Monday, December 4, 2017

Project BLACK MAMBA: Advent

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint John Damascene, Priest & Doctor of the Church (circa 676-749, A.K.A. John Chrysorrhoas), who fought against the heresy of Byzantine iconoclasm: Doctor-link ūnus, Doctor-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Iconoclasm.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
Author of three Apostolic Treatises against Those Decrying the Holy Images. These treatises were among his earliest expositions in response to the edict by the Byzantine emperor Leo III, banning the veneration or exhibition of holy images.
"Damascene" is not St. John's surname but a toponym, meaning "of Damascus." (In the Canadas, this optional memorial is of St. John Damascus, not "Damascene" nor even "of Damascus," but simply "Damascus.") "Chrysorrhoas" is likewise not a surname, but an epithet, meaning "golden-stream," referring to his eloquent words, which flowed from his pen like a golden stream.

St. John was born in Damascus after the Muslim conquest of that ancient Christian city. Islam forbids all religious icons of any sort; ironically, it was this Muslim reign that shielded St. John from the iconoclastic heresies rampant in the Christian Byzantine Empire, & afforded him the protection necessary to write his treatises defending the proper veneration of images in the true religion.


'Tis also the festival of Saint Barbara, Virgin & Martyr (died circa 235), martyred in the reign of the emperor Maximinus Thrax, one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link XIV.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Adolph Kolping, Priest (1813-1865), the "Father of All Apprentices" & "Apostle of the Working Man," founder of the International Kolping Society: Blessed-link ūnus, Blessed-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Kolping-link.

Commentary: I've amended the First Sunday of Advent's (yesterday's) BLACK MAMBA post to include those saints who would normally be honored on 3 December: Wayback Machine.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Advent Weekday
The Book of Isaiah, chapter two, verses one thru five;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-two, verses one & two, three & four(b), four(c/d) & five, six & seven, & eight & nine;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eight, verses five thru eleven.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, today’s Gospel passage acclaims a centurion’s trust in the Lord Jesus. To trust is to have hope, to turn one’s heart to God. It means to root one’s life, to ground and center one’s concerns in God. And, oppositely, to trust and to turn one’s heart to human beings means to root the whole of one’s life, to ground and center one’s concerns, in the things of this world, in wealth, fame, power, honor, or pleasure.

What is the center of gravity of your life? What is your "ultimate concern’"? The Bible consistently lays this out as an either/or. Think of the passage in the book of Joshua, when Joshua lays it on the line for the people of Israel: "Do you serve the Lord or some other gods?"

Jesus tells his followers, "Either you are with me or you are against me." Today’s Gospel reminds us that we each have to answer this question with great honesty and clarity.
Video reflection by Monsignor James Vlaun (Telecare T.V.): U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.


Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. John Damascene
The Second Letter to Timothy, chapter one, verses thirteen & four & chapter two, verses one, two, & three;
Psalm Nineteen, verse ten;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-five, verses fourteen thru thirty
(or, the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-five, verses fourteen thru twenty-three).

Saint Quote o' the Day
"The Good News is that God still loves the world through you. You are God's Good News. You are God's love in action. Each time anyone comes in contact with us, they must become different and better people because of having met us. We must radiate God's love."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta (5 September)

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