'Tis also the festival of Saint Jeanne Jugan, Religious, L.S.P. (1792-1879, A.K.A. Mary of the Cross), foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor: Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duae, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link L.S.P.
Commentary: Wayback Machine.
'Tis also the festival of Blessed Esțfān Nehmé, Religious, O.L.M. (1889-1938, Anglicized as Stephen Nehmé): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.
Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feria
The First Letter to the Thessalonians, chapter two, verses nine thru thirteen;
Psalm One Hundred Thirty-nine, verses seven & eight, nine& ten, & eleven & twelve(a,b);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-three, verses twenty-seven thru thirty-two.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in today's Gospel Jesus launches a blistering attack on the scribes and Pharisees. What are the underlying problems that bother Jesus?Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
First, "They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people's shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to help them." Some religious leaders burden people, making demands that are terrible, exulting in their own moral superiority.
Secondly, "All their works are performed to be seen." They use the law and morality as a means of inflating the ego. A pious Jew would wear Phylacteries as a sign of devotion. Well, they think, why not widen them, draw attention to them to show people how pious they are.
Third, "They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces and the salutation, 'Rabbi.'" Titles, privileges, places of honor, marks of respect. Like any drug, these provide a rush. The trouble is that this drug wears off rather quickly, and then we want more of it. A greater title, more respect, more recognition. What is Jesus' recommendation for those caught in this dilemma? Be satisfied with doing your work on behalf of God's kingdom, whatever it is.
God's Comic
Eye of the Tiber lampoons the un-Christian lack of charity at the Lakewood Church & the heresy of the Prosperity Gospel, "Joel Osteen Vigorously Attempting to Shove Camel through Eye of Needle": Tiber-link.
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