This document provides materials for a Bible study on the 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time A, including commentary and reflections on the readings. The first reading from Isaiah depicts God as a tender, thoughtful mother who will never forget God's people. The Psalm calls the congregation to rest in God alone. The second reading from Corinthians instructs people not to pass judgment before the final judgment by Christ. The Gospel from Matthew encourages trusting in God rather than worrying about basic needs, and to seek God's kingdom first. Overall, the document aims to help the congregation develop trust in God through understanding these readings.

1. Welcome to our Bible Study
8th Sunday in Ordinary Time A
2 March 2014
In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy
In aid of focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

2. 1st Reading: Isaiah 49:14-15
14 Zion said, "The LORD has
forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten
me."
15 Can a mother forget her infant,
be without tenderness for the child of
her womb? Even should she forget, I
will never forget you.
The focus is on God’s
thoughtfulness.

3. 1st Reading: Isaiah 49:14-15
14 Zion said, "The
LORD has forsaken
me; my Lord has
forgotten me."
15 Can a mother
forget her infant, be
without tenderness for
the child of her womb?
Even should she
forget, I will never
forget you.
Commentary
In v.14, Zion is the same as
Jerusalem. It is personified.
It expresses a feeling of being
abandoned / forsaken (in
parallel form).
V.15 is God’s answer.
God compares himself to a
mother who cannot forget her
infant and who shows
tenderness to the child of her
womb.
Even that is so, God will never
forget Jerusalem, his people.

4. Reflections on the 1st Reading
God has feelings.
He (she) is like a mother.
God has feminine traits.
God is loving and tender to his people.
We cannot accuse God of forgetting his people.
God is a thoughtful God.
God is not indifferent to our existential needs.
What kind of God do you believe in?

5. Resp. Ps 62:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
R. (6a) Rest in God alone, my soul.
2 Only in God is my soul at rest;
from him comes my salvation.
3 He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all.
6 Only in God be at rest, my soul,
for from him comes my hope.
7 He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed.
8 With God is my safety and my glory,
he is the rock of my strength; my refuge is in God.
9 Trust in him at all times, O my people!
Pour out your hearts before him.

6. Resp. Ps. 62:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
R. (6a) Rest in God alone, my
soul.
2 Only in God is my soul at rest;
from him comes my salvation.
3 He only is my rock and my
salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be
disturbed at all.
6 Only in God be at rest, my soul,
for from him comes my hope.
7 He only is my rock and my
salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be
disturbed.
8 With God is my safety and my
glory,
he is the rock of my strength; my
refuge is in God.
9 Trust in him at all times, O my
people!
Pour out your hearts before him.
Commentary
V.2 acknowledges God as a
source of rest and salvation.
V.3 acknowledges God as
defender and source of security.
V.6 acknowledges God as a
source of rest (like v.2)
V.7 repeats v.3.
V.8 acknowledges God as safety,
with an additional description “my
glory” (my pride!), and “my rock
and refuge.”
V.9 invites us to trust in God
always.

7. Reflections on the Psalm
Like the psalmist, we have to acknowledge God
as a good God whom we can trust.
Our faith and trust in him must be through and
through.
Truth faith and trust must give us a certain
feeling of security and peace.
If we are fearful of everything, perhaps we have
not developed the trust and confidence in God.

8. 2nd Reading: 1 Cor 4:1-5
1 Thus one should regard us: as servants of
Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2
Now it is of course required of stewards that they
be found trustworthy.
3 It does not concern me in the least that I be
judged by you or any human tribunal; I do not
even pass judgment on myself; 4 I am not
conscious of anything against me, but I do not
thereby stand acquitted; the one who judges me
is the Lord. 5 Therefore, do not make any
judgment before the appointed time, until the
Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is
hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives
of our hearts, and then everyone will receive
praise from God.
The focus is on not making judgment.

9. 2nd Reading: 1 Cor 4:1-5
1 Thus one should regard us:
as servants of Christ and
stewards of the mysteries of
God. 2 Now it is of course
required of stewards that
they be found trustworthy.
3 It does not concern me in
the least that I be judged by
you or any human tribunal; I
do not even pass judgment
on myself; 4 I am not
conscious of anything
against me, but I do not
thereby stand acquitted; the
one who judges me is the
Lord. 5 Therefore, do not
make any judgment before
the appointed time, until the
Lord comes, for he will bring
to light what is hidden in
darkness and will manifest
the motives of our hearts,
and then everyone will
receive praise from God.
Commentary
In v.1, Paul wants to be recognized
(and his companions) by the Christians
in Corinth as servants of Christ and
stewards of God’s mysteries.
In v.2, Paul assures them of their
trustworthiness. They are honest and
sincere in their work as missionaries.
In v.3, Paul is not worried about what
they think about him.
In v.4, as far as he is concerned, Paul
is not a bad guy or a bad missionary.
As such, God is his judge, not they.
In v.5, Paul appeals to the Corinthians
to suspend their judgment.
Judgment must be reserved for Christ
when he comes (because he knows
everything).
Christ’s judgment will help all to win
favor from God.

10. Reflections on the 2nd Reading
We must avoid passing judgment on anyone, on
God’s missionaries.
We should not judge them, because we don’t
know everything about them.
We must wait until the whole picture, which is
the sound basis for judgment, is complete.
Judgment is reserved to Christ, who knows
everything.
Meanwhile, we have to work with our
missionaries who are sent to evangelize us.
Everything will be alright. All of us will be favored
by God.

11. Gospel Reading: Matthew 6:24-34
Serving God alone
24 Jesus said to his disciples, "No one can serve two masters. He
will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and
despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Trusting in God
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will
eat (or drink), or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life
more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the
birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into
barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more
important than they? 27 Can any of you by worrying add a single
moment to your life-span? 28 Why are you anxious about clothes?
Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or
spin. 29 But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor
was clothed like one of them. 30 If God so clothes the grass of the
field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will
he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? 31 So do
not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?'
or 'What are we to wear?‘ 32 All these things the pagans seek.
Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
Seeking God’s Kingdom
33 But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and
all these things will be given you besides. 34 Do not worry about
tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is
its own evil.

12. Gospel Reading: Matthew 6:24-34
Serving God alone
24 Jesus said to his disciples, "No one can
serve two masters. He will either hate
one and love the other, or be devoted to
one and despise the other. You cannot
serve God and mammon.
Trusting in God
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry
about your life, what you will eat (or
drink), or about your body, what you will
wear. Is not life more than food and the
body more than clothing? 26 Look at the
birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap,
they gather nothing into barns, yet your
heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you
more important than they? 27 Can any of
you by worrying add a single moment to
your life-span? 28 Why are you anxious
about clothes? Learn from the way the
wild flowers grow. They do not work or
spin. 29 But I tell you that not even
Solomon in all his splendor was clothed
like one of them. 30 If God so clothes the
grass of the field, which grows today and
is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he
not much more provide for you, O you of
little faith? 31 So do not worry and say,
'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to
drink?' or 'What are we to wear?‘ 32 All
these things the pagans seek. Your
heavenly Father knows that you need
them all.
Commentary
In v.24, Jesus wants us to
serve God alone.
In vv.25-32, Jesus wants us
to stop worrying.
Worrying does not help.
We must trust in God.
God knows all our needs.

13. Gospel Reading: Matthew 6:24-34
Seeking God’s Kingdom
33 But seek first the
kingdom (of God) and his
righteousness, and all
these things will be given
you besides. 34 Do not
worry about tomorrow;
tomorrow will take care of
itself. Sufficient for a day
is its own evil.
V.33 is the basis for the
popular song, “Seek Ye
First.”
God takes care of people who
seek him, who put their trust
in him, who practice love and
justice.
V.34 teaches us to put our
energies on today’s work.

14. Reflections on the Gospel
True Christians are not worriers.
They trust in God.
They spend their time and energy on present concerns.
They build their future on the well-lived present.
They seek God daily, they seek to live the values of the
kingdom of God.
They will not be abandoned to live miserable lives.
Do you seek God in your daily life?
Do you continue learning his ways of love?
Or, are you just a worrier, not accomplishing anything?
If you are living a miserable (sad) life, try seeking God
and his righteousness.

15. Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm
The first reading teaches us that God is a tender
and loving God. He is trusted.
The psalm helps us to express our trust in the
Lord by praying it.
The second reading teaches us not to pass
judgment. Christ is a trustworthy judge.
The gospel reading teaches us to trust in the
Lord, not to worry.

16. How to develop your homily / sharing
We, Christians, must develop trust in God.
How?
By, first of all, developing our faith in him.
How do we develop our faith in God?
By taking to heart the readings of this
Sunday’s liturgy.

17. The first reading portrays God as a
mother, who cannot forget a child in her
womb, who tenderly holds her baby on her
lap.
God has also feminine traits like
tenderness, thoughtfulness, love and
compassion.
If we truly believe that God is a loving
God, we cannot but put our trust in him.
Do you think God has forgotten you?

18. The psalm is a prayer of those who have trusted
in God and have felt God’s protection.
Like the psalmist, we have to believe that in
God, we have security.
In God, we have rest.
He defends us from our enemies, from those
who disturb us and our families.

19. The second reading has a soothing effect.
We cannot pass judgment on anyone as we live
our lives now.
We work together to evangelize the world.
Judgment belongs to Christ when he comes
again.
Do you believe that Christ will come to favorably
judge us, in spite of our sins and shortcomings?
Yes, Christ will save us, if we don’t discredit
(judge, hold in contempt) anyone.
Let us trust in God’s love and forgiveness.

20. The gospel reading teaches us that God is
a good provider.
We have to trust in him.
If we believe that he is a provident God,
then worries have no place in our lives.
Those who trust in God is not concerned
so much about food and clothing, but the
living of the values of God’s kingdom
(peace, justice, security, etc.).
Do you seek God’s kingdom first?

21. The readings challenge us to develop trust in the
Lord, especially when we find ourselves in
adverse situations.
We have to be crazy for the Lord, continue to
trust in him,
– even if we are short of food, time, money, medicine
and love.
– even if we don’t feel his presence.
We have to hold on to God in the midst of
confusion and crisis:
– when we are falsely accused, when it is hard to prove
our innocence, esp when we are condemned right
away.
– when no one stands by our side.
– when system of support is denied us (justice, charity,
consideration)

22. We have to pray like the psalmist. In our
prayer, we anticipate God’s intervention.
Trusting in the Lord is a struggle to move
on, a refusal to give up a just fight.
Trusting in the Lord is not asking God to
do for us what we are supposed to do.
It is living to the full in the hope of a better
future.

23. In the eucharist, we celebrate our trust in
the Lord.
In the eucharist, we show our unwavering
trust in the Lord, no matter what.
In the eucharist, we seek his wisdom and
protection.

24. Our Context of Sin and Grace
Thoughtless
Sick of amnesia, when held
accountable
Despair
Hysterical
Always concerned with food,
clothing, looks, and accessories
Materialistic
Vanity
Fearful of the future
Climate of distrust and suspicion
Loss of confidence
No self-confidence
No self-esteem
Hard to trust other people and
God
Worrier
Unshakeable faith
Trust in God
Serenity
With an aura of confidence
Knows whom to believe
Thoughtful
Secure

25. Suggested Songs
Seek Ye First
Only in God
Hindi Kita Malilimutan
I Will Never Forget You
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