Monday, August 10, 2020

Saints + Scripture: Feast of Saint Lawrence

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Popish Plot
"St. Lawrence: Patron of BBQ & Other Odd Choices in Patron Saints"


Commentary: Wayback Machine.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feast of Saint Lawrence
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter nine, verses six thru ten;
Psalm One Hundred Twelve (R/. five), verses one & two, five & six, seven & eight, & nine;
The Gospel according to John, chapter twelve, verses twenty-four, twenty-five, & twenty-six.

Commentary: Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in today’s Gospel, just after announcing that he was about to be glorified on the cross, Jesus declares: "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit."

A seed can exist for a long time—they have found seeds in the tombs of the Pharaohs. But unless they fall into the soil and crack open, nothing further comes of them. Their life is inside, but it’s a life that grows by being given away and mixing with the soil around it. Paradoxically, when you look at a great tree, you simultaneously see none of the original seed, and you see nothing but the original seed, now flourishing.

What does the prince of this world, the devil, tell us? Hang on to yourself. Aggrandize yourself. Stay safe, protected. But Jesus has come to throw out that prince, that principle. He proposes himself as the new prince. His sign is the sign of the cross. The death that leads to transfiguration: "Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.
Video reflection by Monsignor James Vlaun (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

Video reflection by Curtis Mitch (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Daily Reflection.


Scripture Study—Pierced Hands Bible Reading Plan: Day 5
The Book of Genesis, chapter six (verses one thru twenty-two);
The Book of Genesis, chapter seven (verses one thru twenty-four);
The Book of Genesis, chapter eight (verses one thru twenty-two);
Psalm Five (verses one thru twelve);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter three (verses one thru seventeen).

Commentary: The Wickedness of Mankind (Genesis, 6:1-10), Noah Makes the Ark as God Commands (Genesis, 6:11-22), the Great Flood (Genesis, 7:1-24), the Flood Subsides (Genesis, 8:1-19), & God's Promise to Noah (Genesis, 8:20-22); Trust in Go for Deliverance from Enemies (Psalm 5); & the Preaching of John the Baptist (Matthew, 3:1-12) & the Baptism of Jesus (Matthew, 3:13-17).

Scripture Study—Pierced Hands Bible Reading Plan: Day 6
The Book of Genesis, chapter nine (verses one thru twenty-eight);
The Book of Genesis, chapter ten (verses one thru thirty-two);
The Book of Genesis, chapter eleven, verses one thru twenty-six;
Psalm Six (verses one thru ten);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter four, verses one thru seventeen.

Commentary: The Covenant with Noah (Genesis, 9:1-17), Noah & His Sons (Genesis, 9:18-28), Nations Descended from Noah (Genesis, 10:1-32), the Tower of Babel (Genesis, 11:1-9), & the Descendants of Shem (Genesis, 11:10-26); Pray for Recovery from Grave Illness (Psalm 6); & the Temptation of Jesus (Matthew, 4:1-11) & Jesus Begins Preaching in Galilee (Matthew, 4:12-17).

Scripture Study—Day 91: Decapitation Rock, Day 8
The Second Book of Samuel, chapter fifteen, verses seven thru twelve.

Commentary: Absalom Usurps the Throne (cont'd; 2 Samuel, 15:7-12).

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