Project BLACK MAMBA

Today we remember Saint Hugh of Grenoble (1053-1132, A.K.A. Hugh of Châteauneuf), bishop, who greatly aided St. Bruno in the founding of the Carthusians, formally the Order of St. Bruno: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link Hotel; Wikipedia-link charterhouse.

Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twenty-three, verses forty-seven thru forty-nine;
The First Letter of John, chapters four & five (of five).

Commentary: I admit that I struggle with Johannine literature. Half the time, it it sublime; the rest of the time, it seems almost nonsensical. 'Tis part of sacred Scripture, so it cannot be nonsense, but its meaning is not as plain to me as the Old Testament, the synoptic Gospels, or the Pauline & catholic letters. More study (& some formal instruction) would be helpful.

Mass Readings
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty, verses four thru nine(A);
Psalm Sixty-nine, verses eight thru ten, twenty-one & twenty-two, thirty-one, thirty-three & thirty-four;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-six, verses fourteen thru twenty-five.

Commentary: Sunday's reading from the Old Testament was Isaiah, 50:4-7, almost the same as today's, except shorter, missing verses 8-9(A).

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Mass Journal: Week 9
Sunday, 22 February 2015

I believe God wants us to be happy. I believe God gave us this yearning for happiness that constantly preoccupies our hearts. It seems [H]e has placed this yearning within each human heart as a spiritual navigational instrument designed to lead us to our destiny. God [H]imself is the author of our desire for happiness. This philosophy of Christ is the ultimate philosophy of human happiness. It isn't just a way of life; it is the way of life. At the same time, the philosophy of Christ is one of self-donation. This is the great paradox of God's teaching. In our misguided adventures, we may catch a glimpse of happiness as we live outside the philosophy of Christ. You may even taste happiness for a moment living a life contrary to the philosophy of Christ, but these are stolen moments. They may seem real, but they are just shadows of something infinitely greater.

I find the repeated references to the "philosophy of Christ" irksome, leaning toward maddening. Also, I find the "paradox" described above as incomplete; the selfishness inherent in alternative avenues of pursuing happiness needs to explained for the paradox description to make a lick of sense.