Thursday, April 20, 2017

Project BLACK MAMBA: Thursday / Octave of Easter

'Tis the Thursday within the Octave of Easter: Octave-link.

Otherwise, 20 April would be the festival of Saint Cædwalla, Confessor (circa 658-689), King of Wessex: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Agnes of Montepulciano, Abbess, O.P. (1268-1317): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twould also be the festival of Blesseds James Bell, Priest, & John Finch, Martyrs (died 1584), martyred in the reign of the queen Elizabeth I: Martyr-link Juliett Bravo & Wikipedia-link Juliett Bravo, Martyr-link Juliett Foxtrot & Wikipedia-link Juliett Foxtrot.

'Twould also be the festival of Blesseds Richard Sergeant & William Thomson, Priests & Martyrs (died 1586), martyred in the reign of the queen Elizabeth I, two of the Eight-five Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link Romeo Sierra & Wikipedia-link, & Martyr-link Whiskey Tango; Wikipedia-link LXXXV.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter three, verses eleven thru twenty-six;
Psalm Eight, verses two(a,b) & five, six & seven, & eight & nine;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twenty-four, verses thirty-five thru forty-eight.

Commentary: Easter Gospel reflection by the Most Reverend Robert Barron, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles & founder of Word on Fire:
Friends, in today’s Gospel, the Risen Jesus appears to his eleven disciples. Understandably terrified, they thought they were seeing a ghost. But Jesus is quick to disabuse them of this notion: “Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.”

While they were still amazed and incredulous for joy, he stunned them further, saying, “Have you anything here to eat?” With that, they gave him a piece of baked fish, which he ate in their presence. The bodily resurrection of Jesus—as the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep—is the great sign that heaven and earth are coming together. A body, which can be touched and which can consume baked fish has found its way into the realm of heaven.

What does this mean? That bodies are not finally alien to God. We have indeed an Advocate in the heavenly places. Were the Resurrection a convenient story or a clever myth, the two realms of heaven and earth would be as separate as ever.

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