Project BLACK MAMBA, Late Edition

'Tis the festival of Saint Adalbert of Magdeburg, Bishop & Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 910-981), the "Apostle to the Slavs:" Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Dermot O'Hurley, Bishop & Martyr (circa 1530-1584), martyred in the reign of the queen Elizabeth I, one of the Irish Martyrs: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link & Wikipedia-link Irish.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Blesseds John Fenwick, John Gavan, William Harcourt, Anthony Turner, & Thomas Whitbread; Priests & Martyrs, S.J. (died 1679); martyred in the reign of the king Charles II; victims of the perjurer Titus Oates's fabricated "Popish Plot:" Martyr-link Juliett Foxtrot & Wikipedia-link Juliett Foxtrot, Martyr-link Juliett Golf & Wikipedia-link Juliett Golf, Martyr-link Whiskey Hotel & Wikipedia-link Whiskey Hotel, Martyr-link Alpha Tango & Wikipedia-link Alpha Tango, & Martyr-link Tango Whiskey & Wikipedia-link Tango Whiskey.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Weekday
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter eight, verses one thru nine;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-six, verses two, five & six(a,b), six(c) & seven, & eight & nine(a);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter five, verses forty-three thru forty-eight.

Commentary: Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today’s Gospel tells us to love our enemies so that we may be like the Father. What is the Father of Jesus Christ like? Well, listen: “He makes his sun to rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.” The Father of Jesus Christ is love, right through. That’s all God is; that’s all he knows how to do. He is not like us: unstable, changing, moving from one attitude to another. No, God simply is love.

In every case, his grace comes first, and grace is all that he has to give. This is why the comparison to the sun and the rain is so apt. The sun doesn’t ask who deserves its warmth or its light before it shines. It just shines, and both good and bad people receive it. Neither does the rain inquire as to the moral rectitude of those upon whom it showers its life-giving goodness. It just pours—and both just and unjust people receive it.

Bible Study—The Bible Timeline: Egypt & Exodus, Part 1
The Book of Exodus, chapter one (verses one thru twenty-two);
The Book of Exodus, chapter two (verses one thru twenty-five);
The Book of Exodus, chapter three (verses one thru twenty-two);
The Book of Exodus, chapter four (verses one thru thirty-one);
The Book of Exodus, chapter five (verses one thru twenty-three);
The Book of Exodus, chapter six, verses one thru twenty-seven.

Commentary: Jacob's Descendants in Egypt (1:1-7), the Oppression (1:8-14), Command to the Midwives (1:15-22), Birth & Adoption of Moses (2:1-10), Moses's Flight to Midian (2:11-22), the Burning Bush (2:23-3:3), the Call to Moses (3:4-22), Confirmation of Moses's Mission (4:1-9), Aaron's Office as Assistant (4:10-17), Moses's Return to Egypt (4:18-31), Pharaoh's Obduracy (5:1-13), Complaint of the Foremen (5:14-21), Renewal of God's Promise (5:22-6:13), & Genealogy of Moses & Aaron (6:14-27).