Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Saints + Scripture

'Tis the festival of Saint Odran, Martyr (died circa 452), martyred defending Saint Patrick [17 March], whom he served as charioteer, from pagans: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Boniface of Brussels, Bishop, O.Cist. (1183-1260, A.K.A. of Lausanne), Bishop of Lausanne (1231-1239), a father of the First Council of Lyon (1245, the thirteenth [XIII] ecumenical council): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Lausanne & Wikipedia-link Lyon.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Conrad of Piacenza, Hermit, T.O.S.F. (circa 1284-1351; A.K.A. Corrado Confalonieri, of Noto): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Álvaro of Córdoba, Priest, O.P. (circa 1350-1430, also spelt Alvarez, Albaro): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Elisabetta of Mantua, O.S.M. (1428-1468, A.K.A. Elisabetta Batholomea Picenardi): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed John Sullivan, Priest, S.J. (1861-1933): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
The Letter of James, chapter one, verses nineteen thru twenty-seven;
Psalm Fifteen (R/. one[b]), verses two & three(a), three(b/c) & four(a/b), & five;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter eight, verses twenty-two thru twenty-six.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, after Jesus heals the blind man in today’s Gospel, he tells him, "Do not even go into the village."

Now, blindness is a biblical image for lack of spiritual sight, the inability to see things as they are. One of the effects of the fall was a loss of holiness—seeing with the eyes of Christ, appreciating the world as a participation in the creative energy of God. All of us sinners, to varying degrees, are blind to this metaphysics of creation and tend to see the world from the standpoint of the self-elevating ego.

One of the origins of this spiritual debility is too much time in the village. Jesus the healer and judge has to lead us blind people out of the city and give us sight—and then strictly enjoin us not to return to the blinding ways of the village.

We unfortunate village dwellers must, through the power of Christ, put on the mind of Christ. And then we must live in a new town, the community of love and justice that is the Church. It is this city of vision that effectively challenges (and judges) the enduring power of the blinding society.
Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D. (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.


Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 38
The Book of Exodus, chapter fifteen, verses twenty-two thru twenty-seven.

Commentary: Bitter Water Is Made Sweet (Exodus, 15:22-27).

Papal Quote o' the Day
"There is a higher wisdom: a wisdom that reveals the true meaning of our human weakness & our pain. That wisdom is revealed in Christ. He knows what it is to suffer; He experienced it on the road to Calvary."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast: 22 October)
Saint Quote o' the Day
"At the [Second] Vatican Council, there was the discussion about the world. I remember one of the bishops from Belgium arose & made the proper distinction between the two uses of the word 'world' in scripture. The word 'world' can mean the theater of the redemption, & in that sense it is good: 'God so loved the world.' But the world also means a spirit, an organization without God. So our Lord said, 'I have taken you out of the world. Therefore the world will hate you.' 'I pray not for the world,' He said. But there was a confusion. And the result is that today we have lost many of our faithful & our priests & our sisters, not because of Christological heresy, nor because of persecution. The Lord has been very good to us; the only test He gave us was: 'Will you become secular, will you leave?"
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)
Catholic Quote o' the Day
"Jesus often expressed deep emotion, compassion, sorrow, frustration, & even righteous anger. So we should never be afraid to reveal our true feelings to Him. He understands human emotions, because He experienced them."
—Matthew Arnold (fl. 2020)

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