Saints + Scripture

Better Late than Never | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the festival of Saint Tabitha (first century, A.K.A. Dorcas): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. The resurrection of St. Tabitha by St. Peter [22 February, 29 June] is recounted in the Acts of the Apostles, 9:36-42.

'Tis also the festival of Saints Chrysanthus & Daria, Martyrs (died circa 283), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Numerian & Carinus: Martyr-link Charlie, Martyr-link Delta, & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saints Crispin & Crispian, Martyrs (died circa 286), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian & Maximian: Martyr-link P-I-N, Martyr-link P-I-A-N, & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Marnock of Kilmarnock, Bishop (died 625, A.K.A. Ernin): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh, Bishop (circa 1455-1492, the "White Martyr of Munster," Anglicized as Thaddeus McCarthy): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Forty Martyrs of England & Wales (died 1535-1679), martyred in the reigns of the English & Anglo-Scottish monarchs Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, James VI & I, Charles I, & Charles II, & the warlord Oliver Cromwell: Martyrs-link England & Wales & Wikipedia-link England & Wales.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
The Letter to the Romans, chapter seven, verses eighteen thru twenty-five(a);
Psalm One Hundred Nineteen (R/. sixty-eight[b]), verses sixty-six, sixty-eight, seventy-six, seventy-seven, ninety-three, & ninety-four;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twelve, verses fifty-four thru fifty-nine.

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

Friends, the famous call of the Vatican II fathers to "read the signs of the times" is grounded in Jesus’ exhortation in the Gospel for today. Followers of Jesus are meant to look at the world with clear eyes, to see what is happening, to be attentive. But this attention is of a particular type. It is not the attention of the scientist or the philosopher or the politician—though it can include those. It is an attention to the things of God.

I have often argued that many of us today are still enthralled to a Deist view of God, whereby God is a distant and aloof first cause of the universe, uninvolved with the world he has made. But Thomas Aquinas taught that God is in all things "by essence, presence, and power," and that God providentially cares for every aspect of his creation. Therefore, we should expect to see signs of his presence and activity in nature, in history, and in human affairs.

And once we see, we are meant to speak! In a way, followers of Jesus are not looking at the signs of the times for their own benefit, but rather that they might share their prophetic perspective with everyone else. So look around, look with attention, look with the eyes of faith!

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

Scripture Study—Wisdom Books
The Book of Sirach, chapter nineteen (verses one thru thirty).

Commentary: True Wisdom Contrasted to Cleverness & Evil (Sirach, 19:1-30).

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 91: Decision Dome, Day 33
The Book of Joshua, chapter nineteen, verses one thru nine.

Commentary: The Territory of Simeon (Joshua, 19:1-9).

Proverb o' the Day (Sirach, 19:10)

Have you heard a word? Let it die with you.
Be brave! It will not make you burst!

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Do not be afraid! Life with Christ is a wonderful adventure."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Let us love the Cross & let us remember that we are not alone in carrying it. God is helping us; & in God Who is comforting us, as Saint Paul says, we can do anything."
—St. Gianna Molla (1922-1962, feast day: 28 April)

Chesterton Quote o' the Day

"A nation with a root religion will be tolerant. A nation with no religion will be bigoted."
—G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936)