Saturday, July 1, 2017

Project BLACK MAMBA

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Junípero Serra, Priest, O.F.M. (1713-1784), the "Apostle of California:" Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Oliver Plunkett, Bishop & Martyr (1629-1681, A.K.A. Oileabhéar Pluincéad), martyred in the reign of the king Charles II, the last victim of the perjurer Titus Oates's fabricated "Popish Plot;" one of the Irish Martyrs: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link & Wikipedia-link Irish; & Wikipedia-link Plot.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Weekday
The Book of Genesis, chapter eighteen, verse one thru fifteen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verses forty-six & forty-seven, forty-eight & forty-nine, fifty & fifty-three, & fifty-four & fifty-five;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eight, verses five thru seventeen.

Commentary: Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, today in our Gospel Jesus praises the faith of a Roman centurion. How often the Bible compels us to meditate on the meaning of faith! We might say that the Scriptures rest upon faith and remain inspired at every turn by the spirit of faith.

One of the most fundamental statements of Christian faith is this: your life is not about you. This is not your project. Rather, you are part of God's great design. To believe this in your bones and to act accordingly is to have faith. When we operate out of this transformed vision, amazing things can happen, for we have surrendered to "a power already at work in us that can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine."

This is precisely what we see in the lives of the saints: Mother Teresa (5 September) moving into the worst slum in the world in an attitude of trust; Francis of Assisi (4 October) just abandoning everything and living for God; (Servant of God) Rose Hawthorn deciding to take cancer sufferers into her own home; Antony leaving everything behind and going into the desert; Maximilian Kolbe (14 August) saying, "I'm a Catholic priest; take me in his place." This is how faith transforms the Christian life.
Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Junípero Serra
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-two, verses seven thru ten;
Psalm One Hundred Ten, verse four(b);
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter sixteen, verses fifteen thru twenty.

Bible Study
Psalm One Hundred Six (verses one thru forty-eight);
Psalm Six (verses one thru eleven);
Psalm Seven (verses one thru eighteen);
Psalm Fifty-one (verses one thru twenty-one);
Psalm One Hundred Three (verses one thru twenty-two);
Psalm One Hundred Thirty-nine (verses one thru twenty-four)..

Commentary: Israel's Confession of Sin (Psalm 106), Prayer in Distress (Psalm 6), God the Vindicator (Psalm 7), The Miserere: Prayer of Repentance (Psalm 51), Praise of Divine Goodness (Psalm 103), & the All-knowing & Ever-present God (Psalm 139).

Bible Study—Saint Joseph Covenant Keepers
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter five, verses twenty-one, twenty-two, & thirty-eight thru forty-eight;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-one, verses twelve & thirteen;
The Letter to the Ephesians, chapter four, verses twenty-six & twenty-seven.

Commentary: Teaching about Anger (Matthew, 5:21-22), Teaching about Retaliation (5:38-42), Love of Enemies (5:43-48), the Cleaning of the Temple (21:12-13), & Rules for the New Life (Ephesians, 4:26-27).

Bible Study—The Bible Timeline: Egypt & Exodus, Part 1
The Book of Exodus, chapter sixteen (verses one thru thirty-six);
The Book of Exodus, chapter seventeen (verses one thru sixteen).

Commentary: The Desert of Sin (16:1-3), the Quail & Manna (16:4-15), Regulations Regarding the Manna (16:16-36), Water from the Rock (17:1-7), & Battle with Amalek (17:8-16).

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