|
Kay's
Commentaries
on the gospels Provide Three Levels for Readers:
READING, REFLECTING AND PRAYING
READING:
Explore
the context of the text - What does the
author intend to say to the reader?
REFLECTING:
How does God's
word
invite me to love and serve my
family, friends and community?
PRAYING:
How do the Scriptures help deepen my relationship
with Jesus?
Reprinting
of commentaries in any form without
permission
is prohibited
without
request. Email Kay:
murdyk@netscape.net
COMMENTARY
ON THE GOSPEL OF MARK. SCROLL TO BOTTOM OF PAGE AND GO TO HOME
BIBLE STUDY. CLICK ON MARK.
|
The feast of
Pentecost officially closes the fifty days of the Easter Season. The Paschal
candle, which has been kept in the sanctuary throughout the Easter Season and
lighted during the liturgy, is taken from the sanctuary at the end of the Mass
of Pentecost, sometimes in procession, and placed in the church's baptistry,
where it remains for the rest of the year.
The
second part of Ordinary Time begins with the day after Pentecost and runs to the
Saturday before the First Sunday of Advent. The Masses of the Solemnity of the
Most Holy Trinity and the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
replace the first two Sundays of this season of Ordinary Time.
The season of
Ordinary Time helps us to meditate on the
mighty works of God through the Risen Christ and the sending of the Spirit. It
is a time to grow in our faith in response to God's invitation to follow Jesus
through his Incarnation and Birth. We have a challenge to make our
ordinary days extraordinary!
|
 KAY
AND BOB MURDY'S GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
On June 13, 2009, Kay and Bob Murdy celebrated the 50th
Anniversary of their marriage. Kay and Bob were married on
June 13, 1959 at St. Josephs' Catholic Church in Hawthorne,
California. They have four grown children and five
grandchildren. Bob is a graduate of Loyola (Marymount)
University in Westchester, California. He continues to work
part time as project manager in information technology for
Southern California Gas Company. After raising the family,
Kay went back to school and received her Masters in
Religious Studies from Mount St. Mary's College in Los
Angeles, California. Bob and Kay helped found the Catholic
Bible Institute co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Archdiocese
Office of Religious Education and Loyola Marymount
University. They are active in their parish, St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Hacienda Heights, California, and
in programs around the diocese and elsewhere. Kay and Bob
are grateful to God, their family and friends for blessing
them throughout their 50 years of married life.
JOHN 20:24-29
FEAST OF THOMAS, APOSTLE
(Ephesians 2:19-22; Psalm 117)
KEY VERSE: Thomas answered and said to him, `My Lord and my God!'
(v 28).
READING: After the crucifixion, Jesus' disciples gathered
in fear behind locked doors. Thomas,
was absent when the
risen Christ appeared to them. Thomas had been willing to go
to Jerusalem and die with Jesus (John 11:16), but he was unwilling to believe
that he had risen from the dead. The Cross was what Thomas expected, and
he refused to believe the testimony
of the disciples without visible proof. A week later,
Thomas was with the disciples when suddenly Christ appeared to them
again with a greeting of
peace (Hebrew, Shalom). Jesus showed Thomas the wounds of his crucifixion
and asked him not to persist in disbelief. At this, Thomas
became convinced of the truth of the Resurrection and exclaimed: "My Lord and My
God"
(20:28), thus making a public Profession of Faith in
the Divinity of Christ who offered a beatitude for all future generations:
"Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed" (v
29).
REFLECTING: Let us "who hold and teach the Catholic faith that comes to us
from the apostles" [Eucharistic Prayer I], hand on
the faith that we have received, just as the apostles did in their time.
PRAYING: My Lord and my God, help me to believe even when I see no evidence for
my faith.
FEAST OF THOMAS, APOSTLE
Thomas was probably born in Galilee, but there is no
record as to how he became
one of the Twelve Apostles
of Christ. His name in Greek is
Didymus, which means "the twin." At the
Last Supper, when Jesus told his Apostles that he was going
to prepare a place for them, Thomas pleaded that they did
not understand and received the assurance that Jesus was the
Way, the Truth, and the Life. But Thomas is best
remembered for his doubt that Christ had actually risen from
the dead. Although Thomas was
present at the raising of Lazarus from the dead,
and even stated his willingness to go to Jerusalem
and there "die with the Lord" (Jn 11:16),
he refused to believe in the risen Christ's appearance to
the Twelve. This incident gave rise to the expression
"doubting Thomas." Thomas was also
present at another Resurrection appearance of Jesus at
Lake Tiberias when a miraculous catch of fish occurred. This
is all that we know about Thomas from the New Testament.
The Acta Thomae, an apocryphal writing from the 3rd
or 4th century, recounts the missionary efforts of Thomas.
At the dispersal of the Apostles after
Pentecost Thomas was sent to
evangelize the Parthians, Medes, and Persians. He ultimately
reached India, carrying the faith to the Malabar coast,
which still boasts a large population that calls themselves
"Christians of St. Thomas." Thomas shed his blood for his
Master, speared to death at a place called Calamine. His
feast day is July 3rd and he is the patron of architects.
MATTHEW 9:14-17
(Genesis 27:1-5, 15-29; Psalm 135)
KEY VERSE: "People do not put new wine into old wine skins"
(v 17).
READING: The followers of John the Baptist were curious to know why the disciples of
Jesus did not fast as they and the Pharisees did. Jesus compared
himself
to a bridegroom at a marriage feast.
This sign anticipated the Messianic banquet in which he
would be united
with his bride, the Church (Rv 19:7). Fasting and mourning were inappropriate at a wedding
banquet; this was a time for rejoicing. When the "bridegroom was taken away"
(v 15), then the
people would fast. Jesus said that the old ways were incompatible with the new.
Just as a worn out garment
could not be
patched and must be discarded, an
old wine skin (symbolizing the old religion)
was not
flexible enough to contain the new and fermenting wine, and
would burst. Likewise, the new ideas that Jesus came
to offer required fresh and elastic minds.
REFLECTING: How can I help others open their minds and
hearts to Jesus?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to thirst for you.
Optional Memorial of Elizabeth of Portugal, religious
Elizabeth (Isabella in Portugal) was the daughter of King
Pedro III of Aragon and Constantia; great-granddaughter of
Emperor Frederick II, and great-niece
of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, for
whom she was named. Married at age twelve to King Denis
(Diniz of Portugal),
Elizabeth became Queen of Portugal before she was a
teenager. Mother of two, Elizabeth
suffered through years of abuse at the hands of her
unfaithful husband. She prayed for his conversion, and
worked with the poor and sick. The king appears to have
reformed late in life, though whether from Elizabeth's faith
or his imminent death is unknown. After the king's death in
1325, she distributed her property to the poor, became a
Franciscan tertiary, and retired to a monastery of Poor
Clares she founded at Coimbra. She was canonized
in 1625; her body is incorrupt.
Independence Day is celebrated
on
July 4th
as America's official split from Britain's rule and the beginning of the American Revolution. The original resolution was introduced by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia on June 7, 1776. Three days later a committee headed by Thomas Jefferson was appointed to prepare an appropriate writing for the occasion.
The document that we know as the Declaration of Independence was adopted by Congress on July 4th although the resolution that led to the writing of the Declaration was actually approved two days earlier.
I Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Francis Bellamy (1855 - 1931), a Baptist
minister, wrote the original Pledge of Allegiance in August 1892. In 1954, after
a campaign by the Knights of Columbus, Congress added the words, 'under God,' to
the Pledge. The Pledge is now both a patriotic oath and a public prayer.
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden,
meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.
President John F. Kennedy, Inaugural address January 20, 1961
MARK 6:1-6a
FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
(Ezekiel 2:2-5; Psalm 123; 2 Corinthians
12:7-10)
KEY VERSE: "A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and among his own kin and in his own house" (v 4).
READING: When Jesus returned to his hometown of Nazareth, his neighbors
were
astonished by his teachings. They wondered
where he acquired his wisdom and amazing power. They asked
many questions. Who
did Jesus think he was?
Wasn't he a mere carpenter (Greek, tekton, a
"craftsman")? Didn't his mother and family live in their community? Jesus
was distressed that his neighbors
were
offended by him. Moses had promised the people that there would be a great prophet who would arise among
their own
kinsmen, and that they would listen to him (Dt
18:15). But Jesus declared, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own
house" (v 4). Like the prophets of old, Jesus was not accepted by those to whom he was sent. Because they lacked faith, Jesus
was unable to
perform many miracles among his own kin.
REFLECTING: Do I recognize the gifts of the people in my
community?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to be open to your voice in my neighbors and
family.
MATTHEW 9:18-26
(Genesis 28:10-22a; Psalm 91)
KEY VERSE: "Courage daughter! Your faith has saved you"
(v 22).
READING: Matthew narrated a series of healings in which he
told the story of the healing of a woman with a
hemorrhage along with the episode of the raising to life of a young girl. In the first story, a bereaved synagogue official ("Jairus"
in Mk 5:22, Lk 8:41) pleaded with Jesus to bring his dead daughter back to life.
On the way to the official's house, Jesus was met by a woman who had
suffered from hemorrhages for "twelve years,"
as many years as Jairus' daughter
lived. The
woman
believed that she would
be healed if she could touch the tassels on the corners of Jesus' outer garment (the fringe,
in Hebrew, tzi-tzit, a
reminder of God's Law to the
Jews, Nm 15:37-41). Jesus was not repulsed by the touch of
this woman who should not have been among the crowd as she was considered "unclean"
according to the Law (Lev 15:19).
The woman's courage
and faith in Jesus restored her to full health. Arriving at the official's house, Jesus
took
the dead child's hand, which would
also make him unclean (Nm 19:11),
and the little girl arose, a
sign of new life that Jesus would offer in the resurrection.
The older woman was
at the point of death after twelve years of suffering and received a new life in
Jesus' healing. The twelve year old girl
was now capable of generating life.
REFLECTING: In what ways do I need to reach out to Jesus today?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, heal me of all that defiles
me.
Optional Memorial of Maria Goretti, virgin and martyr
Maria Goretti was a beautiful, pious farm girl. In 1902 at
age twelve, Maria was attacked by a 19-year-old farm-hand
Alessandro Serenelli. He tried to rape the girl who fought
back, yelled that it was a sin and that he would go
to Hell. He tried to choke her into submission, then stabbed
her fourteen times. She survived in hospital for two days,
forgave her attacker, asked God's forgiveness of him, and
died holding a crucifix and medal of Our Lady. While in
prison for his crime, Allessandro had a vision of Maria,
dressed in white, gathering lilies. This vision led to
Alessandro's conversion, and he later testified at her cause
for beatification. She was canonized in 1950 by Pope Pius
XII. The ceremony was attended by
250,000 including her mother, the only time a parent
witnessed her child's canonization.
MATTHEW 9:32-38
(Genesis 32:23-33; Psalm 17)
KEY VERSE: "Ask for the master of the harvest to sent out
laborers for his harvest" (v 37).
READING: In Matthew's
gospel, the healing of a possessed mute is the
last miracle in a series of ten (Ch 8-9). The people were in awe
when they witnessed this unprecedented event. Everywhere Jesus
went,
in the towns, villages and synagogues, the good news of the kingdom was ushered in through Jesus'
words and works. While the crowds looked on Jesus with
wonder, the religious leaders, who should have welcomed the appearance of God's reign, rejected
Jesus' works believing that he was in league with the
powers of evil. Their eyes were so blinded by their own ideas
of God's power that they could not see the truth that was present in Jesus. The people were without spiritual leadership, and
Jesus' heart was moved with compassion. He urged his disciples to pray that others
would participate in the harvest of the gathering of souls.
REFLECTING: Do I pray for a generous response to God's call for
vocations?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to be faithful to your call in my
life.
MATTHEW 10:1-7
(Genesis 41:55-57, 42:5-7a, 17-24a; Psalm 105)
KEY VERSE: "As you go, make this proclamation: `The kingdom of God is at
hand'" (v 7).
READING: By his words and deeds, Jesus demonstrated that God's reign
had
arrived. Jesus did not choose to bring about the kingdom on his own. It
would take the co-operation of his followers to bring it to completion. Jesus
chose
twelve men to share his ministry and mission. The number twelve recalled the
founding twelve tribes of Israel. These tribes had been scattered and dispersed
all over the world. At the time of Jesus, only
the tribe of Judah remained intact (Jesus was a
descendant of Judah's tribe). Jesus' understanding of his mission was to draw the people of Israel, the chosen people back together again. But the love of God and Jesus
did not stop there.
After Jesus had been raised from the dead, he
told his followers, “Now, you must be my disciples to all the nations.”
He gave the whole church the knowledge of the love of God, and then told them to
go out to proclaim that good news to all peoples (Mt 28:19).
REFLECTING: In what ways have I announced the gospel today?
PRAYING: Holy Apostles, help me to share the good news to all I meet.
MATTHEW 10:7-15
(Genesis 44:18-21, 23b-29, 45:1-5; Psalm 105)
KEY VERSE: "Without cost you have received; without cost you are to
give" (v 8).
READING: Jesus sent forth the twelve apostles he had chosen to
announce the arrival of God's reign. The reign of God was made apparent
in their ministry by the healing
of the sick,
raising of the dead, and by driving out evil. The twelve received God's gift
without meriting it; therefore, they must share this gift freely with others. As the
apostles
went forth, they were to trust in God's providence, taking only the essentials, and
depending upon the generosity of others to support them. Those who accepted the
gospel of peace would be blessed. If the message was
rejected, the blessing would return to the giver. The apostles must dissociate themselves from these
unbelievers and leave it to God to pronounce judgment on them.
REFLECTING: Am I generous in sharing the gifts that I have
been given?
PRAYING: Holy Apostles, help me to proclaim the gospel with courage
as you did.
Optional Memorial of Augustine Zhao Rong, priest and his
companions, Chinese martyrs
Augustine Zhao Rong was a soldier. He escorted Blessed John
Gabriel Dufresse to Beijing, China during his missionary
work. Once baptized, he was sent to the seminary and then
ordained a priest. Augustine worked in the Su-Tchuen
province. He was arrested for his faith and work, and died
in 1815 due to poor conditions in prison. Augustine was one
of 120 Martyrs of China that were
canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 1, 2000 on the
Feast of St. Thèrése of Lisieux. The Pope said that "the
Church wants to recognize these martyrs as examples of
courage… and thus to honor the noble Chinese people for
their fidelity to the Catholic faith." These martyrs died
between 1648 and 1930. Of the 120 Chinese martyrs, 87
were Chinese natives, and the
remaining 33 were foreign
missionaries who served in China.
MATTHEW 10:16-23
(Genesis 46:1-7, 28-30; Psalm 37)
KEY VERSE: "Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of
wolves" (v 16).
READING: Jesus chose twelve apostles for the task of proclaiming God's reign.
Now he warned these men that persecution awaited them. His
followers would be like innocent sheep among ravenous wolves. While they
must be unblemished in their personal conduct, they also must be shrewd in their
dealings with those who opposed them. Though the apostles would be arrested and
mistreated by both religious and political leaders, they need not be concerned
about how they would defend themselves. The Spirit of God would enable them to
be faithful witnesses (Greek: martyr).
The apostles would face hostility and betrayal even from their own families,
but they must not lose confidence.
Those who persevered to the end would be saved.
REFLECTING: Let us continue in our own time to
hand on the faith that we have received, just as the apostles did in their time.
PRAYING: Holy Apostles, help me to live a life of courage and faithfulness.
MATTHEW 10:24-33
(Genesis 49:29-32, 50:15-26a; Psalm 105)
KEY VERSE: "No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his
master" (v 24).
READING: Jesus was the fullness of God's revelation
to the world, but many people were obstinate in
their refusal to believe. Despite the darkness of
unbelief, light would come in the dawn of Christ's resurrection. Jesus confided
his message to his twelve apostles, warning them of
the opposition they would face as they proclaimed the gospel to the world.
Students were not above their teacher, and slaves could not outrank their
master; therefore, as they shared in his ministry they would
share in his passion. Though they stood in danger of death, they should
not be afraid. It would be a greater peril to lose one's immortal soul. Rather,
they should fear the evil one who could lead them to eternal destruction. Jesus
reminded his followers of their worth before God. If
God was aware of the death of a tiny sparrow, were not their lives worth more?
If the apostles were faithful in their task, Jesus would defend them on the day
of judgment.
REFLECTING: Do I remind others of their worth in
God's sight?
PRAYING: Holy Apostles, help me to defend the faith when I am opposed.
"There is nothing you can do
to make God love you less. There is nothing you can do to make God love you
more." Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Memorial of Benedict, abbot
Benedict was the twin brother of St. Scholastica. While
studying in Rome, he was dismayed by the lack of discipline
of his fellow students. He fled to the mountains near
Subiaco, living as a hermit in a cave for three years.
It was reported that he was
fed by a raven. Benedict's virtues
caused a group of monks
to prevail upon him to become
their spiritual leader. He founded the monastery at Monte
Cassino where he wrote the Rule of his order. His regime
soon became too much for the lukewarm monks so they plotted
to poison him. Benedict returned to his cave, but continued
to attract followers, and eventually established twelve
monasteries. It is said that
Benedict had the ability to read consciences,
was able to prophesy and forestall
attacks of the devil. He destroyed pagan statues and altars,
and drove demons from groves
that were sacred to pagans. At one
point there were over 40,000 monasteries guided by the
Benedictine Rule. A summation of the Rule
is: "Pray and work."
Though Benedict was
not the founder of Christian monasticism, since he lived two
and a half to three centuries after its beginnings in Egypt,
Palestine and Asia Minor, he had great influence on monastic
life.
MARK 6:7-13
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
(Amos 7:12-15; Psalm 85;
Ephesians 1:3-14)
KEY VERSE: "He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by
two and gave them authority over unclean spirits" (v 7).
READING: Having been rejected by his neighbors, Jesus continued to teach in
the area around Nazareth. He summoned his apostles (Greek
"one who is sent"), and sent them out "two by two" (v 7). They
did not go on
their own volition, but under the power and authority of Jesus. Strengthened by
one another, they must imitate Jesus by trusting in
God's providence. If they were
shown hospitality when they brought the good
news, they should remain in that place. But if doors
and ears were closed to their message, they must shake off the dust from their
feet when they left that place. (The Rabbinic law said that the dust of a Gentile
country was defiled, and that when people entered the Holy Land from another
country they must shake off every particle of dust of the unclean land.)
Empowered by the Lord, the new
missionaries went forth to announce God's reign, expel demons and heal the sick by anointing
them with oil (early evidence of the Sacrament of Anointing
the Sick, James 5:14).
REFLECTING: Does my life-style bear witness to the
Gospel?
PRAYING: Holy Apostles, help me to hear and act on
Jesus' words in
the Gospel.
MATTHEW 10:34
̶ 11:1
(Exodus 1:8-14, 22; Psalm 124)
KEY VERSE: "Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me"
(v 39).
READING: Jesus was aware that his message would not be accepted by everyone, and he exhorted the twelve apostles to have courage under persecution.
He warned them that members of their own families might
be their adversaries. Those who wished to follow in Jesus' footsteps, must be willing
to put the gospel before all else ̶ even their own lives. They must be
prepared to be treated like the prophets of old who suffered for
proclaiming God's
word. The apostles were Christian "prophets" who would speak God's
saving
message of the new covenant. Whoever received these followers of Jesus were receiving
Jesus himself, and God who sent him, and they would be rewarded for their kindness to
God's messengers.
REFLECTING: Pray for missionaries whose lives
may be endangered by preaching the gospel.
PRAYING: Holy Apostles,
give me courage to share your gospel as you did.
Optional Memorial of Henry
Henry
became Duke of Bavaria in 995 upon his father's death,
thereby ending his thoughts of
becoming a priest. Henry ascended
to the throne of Germany in 1002, and was
crowned King of Pavia on 15 May 1004. Henry's brother
rebelled against him, and Henry
was forced to defeat him on the battlefield.
Henry later forgave him,
and the two reconciled. Henry was crowned
as the Holy Roman Emperor in 1014 by Pope Benedict
VIII. His was the last of the
Saxon dynasty of emperors. Henry founded schools, quelled
rebellions, protected the frontiers, worked to establish a
stable peace in Europe, and helped to
reform the Church while respecting its independence. He
fostered missions, and established Bamberg as a center for
missions to Slavic countries. Henry started the construction
of the cathedral at Basel, Switzerland, which took nearly
400 years to complete. Both Henry and his wife St.
Cunegunda were prayerful people, and generous to the poor.
Some sources claim the two lived chastely, but there is no
proof of this. By his Christian virtues, Henry proved that a
good king is a true gift of heaven.
MATTHEW 11:20-24
(Exodus 2:1-15a; Psalm 69)
KEY VERSE: "Then he began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds
had been done, since they had not repented" (v 20).
READING: The miracles that Jesus worked in Chorazin and Bethsaida were
manifestations of God's power (Greek, dynamis). These "mighty deeds" were meant to
turn the people away from their sins and point them toward salvation; nevertheless,
many people refused to repent. Jesus
grimly reminded the crowds that gathered to hear his message that the pagan cites of Tyre and Sidon
were denounced by the prophets for their wickedness (Joel 4:4-7). Jesus
then reproached Capernaum, the center of
his own ministry. If such miracles had been worked in Sodom,
the people would have repented and that corrupt city would still be standing
(Gn 19:1-29). Jesus lamented that the people of Sodom
would be judged less severely than his own people because he
was in their midst, yet they had closed their eyes and ears to his message.
REFLECTING: What do I need to change in my life today?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, forgive me when I refuse to see the miracles
that you work in my life.
Memorial of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin
Kateri was the daughter of a Christian Algonquin woman
captured by the Iroquois and
married to a non-Christian Mohawk chief.
Kateri was orphaned during a smallpox epidemic, which
left her with a scarred face and impaired eyesight.
She converted to the Christian
faith and was baptized in 1676 by a Jesuit
missionary. Shunned and abused by relatives for her faith,
Kateri escaped through 200 miles of wilderness to the
Christian Native American village of Sault-Sainte-Marie, and
took a vow of chastity in 1679. Known for spirituality and
an austere lifestyle, her grave
became a pilgrimage site and place of miracles for Christian
Native Americans and French colonists. She is the first
Native American proposed for canonization; her cause was
started in 1884 under Pope Leo XIII.
LITANY:
Kateri, lily of purity, pray for us.
Kateri, consoler of the heart of Jesus, pray for us.
Kateri, bright light for all Indians, pray for us.
Kateri, courage of the afflicted, pray for us.
Kateri, lover of the cross of Jesus, pray for us.
Kateri, flower of fortitude for the persecuted, pray for us.
Kateri, unshakeable in temptations, pray for us.
Kateri, full of patience in suffering, pray for us.
Kateri, keeper of the faith in persecutions, pray for us.
Kateri, leader of the Indian people, pray for us.
MATTHEW 11:25-27
(Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12; Psalm 103)
KEY VERSE: "All things have been handed over to me by my Father"
(v 27).
READING: Jesus continually praised the poor and lowly
(the anawim ) for their child-like trust in God (Mt 5:3-12). Jesus
was not condemning intellectual ability but
intellectual pride. True wisdom was not
to be found by the clever and learned whose minds were
closed to God. Jesus demonstrated this in his own relationship with his Father. With
simple trust, Jesus received everything from the Father. Only the Father
fully
understood Jesus' mission, and
only Jesus comprehended the
Father's saving plan. Jesus broke into joyful praise of his Father for
having revealed the mysteries of his kingdom to those who came to him with openness and simplicity.
He invited all who were under the burden of the Law to come to him to find rest from all that
oppressed them.
REFLECTING: Do I praise God for the gifts given to me?
PRAYING: Father, help me to be your faithful child.
Memorial of Bonaventure, bishop and doctor of the Church
Healed from a
childhood disease by the prayers of St. Francis of Assisi,
Bonaventure joined the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor at
the age of 22. He studied theology and philosophy in Paris.
Bonaventure was a friend of St.
Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of Theology, and a
friend of King St. Louis. At the age of thirty-six
Bonaventure was made General of the Franciscan Order.
He succeeded in
reconciling Aristotle’s learning to orthodox Augustinianism,
and he was a proponent of moderate realism. His later
mystical works bring the teachings of St. Bernard of
Clairvaux and Hugh of Saint Victor to full flower.
Bonaventure emphasized the total
dependence of all things upon God, and he wrote guides to
mystical contemplation. He also wrote the official life of
St. Francis. Bonaventure spoke at the Council of
Lyons, at which he was a papal legate, but died before its
close. On hearing of his death,
Pope Gregory X, who had appointed him cardinal bishop of
Albano in 1273, declared that Bonaventure
was "a man of eminent
learning and eloquence, and of outstanding holiness, known
for his kindness, approachableness, gentleness and
compassion." Bonaventure was known
as the Seraphic Doctor of the Church
because he revealed a warmth toward others as a divine fire.
Thorns and
cross and nails and lance, Wounds, our rich inheritance . .
.May these all our spirits fill, And with love's devotion
thrill . . .Christ, by coward hands betrayed, Christ, for us
a captive made, Christ upon the bitter tree, Slain for
man--all praise to thee. --Saint Bonaventure
MATTHEW 11:28-30
(Exodus 3:13-20; Psalm 105)
KEY VERSE: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you
rest" (v 28).
READING: The prophet Jeremiah told the people that they would find "rest for
their souls" if they would follow the straight pathway to God (Jer 6:16). But the religious leaders
laid a crushing weight on the people by complicating God's Law with numerous legal obligations. They
made no effort to lighten the load of those burdened by these
regulations, and they often neglected the true
purpose of the Law themselves (Mt 23:4). Jesus invited all who were
weary of trying to fulfill the law to come to him. Obedience to his word was
light by comparison to the religious leader's
legalistic requirements because he was the embodiment of God's Law of mercy and love. Yoked to Jesus, the faithful would find happiness and peace
from all that weighed them down.
Jesus was humble of heart, and he made the pathway to God accessible. He
invited all who were burdened
by the Law to come to him. By taking on the light yoke of obedience to his word, Jesus' followers
would find peace and happiness. In God's kingdom, they would find rest from all that
oppressed
them (Is 25:4-8).
REFLECTING: How can I help carry someone's burden today?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to rest in you when I face my daily struggles.
Optional Memorial of Our Lady of
Mount Carmel
According to the most
ancient Carmelite chronicles, the Order had
its origins with the disciples of the prophet Elijah who
lived in a cave on Mount Carmel.
In the 12th century, many pilgrims from Europe
that followed the Crusaders came
to join them. A rule was established and the Order began to
spread to Europe. Amid the many
persecutions raised against the Order of Mount Carmel, St.
Simon Stock, General of the Order, turned with confidence to
the Blessed Mother of God. As he knelt in prayer on July 16,
1251, she appeared before him and presented him with the
brown scapular, a loose sleeveless garment reaching from the
shoulders to the knees. He was
given the assurance of her
heavenly protection from eternal death for all who died
wearing it. Devotion spread quickly throughout the Christian
world. At Lourdes in 1858, the
Virgin chose to make her last
apparition on July 16th, feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
And at Fatima on October 13, 1917, it was
Our Lady of Mount Carmel that appeared when she said
farewell to the three children. Throughout the ages, the
Queen of Carmel has always kept a faithful watch over the
destinies of her cherished children on earth.
The Carmelite
Scapular is not: a magical charm
to protect you; an automatic
guarantee of salvation; an excuse
for not living up to the demands of the Christian life.
The Carmelite Scapular is a sign: that
has been approved by the Church for over seven centuries;
that stands for the decision to follow Jesus like
Mary: To be open to God and to his
will; to be guided by faith, hope,
and love; to pray at all times;
and to discover God present in all that happens
around us
MATTHEW 12:1-8
(Exodus 11:10 ̶ 12:14; Psalm 116)
KEY VERSE: "For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath" (v
8).
READING: As Jesus and his disciples continued on their journey, the Pharisees
criticized him for allowing his hungry
followers to glean grain on the Sabbath
as the Law forbade manual labor on the Sabbath day. The
religious leaders defined "work" by setting down thirty-nine
forbidden actions. Amongst them were reaping, winnowing, threshing
and preparing a meal. By plucking the corn Jesus'
disciples were guilty of reaping; by rubbing
it in their hands they were guilty of threshing and by separating the grain
from the chaff they were guilty of winnowing.
Furthermore, the whole process constituted preparing a meal, another violation
of the Sabbath
law. In defense of his disciples, Jesus
cited the example of David who fed his hungry men with the "bread of offering" usually reserved
for priests (1 Sm 21:4-7). Jesus also argued that priests did not incur guilt by preparing the offering
of the lambs on the Sabbath (Nm 28:9). He quoted God's word to Hosea the
prophet: "I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice" (Hos
6:6). Jesus was
liberating God's people who had
labored so long under the burdens of a
restrictive law (Mt 11:28).
REFLECTING: Do I have a legalistic view of God's Law?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, teach me to observe the Lord's Day through worship and service
to your people.
MATTHEW 12:14-21
(Exodus 12:37-- 42; Psalm 136)
KEY VERSE: "Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I
delight" (v 18).
READING: When Jesus cured a man on the Sabbath (Mt 12:9-13), the religious leaders
plotted to put Jesus to death. As opposition to him grew, Jesus withdrew from the
controversy. Matthew quoted the prophet Isaiah to show that Jesus
fulfilled the role of
God's suffering servant (Is 42:1-4). The people expected the Messiah to come with power to crush their enemies. Instead, Jesus came in meekness and humility, offering hope to those who were burdened. Imbued with
God's Spirit, Jesus proclaimed justice for all who were crushed under the weight of oppression
(Mt 11:28-30). The world would know Jesus when Christians imitated his example
of compassionate service to those in need.
REFLECTING: Do my actions promote peace or contention?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to follow your example by working for peace and
justice.
Optional
Memorial of Camillus
de Lellis, priest
Camillus entered the Capuchin novitiate three times, but
each time a nagging leg injury received while fighting the
Turks forced him to give up.
He
received permission from his
confessor
(St. Philip Neri) to be ordained and decided
to found the Congregation of the Servants of the Sick
(the Camellians) dedicated to the care of the sick
both in hospital and home,
and attended the plague-stricken aboard ships in Rome's
harbor and in Rome. In 1591, the Congregation was made into
an order to serve the sick by Pope Gregory XIV, and in 1591
and 1605, Camillus sent members of his order to
minister
to wounded troops in
Hungary
and Croatia, the first field medical unit. Gravely ill for
many years, he resigned as
superior
of the Order in 1607 and died in
Rome
on July 14, the year after he attended a General
Chapter
there. He was canonized in 1746, was declared patron of the
sick, with
St. John
of God, by Pope Leo XIII, and patron of nurses and nursing
groups by Pope Pius XI.
Camillus honored
the sick as living images of Christ, and hoped that the
service he gave them did penance for his wayward youth.
MARK 6:30-34
SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
(Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalm 23; Ephesians 2:13-18)
KEY VERSE: His heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like
sheep without a shepherd" (v 34).
READING: When Jesus' disciples returned from their mission, they reported
all they had said and done in his name. Like Jesus, the disciples were servants
of the people. As the disciples ministered to the people, so many came to them
that they did not have time to eat. As a wise shepherd of his flock, Jesus knew
that the disciples must tend to their bodily as well as their spiritual needs.
He invited them to come with him to a secluded place in order to rest. The
crowds saw Jesus going away so they went around the
lake on foot. When Jesus and his men arrived to what they thought was a "deserted place," the people
were already there to meet them. Instead of being annoyed by his inconvenience,
Jesus took pity on them for they were "like sheep without a shepherd." Ignoring his own need for rest, Jesus began to "teach them many
things" (v. 34).
REFLECTING: Do I remember to take time for rest and relaxation as I serve God's people?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to be sensitive to the needs of those to
whom I minister in my community.
MATTHEW 12:38-42
(Exodus 14:5-18; Psalm: Exodus 15)
KEY VERSE: "An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign"
(v 39).
READING:
The scribes and Pharisees demanded evidence to prove that Jesus' works
came from
God and not the evil one (v 24). Jesus said that it was the
religious leaders who were "evil," since
they preferred a religion of legalism to one that made moral demands of them. Jesus
told them that the people of Jonah's
day repented because of the prophet's preaching, not because of signs and wonders. The Queen of
Sheba sought Solomon's wisdom, not his magic (1 Kgs 10:1-10). Jesus was greater than either
Jonah or Solomon, yet the people refused to believe in him. The only sign he
would give these
faithless ones was the "Sign of Jonah," the three days Jonah spent in the belly of the whale
(Jon 2), which was a
sign of Jesus' impending death and resurrection.
REFLECTING:
Do I need signs and wonders to have faith in Jesus?
PRAYING:
Lord Jesus, help me to see you in the everyday circumstances of
my life
Optional Memorial of Apollinaris, bishop and martyr
Apollinaris was one of the most illustrious bishops of the
second century. Eusebius, St. Jerome, Theodoret, and others
spoke of him in the highest terms,
and they furnish us with the few facts that are known of
him. He addressed an "Apology" (a
defense) of the Christian religion
to the emperor Marcus Aurelius. It
was to protect his flock against persecution that
Apollinaris, who was bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia,
addressed his apology to the Emperor to implore his
protection and to remind him of the favor he had received
from God through the prayers of the Christians. Renowned for
his powers to heal in the name of Christ, Apollinaris and
his flock were exiled from Ravenna by Vespasian. On his way
out of the city Apollinaris was identified, arrested as
being the leader, tortured and martyred, run through with a
sword. The date of the death is not known, but it probably
occurred before that of Marcus Aurelius, about the year 175.
St. Apollinaris'
relics are at Ravenna, Italy.
MATTHEW 12:46-50
(Exodus 14:21
̶ 15:1; Psalm: Exodus 15)
KEY VERSE:
"For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and
sister, and mother" (v 50).
READING:
Jesus' opponents stubbornly refused to believe in him.
While addressing the crowds, his mother and "brothers" came to see him. The word
"brothers" did not imply that Mary had
other children. The Hebrew word 'ach, "brother,"
can mean "kinsmen," varying degrees of blood relationship
(see Gn 13:8; Lv 10:4), persons of common ancestry,
members of the same tribe or clan (Nm 16:10), and even of the same nation (Dt
15:12). The Greek
word adelphos had a similar connotation. Jesus used this opportunity to
declare who were the true members of his spiritual family. It was not physical relationship that
made one a
"brother" or "sister" of Jesus, but doing God's will. Jesus
was the "firstborn
of many brothers" who have become children of God by faith (Ro 8:29). In Luke's gospel,
Jesus' mother Mary
was extolled as a true disciple, not because of blood
relationship, but because she heard and kept God's word (Lk 11:28).
REFLECTING:
How do I serve my "brothers" and "sisters" in Christ?
PRAYING:
Lord Jesus, thank you for allowing me to belong to God's family.
Optional Memorial of Lawrence of Brindisi, priest and doctor
of the Church
Lawrence of Brindisi joined the Capuchin Friars at age 16.
He studied theology, the Bible, French, German, Greek,
Spanish, Syriac, and Hebrew at the University of Padua.
Ordained a priest, he taught theology and served as linguist
and military chaplain. Lawrence rallied the German princes
to fight the Turks, and was asked to lead the army into
battle carrying no weapon but a crucifix.
The Turks were completely defeated.
Lawrence was made Master
General of his order in 1602. As a
Diplomat, he carried out important and successful peace
missions to Munich and Madrid. Lawrence
was an effective and forceful preacher in any of his
several languages, and he wrote
catechisms. In 1956, the Capuchin order compiled fifteen
volumes of his sermons, letters and writings.
He was proclaimed
Apostolic Doctor of the Church by Pope John XXIII in 1959.
JOHN 20:1-2, 11-18
(Exodus 16:1-5, 9-15; Psalm
78)
KEY VERSE:
"I have seen the Lord" (v 18).
READING:
"Magdala" is
a town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Mary Magdalene is described
in the New Testament as a devoted disciple of Jesus. She
is mentioned as one of the women who ministered to Jesus "out of their
resources" (Lk 8:2). Luke
also tells the story of an exorcism performed on Mary that cast out seven demons
(which can be physical, mental or spiritual infirmities).
Mary was among the women who accompanied Jesus on his
last journey to Jerusalem (Matt 27:55; Mk 15:41; Lk
23:55). She was a witness to the Crucifixion
and the first witness of the resurrection appearances of Jesus.
John's gospel says that in the
early dawn of the first day of the week (Sunday) Mary Magdalene came to the sepulcher
and found it empty. She ran
to tell Peter and John (Jn 20:1-2), and then returned
to the tomb and remained there weeping.
When Jesus appeared to her, she did
not recognize him and thought he
was a garner. When he spoke
her name she cried, "Rabboni"
(Hebrew, "Master" or "Teacher"). She wanted to cling to
Jesus as she knew him in his physical life, but he forbade
her. Instead he told her, "Go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my
Father and your Father, to my God and your God'" (Jn 20:17).
Mary then returned to Jerusalem,
and was probably among the group of women who
joined the Apostles in the Upper Room after Jesus' ascension (Acts 1:14). The
Eastern Orthodox Church maintains that Mary Magdalene retired to Ephesus with
Mary, the mother of Jesus,
and there died, and that her relics were transferred to Constantinople in 886
where they are preserved. Mary is
called "The Apostle to the Apostles," but she is also a witness to the
whole world.
REFLECTING:
Do I give testimony to the risen Lord in
my life?
PRAYING:
St. Mary of Magdala, help me to recognize
our Savior in my sorrow and in my joy.
Memorial of Mary Magdalene
For centuries, Christians have
wondered about the real identity of
this woman who was beloved
by Jesus. Probably we will never know many details about
Mary Magdalene. We can be sure, however, that Mary was a
significant leader of early
Christianity. Many false ideas about Magdalene
persist today. For example, early church fathers incorrectly
identified her with the sinful woman who anointed Christ's
feet at the house of Simon the Pharisee, but there is
nothing in the gospels to support this view and much to
dispute it. Others wrongly believed that
she was Mary of Bethany,
the sister of Martha and Lazarus.
The Bible gives us clues about her importance. After his
resurrection, Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene
and not to
Peter, according to the Gospel of John. In other
scriptures, her name is first in the list of witnesses (Mk.
16:1-11; Mt. 28:1; Lk. 24:10; Jn. 20:11-18; 1 Cor. 15:5-8).
Mary did not recognize
Jesus until he called
her by her name. Mary Magdalene is
considered by the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and
Anglican churches to be a saint, with a feast day of July
22. Mary Magdalene's
encounter with Christ that first Easter morning
is a familiar subject in
art and music. The popular hymn, "I Come to the Garden," was
inspired by the story.
Easter Egg tradition
For centuries, it has been the custom of many Christians to
share dyed and painted eggs, particularly on Easter Sunday.
The eggs represent new life, and Christ bursting forth from
the tomb. One tradition concerning Mary Magdalene says that
following the death and resurrection of Jesus, she used her
position to gain an invitation to a banquet given by Emperor
Tiberius Caesar. When she met him, she held a plain egg in
her hand and exclaimed "Christ is risen!" Caesar laughed,
and said that Christ rising from the dead was as likely as
the egg in her hand turning red while she held it. Before he
finished speaking, the egg in her hand turned a bright red,
and she continued proclaiming the Gospel to the entire
imperial house.
MATTHEW 13:10-17
(Exodus 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20b; Psalm: Daniel 3)
KEY VERSE: "Blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because
they hear" (v 16).
READING: Jesus often spoke to the crowds in parables
(Hebrew, mashal, a comparison of common things to impart a moral lesson).
These figures of speech encouraged his audience to discover the meaning of his words. Only those who
were open to the divine mysteries could understand
the plan of God revealed in Jesus. Stubborn nonbelievers were blind and deaf to his message.
They fulfilled the words of the prophet Isaiah: "They look but do not truly see. They listen but do not
really hear" (Is 6:9-10). The
disciples were blessed because they believed what they saw and heard.
Therefore, they would grow even more in
their understanding of the revelation of God's reign. The prophets and
righteous people of old longed to see and hear that which the disciples of Jesus
were privileged to witness.
REFLECTING: Am I able to help others understand the revealed word of God?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to understand the mysteries you came to reveal.
Optional Memorial of Bridget of Sweden, religious
Bridget began receiving visions, mostly of the Crucifixion,
at age seven. In 1316, at age thirteen, she wed prince Ulfo
of Nercia in an arranged marriage. She
was the mother of eight children including St.
Catherine of Sweden. After Ulfo's death in 1344 she pursued
a religious life, for which she was harassed by others at
the court. She eventually renounced her title of princess.
Bridget founded the Order of the Most Holy Savior
(Bridgettines) at Vadstena in 1346. It received confirmation
by Pope Urban V in 1370, and survives today. She chastened
and counseled kings and urged
Popes Clement VI, Urban VI, and Gregory XI to return to Rome
from Avignon. Bridget encouraged
all who would listen to meditate on the Passion and of Jesus
Crucified. Bridget recorded the revelations given in her
visions, and these became hugely popular in the Middle Ages.
MATTHEW 13:18-23
(Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19)
KEY VERSE: "But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and
understands it" (23).
READING: Jesus explained the parable of the sower to his disciples. The
different types of soil depicted various responses to his proclamation
of God's reign. The seed, the Word of God, sown on the pathway
represented those who heard the message, but never accepted it in their hearts. The evil one
robbed them of
what was sown. The seed sown on rocky ground were those who heard the word with enthusiasm, but
they quickly fell away when persecution or trials
occurred. The seed sown among thorns were those who believed for a while, but
the lure of riches and worldly concerns choked
the life out of their faith.
The seed that was sown on fertile soil were those who heard and responded to the message with faith. Their
lives would yield abundant fruit.
REFLECTING: Have I planted seeds of faith in others that
will grow to
fruitfulness?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, prepare my heart so that your words will take root and grow.
Optional Memorial of Sharbel Makhluf,
priest
Joseph Zaroun Makhlouf was
raised by an uncle who opposed the boy's youthful piety. At
age 23 Joseph snuck away to join the Baladite monastery of
St. Maron at Annaya where he took the name Charbel in memory
of a 2nd century martyr. Sharbel lived as a model monk, but
dreamed of living like the ancient desert fathers. He became
a hermit from 1875 until his death 23 years later, living an
ascetic life. He gained a reputation for holiness, and was
sought after for counseling. He had a great personal
devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, and was known to levitate
during his prayers. He was briefly paralyzed for unknown
reasons just before his death. There were several
post-mortem miracles attributed to him, including periods in
1927 and 1950 when a bloody "sweat" flowed from his corpse.
His tomb has become a place of pilgrimage for Lebanese and
non-Lebanese, Christian and non-Christian alike. He was
canonized 9 October 1977 by Pope Paul VI.
MATTHEW 20:20-28
FEAST OF JAMES, APOSTLE
(2 Corinthians 4:7-15; Psalm 126)
KEY VERSE: "Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your
servant" (v. 26).
READING: Jesus taught his disciples three times about his coming
passion and death, yet they still did not comprehend the reality of his words.
A woman approached Jesus with the request that her sons, James and John, receive
special honor in his kingdom. Her misconception was that Jesus' reign was an
earthly rule with temporal authority. The other disciples were indignant
over this (did they wish they had thought of it first?). Jesus reminded them
that the way to the kingdom was not the path to glory. Being a disciple meant
humble submission to the will of God. Jesus did not come to be served, but to
offer his life as a ransom for those who were held captive to sin. James would share Jesus' suffering.
He was the first apostle martyred when he was " killed with the sword,"
probably beheaded, by the order of King Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:1-2).
REFLECTING: Let us "who hold and teach the Catholic faith that comes to us
from the apostles" [Eucharistic Prayer I], continue in our own time to hand on
the faith that we have received, just as the apostles did in their time.
PRAYING: St. James, pray for me
that I might courageously serve
Christ as you did.
FEAST OF JAMES, APOSTLE
James,
the son of Zebedee, along with his younger brother John were
nicknamed Boanerges, "sons of thunder,"
by Jesus (Mk 3:17). They were natives of Galilee and
fishermen when Jesus called them to follow him. James,
John and Peter belonged to what
seems to have been an inner circle of three. They were
privileged witnesses when Jesus cured Peter's
mother-in-law, were present at the
raising of Jairus' daughter, at the Transfiguration and
at Jesus' agony in the garden.
James was killed by order of King Herod, as reported in Acts
12:2, probably by beheading. Most modern scholars hold that
James was not the author of the epistle by that name. Among
the reasons cited is that that the author of the epistle
speaks of the Apostles in the past tense and does not
identify himself as an Apostle. Another reason is the
elegant Greek literary style used, which is unlikely that of
a Galilean peasant.
JOHN 6:1-15
SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
(2 Kings 4:42-44; Psalm 145; Ephesians 4:1-6)
KEY VERSE: "This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the
world" (v 14).
READING: John wrote that the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves took
place near Passover (v 4), which
was the Jewish feast of Unleavened bread (Ex
12:8). When the Israelites were In the
wilderness and dying of hunger, God fed them with manna (Ex
16:4). Jesus declared that he was the bread
that came "down from heaven"
to give "life to the world" (Jn
6:33).
Like the prophet Elisha (2 Kgs 4:42-44), Jesus
took the loaves of barley bread,
the humble food of the poor, gave thanks (Greek, eucharistia),
broke and
distributed it to the hungry people. The significance
was not lost on the people
who acclaimed Jesus to be the prophet like Elijah who was to come into the world
(Mal 3:1, 23).
This miracle also indicates its Eucharistic
importance for the early Church.
REFLECTING: How can I help provide bread for the poor?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, strengthen me with your body and blood in the Eucharist.
MATTHEW 13:31-35
(Exodus 32:15-24, 30-34; Psalm: 106)
KEY VERSE:
"It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the
largest of plants" (v 32).
READING: Through parables, Jesus revealed the full mysteries of the
reign of God that
had "lain
hidden from the foundation of the world" (Ps 78:2). The parables of the mustard seed and yeast
taught his followers about the paradoxical nature of God's reign,
which Jesus described as having amazing growth from insignificant
beginnings. Though very tiny, the mustard seed grew into a luxuriant plant where birds
could find a
home in its branches. In like manner, a tiny bit of leaven hidden in an enormous amount of flour
(50 lbs) expanded the dough to produce enough bread to feed a hundred people. God's kingdom is
a process. Although a Christian's work may seem unimportant, even a small effort moves
the kingdom toward fulfillment.
REFLECTING:
Do I encourage the modest efforts of other Christians?
PRAYING:
Lord Jesus, help me to be untiring in my labor for your kingdom.
MATTHEW 13:36-43
(Exodus 33:7-11, 34:5b-9,
28; Psalm 103)
KEY VERSE:
"He who sows good seed is the Son of Man" (v
37).
READING:
Jesus dismissed those who refused to believe his words, and
addressed his
instruction to his disciples. To them alone, he explained the parable of the weeds among the
wheat. He told them that he was the one who sowed the good seed of the gospel in the world. The ones
who heard and acted on his words were "children of the kingdom," while the "weeds"
represented the "children of the evil one" (v 38). God is patient and
allows good and evil to exist side
by side until the harvest on the day of judgment. At the end of the age, all evildoers "who cause
others to sin" (v 41) will be cast into perdition. The righteous will reign in the everlasting
light of God's glory (Dn 12:3).
REFLECTING:
Do I plant the good seed of the gospel in my
community?
PRAYING:
Lord Jesus, I pray that all who hear the gospel will heed your words.
JOHN 11:19-27
(Exodus 34:29-35; Psalm
99)
KEY VERSE:
"I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of
God" (v 27).
READING:
Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus were good friends of Jesus. When
Jesus heard that Lazarus was gravely ill, he made plans to go to
their home in Bethany, near
Jerusalem where his passion and death awaited him. Jesus was
delayed in coming, and upon his arrival,
Martha told Jesus that he was too late; her brother had already died. Although she
reproached Jesus for not coming sooner, she expressed her
faith that God would give
her whatever she asked. Jesus told Martha that he was the "resurrection and the
life" (v 25). All who believed in him would share eternal life with him.
Jesus
asked Martha if she believed his words,
and she responded with the same profession of
faith that Peter spoke at Caesarea Philippi: "You are the Messiah, the Son of God" (Mt
16:16).
REFLECTING:
In what ways can I help
others cope with their grief?
PRAYING:
Lord Jesus, give me the faith
to believe in the resurrection of the dead, and the
life of the world to come.
Memorial of Martha
Martha was the sister of Mary and Lazarus, whom Jesus raised
from the dead. The three shared a household in Bethany. They
were all friends of Jesus. In the famous incident in Luke's
gospel, Martha was hostess to Jesus in her house. She
demanded that Jesus tell her sister Mary to help her. Jesus
commended Mary as choosing the better part, sitting at
Jesus' feet and learning from him. Martha and her sister
Mary were were not only related by blood but also by
religious aspirations. They stayed close to our Lord and
both served him. Martha may have been part of an early
mission to France. She is also known as the "Wonder Worker
of Gaul."
O Blessed Martha, Friend and
servant of our Savior, I too am “troubled about many
things”. Pray for me that I may grow in faith, hope and
love, and that Jesus, who sat at your table, will hear me
and grant me a place at the banquet of eternal life. Amen.
MATTHEW 13:47-53
(Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38; Psalm 84)
KEY VERSE:
"Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven
is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old"
(v 53).
READING:
Jesus was speaking to fishermen, so he
used illustrations from fishing to speak of God's reign. In Palestine there were
two main ways of fishing. One was with the casting-net, which was
thrown from the shore. The second way of fishing was
with the drag-net, which was a large square net
that was
weighted so that it hung from the boat. The net was drawn into the shape of a
cone and the fish were swept into it. The net was then pulled
to land, and the worthwhile fish were separated from the useless. Jesus
used this image to say that good and
evil would flourish alongside one another until the
end of the age. Jesus' disciples must be like wise scribes (the teachers of the
traditions of Judaism) who were able to understand things both "new and old" (some scholars see
verse 52 as Matthew's personal
signature). As future leaders of the church, Jesus'
disciples must be able to interpret the ancient truths in the
light of the gospel. When Jesus was assured that they understood his message, he
was ready
to move on in his journey.
REFLECTING:
Do I submit myself to the teachings of Jesus?
PRAYING:
Lord Jesus, help me to discern your truth in everything I hear.
Optional Memorial of Peter Chrysologus, bishop and doctor of
the Church
Peter
Chrysologus was an adult convert
who became a Deacon, Priest
and Bishop of Ravenna, Italy in 433. He fought paganism and
the Monophysite heresy, which
asserted that in the Person of Jesus Christ there was only
one (divine) nature rather than two natures, divine and
human, as asserted at the Council of Chalcedon in 451. His
principal weapon was the short sermon, and many of them have
come down to us. In addition to his zeal
in the exercise of his office, Peter was distinguished by a
fierce loyalty to the Church, not only in its teaching, but
in its authority as well. He looked upon learning not as a
mere opportunity but as an obligation for all, both as a
development of God-given faculties and as a solid support
for the worship of God. Some time before his death, St.
Peter returned to Imola, his birthplace, where he died
around A.D. 450. Peter was a preacher with such
proficient language skills that he
merited the title Chrysologus, referring to his "Golden
Word." One hundred and seventy six of his sermons have
survived. The strength of his beautiful explanations of the
Incarnation, the Creed, the place of Mary and John the
Baptist in the great plan of salvation, etc., led to his
being proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1729 by Pope
Benedict XIII.
MATTHEW 13:54-58
(Leviticus 23:1, 4-11, 15-16,
27, 34b-37; Psalm 81)
KEY VERSE:
"A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in
his own house" (v 57).
READING:
Chapters 13:54 ̶
17:27
of Matthew's gospel is called "The Kingdom of God and the
Church." God's kingdom
was clearly visible in the person of
Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man (Vatican II "Dogmatic Constitution on the Church," #5).
When Jesus finished his teachings in the towns around the Lake of Galilee, he
returned to Nazareth where he was
raised. His neighbors were astonished by his teaching and mighty deeds, but they
were also
skeptical. Jesus was a "hometown boy," and they took offense at his presumption in
telling them how to live their lives. Jesus was rejected like the
prophets before him, and he was unable to perform many miracles there because of
his neighbor's lack of faith in him.
REFLECTING:
Do I see God at work among my friends and neighbors?
PRAYING:
Lord Jesus, help me to be open to hearing truth from those in my own
community.
Memorial of
Ignatius of Loyola, priest
Born in
1491 at Loyola, Spain, Ignatius
was wounded in the leg by a cannonball at the siege of
Pampeluna in 1521, an injury that left him partially
crippled for life. During his recuperation the only books he
had access to were The Golden Legend, a collection of
lives of the saints, and The
Life of Christ. These books, and the time spent in
contemplation, changed him. Upon
his recovery he took a vow of chastity, hung his sword
before the altar of the Virgin of Montserrat, and donned a
pilgrim's robes. He journeyed to Rome and the Holy Land
where he worked to convert Muslims. His meditations,
prayers, visions and insights led to forming the
Constitutions of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) on 15 August
1534. He traveled to Europe and
the Holy Lands, then settled in Rome to direct the Jesuit
order. His health suffered in later years, and he was
nearly blind at death. The Jesuits today have over 500
universities and colleges, 30,000 members, and teach over
200,000 students each year.
"Teach
us to be generous, good Lord; teach us to serve You as You
deserve; to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not
to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to
labor and not to ask for any reward save that of knowing we
do Your will." - Prayer, Ignatius of Loyola
MATTHEW 14:1-12
(Leviticus 25:1, 8-17; Psalm 67)
KEY VERSE:
"This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the
dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him" (v 2).
READING:
As Jesus' reputation spread, Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee,
heard of
the marvelous deeds that he had performed. Herod feared that Jesus was John the Baptist
raised from the dead. Herod had imprisoned
the prophet because of his courageous stance
against the ruler's illicit marriage (Lv 18:16, 20:21). Herod wanted to kill John but he
was
afraid that the death of the popular prophet would cause the people to revolt. At Herod's birthday party,
he promised his step-daughter that he would grant her any request if she would dance for his guests.
Prompted by her mother, the girl asked for John's head as her reward. Like the prophets before him,
John was murdered for proclaiming the truth.
REFLECTING:
What are the important issues
that I need to stand up for now?
PRAYING:
Lord Jesus, help me to speak out against the injustices that I see.
Memorial of Alphonsus Liguori, bishop and doctor of the
Church
Alphonsus Liguori was ordained at age 29.
He was noted for his simple, clear style of
preaching, and his understanding way in the confessional.
He was often opposed by Church officials for a
perceived laxity toward sinners. He founded the Congregation
of the Most Holy Redeemer (Liguorians or Redemptorists).
Alphonsus was appointed bishop in 1762, and worked to reform
the clergy and revitalize the faithful in a diocese. In 1775
he resigned his office due to his
health, and went into what he thought was a prayerful
retirement. In 1777 the royal government threatened to
disband his Redemptorists. Calling on his knowledge of
theology, and his skills as a lawyer, Alphonsus defended the
Redemptorists so well that they obtained the king's
approval. Alphonsus vowed early to never to waste a moment
of his life, and lived that way for over 90 years.
He was declared a Doctor of the
Church by Pope Pius IX in 1871.
JOHN 6:24-35
EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
(Exodus 16:2-4,12-15; Psalm 78; Ephesians 4:17, 20-24)
KEY VERSE: "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst" (v 35).
READING: After the miraculous multiplication of the loaves the people go in
search of Jesus. He tells them that they are looking for perishable food and are
missing the true nourishment that God has given them. Like the living water
"welling up to eternal life" (4:14), Jesus provides food that
"endures for eternal life" (6:27). The people do not need to work for
this food; they only need to believe in the one God sent to them. The people
demanded a "sign" such as the manna that Moses gave them in the desert (
Ex.16:15). Jesus was himself the sign, the true expression of God's providential presence. Jesus is
the bread of everlasting life who satisfies the spiritual hunger of the soul.
REFLECTING: How can I help others see your presence in the Eucharist?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to hunger and thirst for you always.
STUDY
THE BIBLE AT HOME
with Kay Murdy
* Gain skills in
reading and understanding the Bible
* Grow in appreciation of God's Word
* Apply God's Word to your daily life
GO TO DIRECTORY AT AT BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE
TO ACCESS HOME BIBLE STUDY
WHAT
EVERY CATHOLIC NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THE BIBLE
A Parish Guide to Scripture by Kay Murdy
This is a wonderful introductory tool for the average person. It presents
the Bible in its literary, historical and religious context and provides a
valuable framework for continued learning. $9.95 -- Order from Resource Pub.,
Inc. 160 E. Virginia St., #290, San Jose, CA 95112-5848
http://www.rpinet.com
|
|

AUDIO DAILY MASS READINGS NOW ON-LINE
The daily Mass readings are now downloadable
from the Web site of the
United States Bishops' Catholic Communication Campaign. Copy and
paste into your browser:
http://www.usccb.org/nab/
The program was prepared in association with the
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine using audio recordings of the readings
from the New American Bible. The program was prepared in association with
the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine using audio recordings of the
readings from the New American Bible. Archbishop George Niederauer of San
Francisco, chairman of the bishops' Committee on Communications, said: “The
internet is now a part of our lives, and a medium which can help provide for
spiritual enrichment. The new service responds to the many requests for the
readings. Several readers, including bishops, clergy, and laity from
different ethnic backgrounds, have lent their voices to the project, so
listeners will hear at least three different voices on any given day.”
The
Catholic Calendar Page
This handy little calendar lets you know the readings, vestment colors,
liturgical seasons and years and even rosary mysteries for any given day far
into the future. Need to know what day of the week the Feast of the Assumption
falls on in 2014? Not only will the calendar tell you it's a Friday, it will
also give you the gospel reading for the day (Luke 1:39-56). A helpful planning
tool for those who need to know Catholic calendar. Copy and paste into
your browser:
http://www.easterbrooks.com/personal/calendar/
 Modern
Catholic Dictionary Now On-Line
Trinity Communications has released a new website that houses a complete
Modern Catholic Dictionary (authored by the late Fr. John A. Hardon) in
cooperation with Eternal Life. The dictionary is presented in a simple but
attractive format that can be both browsed and searched.
Copy and paste into your browser:
http://www.CatholicReference.net
 ST.
ISIDORE, SAINT OF THE INTERNET
St. Isidore of Seville (601) was one of the most learned men of his day. As
bishop he required seminaries in every diocese of Spain. Among his prolific
works, he wrote a rule for Religious Orders, a dictionary, an encyclopedia,
a history of the Goths, and a history of the world beginning with creation.
He was proclaimed Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XIV in 1722 (Feast
Day April 4). St. Isidore is being considered as patron saint of computer
users and the Internet. He writes: All spiritual growth comes from reading
and reflection. By reading we learn what we did not know; by reflection we
retain what we have learned. Reading the Holy Scriptures confers two
benefits. It trains the mind to understand them; it turns our attention from
the follies of the world and leads us to the love of God.
"We need to enter into this modern and increasingly active network of
information with realism and trust, knowing that if it is used with
competence and attentive responsibility, it can offer valid opportunities
for the spreading of the Gospel message" Pope John Paul II, May 12,
2002
|
|
|
|
|