Scripture of the Week
Mass Readings—Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Second Book of Kings, chapter four, verses forty-two, forty-three, & forty-four;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-five, verses ten & eleven, fifteen & sixteen, & seventeen & eighteen;
The Letter to the Ephesians, chapter four, verses one thru six;
The Gospel according to John, chapter six, verses one thru fifteen.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, our Gospel today focuses on St. John’s intense meditation on the meaning of the Eucharist. The tone is set with the familiar story of the feeding of the five thousand, the only miracle story mentioned in each of the four Gospels. This scene deeply affected the first Christians.Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Jesus instructs the crowd to recline on the grass. Taking the barley loaves and dried fish, Jesus makes a meal that satisfies the enormous crowd. They are hungry, tired, and worn out from their exertions, and Jesus gives them sustenance for the day.
For Thomas Aquinas, the great metaphor for the Eucharist is sustenance, food for the journey. Baptism defines us, making us sons and daughters of God; confirmation confirms and deepens this identity; marriage and holy orders seal us in our life’s vocation. These are sacraments offered once at key moments in one’s life.
Then there is the Eucharist, which is daily food, nourishment to get us through the day-to-day. How effective would we be if we never ate, or ate only on special occasions and in a festive environment? Not very. So, in the spiritual life, we must eat and drink or we will not have the strength.
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-one
Reflection by Matthew Kelly, founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute:
Holiness brings us to life. It refines every human ability. Holiness doesn't dampen our emotions; it elevates them. Those who respond to God's call to holiness are the most joyful people in history. They have a richer, more abundant experience of life, & they love more deeply than most people can ever imagine. They enjoy life, all of life. Even in the midst of suffering they are able to maintain a peace & a joy that are independent of the happenings & circumstances surrounding them. Holiness doesn't stifle us; it sets us free.†
The surest signs of holiness are not how often a person goes to church, how many hours he spends in prayer, what spiritual books he has read, or even the number of good works he performs. The surest signs of holiness are an satiable desire to become all God created us to be, an unwavering commitment to the will of God, & an unquenchable concern for unholy people. Living a holy life means letting our decisions be guided by the Holy Spirit. It means allowing each moment to be all it can be.
Otherwise, 29 July would be the festival of Saint Martha (died circa 80, of Bethany): Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link.
Commentary: Wayback Machine.
'Twould also be the festival of Saint Sulien, Abbot (floruit sixth century), founding abbot of the abbey around which grew the village of Luxulyan: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Luxulyan.
'Twould also be the festival of Saint Olaf, Martyr (circa 995-1030, A.K.A. King Olaf II of Norway, Olaf Haraldsson; also spelt Olave, Ólafr Haraldsson), martyred by pagan Vikings: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.
'Twould also be the festival of Blessed Urban II, Pope, O.S.B. (circa 1040-1099; A.K.A. Odo, Otho, Eudes; of Châtillon, of Lagery), one hundred fifty-ninth (CLIX) Bishop of Rome, who called the Council of Clermont (1095) & the First Crusade (1096-1099): Blessed-link ūnus, Blessed-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff, Wikipedia-link Council, & Wikipedia-link Crusade.
Papal Quote o' the Day
"Lord Jesus, grant that those You have called Your friends may come to know in fullness the joy You have promised. May they know the joy of praising You, the joy of serving their brothers & sisters, the joy of abiding in Your love."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. John Paul II (the Great, 1920-2005; feast day: 22 October)
"I would willingly spend the whole of my religious life in this dark underground passage, if by it I might win light for sinners."Catholic Quote o' the Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"Faith means putting up with God's incomprehensibility for a lifetime."
—Fr. Karl Rahner, S.J. (1904-1984)
No comments:
Post a Comment