Thursday, May 18, 2017

Project BLACK MAMBA: Eastertide

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint John I, Pope & Martyr (circa 470-526), fifty-third Bishop of Rome, martyred in the reign of the king Theoderic the Great: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Oddly, the Holy Redeemer bulletin lists today as St. John I's feast day, but says nothing of his life. I suspect there simply wasn't room, what will all the space occupied by the looming parish festival. A shame, that, but c'est la vie!

'Tis also the festival of Saint Eric of Sweden, Martyr (circa 1120-1161, A.K.A. King Eric IX), martyred bat the hands of pagan Swedish rebels: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Felix of Cantalice, Religious, O.F.M. Cap. (1515-1587): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Easter Weekday
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter fifteen, verses seven thru twenty-one;
Psalm Ninety-six, verses one & two(a), two(b) & three, & ten;
The Gospel according to John, chapter fifteen, verses nine thru eleven.

Commentary: Easter Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, the two most important words in our Gospel today are joy and commandments. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete.” And “If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love.” These are not terms that we would readily juxtapose. We usually associate commandments with the carrying out of duty and responsibility, or with moral rectitude, and that normally seems opposed to joy.

However, in Thomas Aquinas’s treatment of human behavior, the first question raised is not about law or virtue, but rather joy. Thomas wonders what the nature of true happiness is. What all of us seek, whether we are young or old, Christian or non-Christian, male or female, rich or poor, is joy.

The whole point of the moral life is to make us happy. So how do we become happy? Thomas’s answer, which is in line with the great tradition, is through the proper ordering of one’s desire, through learning how to desire the right things and in the right way. And that’s precisely what Jesus commands us to do.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. John I
The Book of Revelation, chapter three, verses fourteen(b), twenty, twenty-one, & twenty-two;
Psalm Twenty-three, verse one;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twenty-two, verses twenty-four through thirty.

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