Saints + Scripture

'Tis the festival of Saint Huna of Thorney, Priest & Hermit, O.S.B. (died circa 690, also spelt Huno): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Fulcran of Lodève, Bishop (died 1006), Bishop of Lodève (949-1006): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Lodève.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Jordan of Saxony, Religious, O.P. (circa 1190-1237, A.K.A. of Alamania), second (II) Master of the Order of Preachers (1222-1237; O.P., A.K.A. the Dominicans): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Masters, Order-link O.P., & Wikipedia-link O.P.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Cristina of Spoleto, Religious, O.S.A. (1435-1458, A.K.A. Agostina Camozzi): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Archangela Girlani, Religious, O.Carm. (1460-1494, A.K.A. Eleanora Girlani), prioress of a monastery in Mantua: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Thursday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
The First Book of Kings, chapter eleven, verses four thru thirteen;
Psalm One Hundred Six (R/. four[a]), verses three & four, thirty-five & thirty-six, & thirty-seven & forty;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter seven, verses twenty-four thru thirty.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel a feisty woman engages Jesus in an argument. It is one of the only scenes in the Gospels where someone cajoles Jesus into doing something he wouldn’t ordinarily do.

There is a long tradition that stresses the woman’s perseverance in the face of the "test" that Jesus sets for her. There is another reading that shows how the woman exemplifies the proper attitude toward God, a combination of humility and boldness, of deference and defiance.

But the reading I want to emphasize is one conditioned by the philosophy of the "other." The Old Testament speaks insistently of the "stranger, the widow, and the orphan," those who have no one to care for them. They press upon us even when we would greatly prefer them just to go away.

We the Church are the Body of Christ, the physical presence of Christ in the world. And so people come to us demanding food, sustenance, friendship, love, shelter, liberation. So often we are tempted to do what Jesus does initially and what the disciples do: tell them to back off.
But the whole of the Christian life consists in remembering the suffering and need of the annoying other.

Video reflection by Father Roger Lopez, O.F.M. (U.S. Con. of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 32
The Book of Exodus, chapter twelve, verses forty-three thru fifty-one.

Commentary: The Ordinance of the Passover (Exodus, 12:43-51).

Scripture Study—Deep in Scripture Podcast
The Letter of James, chapter one (of five; verses one thru twenty-seven);
The Letter of James, chapter two (verses one thru twenty-six);
The Letter of James, chapter three (verses one thru eighteen);
The Letter of James, chapter four (verses one thru seventeen);
The Letter of James, chapter five (of five; verses one thru twenty).

Commentary: Salutation (James, 1:1), Faith & Wisdom (1:2-8), Poverty & Riches (1:9-11), Trial & Temptation (1:12-27), Warning against Partiality (2:1-13), Faith without Works Is Dead (2:14-26), Taming the Tongue (3:1-12), Two Kings of Wisdom (3:13-18), Friendship with the World (4:1-10), Warning against Judging Another (4:11-12), Boasting about Tomorrow (4:13-17), Warning to Rich Oppressors (5:1-6), Patience in Suffering (5:7-12), & the Prayer of Faith (5:13-20).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Someone would have a poor idea of human & marital love by thinking that affection & joy vanish when difficulties come. This is when 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 increase the good of the beloved."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"My little Queen entered Carmel yesterday. God alone could have asked such a sacrifice, but He is helping me so powerfully that in the midst of my tears my heart is overflowing with joy."
—St. Louis Martin (1823-1894, feast: 12 July)