Saints + Scripture

'Tis the festival of Saint Sedulius, Priest (floruit fifth century, A.K.A. Siadhel): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Æthelwold of Lindisfarne, Bishop (died circa 740; also spelt Ethelwald, etc.): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Benedict of Aniane, Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 747-821, the "Second Benedict;" A.K.A. Witiza): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Antony Kauleas, Bishop & Abbot (circa 829-901, A.K.A. Anthony II of Constantinople): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Julian the Hospitaller, Confessor (possibly legendary, A.K.A. Julian the Poor): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feria
The Letter of James, chapter one, verses one thru eleven;
Psalm One Hundred Nineteen, verses sixty-seven, sixty-eight, seventy-one, seventy-two, seventy-five, & seventy-six;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter eight, verses eleven, twelve, & thirteen.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel, the Pharisees demand Jesus give them a sign in order to prove his authority, perhaps a miracle. But I’d like to draw your attention to the final line in the passage: "He left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore."

Whose boat was this? Well, the previous verses confirm it belonged to his disciples. Jesus entering the boat calls to mind his first encounter with Peter. One day, Peter was going about his ordinary business, washing his nets and preparing for a catch. Then without warning, without asking permission, Jesus got into his boat. Now the boat was everything for Peter; it was his livelihood, his security. But Jesus just got in and began giving orders.

So it goes in the order of grace. The true God cannot be manipulated, determined by us, or controlled through our efforts. We can’t act like the Pharisees in today’s Gospel, demanding that God behave for us. Rather, he comes into our lives—often unbidden and unexpected—and determines us, controls us. His presence is pure grace.

Don’t demand signs from God. Instead, do what the disciples did and let him enter your boat.

Video reflection by Msgr. James Vlaun (Telecare T.V.): United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Saint Quote o' the Day

"All the Christian faithful… are called to the fullness of the Christian life & to the perfection of charity."
—Pope St. John Paul II (the Great; 1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)