'Tis the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.
Scripture of the Week
Mass Readings—Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-five, verses one thru three;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-five (R/. cf. sixteen), verses eight & nine, fifteen & sixteen, & seventeen & eighteen;
The Letter to the Romans, chapter eight, verses thirty-five, thirty-seven, thirty-eight, & thirty-nine;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter fourteen, verses thirteen thru twenty-one.
Commentary: Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in today’s Gospel, we see Jesus’ miracle of feeding the five thousand. Jesus went up on a mountain and sat down with his disciples. In Scripture, mountains are places of encounter, where God comes down and men and women go up.Video reflection by Father Thomas Petro (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Sunday Reflection.
The disciples want to dismiss the hungry crowd, but Jesus says, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” Jesus is interested not only in instructing the crowds but in feeding them as well. The disciples bring forth a poor pittance—five barley loaves and two fish—and observe that this is woefully inadequate for so many. But Jesus presses forward, taking, giving thanks, and having the disciples distribute the bread. And everyone is fed.
A significant theological principle is in play here: God has no need vis-à-vis the world that he has made. Precisely because he stands to gain nothing from the world, whatever is given to him breaks against the rock of the divine self-sufficiency and redounds to the benefit of the giver. From this principle follows as a corollary what St. John Paul II called the law of the gift—namely, that one’s being increases in the measure that one gives oneself away.
Video reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire): Sunday Sermon.
Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D. (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Breaking the Bread.
Scripture Study—Pierced Hands (Bible in a Year): Day 2
The First Letter of John, chapter three, verses eleven thru twenty-four;
The First Letter of John, chapter four (verses one thru twenty-one);
The First Letter of John, chapter five verses one thru twenty-one);
Psalm Two (verses one thru eleven);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter one, verses eighteen thru twenty-five.
Commentary: Love One Another (1 John, 3:11-24), Testing the Spirits (1 John, 4:1-6), God Is Love (1 John, 4:7-21), Faith Conquers the World (1 John, 5:1-5), Testimony concerning the Son of God (1 John, 5:6-12), & Epilogue (1 John, 5:13-21); God's Promise to His Anointed (Psalm 2); & the Birth of Jesus Christ (Matthew, 1:18-25).
†
Otherwise, 2 August would be the festival of Saint Stephen I, Pope (died 257), twenty-third (XXIII) Bishop of Rome (254-257): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Pontifex-link & Wikipedia-link Pontifex.
Commentary: Wayback Machine.
'Twould also be the festival of Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, Bishop (circa 283-371), inaugural Bishop of Vercelli (343-371) & patron of Vercelli's Cattedrale di Sant'Eusebio, a foe of the Arian heresy: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link, Wikipedia-link Vercelli, & Wikipedia-link Cathedral; & Heresy-link & Wikipedia-link Arianism.
'Twould also be the festival of Saint Sidwell, Virgin & Martyr (sixth century), martyred at the instigation of her stepmother: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.
Commentary: Sister of the fellow virgin-martyrs Ss. Urith [8 July] & Juthwara [1 July].
'Twould also be the festival of Blessed Juana of Aza (circa 1135-1205, Anglicized as Joanna, Joan, Jane): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.
Commentary: Mother of Ven. Antonio de Guzmán, Bl. Manés de Guzmán [30 July], & St. Dominic de Guzmán [8 August].
'Twould also be the festival of Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Priest, S.S.S. (1811-1886, the "Apostle of the Eucharist"), founder of the Sacramentinos (1856, S.S.S.), formally the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, & the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament (1859, also S.S.S.): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Sacramentinos & Wikipedia-link Servants.
'Twould also be the festival of Dedication of the Chapel of Our Lady of the Angels (A.K.A. the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels), origin of the Portiuncola Indulgence, A.K.A. the "Pardon of Assisi:" Dedication-link, Wikipedia-link Our Lady of the Angels, & Wikipedia-link Portiuncula; Indulgence-link & Wikipedia-link Portiuncola Indulgence.
Papal Quote o' the Day
"The crucifix does not signify defeat or failure. It reveals to us the Love that overcomes evil & sin."Saint Quote o' the Day
—Pope Francis (b. 1936, r. 2013-present)
"In recalling to mind the life & actions of the saints, walk in their footsteps as much as possible, & humble thyself if thou canst not attain to their perfection."Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day
—St. Thomas Aquinas, O.P., Doctor of the Church (1225-1274, feast: 28 January)
"If our life is without prayer, it is like a house without a foundation."Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)
"The Mass is not a souvenir. When you go to Mass it is not the same as going, for example, to Calvary & chipping away a rock & saying, 'This is a souvenir of the place where our Lord died.' No, the Mass is a vision; it is an action in time & in eternity. It is in time, because we see it taking place before our eyes on the altar. It is also in eternity, as regards the value of redemption. All the merits of our Lord's death, Resurrection, ascension, & glorification are applied to us. We unite ourselves with that great eternal act of love. The Mass, then, is not a distinct sacrifice from the cross. If we at the Mass close our eyes & concentrate on that mystery, we are in effect with Mary, & Magdalen, & John at the foot of the cross."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)
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