Saints + Scripture

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Saints of the Day
'Tis the Memorial of Saints Joachim & Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary (circa 50 B.C.-A.D. 15).

Commentary: Wayback Machine '21 & Wayback Machine '19.

'Tis the Tuesday of the Seventeeth Week in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the Seventeeth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter fourteen, verses seventeen thru twenty-two;
Psalm Seventy-nine (R/. nine), verses eight, nine, & eleven & thirteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter thirteen, verses thirty-six thru forty-three.

Commentary: Daily Readings.

Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, in our Gospel today, Jesus explains the parable of the weeds among the wheat. God’s word creates the Church, the community of those who strive to build up the kingdom. But this Church is never absolutely pure and untrammeled, for God’s ways are opposed by a spiritual power, an enemy. His task is to sow weeds among the wheat—clandestinely, quietly, unobtrusively.

This sort of coming together of good and evil is to be expected. The Church will always be a place of saints and sinners, and the sinners will often look like saints. The enemy of the Church, who never rests, ensures it.

Vigilance in regards to evil is necessary in a fallen world, yet we must be wary of a zeal that, in its passion for setting things right, comes to believe that evil can be dealt with by destroying what is good.

In the midst of a fallen world, what is expected of us is that we live in hope that at the end, at harvest time, the Master will separate the good from the bad.

Video reflection by Deacon Arthur L. Miller (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

Video reflection by Doctor Tim Gray (Augustine Institute/Formed.org): Daily Reflection.

Mass Readings—Memorial of Saints Joachim & Anne
The Book of Sirach, chapter forty-four, verses one & ten thru fifteen;
Psalm One Hundred Thirty-two, verses eleven, thirteen & fourteen, & seventeen & eighteen
(R/. the Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verse thirty-two);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter thirteen, verses sixteen & seventeen.

Commentary: Memorial Readings.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Jesus became a baby, He became poor, He became a victim, so that no one might feel that He was above or distant; He placed Himself at the feet of all. Jesus is for all, He belongs to all, & indeed to each of us individually."
—Pope Saint Paul VI (1897-1978, r. 1963-1978; feast: 29 May)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"We need no wings to go in search of Him, but have only to look upon Him present within us."
—Saint Teresa of Ávila, O.C.D., Doctor of the Church (1515-1582, feast: 15 October)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"I feel that we too often focus on the negative aspects of life on what is bad. If we were more willing to see the good & the beautiful things that surround us we would be able to transform society. It begins in the family. From there, we can help transform our next-door neighbors with loving service, then others who live in our neighborhood & city. We can bring peace & love to the world. The whole world is hungry for these things, & we can each play a small role in feeding this great hunger."
—Saint Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"Only in true solitariness is true spirituality born, when the soul stands naked before its God."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)