Project BLACK MAMBA

'Tis the feast of Saint Genebald, Bishop (died circa 555): Saint-link ūnus & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the feast of Saint Bertin, Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 615-709): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the feast of Saint Teresa of Kolkata, M.C. (1910-1997, A.K.A. Mother Teresa), foundress of the Missionaries of Charity: Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duae, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link M.C.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. This time last year, our sister in heaven was known as Blessed Teresa of Kolkata; Mother Teresa was canonized by Pope Francis just yesterday, 4 September 2016. Here is an interesting critique of St. Teresa's critics, from Father James Martin, S.J.: America-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
Weekday
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter five, verses one thru eight;
Psalm Five, verses five, six, seven, & twelve;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter six, verses six thru eleven;

or, for Labor Day (suggested from many options):
The Book of Genesis, chapter one, verse twenty-six thru chapter two, verse three;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-seven, verse one;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter six, verses thirty-one thru thirty-four.

Personal Reading
The First Book of Samuel, chapter nine (verses one thru twenty-seven);
The First Book of Samuel, chapter ten (verses one thru twenty-seven);
The Book of Sirach (A.K.A. Ecclesiasticus), chapter fifteen, verses eleven thru twenty.

Commentary: The Lost Asses (1 Samuel, 9:3-10), Request for Samuel's Aid (9:11-13), Samuel's Revelation about Saul (9:14-26a), Saul's Anointing (9:26b-10:8), Fulfillment of the Signs (10:9-13), Silence about the Kingship (10:14-16), & Saul Chosen by Lot (10:17-27); Man's Free Will (Sirach, 15:11-20).

I've never read the majority of the Old Testament (I grew up Catholic, after all), but I still know how Saul's story ends, how the whole Israelite monarchy ends. I feel vaguely guilty that I'm not even giving Saul a chance to succeed, even though I know this is ridiculous, since he failed thousands of years ago. Saul lost the kingship because of his disobedience to God; he had the chance to serve the Lord & yet to chose to serve himself, to fancy his own wisdom greater than the Lord's; I should no more pity him than I should pity Satan, Goliath, Pharaoh, Haman, Sisera, Alexander the coppersmith, Caiaphas, or any other enemy pf truth & light. (Cue The Rolling Stones, "Sympathy for the Devil.") Yet, I almost want to warn Saul, to urge him to fidelity. I don't have a coherent argument to make, I haven't drawn any useful moral lesson from this, I'm just ranting.