Project BLACK MAMBA: Late Edition

'Tis the Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi, Deacon, O.F.M. (circa 1181-1226), founder of the Franciscans, composed of the Order of Friars Minor (formerly Observant), the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, & the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin; the Poor Clares, formally the Order of Saint Clare; the Secular Franciscan Order, historically the Third Order of Saint Francis; & the Custody of the Holy Land; there are even, improbably & hypocritically, Protestant Franciscans: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link O.F.M., Wikipedia-link O.F.M. Conv., & Wikipedia-link O.F.M. Cap.; Wikipedia-link O.S.C.; Wikipedia-link O.F.S. & Wikipedia-link T.O.S.F.; Wikipedia-link Custody; & Wikipedia-link Protestants.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

St. Francis of Assisi abandoned a life of luxury for a life devoted to Christianity after reportedly hearing the voice of God, who commanded him to rebuild the Christian church & live in poverty. He is the patron saint of animals & the environment.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Hierotheos, Bishop (floruit first century, A.K.A. the Thesmothete): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Domnina, Berenice, & Prosdoce, Martyrs (died circa 303), martyred in the reign of the emperors Diocletian & Maximian: Martyr-link Delta, Martyr-link Bravo, Martyr-link Papa, & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Ammon, Hermit (circa 286-348, A.K.A. the Great; also spelt Amun), founder of the monasteries at Kellia, Nitria, & Scetis: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Kellia, Wikipedia-link Nitria, & Wikipedia-link Scetis.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feria
The Book of Nehemiah, chapter two, verses one thru eight;
Psalm One Hundred Thirty-seven, verses one & two, three, four & five, & six;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter nine, verses fifty-seven thru sixty-two.

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

Friends, our Gospel for today is an especially good exemplification of the principle of detachment. When Jesus is the unambiguous center of your life, then everything else finds its place around him, in relation to him. And anything that would assert itself and take his position must be resisted wholeheartedly as an idol and a temptation.

We watch as Jesus clarifies for his disciples how a number of worldly goods fall away, once he is recognized as Lord. I want to look closely at one of these. As Jesus makes his way to Jerusalem, a man approaches him and says, "I will follow you wherever you go". And Jesus makes the laconic remark, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head". One of the things, quite naturally, that we savor is home, a place to stay, a nest, a man-cave. There is just something uniquely awful about being displaced, about starting all over. We all want a place to lay our heads.

But if Jesus is first in our lives, then we cannot absolutize this good thing. We have to be willing to follow him wherever he wants us to go.

Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi
The Letter to the Galatians, chapter six, verses fourteen thru eighteen;
Psalm Sixteen, verse five(a);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eleven, verses twenty-five thru thirty.

†

Bible Study—Proverbs in a Month
The Book of Proverbs, chapter four (verses one thru twenty-seven).

Commentary: Wisdom: the Supreme Guide of Men (4:1-9) & The Good & the Evil Way (4:10-27).