Saints + Scripture: XVI Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Popish Plot
Saintly Sunday: "Countdown to Made for Happiness 33 1/3"

'Tis the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Week
Mass Readings—Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter twenty-three, verses one thru six;
Psalm Twenty-three, verses one, two, & three; three & four; five; & six;
The Letter to the Ephesians, chapter two, verses thirteen thru eighteen;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter six, verses thirty thru thirty-four.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel shows Jesus’ compassion for the multitude in the desert. "When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things."

There is the motif of the people Israel in the desert after their escape from Egypt. Isolated, alone, afraid, without food, they clamored for something from Moses. Here we see people who are dying to be fed, and a prophet who is under threat of death. This crowd around the threatened Jesus is a metaphor for the Church. We have come to him because we are hungry, and we stay even when things look bleak.

Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Video reflection by Father Claude Burns: Weekend Reflection with Father Pontifex.

Video reflection by Jeff Cavins (Ascension): Encountering the Word.

Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D. (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Breaking the Bread.

Mass Journal: Week Thirty
Reflection by Matthew Kelly, founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute:

Holiness & renewal are inseparably linked. Where there is holiness the Church has always thrived. If the Church is not thriving there in one primary reason for that… & when you & I begin to take God's call to live holy lives seriously, the Church will begin to thrive in new & exciting ways. Holiness is compatible with every state in life. Married people are called to live holy lives just as much as monks & nuns. Sexual intimacy is a profound gift from God & an instrument of holiness. The riches of this world have value only inasmuch as they help us fulfill our essential purpose. If we own them, they can be powerful tools that help us live holy lives. If they own us, they will prevent us from becoming the-best-version-of-ourslves. The rich are called to live holy lives by using their wealth in productive ways that foster their own growth & the growth of others. Materials possessions, marriage & sexual intimacy, work, money, & positions of authority are just some of the opportunities life presents to live holy lives.

†

Otherwise, 22 July would be the festival of Saint Mary Magdalene (died circa 63, the "Apostle to the Apostles"): Magdalene-link ūna, Magdalene-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Joseph of Palestine (circa 285-356, A.K.A. of Tiberias), who built the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves & Fish & opposed the Arian heresy: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Church & Wikipedia-link Heresy.

'Twould also be the festival of Blessed Benno of Osnabrück, Bishop, O.S.B. (circa 1020-1088, Bishop Benno II), founder of the Abbey of Schloss Iburg: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Abbey.

'Twould also be the festival of Blessed Augustine Fangi, Priest, O.P. (1430-1493, of Biella): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twould also be the festival of Saints Philip Evans, S.J., & John Lloyd, Priests & Martyrs (died 1679), martyred in the reign of the Anglo-Scottish king Charles II, victims of the perjeror Titus Oates's "Popish Plot" hoax; two of the Forty Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link Papa Echo, Martyr-link Juliett Lima, & Wikipedia-link; Plot-link & Wikipedia-link Plot; & Martyrs-link XL & Wikipedia-link XL.

Papal Quote o' Today

"Someone would have a poor idea of human & marital love by thinking that affection & joy vanish when difficulties come. This is wen we really see what motivates people. Here also is where gift & tenderness are consolidated, because true love does not think about itself, but about how to increases the good of the beloved."
—Pope St. John Paul II (the Great, 1920-2005; feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' Today

"Most of all I imitate the behavior of Mary Magdalene, for her amazing—or, rather, loving—audacity which delighted the heart of Jesus, has cast its spell upon mine."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Catholic Quote o' Today

"The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob—not of the philosophers & the scholars! The God of Jesus Christ. One finds & keeps Him only on the paths that are taught in the Gospel."
—Blaise Pascal (1588-1651)