Daily Bible Readings Commentary October 2 2007 Tuesday 26th Week Ordinary Time.

October 2 2007 Tuesday 26^th Week Ordinary Time.

About the sources used.

The readings on this site are not official for the Mass of Roman Catholic Church, but are from sources free from copyright. They are here to present the comparable readings alongside traditional Catholic commentary as published in the Haydock Bible.

Official Readings of the Liturgy at – http://www.usccb.org/nab/100207.shtml – Note. The Official Liturgical readings may not match the current NAB you may have.

Zacharias 8:20-23 (Zechariah 8:20-23)
Douay-Rheims Challoner from SacredBible.org

20 Thus says the Lord of hosts, then the people may arrive and dwell in many cities,
21 and the inhabitants may hurry, one saying to another: “Let us go and entreat the face of the Lord, and let us seek the Lord of hosts. I will go also.”
22 And many peoples and strong nations will approach, seeking the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the face of the Lord.
23 Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days, then, ten men from every language of the Gentiles will grasp and cling to the hem of one man of Judea, saying: “We will go with you. For we have heard that God is with you.”

Haydock Commentary Zacharias 8:20-23

• Ver. 22. Lord. Many were converted in the days of Esther. (viii. 17.) and the Pharisees were eager to make proselytes in all parts, when Christ preached. Mat. xxiii. 15. Acts. ii. 11. Yet we must go to the Church to see this fully accomplished. C.
• Ver. 23. Ten men, &c. Many of the Gentiles became proselytes to the Jewish religion before Christ; but many more were converted to Christ by the apostles and other preachers of the Jewish nation. Ch.—Skirt, or hem, by which the Jews were distinguished. Num. xv. 38. Mat. ix. 20. C.

 

Matthew 18:1-5, 10
Haydock New Testament

1 AT that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying:

Who thinkest thou, is the greater in the kingdom of heaven?

2 And Jesus calling unto him a little child, set him in the midst of them,

3 And said:

 

Amen I say unto you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And he that shall receiveth one such little child in my name, receiveth me.
10 Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

 

Haydock Commentary Matthew 18:1-5, 10

• Ver. 1. Who, thinkest thou? This altercation for superiority among the apostles, whilst they were upon their road to Judea, might have arisen from another cause besides the precedence given by Jesus Christ to Peter above, as S. Chrysostom (hom. lix. in Mat.) affirms. A report prevailed among the disciples, that Christ would soon die; and they wished to know who would be the first, when he was gone. Jans.—Or expecting that by his future resurrection he would enter into full possession of his temporal kingdom, they wished to learn which of them should be the greater in this new and glorious state. Calmet supposes that Peter was not with them, but that he had gone before with his Master to Capharnaum. C.
• Ver. 2. And Jesus calling ….. a little child. In S. Mark (ix. 32) we find that Jesus did this in the house, when they were arrived at Capharnaum.
• Ver. 3. You shall not enter, &c. i.e. you shall have no place in my kingdom of glory, in heaven, where none shall find admittance but they that are truly humble. Wi.—Our Lord in this and the next chapter teaches us, 1^st, To sit down in the lowest place; 2^nd, to bear patiently with our neighbour; 3^rd, not to scandalize a weak brother; 4^th, mildly to correct him when faulty; and 5thly, to forgive him when repentant.
• Ver. 4. Greater in the kingdom of heaven, because more conformable to me here on earth. Humble souls, who are little in their own eyes, are so dear and closely united to the Almighty, that Christ declares them to be the most acceptable, the first in merit, not highest in authority or dignity either in church or state, as some idle fanatics pretend. Jans—The kingdom of heaven is not the reward of ambition, but the boon of simplicity and humility.
• Ver. 5. He that shall receive. To receive, in the style of the Scriptures, is to honour and favour, to be charitable, and kind to any one. Wi.—Who does not admire here the great goodness of God! Jesus, knowing that he was soon to leave the world, and that his disciples would no longer have it in their power to manifest their charity for him by their kind services, substitutes the poor in his place, declaring, that if they receive or honour them, they receive him, and that they will be entitled to the same reward as if they had received Christ himself. Dion. Carth. (Denis the Carthusian)—What greater proof can we wish for of the merit of good works!!!
• Ver. 10. Their angels. The Jews also believed that men had their good angels, or angels appointed to be their guardians. See Gen. xlviii. 16. Wi.—Observe the dignity of the humble and little, whom the world despises. They have angels constantly pleading their cause in the divine presence. They are now weak and unable to defend themselves, but they have their advocates in heaven, accusing those who offer them any injury or scandal. It is evident from many parts of Scripture, that angels are appointed guardians of kingdoms, countries, cities, and even individuals, Exod. xxiii. Dan. x. Apoc. xii. & alibi. The angel of the Lord shall encamp round about them that fear him, and he shall deliver them. Ps. xxxiii. S. Jerome does not hesitate to affirm that every man has an angel assigned him at his birth, which he confirms from C. xii, of Acts, where it is related that the girl thought she saw Peter’s angel. The thing is so plain, that Calvin dares not deny it, and yet he will needs doubt of it. L. i. Inst. c. xiv. sect. 7. Origen think that only the just have their guardian angels, and these only at their baptism. The opinion of S. Augustine is universal in the Catholic Church. “I esteem it, O my God, an inestimable benefit, that thou hast granted me an angel to guide me from the moment of my birth, to my death.” De dilig. Deo. Medit. c. xii. How much are we indebted to the Providence of God, for extending itself also to the wicked. They likewise have their angels, without whose assistance they would fall into many more grievous sins, and the evil spirits would have more power over them. Let us then with gratitude remember our dignity, and fear to commit any thing in their presence, which may make them grieve and withdraw from us their protection and assistance.