'Tis the Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest, S.J. (1580-1654).
Mass Readings—Thursday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
The Letter to the Colossians, chapter three, verses twelve thru seventeen;
Psalm One Hundred Fifty (R/. six), verses one(b) & two, three & four, & five & six;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter six, verses twenty-seven thru thirty-eight.
Commentary: Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, our Gospel today is taken from Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain in Luke. It is one of the more puzzling texts in the New Testament. It speaks of loving our enemies. Not tolerating them or vaguely accepting them, but loving them. When you hate your enemy, you confirm him as your enemy. But when you love him in response to his hatred, you confuse and confound him, taking away the very energy that feeds his hatred.Video reflection by Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers (U.S. Conf. of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.
There is a form of oriental martial arts called aikido. The idea of aikido is to absorb the aggressive energy of your opponent, moving with it, continually frustrating him until he comes to the point of realizing that fighting is useless.
Some have pointed out that there is a great deal of this in Jesus’ strategy of nonviolence and love of the enemy. You creatively absorb the aggression of your opponent, really using it against him, to show him the futility of violence. So when someone insults you, send back a compliment instead of an insult. When someone conspires against you, work to help him.
Video reflection by Doctor Tim Gray (Augustine Institute/Formed.org): Daily Reflection.
Mass Readings—Memorial of Saint Peter Claver
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-eight, verses six thru eleven;
Psalm One (R/. two[a]), verses one & two, three, & four & six;
(or, R/. Psalm Forty, verse five[a]; or, Psalm Ninety-two, verses thirteen & foruteen);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-five, verses thirty-one thru forty.
Scripture Study—Day 91: Leo's Ledge, Day 32
The Book of Daniel, chapter twelve, verses five thru thirteen.
Commentary: The Resurrection of the Dead (cont'd; Daniel, 12:5-13).
Scripture Study—Bishop's Year of the Bible
The First Book of Samuel, chapter twelve (verses one thru twenty-five);
Commentary: Samuel's Farewell Address (1 Samuel, 12:1-25).
Saint Quote o' the Day
"We must speak to them with our hands before we try to speak to them with our lips."
—Saint Peter Claver, S.J. (1580-1654, feast: 9 September)
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