as though they had never been born, they and their children after them. 10 But these also were godly men, whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten; 11 their wealth will remain with their descendants, and their inheritance with their children’s children. 12 Their descendants stand by the covenants; their children also, for their sake. 13 Their offspring will continue forever, and their glory will never be blotted out.
Psalm 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b
R/. THe Lord takes delight in his people
Gospel : Mark 11:11-25
11 And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. 12 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it. 15 And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 16 And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” 18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19 And when evening came they went out of the city. 20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: Never blotted out!
Indicative: Our God is a God of sanctity and fidelity. He expects the same from us. He provides us with whatever is needed for our growth and productivity{alertSuccess}
1. The gospel narration is dramatic and message-driven. It contains a few diverse happenings. One is, Jesus curses a fig tree. Jesus was hungry. He looks for fruits on a fig tree. He finds none. He curses it and it dries up.
2. Realistically, it was not the season and the fig tree cannot be expected to bear fruit. It was not its fault. Jesus knows it. Still, why did he expect fruit? Why did he curse it? Obviously, this act is very indicative and message-giving. We are expected to be productive and fruitful. Often we are “found with nothing but leaves”. Therefore we will be liable to God’s judgment and curse.
3. Another action is Jesus chasing out the traders in the Jerusalem temple area. Apparently, again Jesus looks unrealistic and unnecessarily invites trouble. Why could he not understand that any religious place will involve some kind of “commerciality”?
4. Why could he not realise that he was just moving to the prime time of his ministry? Any such controversial act would incur the wrath of the authorities. And he would become unpopular and thus lose all his bright prospects.
5. Again, it is a symbolic act of “cleansing the temple” – reconsecrating the desecrated temple, and restoring the sanctity of the temple. It is restoring the temple to its original purpose of being the house of God and an abode of prayer. God’s temple cannot be turned into a den of thieves!
6. Further, Jesus insists on the power of prayer and faith. Jesus uses positive the negative act of cursing the fig tree. The word of Jesus had the power to make things happen as per his word. In the same way, if only the followers of Jesus too have faith, things will happen.
Imperative: Many live and many die. But some go on living even after death because of their virtuous life. This is the only way that our glory will not be blotted out{alertSuccess}