Joseph Kenny OP: Readings Lent Friday 3

READINGS: LENT FRIDAY III

Invitatory Psalm & BACK

PSALMS and BACK
שׁוּבוּ אֶל־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם — כִּי־חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם הוּא

Even Years: Exodus 35:30—36:1; 37:1-9
וַיֹאמַר מֹשֶׁה אֶל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל רְאוּ קָרָא יְהוָה בְּשֵׁם בְּצַלְאֵל בֶּן־אוּרִי בֶן־חוּר לְמַטֵּה יְהוּדָה׃
וַיְמַלֵּא אֹתוֹ רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים בְּחָכְמָה בִּתְבוּנָה וּבְדַעַת וּבְכָל־מְלָאכָה׃ וְלַחְשֹׁב מַחַשָׁבֹת לַעֲשֹׂת בַּזָּהָב וּבַכֶּסֶף וּבַנְּחֹשֶׁת׃ וּבַחֲרֹשֶׁת אֶבֶן לְמַלֹּאת וּבַחֲרֹשֶׁת עֵץ לַעֲשׂוֹת בְּכָל־מְלֶאכֶת מַחֲשָׁבֶת׃ וּלְהוֹרֹת נָתַן בְּלִבּוֹ הוּא וְאָהֳלִיאָב בֶּן־אֲחִיסָמָךְ לְמַטֵּה־דָן׃ מִלֵּא אֹתָם חָכְמַת־לֵב לַעֲשׂוֹת כָּל־מְלֶאכֶת חָרָשׁ וְחֹשֵׁב וְרֹקֵם בַּתְּכֵלֶת וּבָאַרְגָּמָן בְּתוֹלַעַת הַשָּׁנִי וּבַשֵּׁשׁ וְאֹרֵג עֹשֵׂי כָּל־מְלָאכָה וְחֹשְׁבֵי מַחֲשָׁבֹת׃
וְעָשָׂה בְצַלְאֵל וְאָהֳלִיאָב וְכֹל אִישׁ חֲכַם־לֵב אֲשֶׁר נָתַן יְהוָה חָכְמָה וּתְבוּנָה בָּהֵמָּה לָדַעַת לַעֲשֹׂת אֶת־כָּל־מְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדַת הַקֹּדֶשׁ לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּה יְהוָה׃
וַיַּעַשׂ בְּצַלְאֵל אֶת־הָאָרֹן עֲצֵי שִׁטִּים אַמָּתַיִם וָחֵצִי אָרְכּוֹ וְאַמָּה וָחֵצִי רָחְבּוֹ וְאַמָּה וָחֵצִי קֹמָתוֹ׃
וַיְצַפֵּהוּ זָהָב טָהוֹר מִבַּיִת וּמִחוּץ וַיַּעַשׂ לוֹ זֵר זָהָב סָבִיב׃ וַיִּצֹק לוֹ אַרְבַּע טַבְּעֹת זָהָב עַל אַרְבַּע פַּעֲמֹתָיו וּשְׁתֵּי טַבָּעֹת עַל־צַלְעוֹ הָאֶחָת וּשְׁתֵּי טַבָּעוֹת עַל־צַלְעוֹ הַשֵּׁנִית׃ וַיַּעַשׂ בַּדֵּי עֲצֵי שִׁטִּים וַיְצַף אֹתָם זָהָב׃ וַיָּבֵא אֶת־הַבַּדִּים בַּטַּבָּעֹת עַל צַלְעֹת הָאָרֹן לָשֵׂאת אֶת־הָאָרֹן׃
וַיַּעַשׂ כַּפֹּרֶת זָהָב טָהוֹר אַמָּתַיִם וָחֵצִי אָרְכָּהּ וְאַמָּה וָחֵצִי רָחְבָּהּ׃ וַיַּעַשׂ שְׁנֵי כְרֻבִים זָהָב מִקְשָׁה עָשָׂה אֹתָם מִשְּׁנֵי קְצוֹת הַכַּפֹּרֶת׃ כְּרוּב־אֶחָד מִקָּצָה מִזֶּה וּכְרוּב־אֶחָד מִקָּצָה מִזֶּה מִן־הַכַּפֹּרֶת עָשָׂה אֶת־הַכְּרֻבִים מִשְּׁנֵי קִצְווֹתוֹ׃ וַיִּהְיוּ הַכְּרֻבִים פֹּרְשֵׂי כְנָפַיִם לְמַעְלָה סֹכְכִים בְּכַנְפֵיהֶם עַל־הַכַּפֹּרֶת וּפְנֵיהֶם אִישׁ אֶל־אָחִיו אֶל־הַכַּפֹּרֶת הָיוּ פְּנֵי הַכְּרֻבִים׃

30 Moses then said to the Israelites, 'Look, Yahweh has singled out Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,
31 and has filled him with the spirit of God in wisdom, knowledge and skill in every kind of craft: 32 in designing and carrying out work in gold and silver and bronze, 33 in cutting stones to be set, in wood carving and in executing every kind of work. 34 And on him and on Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, he has bestowed the gift of teaching, 35 and filled them with the skill to carry out every kind of work, that of the engraver, that of the embroiderer, that of the needleworker in violet-purple, red-purple and crimson materials and fine linen, that of the weaver, and indeed that of every kind of craftsman and designer.'
36:1 'Bezalel, Oholiab and all the men whom Yahweh has endowed with the skill and knowledge to know how to carry out all the work to be done on the sanctuary, will do exactly as Yahweh has ordered.'
37:1 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide and one and a half cubits high.
2 He overlaid it, inside and out, with pure gold, and made a gold moulding all round it. 3 He cast four gold rings for it at its four supports: two rings on one side and two rings on the other. 4 He also made shafts of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold, 5 and passed the shafts through the rings on the sides of the ark, by which to carry it.
6 He also made a mercy-seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide, 7 and modelled two great winged creatures of beaten gold, putting them at the two ends of the mercy-seat, 8 one winged creature at one end and the other winged creature at the other end, making the winged creatures of a piece with the mercy-seat at either end. 9 The winged creatures had their wings spread upwards, protecting the ark with their wings and facing each other, their faces being towards the mercy-seat.
Odd Years: Hebrews 5:11—6:12
      περὶ οὗ πολὺς ἡμῖν ὁ λόγος καὶ δυσερμήνευτος λέγειν,
      ἐπεὶ νωθροὶ γεγόνατε ταῖς ἀκοαῖς.
      καὶ γὰρ ὀφείλοντες εἶναι διδάσκαλοι διὰ τὸν χρόνον,
      πάλιν χρείαν ἔχετε τοῦ διδάσκειν ὑμᾶς τινὰ τὰ στοιχεῖα τῆς ἀρχῆς τῶν λογίων τοῦ θεοῦ,
      καὶ γεγόνατε χρείαν ἔχοντες γάλακτος, καὶ οὐ στερεᾶς τροφῆς.
      πᾶς γὰρ ὁ μετέχων γάλακτος ἄπειρος λόγου δικαιοσύνης, νήπιος γάρ ἐστιν:
      τελείων δέ ἐστιν ἡ στερεὰ τροφή,
      τῶν διὰ τὴν ἕξιν τὰ αἰσθητήρια γεγυμνασμένα ἐχόντων πρὸς διάκρισιν καλοῦ τε καὶ κακοῦ.
6
            διὸ ἀφέντες τὸν τῆς ἀρχῆς τοῦ Χριστοῦ λόγον
            ἐπὶ τὴν τελειότητα φερώμεθα,
            μὴ πάλιν θεμέλιον καταβαλλόμενοι μετανοίας ἀπὸ νεκρῶν ἔργων,
            καὶ πίστεως ἐπὶ θεόν, βαπτισμῶν διδαχῆς, ἐπιθέσεώς τε χειρῶν,
            ἀναστάσεώς τε νεκρῶν, καὶ κρίματος αἰωνίου.
            καὶ τοῦτο ποιήσομεν ἐάνπερ ἐπιτρέπῃ ὁ θεός.
                  ἀδύνατον γὰρ τοὺς ἅπαξ φωτισθέντας,
                  γευσαμένους τε τῆς δωρεᾶς τῆς ἐπουρανίου
                  καὶ μετόχους γενηθέντας πνεύματος ἁγίου
                  καὶ καλὸν γευσαμένους θεοῦ ῥῆμα δυνάμεις τε μέλλοντος αἰῶνος,
                  καὶ παραπεσόντας, πάλιν ἀνακαινίζειν εἰς μετάνοιαν,
                  ἀνασταυροῦντας ἑαυτοῖς τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ παραδειγματίζοντας.
            γῆ γὰρ ἡ πιοῦσα τὸν ἐπ' αὐτῆς ἐρχόμενον πολλάκις ὑετόν,
            καὶ τίκτουσα βοτάνην εὔθετον ἐκείνοις δι' οὓς καὶ γεωργεῖται,
            μεταλαμβάνει εὐλογίας ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ:
            ἐκφέρουσα δὲ ἀκάνθας καὶ τριβόλους ἀδόκιμος καὶ κατάρας ἐγγύς,
            ἧς τὸ τέλος εἰς καῦσιν.
      πεπείσμεθα δὲ περὶ ὑμῶν, ἀγαπητοί, τὰ κρείσσονα καὶ ἐχόμενα σωτηρίας,
      εἰ καὶ οὕτως λαλοῦμεν:
      οὐ γὰρ ἄδικος ὁ θεὸς ἐπιλαθέσθαι τοῦ ἔργου ὑμῶν
      καὶ τῆς ἀγάπης ἧς ἐνεδείξασθε εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ,
      διακονήσαντες τοῖς ἁγίοις καὶ διακονοῦντες.
      ἐπιθυμοῦμεν δὲ ἕκαστον ὑμῶν τὴν αὐτὴν ἐνδείκνυσθαι σπουδὴν
      πρὸς τὴν πληροφορίαν τῆς ἐλπίδος ἄχρι τέλους,
      ἵνα μὴ νωθροὶ γένησθε,
      μιμηταὶ δὲ τῶν διὰ πίστεως καὶ μακροθυμίας κληρονομούντων τὰς ἐπαγγελίας.
11 On this subject we have many things to say, and they are difficult to explain because you have grown so slow at understanding. 12 Indeed, when you should by this time have become masters, you need someone to teach you all over again the elements of the principles of God's sayings; you have gone back to needing milk, and not solid food. 13 Truly, no one who is still living on milk can digest the doctrine of saving justice, being still a baby. 14 Solid food is for adults with minds trained by practice to distinguish between good and bad. 6:1 Let us leave behind us then all the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to its completion, without going over the fundamental doctrines again: the turning away from dead actions, faith in God, 2 the teaching about baptisms and the laying-on of hands, about the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgement. 3 This, God willing, is what we propose to do. 4 As for those people who were once brought into the light, and tasted the gift from heaven, and received a share of the Holy Spirit, 5 and tasted the goodness of God's message and the powers of the world to come 6 and yet in spite of this have fallen away —it is impossible for them to be brought to the freshness of repentance a second time, since they are crucifying the Son of God again for themselves, and making a public exhibition of him. 7 A field that drinks up the rain that has fallen frequently on it, and yields the crops that are wanted by the owners who grew them, receives God's blessing; 8 but one that grows brambles and thistles is worthless, and near to being cursed. It will end by being burnt. 9 But you, my dear friends—in spite of what we have just said, we are sure you are in a better state and on the way to salvation. 10 God would not be so unjust as to forget all you have done, the love that you have for his name or the services you have done, and are still doing, for the holy people of God. 11 Our desire is that every one of you should go on showing the same enthusiasm till the ultimate fulfilment of your hope, 12 never growing careless, but taking as your model those who by their faith and perseverance are heirs of the promises.

Even Years: Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on John, Book 11, ch. 10 (PC 74, 543-546)
Ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν ἐγὼ ἁγιάζω ἐμαυτόν ἁγιάζεσθαι μὲν οὖν λέγεται κατὰ συνήθειαν νομικὴν, τὸ ἐν τάξει τινὸς ἀναθέματος ἢ δωροφορίας ὡς ἱερὸν τῷ Θεῷ παρά του προσαγόμενον, καθάπερ ἀμέλει καὶ πᾶν πρωτότοκον διανοῖγον μήτραν ἐν υἱοῖς Ἰσραήλ. ἁγίασον γάρ μοι πᾶν πρωτότοκον διανοῖγον μήτραν, πρὸς τὸν ἄριστον ἔφη Μωυσέα, τουτέστιν Ἀνάθες καὶ ἀπόνειμε καὶ κατάγραψον, ὡς ἱερόν
Νοουμένου τοιγαροῦν τοῦ Ἁγιάσαι, κατὰ συνήθειαν τὴν εἰς τὸν τοῦ ἀναθεῖναί τε καὶ ἀφορίσαι λόγον, ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἑαυτὸν ἁγιάσαι φαμὲν τὸν Υἱόν. προσεκόμισε γὰρ ἑαυτὸν ὥσπερ ἱερεῖόν τε καὶ ἅγιον θῦμα τῷ Θεῷ καὶ Πατρὶ, κόσμον αὐτῷ καταλλάσσων, καὶ συνάγων εἰς φιλίαν τὸ ταύτης ὠλισθηκὸς, τουτέστι, τὸ γένος τὸ ἀνθρώπινον· αὐτὸς γάρ ἐστιν ἡ εἰρήνη ἡμῶν κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον.
ἡ γε μὴν ἐπανάληψις ἡμῶν ἡ πρὸς Θεὸν οὐχ ἑτέρως ἂν νοοῖτο τετελεσμένη διὰ Χριστοῦ τοῦ σώζοντος, εἰ μὴ διὰ τῆς ἐν Πνεύματι κοινωνίας καὶ ἁγιασμοῦ. τὸ γὰρ συνεῖρον ἡμᾶς καὶ οἱονεὶ συνενοῦν τῷ Θεῷ τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιόν ἐστιν, ὃ δὴ καὶ λαβόντες, μέτοχοι καὶ κοινωνοὶ τῆς θείας ἀναδεικνύμεθα φύσεως, καὶ αὐτὸν εἰσδεχόμεθα δι' Υἱοῦ καὶ ἐν Υἱῷ τὸν Πατέρα.
γράφει γοῦν ἡμῖν ὁ σοφὸς Ἰωάννης περὶ αὐτοῦ "Εν τούτῳ γινώσκομεν ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ μένομεν καὶ αὐτὸς ἐν ἡμῖν, ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ Πνεύματος αὐτοῦ δέδωκεν ἡμῖν. τί δὲ δὴ πρὸς τούτῳ καὶ Παῦλος; Ὅτι δὲ, φησὶν, ἐστὲ υἱοὶ, ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸ Πνεῦμα τοῦ Υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν, κράζον Ἀββᾶ ὁ πατὴρ, ὡς εἴπερ ἡμᾶς ἀμετόχους ἀπομεῖναι συνέβη τοῦ Πνεύματος, οὐδ' ἂν ὅλως ἐν ἡμῖν ὑπάρχων ἐγνώσθη Θεὸς, καὶ εἰ μὴ τὸ εἰς υἱοὺς κατατάττον πεπλουτήκαμεν Πνεῦμα, οὐδ' ἂν ὅλως ἦμεν υἱοὶ Θεοῦ.
ποία τοίνυν ἡ πρόσληψις, ἢ πῶς ἂν ἔτι θείας φύσεως κοινωνοὶ καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀπεφάνθημεν, εἰ μήτε Θεὸς ἐν ἡμῖν, μήτε ἡμεῖς αὐτῷ προσκείμενοι, διὰ τοῦ κεκλῆσθαι πρὸς μετουσίαν τοῦ Πνεύματος; νυνὶ δὲ καὶ μέτοχοι καὶ κοινωνοὶ τῆς τὰ πάντα ὑπερκειμένης οὐσίας, καὶ ναοὶ Θεοῦ χρηματίζομεν. ὑπὲρ γὰρ τῶν ἡμετέρων ἁμαρτιῶν ἑαυτὸν ἡγίασε, τουτέστιν ἀνέθηκεν, ὁ Μονογενὴς, καὶ ὡς θῦμα προσκεκόμικεν ἱερὸν εἰς ὀσμὴν εὐωδίας τῷ Θεῷ καὶ Πατρὶ, ἵν' ἐκ μέσου γεγονότος τοῦ διείργοντός τε καὶ ἀποτειχίζοντος ὥσπερ Θεοῦ τὴν ἀνθρώπου φύσιν, τουτέστι τῆς ἁμαρτίας, μηδὲν ἔτι παραποδίζον φαίνηται πρὸς τὸ δύνασθαι πρὸς ἐγγύτητα γενέσθαι Θεῷ, καὶ τῆς πρὸς αὐτὸν κοινωνίας ἐξέχεσθαι, διὰ μετουσίας δηλονότι τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος, ἀναμορφοῦντος ἡμᾶς εἰς δικαιοσύνην καὶ ἁγιασμὸν καὶ εἰς εἰκόνα τὴν πρώτην.
εἰ γὰρ διίστησιν ἁμαρτία καὶ ἀπομερίζει Θεοῦ τὸν ἄνθρωπον, συνάψει δὴ πάντως ἡ δικαιοσύνη, καὶ μεσολαβοῦντος οὐδενὸς παρ' αὐτῷ τρόπον τινὰ παραστήσει τῷ Θεῷ. δεδικαιώμεθα δὲ διὰ πίστεως τῆς εἰς Χριστὸν "ὃς παρεδόθη μὲν διὰ τὰ παραπτώματα ἡμῶν," κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον, ἠγέρθη δὲ διὰ τὴν δικαίωσιν ἡμῶν. ὅλη γὰρ ἐν αὐτῷ, καθάπερ ἐν ἀπαρχῇ τοῦ γένους, πρὸς καινότητα ζωῆς ἡ ἀνθρώπου φύσις ἀνεσκευάζετο, καὶ εἰς τὴν οἰκείαν ὥσπερ ἀρχὴν ἀναβαίνουσα πρὸς ἁγιασμὸν ἀνεπλάττετο.
Odd Years: John Chrysostom, Homily 2 on 2 Corinthians, 4-5 (PG 61, 397-399)
Καὶ γὰρ καὶ πλῆθος δυσωπεῖται πολλάκις ὁ Θεὸς ὁμονοοῦν καὶ συμφωνοῦν εἰς εὐχήν... Σπουδάζωμεν οὖν συνιέναι ἐν ταῖς δεήσεσι, καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀλλήλων εὐχώμεθα, καθάπερ ὑπὲρ τῶν ἀποστόλων ἐκεῖνοι. Καὶ γὰρ ἐντολὴν πληροῦμεν, καὶ εἰς ἀγάπην ἀλειφόμεθα· ὅταν δὲ ἀγάπην εἴπω, πάντα λέγω τὰ ἀγαθά· καὶ εὐχαριστεῖν σπουδαιότερον μανθάνωμεν.
Οἱ γὰρ ὑπὲρ τῶν ἀλλοτρίων εὐχαριστοῦντες, πολλῷ μᾶλλον ὑπὲρ τῶν ἰδίων. Τοῦτο καὶ ὁ Δαυῒδ ἐποίει λέγων· Μεγαλύνατε τὸν Κύριον σὺν ἐμοὶ, καὶ ὑψώσωμεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ. ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό· τοῦτο καὶ ὁ Ἀπόστολος πανταχοῦ ζητεῖ· τοῦτο καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐργαζώμεθα, καὶ εἰς πάντας τοῦ Θεοῦ τὴν εὐεργεσίαν ἐκφέρωμεν, ἵνα κοινωνοὺς λάβωμεν τῆς εὐφημίας.
Εἰ γὰρ παρὰ ἀνθρώπων τι παθόντες ἀγαθὸν, ὅταν ἀνακηρύξωμεν, προθυμοτέρους αὐτοὺς ποιοῦμεν· πολλῷ μᾶλλον τοῦ Θεοῦ τὰς εὐεργεσίας ἀναγορεύοντες, εἰς πλείονα αὐτὸν ἐπισπασόμεθα εὔνοιαν. Καὶ εἰ παρὰ ἀνθρώπων εὐεργετηθέντες, καὶ ἄλλους διεγείρομεν εἰς τὴν κοινωνίαν τῆς εὐχαριστίας· πολλῷ μᾶλλον τῷ Θεῷ πολλοὺς προσάγειν χρὴ τοὺς ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν εὐχαριστήσοντας. Εἰ γὰρ Παῦλος τοῦτο ποιεῖ, τοσαύτην ἔχων τὴν παῤῥησίαν, πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἡμᾶς ἀναγκαῖον τοῦτο ποιεῖν.
Παρακαλῶμεν τοίνυν τοὺς ἁγίους ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν εὐχαριστεῖν, καὶ αὐτοὶ ὑπὲρ ἀλλήλων τοῦτο ποιῶμεν. Τοῦτο ἱερέων μάλιστά ἐστι κατόρθωμα, ἐπειδὴ μέγιστον ἀγαθόν. Προσιόντες γὰρ, πρότερον ὑπὲρ τῆς οἰκουμένης καὶ τῶν κοινῶν εὐχαριστοῦμεν ἀγαθῶν. Εἰ γὰρ καὶ κοιναὶ αἱ εὐεργεσίαι τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἀλλὰ καὶ σὺ ἐν τῷ κοινῷ ἐσώθης. Ὥστε καὶ ὑπὲρ τῆς ἰδίας κοινὴν ὀφείλεις χάριν, καὶ ὑπὲρ τῆς κοινῆς ἰδιάζουσαν δίκαιος ἂν εἴης ἀναφέρειν εὐφημίαν. Καὶ γὰρ τὸν ἥλιον ἀνῆψεν οὐ σοὶ μόνῳ, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῷ κοινῷ· ἀλλ' ὅμως ἐν τῷ μέρει τὸ ὅλον ἔχεις· καὶ γὰρ τοσοῦτος γέγονε διὰ τὸ κοινόν· καὶ ὁρᾷς σὺ μόνος τοσοῦτον, ὅσον εἶδον πάντες ἄνθρωποι. Ὥστε τοσαύτην ὀφείλεις εὐχαριστίαν, ὅσην ἅπαντες· καὶ ὑπὲρ τῶν κοινῶν εὐχαριστεῖν ἂν εἴης δίκαιος, καὶ ὑπὲρ τῆς ἑτέρων ἀρετῆς.
Πολλὰ γὰρ καὶ δι' ἄλλους πάσχομεν καλῶς. Καὶ γὰρ εἰ δέκα μόνον ἐν Σοδόμοις εὑρέθησαν δίκαιοι, οὐκ ἂν ἔπαθον, ἅπερ ἔπαθον. Ὥστε καὶ ὑπὲρ τῆς ἑτέρων παῤῥησίας εὐχαριστῶμεν. Καὶ γὰρ ἀρχαῖος οὗτος ὁ νόμος ἐστὶν, ἄνωθεν ἐν τῇ Ἐκκλησίᾳ πεφυτευμένος. Οὕτω καὶ Παῦλος εὐχαριστεῖ ὑπὲρ Ῥωμαίων, ὑπὲρ Κορινθίων, ὑπὲρ τῆς οἰκουμένης ἁπάσης.

Prayer