If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.

A few years back Mother Church changed the vernacular of a lot of the prayers we used at Mass.  For example, we went from the priest saying “The Lord be with You” to which the congregation used to reply “and also with you”.  After the change – to bring us back to a closer translation of what was traditionally said, we now reply “and with your Spirit”.  Another example, what used to be “Lord, I am not worthy to receive You, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” is now “Lord, I am not worthy for You to enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

One of the translations came during the Eucharistic Prayer, when the priest would elevate the Chalice containing the Blood of our Lord and say “Take this, all of you, and drink from it.  For this is the Chalice of My Blood, the Blood of the New and Eternal Covenant, which will be poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins.  Do this in memory of Me.”  After the change, the word ALL was changed to MANY.  I know a priest (who I am very close too) who struggled mightily with this translation and didn’t want to change the wording from ALL to MANY.

In light of today’s readings though, I can begin to understand the change from ALL to MANY.  Blessed is the man who trusts not in other men but in God alone.  Blessed is the man whose hope is the Lord.  But do ALL men trust in the Lord?  If one does not trust in God, if someone finds hope in only earthy goods, who needs not the Lord, what would it matter that the Lord suffered and died for his salvation?  We have read in earlier Gospels, Christ couldn’t perform miracles for the people of His hometown because they did not have faith.  I believe we are being told the same thing in today’s Gospel…

He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
Then Abraham said,
‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded
if someone should rise from the dead.'”

Do something great for our Lord today – repent and believe in the Gospel.  Believe what Moses and the Prophets foretold.  Pray that you are part of the MANY who can receive from the Cup of Salvation – the New and Eternal Covenant.

God’s will, not mine, be done.

Be not afraid; just have faith.

Jesus, I trust in You.

He must increase; I must decrease.