'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint John Damascene, Priest & Doctor of the Church (circa 675-749, A.K.A. John Chrysorrhoas), the last of the Fathers of the Church, a foe of the Byzantine iconoclastic heresy: Doctor-link ūnus, Doctor-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Doctors-link & Wikipedia-link Doctors, Fathers-link & Wikipedia-link Fathers, & Heresy-link Iconoclasm & Wikipedia-link Iconoclasm.
Commentary: Wayback Machine. Damascene is a toponym, "of Damascus;" Chrysorrhoas is an epithet, "streaming with gold," i.e., "the golden speaker." Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
Saint John Damascene has the double honor of being the last but one of the fathers of the Eastern Church, & the greatest of her poets.'Tis also the festival of Saint Barbara, Virgin & Martyr (died 235), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Maximinus Thrax, one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Holy Helpers-link & Wikipedia-link Holy Helpers.
'Tis also the festival of Saint Anno of Cologne, Bishop (circa 1010-1075), Archbishop of Cologne (1056-1075), founder of Michaelsberg Abbey, et al.: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link Cologne & Wikipedia-link Cologne, Abbey-link Michaelsberg & Wikipedia-link Michaelsberg.
'Tis also the festival of Saint Osmund of Salisbury Bishop (died 1099), second (II) Bishop of Salisbury (1078-1099, Old Sarum), who initiated the Sarum Rite (or Use of Sarum) & helped compile the Domesday Book (1086): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Salisbury, Rite-link Sarum & Wikipedia-link Sarum, & Wikipedia-link Domesday Book.
'Tis also the festival of Blessed Adolph Kolping, Priest (1813-1865, the "Father of All Apprentices" & "Apostle of the Working Man"), founder of the International Kolping Society: Blessed-link ūnus, Blessed-link duo, Blessed-link trēs, & Wikipedia-link; Kolping International-link.
Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the First Week of Advent
The Book of Isaiah, chapter twenty-five, verses six thru ten(a);
Psalm Twenty-three (R/. six[c/d]), verses one, two, & three(a); three(b) & four; five; & six;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter fifteen, verses twenty-nine thru thirty-seven.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus multiplies the loaves and the fishes. There is no better exemplification in the Scriptures of what I have called the loop of grace. God offers, as a sheer grace, the gift of being, but if we try to cling to that gift and make it our own, we lose it.Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The constant command of the Bible is this: what you have received as a gift, give as a gift—and you will find the original gift multiplied and enhanced. One realizes this truth when one enters willingly into the loop of grace, giving away that which one is receiving.
The hungry people who gather around Jesus in this scene are symbolic of the hungry human race, starving, from the time of Adam and Eve, for what will satisfy. We have tried to fill up the emptiness with wealth, pleasure, power, honor, the sheer love of domination—but none of it works, precisely because we have all been wired for God and God is nothing but love.
Reflect: What gift have you received that you will give away this week?
Advent of Hope (from Array of Hope):
In today’s reading, we hear about the Heavenly feast that God has prepared for those who love Him. All are welcome to the feast because our God is a God of mercy and compassion. He comes to remove the stain of sin and selfishness from our lives, to wipe away our sorrows, to heal our wounds, to destroy death and to give us eternal life.Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. John Damascene
We are filled with joy in knowing that we have a Savior who cares for us so deeply. A God who is greater than any sin, any struggle, or any circumstance we find ourselves in. This gives us confidence that no matter what we are dealing with, or what we may be struggling with, God is forever faithful. All things of this world will wash away, and only God will remain. Our worldly circumstances are fleeting, but God’s love for us is everlasting.
Even though we may face difficulties here on earth, there is something much greater awaiting us in Heaven. Nothing can compare to the glory of eternity. This fills us with great hope and anticipation in waiting for God just as we wait in this season of Advent for the Messiah to be born on Christmas. Today, offer up something in your life that you are struggling with. Ask God to come to your aid and heal you of your suffering. Rejoice and be glad that He has saved us, and remember that endless joy awaits us in eternity.
The Second Letter to Timothy, chapter one, verses thirteen & fourteen & chapter two, verses one, two, & three;
Psalm Nineteen (R/. ten), verses eight, nine, ten, & eleven,
(or, R/. the Gospel according to John, chapter six, verse sixty-three);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-five, verses fourteen thru thirty
(or, the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-five, verses fourteen thru twenty-three).
Papal Quote o' the Day
"At this point, the drama is either 'Yes' or 'No' for the modern generation that has shown that it has understood the possibility & happiness of an encounter with Christ. Christ is speaking from His crib, 'Blest are they who hear the Word of God & keep it' (Luke, 11:28)."Saint Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 29 May)
"Show me the icons that you venerate, that I may be able to understand your faith."Chesterton Quote o' the Day
—St. John Damascene, Doctor of the Church (675-749, feast day: 4 December)
"Christmas is utterly unsuited to the modern world. It presupposed the possibility of families being united, or reunited, & even of the men & women who chose each other being on speaking terms. Thus thousands of young adventurous spirits, ready to fly to the ends of the earth & tolerate every alien or accidental quality in cannibals or devil-worshipers, are cruelly forced to face an hour, nay sometimes even two hours, in the society of Uncle George; or some aunt from Cheltenham whom they do not particularly like. Such abominable tortures cannot be tolerated in a time like ours."
—G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936)
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