Project BLACK MAMBA, Late Edition

'Tis the festival of Saint Isfael, Bishop (sixth century, Anglicized—incorrectly—as Ishmael): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Lutgardis of Aywières, Abbess, O.Cist. (1182-1246, A.K.A. of the Sacred Heart): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Weekday
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter four, verses seven thru fifteen;
Psalm One Hundred Sixteen, verses ten & eleven, fifteen & sixteen, & seventeen & eighteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter five, verses twenty-seven thru thirty-two.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus exposes the root problems behind sexual sin. Jesus says, “You have heard it said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” The act is certainly bad, of course. Its’ grounded in a dysfunctional attitude, a basic misperception, a compromise of the soul. In order to be aligned to the God who is nothing but love, these underlying problems need to be addressed.

Time and again, we hear that the church’s moral demands—especially in the sexual arena—are too stringent, that the church ought to conform itself with societal expectations, that huge pluralities of Catholics themselves want to lighten the load. What do these data prove? Well, nothing really, except that the Catholic moral teaching is difficult. But so what? To dial down our moral ideals is to compromise the Church’s whole purpose. Jesus didn’t dial down the demands of love, and neither does his Church.

Bible Study
The Book of Genesis, chapter twenty-five (verses one thru thirty-four);
The Book of Genesis, chapter twenty-seven, verse forty-six;
The Book of Genesis, chapter twenty-eight (verses one thru twenty-two);
The Book of Genesis, chapter twenty-nine (verses one thru thirty-five);
The Book of Genesis, chapter thirty-two (verses one thru thirty-three).

Commentary: Abraham's Sons by Keturah (25:1-6), Death of Abraham (25:7-11), Descendants of Ishmael (25:12-18), III. The Patriarchs Isaac & Jacob: Birth of Esau & Jacob (25:19-34), Jacob Sent to Laban (27:46-28:9), Arrival at Haran (29:1-14a), Marriage to Leah & Rachel (29:14b-30), Jacob's Children (29:31-35), Embassy to Esau (32:4-22), & Struggle with the Angel (32:23-33).