Project BLACK MAMBA

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Ephrem, Deacon & Doctor of the Church (circa 306-373, the Syrian), the "Harp of the Holy Spirit:" Doctor-link ūnus, Doctor-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

St. Ephrem was born of a Chrstian family at Nisibis around the year 306. Ordained a deacon, he exercised this office throughout the country & in Edessa, where he founded a theological school. Despite his ascetic life he did not relax his ministries of preaching & writing books to confute the errors of the time. St. Ephream also wrote many hymns & poetry. For that reason he is called the harp of the Holy Spirit. He died in 373.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Robert Salt, Martyr, O.Cart. (died 1537), martyred in the reign of the king Henry VIII, one of the Carthusian Martyrs of London: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link (list); Wikipedia-link Charterhouse.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Weekday
The Book of Tobit, chapter eleven, verses five thru seventeen;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-six, verses one(b) & two, six(c) & seven, eight & nine(a), & nine(b,c) & ten;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter twelve, verses thirty-five, thirty-six, & thirty-seven.

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

Friends, in our Gospel today, Jesus quotes a psalm where David calls him Lord. It calls to mind a question: do you also recognize Jesus as Lord? Is Christ commanding your life in every detail? Is he the Lord of your family life? Of your recreational life? Of your professional life? Is the Lord of every room in your house, including the bedroom? Does your sexuality belong to him? Do your friendships serve his purpose? Are you totally given over to him, under his lordship?

When we surrender to the path of love which he has laid out for us, our lives become infinitely lighter, easier, and more joyful, for we are moving with the divine purpose. You will have moved out of what Paul calls “the way of the flesh” and will have moved into the “way of the spirit.”

Flesh refers here, not to the body as such, but to sin. When you are caught up in patterns of self-regard and self-protection, life becomes a burden, and you find yourself taking up the weapons of war all the time. But when you recognize Jesus as Lord, you can let all of that go.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Ephrem
The Letter to the Colossians, chapter three, verses twelve thru seventeen;
Psalm Thirty-seven, verse thirty(a);
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter six, verses forty-three, forty-four, & forty-five.