Project BLACK MAMBA: Better Late Than Never

'Tis the Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbot (circa 251-356; A.K.A. the Great, of the Desert, of Thebes, et al.), most renowned of the Desert Fathers, whose temptation is oft-depicted in art; also associated with the Tau Cross: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, Saint-link trēs, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Desert Fathers, Wikipedia-link Temptation, & Wikipedia-link St. Anthony's Cross.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

For his importance among the Desert fathers & to all later Christian monasticism, he is also known as the Father of All Monks. Christian ascetics previously retreated to isolated locations at the outskirts of cities. Anthony is notable for having decided to surpass this tradition & headed out into the desert proper.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

The life of Anthony will remind many people of St. Francis of Assisi [4 October]. At twenty, Anthony was so moved by the Gospel message, "Go, sell what you have, & give to the poor" (Mark, 10:21b), that he actually did just that with his large inheritance. He is different from Francis in that most of Anthony's life was spent in solitude. He saw the world completely covered with snares, & gave the Church & the world the witness of solitary asceticism, great personal mortification, & prayer. But no saint is antisocial & Anthony drew many people to himself for spiritual healing & guidance.

'Tis also the festival of Our Lady of Pontmain (apparition 17 January 1871, A.K.A. Our Lady of Hope): Madonna-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Sulpicius the Pious, Bishop (died circa 647, A.K.A. Sulpicius II of Bourges): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Roseline of Villeneuve, Religious, O.Cart. (circa 1263-1329; also spelt Rosalina, Rossolina): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feria
The First Book of Samuel, chapter seventeen, verses thirty-two, thirty-three, thirty-seven, & forty thru fifty-one;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-four, verses one(b), two, & nine & ten;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter three, verses one thru six.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel shows an angry Jesus healing a man with a withered hand. Whenever the Bible speaks of the divine anger, which it does a lot, it is talking poetically about God’s passion to set things right. God doesn’t go in and out of emotional states. He doesn’t fall into snits. He longs to establish justice on the earth and stands athwart those forces opposed to his purpose. This is precisely what Jesus does toward the Pharisees in today’s Gospel.

The episode concerns the idea of justice. Now what is justice? I love Plato’s simple definition: justice is rendering to each his due. It is fairness, or, to use more biblical language, "righteousness." It means doing the right thing. To state it negatively, it is not to cheat, not to take advantage of, not to deny someone his rights.

A steady teaching of the Bible is that God stands for justice and wants us to stand for it too. Jesus says, "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness." These are words that have inspired social reformers from William Wilberforce to William Lloyd Garrison to Martin Luther King to John Paul II. Let’s reflect on them today.

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

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. Anthony
The Letter to the Ephesians, chapter six, verses ten thru thirteen;
Psalm Sixteen, verse five;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter nineteen, verses sixteen thru twenty-six.

†

Bible Study—Wisdom Books
The Book of Psalms, psalm forty (verses one thru eighteen);
The Book of Proverbs, chapter seventeen (verses one thru twenty-eight);
The Book of Wisdom, chapter fifteen, verses eighteen & nineteen;
The Book of Wisdom, chapter sixteen (verses one thru twenty-nine).

Commentary: Gratitude & Prayer for Help (Psalm 40), First Collection of the Proverbs of Solomon (cont'd; Proverbs, 17:1-28), & Second Example Resumed (Wisdom, 15:18-16:15) & Third Example: A Rain of Manna for Israel instead of the Plague of Storms (16:16-29).

For those keeping score at home, the oft-interrupted & -resumed second example is: Animals Punish the Egyptians & Benefit the Israelites.

Bible Study—Pauline Letters
The Letter to the Romans, chapter fourteen (verses one thru twenty-three).

Commentary: Do Not Judge Another (Romans, 14:1-12) & Do Not Make Another Stumble (14:13-23).

Proverb o' the Day (17:3)

The crucible for silver, & the furnace for gold,
but the tester of hearts is the LORD.

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

"Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand."
—St. Augustine of Hippo, Doctor of the Church (354-430, feast day: 28 August)

Commentary: Mine own experience testifies to the timeless wisdom of St. Augustine's words.

God's Comic
Practical (read: satirical) tips for effective ecumenical dialogue from The Babylon Bee: "How to Get Along with Christians from Other Denominations".