Project BLACK MAMBA

'Tis the festival of Saint Dionysius the Areopagite, Bishop & Martyr (died circa 95, of Athens; A.K.A. Denis), martyred in the reign of the emperor Domitian: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Cyprian of Toulon, Bishop (476-546): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saints Ewald the Black & Ewald the Fair, Priests & Martyrs (died circa 692, also spelt Hewald), martyred by pagan Saxons: Martyr-link Black, Martyr-link Fair, & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Theodora Guérin, Religious, S.P. (1798-1856, also spelt Théodore Guérin), foundress of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods & Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College: Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duae, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link S.P. & Wikipedia-link S.M.W.C.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feria
The Book of Zechariah, chapter eight, verses twenty thru twenty-three;
Psalm Eighty-nine, verses one(b), two, & three; four & five; & six & seven;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter nine, verses fifty-one thru fifty-six.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus rebukes James and John for their desire for vengeance. We are walking with Jesus and his disciples as they make their way to Jerusalem. As they pass through Samaria, they are refused hospitality, for their destination is Jerusalem and this annoys the Samaritans. Bothersome? Stupid? Racist? Sure, all of those things. As a result, James and John (the sons of thunder) cry out: “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”

Can you hear echoes of this cry up and down the ages? Whenever people have been unjustly treated, excluded, looked down upon, they experience, naturally enough, feelings of hatred and a desire to get back. Correctly enough, they will say that their family or their race or their country was offended, and so they, with justification, react.

But Jesus turns only to rebuke them. Why? Because following him and his way of non-violence is more important than race or country or ethnic group. Our feelings for him have to go beyond even our justified feelings for these good things.

Video reflection by Father Andrew Lauricella: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

†

Bible Study—The Bible Timeline, Session 17: Maccabean Revolt
The Book of Wisdom, chapter three, verses one thru twelve;
The First Book of Maccabees, chapter one, verses one thru forty.

Commentary: The Hidden Counsels of God: A. On Suffering (Wisdom, 3:1-12) & I. Introduction: Hellenism in Asia Minor: Conquests & Death of Alexander (1 Maccabees, 1:1-9), II. The Maccabean Revolt: Pact between Jews & Gentiles (1:10-15), Egyptian Campaign of Antiochus (1:16-19), & Persecution of the Jews (1:20-40).

Bible Study—Proverbs in a Month
The Book of Proverbs, chapter three (verses one thru thirty-five).

Commentary: Attitude toward the Lord (3:1-12), the Value of Wisdom (3:13-24 & 35), & Attitude toward Fellow Men (3:25-34).