Project BLACK MAMBA

Monday, 23 May was the feast of Saint Michael of Synnada, Bishop (died circa 818): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twas also the feast of Saint William of Perth, Martyr (died circa 1201, A.K.A. of Rochester): Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
The First Letter of Peter, chapter one, verses three thru nine;
Psalm One Hundred Eleven, verses one, two, five, six, nine, & ten;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter ten, verses seventeen thru twenty-seven.

Personal Reading
The Book of Numbers, chapter seventeen, verses twenty-seven & twenty-eight;
The Book of Numbers, chapter eighteen (verses one thru thirty-two);
The Book of Numbers, chapter nineteen (verses one thru twenty-two);
The Book of Numbers, chapter twenty (verses one thru twenty-nine);
The Book of Numbers, chapter twenty-one (verses one thru thirty-five);
The Book of Numbers, chapter twenty-two, verse one.

Commentary: It's good to be back. I still struggle to understand the importance to a latter-day Christian of all the closely-prescribed sacrifices & closely-parsed distinction 'twixt being ritually clean & ritually unclean, especially when we know from Hebrews that the blood of oxen & lambs could never take away men's sins, only the Blood of the Lamb, but I trust that in due time the Lord will make it clear to me if such is His purpose.

The subtitles provided by my Bible: Charge of the Sacred Things (17:27-18:7), the Priests' Share of the Sacrifice (18:8-20), Tithes Due to Levites (18:21-24), Tithes Paid by the Levites (18:25-32), Ashes of the Red Heifer (19:1-10), Uses of the Ashes (19:11-22), Death of Miriam (20:1), Water Famine at Kadesh (20:2-6a), Sin of Moses & Aaron (20:6b-13), Edom's Refusal (20:14-21), Death of Aaron (20:22-29), Victory over Arad (21:1-3), the Bronze Serpent (21:4-9), Journey around Moab (21:10-20), Victory over Sihon (21:21-32), & Victory over Og (21:33-22:1).

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Today, 24 May is the feast of Saints Donatian & Rogatian, Martyrs (died circa 299), martyred under the emperor Diocletian: Martyr-link Delta, Martyr-link Romeo, & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the feast of Saint Simeon Stylites the Younger, Priest (521-597): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Not to be confused with St. Simeon Stylites the Elder (5 January): Wayback Machine.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
The First Letter of Peter, chapter one, verses ten thru sixteen;
Psalm Ninety-eight, verses one thru four;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter ten, verses twenty-eight thru thirty-one.

Personal Reading
The Book of Numbers, chapter twenty-two, verses two thru forty-one;
The Book of Numbers, chapter twenty-three (verses one thru thirty);
The Book of Numbers, chapter twenty-four (verses one thru twenty-five).

Commentary: Thus begins Part III: On the Plains of Moab. Balaam Summoned (22:2-14), Second Appeal to Balaam (22:15-21), the Talking Ass (22:22-40), the First Oracle (22:41-23:12), the Second Oracle (23:13-26), the Third Oracle (23:27-24:13), & the Fourth Oracle (24:14-25).