Project BLACK MAMBA

'Tis the festival of Saint Anastasius the Fuller, Martyr (died circa 304), martyred in the reign of the emperors Diocletian & Maximian: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Great Persecution.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Tilbeorht, Bishop (died 789, of Hexham; modernized as Tilbert): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Giovanni of Lodi, Bishop, O.S.B. Cam. (1025-1106, Anglicized as John): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saints Melchior Grodziecki, S.J.; Marko Križevčanin; & István Pongrácz, S.J., Priests & Martyrs (died 1619, A.K.A. Grodecký, A.K.A. Marek Križin, A.K.A. Štefan Pongrác), martyred by the Calvinist prince György Rákóczi: Martyr-link Mike Golf & Wikipedia-link Mike Golf, Martyr-link Mike Kilo & Wikipedia-link Mike Kilo, & Martyr-link India Papa & Wikipedia-link India Papa.

'Tis also the festival of Blesseds Ralph Corbie, S.J., & John Duckett, Priests & Martyrs (died 1644), martyred by "Roundheads" (Parliamentarians) during the English Civil War: Martyr-link Romeo Charlie & Wikipedia-link Romeo Charlie, Martyr-link Juliett Delta & Wikipedia-link Juliett Delta.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feria
The Letter to the Colossians, chapter one, verses nine thru fourteen;
Psalm Ninety-eight, verses two & three(a,b), three(c,d) & four, & five & six;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter five, verses one thru eleven.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today's Gospel gives us the story of the miraculous draught of fishes. In many ways, the whole of the spiritual life can be read off of this piece.

Without being invited, Jesus simply gets into the fisherman's boat. This is to insinuate himself in the most direct way into Simon's life. And without further ado, he begins to give orders, first asking Simon to put out from the shore and then to go out into the deep. This represents the invasion of grace. The single most important decision that you will ever make is this: Will you cooperate with Jesus once he decides to get into your boat?

In many ways, everything else in your life is secondary, is commentary. When the Lord Jesus Christ gets into your boat, he will always lead you to the depths. Duc in altum, as St. John Paul II loved to quote. More dangerous? Yes. More exciting? Yes.

Now mind you, the depths we're talking about here are spiritual depths. The excitement we're talking about is the true excitement that comes from spiritual transformation. The depths have nothing to do with what the world considers important or exciting.

Duc in altum means, "put out into the deep." As He said to St. Peter, so He says to us.

Video reflection by Father Don Miller, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Bible Study—The Bible Timeline: Divided Kingdom, Part 2 of 2
The Second Book of Kings, chapter eighteen (verses one thru thirty-seven)
The Second Book of Kings, chapter nineteen (verses one thru thirty-seven);
The Second Book of Kings, chapter twenty (verses one thru twenty-one);
The Second Book of Kings, chapter twenty-one (verses one thru twenty-six);
The Second Book of Kings, chapter twenty-two (verses one thru twenty);
The Second Book of Kings, chapter twenty-three (verses one thru thirty-seven);
The Second Book of Kings, chapter twenty-four (verses one thru twenty);
The Second Book of Kings, chapter twenty-five (of twenty-five, verses one thru thirty).

Commentary: V. The Kingdom of Judah after 721 B.C.: Hezekiah (18:1-12), Invasion of Sennacherib (18:13-37), Hezekiah & Isaiah (19:1-19), Punishment of Sennacherib (19:20-37), Hezekiah's Illness (20:1-21), Reign of Manasseh (21:1-18), Reign of Amon (21:19-26), Reign of Josiah (22:1-7), the Book of the Law (22:8-23:30), Reign of Jehoahaz (23:31-35), Reign of Jehoiakim (23:36-24:7), Reign of Jehoiachin (24:8-17), Reign of Zedekiah (24:18-25:21), Governorship of Gedaliah (25:22-26), & Release of Jehoiachin (25:27-30).