Project BLACK MAMBA

'Tis the Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Madonna-link ūna, Madonna-link duae, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

According to the apocryphal "Infancy Narrative of James" text, Mary's parents, [Ss.] Joachim & Ann [26 July], who had been childless, received a heavenly message that they wold have a child. In thanksgiving for the gift of their daughter, they brought her, when still a child, to the Temple in Jerusalem to consecrate her to God.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Gelasius I, Pope (died 496), forty-ninth Bishop of Rome: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Gelasius Ó Cuileanáin, Priest & Martyr, O.Cist. (died 1580, Anglicized as O'Cullenan), martyred in the reign of the queen Elizabeth I, one of the Irish Martyrs: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link Irish & Wikipedia-link Irish.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feria
The Second Book of Maccabees, chapter six, verses eighteen thru thirty-one;
Psalm Three, verses two & three, four & five, & six & seven;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter nineteen, verses one thru ten

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

Friends, today's Gospel declares in the story of Zacchaeus how quickly God responds to any sign of faith. Zacchaeus' climbing the sycamore tree shows he had more than a passing interest in seeing Jesus. He had a deep hunger of the spirit. His principal virtue was his willingness to go to great extremes. But this is what we do when we know that something of great moment is at stake. When our health is endangered, we move, we act; when our job is threatened, we go to almost any extreme to keep it.

When Jesus spotted him he said, "Zacchaeus, hurry down. I mean to stay at your house today." Christians, God responds to us readily when we show the least interest in him. He doesn't play hard to get; he is not coy with us. When we seek him, he responds, because loving us is his entire game.

Notice how Jesus tells Zacchaeus to hurry. Don't wait, don't hesitate. Seize the moment of conversion when it comes.

Video reflection by Sister Johnice Rzadkiewicz, C.S.S.F.: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Book of Zechariah, chapter two, verses fourteen thru seventeen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verse forty-nine;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twelve, verses forty-six thru fifty.

†

Bible Study—Wisdom Books
The Book of Psalms, psalm twenty (verses one thru ten);
The Book of Psalms, psalm twenty-one (verses one thru fourteen).

Commentary: Prayer for the King in Time of War (Psalm 20) & Thanksgiving & Assurances for the King (Psalm 21).

Saint Quote o' the Day
From "Heroes' Words" in 54-Day Basic Training in Holiness by Father Richard Heilman:

"Love to be real, it must cost—it must hurt—it must empty us of self."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta (5 September)