Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Project BLACK MAMBA

'Tis the festival of Saint Gregory of Nyssa, Bishop (circa 333-398), the "Father of the Fathers," one of the three Cappadocian Fathers, who attended the First Council of Constantinople (381) which amended & reaffirmed the Nicene Creed: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Cappadocian Fathers; & Wikipedia-link Council & Wikipedia-link Creed.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. St. Gregory was the son of Ss. Basil the Elder & Emmelia (30 May), grandson of St. Macrina the Elder (14 January), & brother of Ss. Macrina the Younger (19 July), Naucratius (?), Basil the Great (2 January), & Peter of Sebaste (9 January).

'Tis also the festival of Saint Agatho, Pope (died 681), seventy-ninth Bishop of Rome, who assented to the Third Council of Constantinople (680-681): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff; & Wikipedia-link Council.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Gregory X, Pope (circa 1210-1276, A.K.A. Teobaldo Visconti), one hundred eighty-fourth Bishop of Rome, who convoked the Second Council of Lyon (1274): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff; & Wikipedia-link Council.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feria
The First Book of Samuel, chapter three, verses one thru ten, nineteen, & twenty;
Psalm Forty, verses two & five, seven & eight(a), eight(b) & nine, & ten;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter one, verses twenty-nine thru thirty-nine.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in the Gospel of Mark today, we see Jesus in action. We are reading from the section of Mark’s first chapter that gives us a sort of "day in the life" of Jesus. And it is quite a day! Our Gospel opens just after the dramatic expulsion of a demon in the Capernaum synagogue. After entering the house of Simon, Jesus cures Peter’s mother-in-law.

Notice that he takes her by the hand and brings her to her feet so that she can be of service. What does sickness do to us? It draws us in around ourselves. Once she is cured, Simon’s mother-in-law commences to serve, to be for the other. Then the entire town comes to his door. He spends the whole evening curing presumably hundreds who were variously afflicted.

Mark presents Jesus as a healer,
soter, which just means "the bearer of the salus" or health. In him, divinity and humanity have come together; in him, the divine life and divine power are breaking through. God’s deepest intentions appear—what God plans for us in the kingdom to come is now historically anticipated.
Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.



Bible Study—Pauline Letters
The Letter to the Romans, chapter nine (verses one thru thirty-three);
The Letter to the Romans, chapter ten (verses one thru twenty-one).

Commentary: God's Election of Israel (Romans, 9:1-18), God's Wrath & Mercy (9:19-29), Israel's Unbelief (9:30-10:4), & Salvation Is for All (10:5-21).

Saint Quote o' the Day
From "Heroes' Words" in 54-Day Basic Training in Holiness by Father Richard Heilman:
"Be kind to all & severe to thyself."
—St. Teresa of Ávila, Doctor of the Church (1515-1582, feast day: 15 October)
A Humble Contribution to the New Evangelization
The Popish Plot—Wordy Wednesday: "Rebuilt, or Making Inviting Parishes"

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