Monday, May 15, 2017

Project BLACK MAMBA: Eastertide

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Isidore the Farmer, Confessor (circa 1070-1130), husband of Bl. María de la Cabeza: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed María de la Cabeza, Confessor (died 1175, meaning "of the Head;" A.K.A. Maria Torriba), wife of St. Isidore the Farmer: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saints Bertha & Rupert of Bingen, Pilgrims (died circa 757 & 712-732), mother & son: Saint-link Bravo & Wikipedia-link Bravo, Saint-link Romeo & Wikipedia-link Romeo.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Easter Weekday
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter fourteen, verses five thru eighteen;
Psalm One Hundred Fifteen, one & two, three & four, & fifteen & sixteen;
The Gospel according to John, chapter fourteen, verses twenty-one thru twenty-six.

Commentary: Easter Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit to inspire, strengthen, and defend his followers. Speaking to his disciples the night before he dies, Jesus tells them that he and his Father will send another Parakletos. The word, from kaleo (to call) and para (for, or on behalf of) designates something like an advocate, a lawyer, someone who would plead on behalf of another, who would support, advocate, and encourage.

Jesus will depart physically from the scene, but he and his Father will send their Spirit as a friend. This is the supporter, the advocate who will inspire Christians up and down the ages.

When the martyrs went to their deaths, it was with the help of the Holy Spirit; when the missionaries went to proclaim the faith in hostile lands, it was the Holy Spirit who pleaded on their behalf; when Michelangelo painted the Sistine Ceiling, it was the Holy Spirit who lifted him up; when Thomas Aquinas wrote his theological masterpieces, it was at the prompting of the Advocate. What is the Advocate prompting you to do today?
Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Isidore
The Book of Revelation, chapter nineteen, verses one & five thru nine(a);
Psalm One Hundred Three, verses one;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eleven, verses twenty-five thru thirty.

Bible Study
Commentary: I am leading a new Bible study beginning this evening, The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation, part of the Great Adventure series from Jeff Cavins & Ascension Press. So, that will pretty much be dominating & directing my individual scriptural reading for the next little while.

Bonus! Song of the Day
Patrick Doyle & the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, "Non Nobis, Domine" via YouTube (from Henry V) (The Last Angry Man)

Commentary: "Non Nobis, Domine" is a new composition by Doyle for Kenneth Branagh's 1989 film Henry V, differing from the traditional hymn "Non nobis," but likewise based on Psalm 115 (today's psalm, & thus the selection). The song is sung in a most poignant scene following the climactic Battle of Agincourt: YouTube-link.

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