Introduction to 2
Chronicles[1]
Why
Should I Care?
Why do bad things happen?
The author of 2 Chronicles knows why, and there's no question about it. Bad
things happen because people disobey God—it's as simple as that. Did your army
just get demolished in battle? Better think twice about worshipping those goat
gods. Got a case of leprosy? Just because you're the king doesn't mean you're
allowed in the Temple doing jobs reserved for the priests. It couldn't be more
clear: if you want health, wealth, victory, and military success, you need to
do what Yahweh asks. He might be forgiving if you're truly sorry, but otherwise
it's just basic math: disobedience = disaster. Don't you wish it were all that
simple? We all know that plenty of bad things definitely happen to very good
people. Maybe you have a friend who's kind and generous and dying from a
horrible disease. Or a fun, supportive cousin who was killed by a drunk driver.
Maybe one of your parents can't find a job despite being hardworking and smart.
Maybe your sweet little sister gets chosen as the tribute from Region 12.
Natural disasters sure don't make distinctions between good and bad people when
they happen. It all seems so unfair, and it's understandable to want
explanations. And there are plenty of explanations. You've heard them all—God's
will, things happen for a reason, things happen for no reason, we don't have
all the information, they must have deserved it, bad genes, bad luck, bad parents.
We all want to figure it out so we can prevent this stuff from happening to us.
But apart from not doing dumb, avoidable things that put us at risk for
accidents or illness or failure, bad things can happen anyway. And as long as
they do, people will wonder why. Chronicles is one answer to this huge
question, but you'll have to find your own. And while you're looking, don't
text and drive, m'kay?
JUNE 8 Saturday
MARY MEDIATRIX OF ALL GRACES-SHAVUOT
2
Chronicles, Chapter 14,
Verse 13
Then
the Judahites conquered all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the LORD was upon them; they
plundered all the cities, for there was much plunder in them.
Argh sounds like pirates to me. It does not sound very
good to us, but we must remember that the only law was “might make’s right”.
The truth is that most people were murdering; thieving pirates. What is new is
that Israel had a law that was given them by the creator; however loosely they
followed it. Israel begins to understand that if you seek the Lord; you will
find the Lord; if you forsake the Lord; the Lord will forsake you.
·
When
Abijah dies, his son Asa takes over the Kingdom of Judah.
·
Asa
keeps Judah on the right path. He gets rid of all references to foreign gods
and encourages the people to follow God's law.
·
He
also builds up Judah's defenses and army in various cities. Even though there
aren't any wars for 10 years, this is a smart move because eventually the
Ethiopians attack Judah.
·
Zerah
the Ethiopian comes at them with a million soldiers. You read that right. Judah
has about 300,000.
·
Totally
outnumbered, Asa leads the army into battle and does pretty much the only thing
he can do right then—he prays. God helps the strong and the weak. And boy, is
Judah weak right now.
·
The
Almighty hears the king's panicked cries and responds with a sweeping victory.
Not only do they drive back the million-man army, Judah manages to kill every
last one. No exaggeration whatsoever there.
·
The
warriors in Judah are able to get all kinds of booty from the Ethiopians, so
it's a pretty big win for them.
Traditionally, today is the feast of Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces. All the graces which flow from the redemption of Jesus Christ are granted to the human family through the motherly intercession of Mary. Mary mediated Jesus Christ, the Author of all graces, to the world when she agreed to be the human mother of God made man (cf. Lk 1:38). And from the cross at Calvary (Jn 19:26) and as the final gift to humanity, Jesus gives Mary as a spiritual mother to us all: "Son, behold your mother" (cf. Jn 19:26). For this reason, Vatican II refers to Mary as a "mother to us in the order of grace " (Lumen Gentium, n. 62) and several twentieth century popes have officially taught the doctrine of Mary as Mediatrix of all graces, quoting the words of St Bernard: "It is the will of God that we obtain all favours through Mary." The Mediatrix performs this task in intimate union with the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, with whom she began the drama of our Lord's Redemption at the Annunciation (cf. Lk. 1:35).
Mary is our
Advocate for people of God, in that she takes the petitions of her earthly
children, especially in times of difficulties, and brings them through her
maternal intercession before her Son and our Lord Jesus.
In the Old
Testament, the Queen Mother brought the petitioned needs of the people of
Israel to the throne of her son the king (cf. 1 Kings 2:19). Now Mary is the
new Queen Mother and Advocate in the new Kingdom of her Son, who brings the
petitioned needs of the people of God to the throne of her glorious Son, Christ
the King, particularly in our present difficult times.
The universal
mediation of the Mother of Jesus as Coredemptrix, Mediatrix of all graces, and
Advocate for the people of God is already contained in the official and
authoritative teachings of the Church's Magisterium. Now, at the summit of the
Marian era, what remains is the final proclamation by the Church of this final
Marian doctrine as Christian dogma revealed by God.
Things
to Do:
Shavuot is one of the three major
Jewish festivals and comes exactly fifty days after Passover. After being
redeemed from Egyptian slavery, the Jews arrived on Mount Sinai and received
the Torah from God. This wonderful event took place 3,319 years ago. The word
Shavuot means “weeks.” It marks the completion of the seven weeks, 49 days,
between Passover and Shavuot during which the Jewish people prepared themselves
for the giving of the Torah. During this time period they prepared themselves
spiritually and entered into an eternal covenant with God with the giving of
the Torah. Shavuot also means “oaths.” With the giving of the Torah, the Jewish
people and God exchanged oaths, forming an everlasting covenant, not to forsake
one another. Every year on this day we celebrate and renew our acceptance of
God’s gift and our eternal bond with Him. There are several interesting customs
associated with this holiday. We stay up all night learning Torah, read the Ten
Commandments and the book of Ruth, and eat milk products, especially cheesecake.
The custom of learning is especially fitting for the holiday that commemorates
the giving of the Torah. The custom of dairy products seems surprising. Among
the different explanations given for this custom, one points out that the
Hebrew word for milk is chalav. When the numerical value of the letters in this
word are added together – 8; 30; 2 – the total is forty. Forty hints to the
number of days Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Torah. I would like to
present another, perhaps more personal and spiritual reason for this custom.
Unlike meat that nourishes the flesh, milk is full of calcium which nourishes
the bones. The Hebrew for bones is “Atzmot תמוצע ” which is also the word that
means “essence.” This custom hints to the fact that on this holiday we absorb
the Torah which nourishes our essence. Additionally, milk is the most basic of
foods that a nursing mother shares with her infant. The mother literally gives
of her essence and nurtures the essence of the baby. This relationship
parallels the personal bond and love that a mother shares with her child. On
Shavuot we celebrate the personal relationship that we have with God, when He
gives over His essence, the Torah, and we absorb it into the essence of our
soul.
·
On
Shavuot, it is customary to adorn the Synagogue and home with flowers and green
plants. This is in memory of the foliage around Mount Sinai
·
On
Shavuot, it is customary to eat milk products. Many Jewish houses,
replace the normal meat/chicken dinners with a festivity of milk products,
including cheesecake, blintzes, cheeses and ice cream. This custom
commemorates the acts of the children of Israel at Sinai. Having received
the Law, they understood that their dishes were no longer Kosher, having been
used for milk and meat together. They also were in need of teaching on
the intricate details of ritual slaughter (Shechitah). Lacking these,
they opted to eat only milk products.
·
It
is customary in Orthodox and some traditional communities to partake in
Bible/Jewish Law lessons throughout the eve and night of Shavuot. This is
in order to accept the Torah for their generation. In Jerusalem, many
people learn the whole night through until dawn and then walk to the Western
Wall at sunrise and pray the morning and festival prayer from around 5-8 am.
Thereafter, they go home for a hearty festive breakfast and then sleep
the rest of the morning.
·
The
Book of Ruth is read in the Synagogue in the Morning of Shavuot. Ruth
converted to Judaism and it is her descendant, David, who became King in
Israel. The book of Ruth demonstrates that achieving a high level in
Judaism, is neither ethnic nor genetic.
·
It
is customary to wear new clothes on Shavuot. In the seven weeks (the
Omer) preceding Shavuot, people refrain from purchasing major clothing items.
Shavuot
Top Events and Things to Do
·
Visit
Mount Sinai (Egypt) or Israel.
·
Read
the Book of Exodus, Joshua or Ruth in the Bible.
·
Eat
Milk products
HOLY SPIRIT NOVENA-NINTH DAY
(Saturday, Vigil of Pentecost)
The Fruits of the Holy Spirit
Prayer
Come, O Divine Spirit, fill my
heart with Thy heavenly fruits, Thy charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity,
goodness, faith, mildness, and temperance, that I may never weary in the
service of God, but by continued faithful submission to Thy inspiration may
merit to be united eternally with Thee in the love of the Father and the Son.
Amen.
Our Father and Hail Mary
ONCE.
Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts
Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts
Daily Devotions
No comments:
Post a Comment