Matthew: The Journey Toward Hope

267 Pages·2006·27.901 MB·English

by  Elena Bosetti

The Journey Toward Hope
By Elena Bosetti
BOOKS & MEDIA
Boston
Libary of Ccmg,us Cawogiog-in-Pnblicuion Data
Boseni, Elena.
[Marreo, English]
Matthew : the journey toward hope I Elena Rosetti - 1st English ed.
p.cm.
ISBN 0-8198-4848-4 (pbk.)
L Bible. N. T. Ma_tu!C\\-Criticism, interpreration, etc. I.T idt.
BS2575.52.B67 2006
226.2'06-;:!c22
2006014i62
The Saiprurc quomtions talcen from the Old Tesumeor and contained herein arc
from the Nevi Rtvisd $/Jzndard VmionB ihl.: CatM& Edition, copyright@ 1989,
1993, Division of Christi2n Education of the N:uiorul Council of the Churches of
Christ in the United Sates of A.metia. Used by ~o. All rights reserved.
Tees of the NcwTeswncnt used in this worlr. are taken from TIN Ntw Tt11a~1: Sr.
Paul CllthofuE dili1111, translated by l\,b,k A.. \Vauck, copyrig!u"C 2000 by the Society
of St. Paul, Staten Island, New York, and are used by permission. All rights reserved,
Cover design by Rosana Us:selmann
Cover Cover ..n: Saint ~larthew:G ospels of the Cisoing Abbey, mid-twelfth cen
art
ru.ry. France, Bridgeman--Ginudon I An Reseeree, NY.
All rights reserved, No part of this book may be rq,roducccl or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic or mecbanic,il, including photocopying, recording,
or by any information sronge and rettiCY21 system without permission in writing
from the publisher.
•p• and PAULINE are registered tradcmarlcs of the Daughters of St. Paul.
English language edition arranged through the mediaeion of Eu.bma Literary
Agency
Original edition published in Italian under the ride Mufi#. Un ,llrlfmiM di sptmnuz
Translated by Julia Mary Da=nb.mp, FSP
Copyright~ 1997 Centro Editoriale Dehcoisno, Bologna
F mt English edition, 2006
Published by Pauline Books & Medi2, 50 Saint Paul's Avenue, Boston, MA 02130-
3491. www.paulinc.org.
Printed in the U.5.A.
Pauline Books &. Mecfu is the publishing house of the Daughters of SL Paul, an
international congrcvrion of women religious suving the Church with the commu
nications media.
123456789 111009080706
To Tino .Formigoni,
a wisef timd
who built bis house on rock
Contents
I ntroduaion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Xlll
CHAPT£R0N£
"Things new and old"
A Gospel to live . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Like a splendid basilica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Tenjidfill~tcitarwns 2
Thej ive discourses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Swen narrative sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Tuiop arallel summaries 6
The scribe who becomes disciple 11
The face of Christ U
of of
Son David and son Abrahmn 13
of
Son the living God 15
The only Master and Shepherd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
The face of the Church 17
A fraternal community 18
Between Israel and the nations 19
Ethical importance 20
•
Two
CHAPTER
"Emmanuel"
The beginnings of Jesus, the Messiah 23
The book of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah 23
An intricate genealogical tree 26
Foreigners and transgressors, but chosen
beforehand by God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 26
The most longed-for maternity 31
14 x 3: matb or symbolism? 32
Joseph: the dreams and the obedient listener 33
The son of Jacob 35
The spouse of Mary 36
An unforgettahkt riptych 37
The Magi, Herod, and the star 42
The massacre of the children and Rachel's tears 46
The play of names 47
He who saves. from sin 49
Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ? 50
Nazarene or Na~an? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
54
DIA.LOGUING \VITA 1'RE WoRD ••.•••.•.•••....••.••
THREE
CHAPTER
"In those days•
John and Jesus 55
John, Preacher in the Desert 56
A consistent 'iJoice 59
A baptism of conuersion 60
John baptizes Jesus 64
The didogue between the Precursor and the Messiah 64
The descent of the Spirit 67
of
The voice the Father . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 9
71
DtALOGUlNG WlTH THE WORD •.••••••....••..•.•..
Jesus defeats the tempter 72
Thed esert's compelling scene '74
for
Fasting and a hunger God ...•................. 75
A dud wing Scripture 77
81
DIALOGUING WITH TRE WoRD •..•••..•.•.••••..•.•
In Galilee of the Gentiles 81
A decisive transfer 82
of
The call thef irst disciples 84
87
D1ALOcu1 NG WITH THE Woan .•.•.•..•.••...•.•..•
Announcing the Good 87
Ne\YS .•.•..•.••••.•••.••••
91
DIALOGUING WITH THE WoRD •••.....••...........
Foua
;HAPTER
Blessed are the poor"
esus dreams of his community 92
He went up the mountain 92
The Beatirudes: subversive joy 95
You are salt, you are light 99
100
DJ.ALOC.u1NG >A'ITH THE WoRD •.•.••••..•.••......
Not to abolish but fi,1611 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
to
The most Jewish verse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
"Until the heavms and the earth pass away" 105
A greater justice 106
of
Jesus stirs the conscience the community ..........• 107
"Gof irst and be reconciled!" • : .. 109
No to adultuy and its desires 111
Not rejection but fiddity 113
Simply yes or no 115
Do not resist the evildoer 117
UXJe alsof ar one~ enemies 120
123
DIALOGUJNG \VlTH THE WoRD ...•••••••.•••••••..
Religion without ostentation 124
Do not sound a trun1pet
before you when you giw alms 125
Pray to y()Ur Father in secret 126
Do not multiply words 128
Do not let others s« that you an fasting . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Freedom. from worry 130
"Do not judge!" 133
The Golden Rule 135
The house on a rock 136
For whom is the Sermon on the Mount intended? 137
140
DIALOGUlNG WITH THE WORD ••••••••••••••••••••
CHAf'TER FTVE
"Heh as carried our infirmities"
Descending in order to heal 142
The ten miracles of the Good Shepherd 144
The unclean leper, the Gentile, and the woman 145
if
Lord, you wish to, you can mah me clean 146
But only say the word 149
And he touched her hand 153
And he cured all who were ill 154
157
DIALOGOJNG\ 'IIITFI Tri£ WORD •.••••••.•.•••••••••
"Courage, my son, your sins are forgiven" 158
J.\1atthe"W'svocarion 160
At the table of sinners: "It is mercy I desire" 162
The compassion of Jesus 166
He went around all the cities and 'Villages 168
He was 11W'Ued wth pity 169
Compassion and prayer 172
17 4
DIALOGUING WITH THE WORD ••.••.••.•.••••••.•.
Srx
CHAPTER
of
"Come to me, all you"
Attraction and mission 175
The twelve apostles 176
The missionary discourse 177
A priority: the lost sheep ofI srael 179
And as you go, prodaim ....................•... 181
Freelyy ttu have received, freely give ...........•... 182
Do not keep gold or silver; neither a bag
fttr the road two tunics! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
nttr
Like sheep in the midst of wolws 185
Prudent as serpents, simple as dwes 186
It is enough fttr the disciple
to becom.e lih the master ....................•... 188
189
DIALOGUING WITH THE WoRD ••••••.•••..••••..••
A mission that is opposed 189
"Are you he who is to ctt~?" 190
Naughty children who spoil the game 192
Come to me, all of you! 196
•
Three imperatives and other promises 197
The master of the meek heart 198
WoRD 205
DtALOGUING WlTH THE
CRAPTER SEVEN
"From then on, Jesus. .. •
Way of the cross and of the Church 206
Revelations and temptarions 207
Jesus' answer ............................•.... 208
Tog o to Jerusalem and suffer much ...........•.... 210
WoRD 213
D1ALOGU1Nc WITH TR.:
for
To save one~ lift eternity 214
Jesus and Peter again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
The discourse on the Church 218
Three questions and three parabks 219
Who is the greatest? 221
Be careful that you do not despise these little ones 225
What do you think? 227
Two complementary perspeclives .•..........•..... 230
Fraternal correction and prayer 231
Don'ts kip the fint step! 232
Seventy times seven 235
WoRD 235
D1AL0GU1NG WITH THE
A Church that loves 236
EPILOGUE
'7 am with you"
From the mountain to all peoples 240
The journey of the eleven .....•................. 243
The words of the Risen One 246