Comments on: Thursday, August 22, 2019 – Do you have time for God?

By: Sandi

Sandi — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 13:18:49 +0000

A, I found that passage strange also so did some research. It is understood that his daughter was given to the Lord as a servant and would never have children.

See Below:

This is an odd passage, since, as you noted, he would certainly have known his household. Also, the Law of Moses strictly forbade human sacrifice, particularly the sacrifice of one’s own children, categorizing it as an abomination before the Lord, so such an offering would never have been acceptable to God anyway.

It’s interesting to note that the mourning of Jephthah’s daughter and her companions was not for her life, but for her virginity; she would never have the blessing (it was still unequivocally considered a blessing back then) of having children. And verse 39 says “she had never known a man” in the ESV, but the KJV renders it in present tense: “[Jephthah] did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man”

Taken together, these points suggest that she may have been “offered to the Lord” in a different way: as a consecrated servant of God of some sort which would preclude her getting married and having children.

By: A

Thu, 22 Aug 2019 14:16:22 +0000

Anybody else still reeling from the first reading from Judges? I looked at the commentary on the USCCB website and it says that this is a folklore motif that is seen in Greek myth and forbidden in Mosaic law.

Why would God have even accepted such an offer? I thought that God doesn’t accept bribes. Why didn’t He teach ouy to stop Jepthah from sacrificing his daugther like He did with Abraham and Isaac? Is it because she was a daughter and not a son?

By: Helena

Helena — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 13:55:28 +0000

Interesting observation about free time and planning for “enough “ time to get to your interview. My biggest interview is for heaven. How am I using my free time toward that goal…

By: Maureen

Maureen — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 13:47:57 +0000

Quite an insightful reflection, Laura!
This area has been such a struggle for me too.
It breaks my heart to think that i groomed my family to appreciate the need for daily prayers, its unfortunate that my children who are now grown and would have been practicing what we thought they learnt over the years, have retrogressed seriously.
I really do not even know how to continue but only trusting God for a change for the best.
The social media though has simplified some aspects of life but has also taken back majorly the good part with another hand.
Today’s reading is truly a reassurance and a reminder.
Thank you Laura for the reflection.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 10:19:56 +0000

Always well done Laura K. Thank you

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 10:17:27 +0000

We are all busy however we make our own decisions on where we spend our free time. Lots of options and distractions. Jesus is patient and understanding…the door to the feast is open, show up dressed for Love. Thats the Catholic Moment in our lives.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 05:02:35 +0000

Laura — Thank you. A nice reflection.

What the gospel also teaches us is that:
1) God wants us to share in the joy of his kingdom and that there are consequences of refusing Jesus.
2) To follow Jesus, there must be love — the person not dressed in a wedding garment did not have love. Love was represented by a wedding garment.

Blessings.