Project BLACK MAMBA: Eastertide

'Tis the festival of Saint Brendan the Navigator, Priest & Abbot (circa 684-577, of Clonfert): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. I thought a little whimsy about the fantastic Voyage of Saint Brendan appropriate, perhaps even necessary, in light of the rest of today's saints, priests all, having received the Red Crown of martyrdom. All Christians must suffer, as Christ suffered, but suffering is not all there is to the Christian life. As Belloc said:

"Wherever the Catholic sun does shine,
There's always laughter & good red wine."

'Tis also the festival of Saint John of Nepomuk, Priest & Martyr (circa 1340-1393, A.K.A. John Nepomucene), martyred in the reign of the king Wenceslaus IV: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Andrzej Bobola, Priest & Martyr, S.J. (1591-1657), martyred in the reign of the Cossack hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Vladimir Ghika, Priest & Martyr (1873-1954), martyred in the reign of the general secretary Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Easter Weekday
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter fourteen, verses nineteen thru twenty-eight;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-five, verses ten & eleven, twelve & thirteen(a,b), & twenty-one;
The Gospel according to John, chapter fourteen, verses twenty-seven thru thirty-one(a).

Commentary: Easter Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us an antidote for fear. Whom or what are you afraid of? That is a very important spiritual question. One way to understand our life is to look at those things that we seek: wealth, power, privilege, honor, pleasure, friendship. But another way is to turn that question around and determine what or who it is that we fear.

We might fear the loss of material things, the loss of a job, the loss of physical health, the loss of the esteem of others, the loss of personal intimacy, and ultimately, the loss of life itself. We are afraid of many things, but I’d be willing to bet that there is a primary or principal fear. What is it for you?

Now after identifying that, listen to Jesus: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” Any and all of the things that we customarily fear—loss of money, fame, pleasure, and power—have to do with this world. What Jesus is saying is that we should not let those fears come to dominate or define our lives, for he is with us—and with him, his peace.

Bible Study
The Book of Genesis, chapter one (verses one thru thirty-one);
The Book of Genesis, chapter two (verses one thru twenty-five);
The Book of Genesis, chapter three (verses one thru twenty-four);
The Gospel according to John, chapter one, verses one thru fourteen;

Commentary: I. The Primeval History: The First Story of Creation (Genesis, 1:1-2:4a), the Second Story of Creation (2:4b-25), & the Fall of Man (3:1-24); I. Prologue (John, 1:1-14)