Salmo - DOMINGO X DO TEMPO COMUM do Ano A do P. Manuel Luís

Psalm - 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, by Fr. Manuel Luís Liturgical and musical analysis. The first reading is taken from the Prophecy of Hosea: Context of the first reading: "Hosea exercised his prophetic ministry in the northern kingdom (Israel), from 750 BC, in a very turbulent time. ....... ....... Hosea deeply feels the drama of religious syncretism that is endangering the faith of his people. His message appeals to Israel not to be dominated by idolatry (which Hosea calls "prostitution": the people are like a "wife" who has abandoned her "husband" to run after her "lovers"). The prophet invites his people to rediscover the love of Yahweh – always present in the history of Israel – and to respond to Him with a sincere desire to live in communion with Him." cf. dehonianos.org Liturgical Reflection: "At the beginning of chapter 6, the prophet puts a formula of repentance or penance in the mouth of the People, probably taken from the cultic tradition (“Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us to pieces, but he will heal us; he has struck us down, but he will bind up our wounds” – Hosea 6:1). However, the prophet looks at this expression with an ironic eye… Why? Is the conversion of the People not sincere? Is there, on the part of the People, a real desire to return to God and definitively abandon idolatry? ....... ....... To say that God desires “mercy (“hesed”) and not sacrifices, knowledge of God (“daat Elohim”), rather than burnt offerings” (verse 6), fits into this logic… It means that God is not interested in external rituals – even rich and ostentatious ones – that are not an expression of the feelings that are in the heart; what interests God is a heart that truly accepts living in communion with Him." (“knowledge of God”) and that is capable of concrete gestures of love, tenderness, kindness, and mercy (“hesed”) in favor of brothers and sisters.” cf. dehonianos.org The second reading is taken from the Epistle of the Apostle Saint Paul to the Romans: Context of the second reading: "When Paul wrote to the Romans, he was greatly concerned about the threat of schism in the Church: Christians of Jewish origin and Christians of pagan origin had different perspectives on salvation and seemed to be on a collision course. The recent crises in Corinth and Galatia convinced Paul of the seriousness of the situation. ....... ....... As an example, Paul presents the figure of Abraham (cf. Rom 4:1-12). The apostle demonstrates that this exemplary figure for Jews and pagans was not saved by the Law nor by works, but by faith. The text proposed to us is inserted in this context." cf. dehonianos.org Liturgical Reflection: "Paul makes it clear – with arguments drawn from Scripture itself – why Abraham was the recipient of the “promise” and became a source of blessing for his descendants. According to Paul, Abraham became a fundamental reference for all believers – Jews and non-Jews – not because he performed meritorious works or because he strictly and scrupulously fulfilled the Law; but Abraham became a model for all because he was the “man of faith” (that is, because he knew how to receive God's gift and because he knew how to respond to Him with unconditional surrender, with radical obedience, with unlimited trust). ...The conclusion is obvious: it is not the works we do that assure us of salvation; but what assures us of full and definitive life is our faith – that is, a radical, confident, unlimited adherence to the offer of salvation that God makes to us in Jesus. Salvation is not an achievement of man, but a gift from God, offered freely out of love, and which man is..." Invited to welcome with faith, with serenity, with confidence." cf. dehonianos.org The psalm says the following: To those who act uprightly I will show the salvation of God, I will show the salvation of God. The Lord, the sovereign God, spoke, and summoned the earth, from the rising of the sun to its setting: “It is not for sacrifices that I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God sacrifices of thanksgiving and fulfill your vows to the Most High. Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will glorify me.”   / 497384921146112