24th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C


GILDED CALF

When Moses led the Hebrews to Mount Sinai, he explained that God wanted to sign a blood pact or covenant with them. He then climbed the mountain to receive the terms–the 10 commandments. A month passed with no word from the prophet. The Hebrews grew restless and eventually abandoned their God. They demanded that Moses' brother Aaron create a statue of Hathor, the Egyptian goddess of fertility. She was often pictured as a calf.
The key scene in this story is that of Moses pleading to God for the forgiveness of the people. The Psalms picture him as standing in a breach between two rocks–sort of straddling both heaven and earth.

 

go down at once

 

this saying is trustworthy. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners

i have found my sheep who was lost

 

EATING WITH SINNERS

Today's Gospel begins with a stinging criticism of Jesus: he eats with sinners! Tax collectors were little more legalized thieves in 1st century Palestine. Worse yet, they were traitors who collaborated with the occupying government. "Good people" didn't associate with them, much less break bread with the unsavory lot. They were literally excommunicated from "polite" society.
Jesus counters this self-righteousness with three parables. They illustrate the joy brought by conversion.

i found the coin that was lost

 

Related: Resources on Sunday Readings - Clipart, homelies, articles, coloring pages, music: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

© 2000 by Father Richard Lonsdale. You may freely copy this document. It may be freely reproduced in any non-profit publication.Thie clipart and commentatires above were originally on a web site maintained by Fr. Lonsdale. To copy the clipart images, click with your right mouse button and use "save picture (or image) as…"To view a complete list of clipart images and commentaries: Lonsdale Commentaries and Clipart