The Popish Plot
vLent 2019: "Mike's Story: Bad Catholic"
Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter eighteen, verses eighteen, nineteen, & twenty;
Psalm Thirty-one, verses five & six, fourteen, & fifteen & sixteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty, verses seventeen thru twenty-eight.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, today in our Gospel the mother of James and John asks Jesus on their behalf for high places of authority in his kingdom. Ah, there is the voice of ambition. Some people don’t care at all about money or power or pleasure—but they care passionately about honor. A lot of people can identify with James and John. They want to go places, they want to be movers and shakers in society. Perhaps a number of people reading this reflection are filled with these emotions.Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
But Jesus turns the tables on them: "You do not know what you are asking." He is indeed a King, and he will indeed rule Israel, but his crown will be made of thorns, and his throne will be a Roman instrument of torture.
And so he tries to clarify: "Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?" The key to honor in the kingdom of God is to drink the cup of suffering, to be willing to suffer out of love, to give one’s life away as a gift. Look at the lives of the saints. It is not about aggrandizing the ego but emptying it out.
Reflect: What role do honor and recognition have in your happiness?
Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 59
The Book of Exodus, chapter twenty-five, verses twenty-three thru thirty.
Commentary: The Table for the Bread of the Presence (Exodus, 25:23-30).
'Tis the commemoration of Saint Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, Bishop & Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 634-687), abbot of Melrose Abbey & then Lindisfarne Priory, then Bishop of Hexham & later Bishop of Lindisfarne: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Melrose & Wikipedia-link Holy Island; & Diocese-link Hexham, Wikipedia-link Hexham, Diocese-link Lindisfarne, & Wikipedia-link Bishopric.
Commentary: Wayback Machine.
'Tis also the commemoration of Saint Wulfram of Sens, Bishop, O.S.B. (circa 640-703; A.K.A. of Fontenelle, also spelt Vulfran, etc.), Archbishop of Sens: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link Sens & Wikipedia-link Sens.
'Tis also the commemoration of Saint Clement of Ireland (circa 750-818, A.K.A. Clemens Scotus): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
'Tis also the commemoration of Blessed John of Parma, Priest, O.F.M. (circa 1209-1289, A.K.A. Giovanni Buralli), seventh (VII) Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor: Blessed-link ūnus, Blessed-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Ministers General.
'Tis also the commemoration of Blessed Marco of Montegallo, Priest, O.F.M. (circa 1425-1497): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.
Papal Quote o' the Day
"This is me, a sinner on whom the Lord has turned His gaze. And this is what I said when they asked me if I would accept my election as pontiff. I am a sinner, but I trust in the infinite mercy & patience of our Lord Jesus Christ, & I accept in a spirit of penance."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope Francis (born 1936, reigning since 2013)
"I thank You, O my God, for all the graces You have given me."Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"The spirituality of work consists in the awareness that through our work, we can place ourselves in a relation with our ultimate destiny. We can become an ally of the living God."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)
No comments:
Post a Comment