'Tis the Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop & Martyr (circa 130-202, of Lyon), second (II) Bishop of Lyon (then Lugdunum), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Septimius Severus; a Father of the Church, author of On the Detection & Overthrow of the So-Called Gnosis, also known as Adversus Haereses ("Against Heresies"): Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, Martyr-link The Bible and the Church Fathers, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Lyon, Fathers-link & Wikipedia-link Fathers, & Wikipedia-link Adversus Haereses.
Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Monday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Genesis, chapter eighteen, verses sixteen thru thirty-three;
Psalm One Hundred Three (R/. eight[a]), verses one(b) & two, thre & four, eight & nine, & ten & eleven;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eight, verses eighteen thru twenty-two.
Commentary: Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in today’s Gospel, a man who appears willing to become Jesus’ disciple makes a reasonable request: “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” But the man receives a shocking rebuke from Jesus: “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.”Video reflection by Monsignor James Vlaun (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.
What is more important than the mission? Nothing. Not even one of the most sacred and revered practices of our society: piety toward our dead relatives. Could you imagine a scenario in which you wouldn’t give permission to someone to attend his father’s or mother’s funeral?
I don’t want to soften Jesus’ words or explain them away or contextualize them. They are what they are, and they’re harsh, for the man in his own time and for us. But they compel us to make a decision: Are we finally about the things of God or about something else? Is religion and the mission attached to it substantial for us, or merely decorative?
Now mind you, we don’t usually have to make such a terrible choice. Normally, our love for God and our love for family don’t come into conflict. But this is a sort of spiritual exercise, an experiment. What if it came down to God or my family? Whom would I choose?
Video reflection by Curtis Mitch (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Daily Reflection.
Video reflection by Doctor Tim Gray (Augustine Institute/Formed.org): Daily Reflection.
Mass Readings—Memorial of Saint Irenaeus
The Second Letter to Timothy, chapter two, verses twenty-two(b) thru twenty-six;
Psalm Thirty-seven (R/. thirty[a]), verses three & four, five & six, & thirty & thirty-one;
The Gospel according to John, chapter seventeen, verses twenty thru twenty-six.
Mass Readings—Solemnity of Saints Peter & Paul: Vigil
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter three, verses one thru ten;
Psalm Nineteen (R/. five), verses two & three, four & five;
The Letter to the Galatians, chapter one, verses eleven thru twenty;
The Gospel according to John, chapter twenty-one, verses fifteen thru nineteen.
Scripture Study—Day 91: False Peak, Day 15
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter sixteen, verses fourteen thru twenty-one.
Commentary: God Will Restore Israel (Jeremiah, 16:14-21).
Papal Quote o' the Day
"When the Church assembles in prayer to reflect on the Word of God, the Holy Spirit Himself pours out God's love on His people. He gives them hope that does not disappoint."Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast: 22 October)
"When someone is doing something to hurt you, don't turn inward, turn toward that person. He is hurting himself. Learn to forgive, knowing that we all need forgiveness. If you want to be true to God, learn from Jesus to be meek, humble, & pure. Learn to forgive."Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)
"Throw yourself at the feet of Jesus Christ, like the prodigal at his father’s feet, & promise never more to forsake Him."
—St. Ignatius of Loyola, S.J. (1491-1556, feast: 31 July)
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