Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin
Lectionary: 334
Lectionary: 334
Jeroboam thought to himself:
"The kingdom will return to David's house.
If now this people go up to offer sacrifices
in the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem,
the hearts of this people will return to their master,
Rehoboam, king of Judah,
and they will kill me."
After taking counsel, the king made two calves of gold
and said to the people:
"You have been going up to Jerusalem long enough.
Here is your God, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt."
And he put one in Bethel, the other in Dan.
This led to sin, because the people frequented those calves
in Bethel and in Dan.
He also built temples on the high places
and made priests from among the people who were not Levites.
Jeroboam established a feast in the eighth month
on the fifteenth day of the month
to duplicate in Bethel the pilgrimage feast of Judah,
with sacrifices to the calves he had made;
and he stationed in Bethel priests of the high places he had built.
Jeroboam did not give up his evil ways after this,
but again made priests for the high places
from among the common people.
Whoever desired it was consecrated
and became a priest of the high places.
This was a sin on the part of the house of Jeroboam
for which it was to be cut off and destroyed from the earth.
"The kingdom will return to David's house.
If now this people go up to offer sacrifices
in the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem,
the hearts of this people will return to their master,
Rehoboam, king of Judah,
and they will kill me."
After taking counsel, the king made two calves of gold
and said to the people:
"You have been going up to Jerusalem long enough.
Here is your God, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt."
And he put one in Bethel, the other in Dan.
This led to sin, because the people frequented those calves
in Bethel and in Dan.
He also built temples on the high places
and made priests from among the people who were not Levites.
Jeroboam established a feast in the eighth month
on the fifteenth day of the month
to duplicate in Bethel the pilgrimage feast of Judah,
with sacrifices to the calves he had made;
and he stationed in Bethel priests of the high places he had built.
Jeroboam did not give up his evil ways after this,
but again made priests for the high places
from among the common people.
Whoever desired it was consecrated
and became a priest of the high places.
This was a sin on the part of the house of Jeroboam
for which it was to be cut off and destroyed from the earth.
Responsorial
Psalm PS 106:6-7AB, 19-20,
21-22
R. (4a) Remember
us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
We have sinned, we and our fathers;
we have committed crimes; we have done wrong.
Our fathers in Egypt
considered not your wonders.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
They made a calf in Horeb
and adored a molten image;
They exchanged their glory
for the image of a grass-eating bullock.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
They forgot the God who had saved them,
who had done great deeds in Egypt,
Wondrous deeds in the land of Ham,
terrible things at the Red Sea.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
We have sinned, we and our fathers;
we have committed crimes; we have done wrong.
Our fathers in Egypt
considered not your wonders.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
They made a calf in Horeb
and adored a molten image;
They exchanged their glory
for the image of a grass-eating bullock.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
They forgot the God who had saved them,
who had done great deeds in Egypt,
Wondrous deeds in the land of Ham,
terrible things at the Red Sea.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
AlleluiaMT 4:4B
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MK 8:1-10
In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat,
Jesus summoned the disciples and said,
“My heart is moved with pity for the crowd,
because they have been with me now for three days
and have nothing to eat.
If I send them away hungry to their homes,
they will collapse on the way,
and some of them have come a great distance.”
His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread
to satisfy them here in this deserted place?”
Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?”
They replied, “Seven.”
He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground.
Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them,
and gave them to his disciples to distribute,
and they distributed them to the crowd.
They also had a few fish.
He said the blessing over them
and ordered them distributed also.
They ate and were satisfied.
They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets.
There were about four thousand people.
He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples
and came to the region of Dalmanutha.
Jesus summoned the disciples and said,
“My heart is moved with pity for the crowd,
because they have been with me now for three days
and have nothing to eat.
If I send them away hungry to their homes,
they will collapse on the way,
and some of them have come a great distance.”
His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread
to satisfy them here in this deserted place?”
Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?”
They replied, “Seven.”
He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground.
Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them,
and gave them to his disciples to distribute,
and they distributed them to the crowd.
They also had a few fish.
He said the blessing over them
and ordered them distributed also.
They ate and were satisfied.
They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets.
There were about four thousand people.
He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples
and came to the region of Dalmanutha.
Meditation: Jesus
alone can satisfy our hunger for God
Can anything on earth truly satisfy the hunger we
experience for God? The enormous crowd that pressed upon Jesus for three days
were hungry for something more than physical food. They hung upon Jesus' words
because they were hungry for God. When the disciples were confronted by Jesus
with the task of feeding four thousand people many miles away from any source
of food, they exclaimed: Where in this remote place can anyone get
enough bread to feed them? The Israelites were confronted with the
same dilemma when they fled Egypt and found themselves in a barren
wilderness.
Like the miraculous provision of manna in the
wilderness, Jesus, himself provides bread in abundance for the hungry crowd who
came out into the desert to seek him. The Gospel records that all were
satisfied and they took up what was leftover. When God gives he gives abundantly
- more than we deserve and more than we need so that we may have something to
share with others as well. The Lord Jesus nourishes and sustains us with his
life-giving word and with his heavenly bread.
Jesus nourishes us with the true bread of heaven
The sign of the multiplication of the loaves, when the Lord says the blessing, breaks and distributes through his disciples, prefigures the superabundance of the unique bread of his Eucharist or Lord's Supper. When we receive from the Lord's table we unite ourselves to Jesus Christ, who makes us sharers in his body and blood. Ignatius of Antioch (35-107 A.D.) calls it the "one bread that provides the medicine of immortality, the antidote for death, and the food that makes us live for ever in Jesus Christ" (Ad Eph. 20,2). This supernatural food is healing for both body and soul and strength for our journey heavenward.
The sign of the multiplication of the loaves, when the Lord says the blessing, breaks and distributes through his disciples, prefigures the superabundance of the unique bread of his Eucharist or Lord's Supper. When we receive from the Lord's table we unite ourselves to Jesus Christ, who makes us sharers in his body and blood. Ignatius of Antioch (35-107 A.D.) calls it the "one bread that provides the medicine of immortality, the antidote for death, and the food that makes us live for ever in Jesus Christ" (Ad Eph. 20,2). This supernatural food is healing for both body and soul and strength for our journey heavenward.
When you approach the Table of the Lord, what do you
expect to receive? Healing, pardon, comfort, and refreshment for your soul? The
Lord has much more for us, more than we can ask or imagine. The principal fruit
of receiving from the Lord's Table is an intimate union with Christ himself. As
bodily nourishment restores lost strength, so the Eucharist strengthens us in
charity and enables us to break with disordered attachments to creatures and to
be more firmly rooted in the love of Christ. Do you hunger for Jesus, the true
"bread of life"?
"Lord Jesus, you alone can satisfy the hunger in
our lives. Fill me with grateful joy and eager longing for the true heavenly
bread which gives health, strength, and wholeness to body and soul alike.”
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Breaking the bread of God's Word, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"In expounding to you the Holy Scriptures, I as
it were break bread for you. If you hunger to receive it, your heart will sing
out with the fullness of praise (Psalm 138:1). If you are thus made rich in
your banquet, be not meager in good works and deeds. What I am distributing to
you is not my own. What you eat, I eat; what you live upon, I live upon. We
have in heaven a common store-house - from it comes the Word of God."(excerpt from SERMONS ON NEW TESTAMENT LESSONS
45.1)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, MARK
8:1-10
(1 Kings 12:26-32, 13:33-34; Psalm 106)
(1 Kings 12:26-32, 13:33-34; Psalm 106)
KEY VERSE: "Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute" (v 6).
TO KNOW: This is the second account of the multiplication of the loaves in Mark's Gospel. The first took place in Galilee with the Jews (Mk 6:34-44). This second event occurred in Gentile territory. When Jesus saw the hungry crowd, he took pity on them, while his disciples wondered how they could feed so many people. Jesus took the seven loaves offered to him (a number representing the seven ministers in the Gentile Christian church, Acts 6:1-6). Then he gave thanks to God, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute. When everyone had eaten their fill, the fragments were gathered in seven baskets (twelve baskets in the first miracle representing the Twelve Apostles). In this feeding of the Gentile people, Jesus demonstrated that all people had equal right to the Eucharist.
TO LOVE: Can you explain the Eucharist to those not of our faith?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, gather all of your people to give thanks and praise at your table.
Saturday 10
February 2018
St Scholastica.
1 Kings 12:26-32; 13:33-34. Psalm 105(106):6-7, 19-22. Mark
8:1-10.
Lord, remember us, for the love you bear your people—Psalm
105(106):6-7, 19-22.
‘If I send them home, they’ll collapse.’
Jesus shows great compassion and care for the huge crowd who had
followed him and been captivated by his teaching for three whole days. He knew
many had travelled great distances. The disciples were perplexed. The idea of
feeding such a crowd was beyond them. Had they already forgotten the feeding of
the five thousand? Jesus had left Galilee and was in Gentile country. He knew
they needed to hear his message too. Once again, he shows his humanness. He
wants to feed them so they won’t become ‘faint-hearted’.
There is a very strong Eucharistic theme to this miracle. Jesus
takes the loaves and fishes, blesses them, and shares them with the crowd. This
happens each time we celebrate the Mass. Maybe this story can help to bring a
freshness to each Eucharist we share.
Just as he gave them the food they needed, Jesus will give us
what we need. Lord, may we be aware of the miracle of your presence in every
moment of our day and especially in the Eucharist.
Saint Scholastica
Saint of the Day for February 10
(c. 480 – February 10, 542)
Saint Scholastica’s Story
Twins often share the same interests and ideas with an equal
intensity. Therefore, it is no surprise that Scholastica and her twin brother,
Benedict, established religious communities within a few miles from each other.
Born in 480 of wealthy parents, Scholastica and Benedict were
brought up together until he left central Italy for Rome to continue his
studies.
Little is known of Scholastica’s early life. She founded a
religious community for women near Monte Cassino at Plombariola, five miles
from where her brother governed a monastery.
The twins visited each other once a year in a farmhouse because
Benedict was not permitted inside the monastery. They spent these times
discussing spiritual matters.
According to the Dialogues of St. Gregory the Great,
the brother and sister spent their last day together in prayer and
conversation. Scholastica sensed her death was close at hand and she begged
Benedict to stay with her until the next day.
He refused her request because he did not want to spend a night
outside the monastery, thus breaking his own Rule. Scholastica asked God to let
her brother remain and a severe thunderstorm broke out, preventing Benedict and
his monks from returning to the abbey.
Benedict cried out, “God forgive you, Sister. What have you
done?” Scholastica replied, “I asked a favor of you and you refused. I asked it
of God and he granted it.”
Brother and sister parted the next morning after their long
discussion. Three days later, Benedict was praying in his monastery and saw the
soul of his sister rising heavenward in the form of a white dove. Benedict then
announced the death of his sister to the monks and later buried her in the tomb
he had prepared for himself.
Reflection
Scholastica and Benedict gave themselves totally to God and gave
top priority to deepening their friendship with him through prayer. They
sacrificed some of the opportunities they would have had to be together as
brother and sister in order better to fulfill their vocation to the religious
life. In coming closer to Christ, however, they found they were also closer to
each other. In joining a religious community, they did not forget or forsake
their family but rather found more brothers and sisters.
Saint Scholastica is the Patron Saint of:
Nuns
LECTIO DIVINA: MARK 8,1-10
Lectio Divina:
Saturday, February 10, 2018
1) OPENING PRAYER
Father,
watch
over Your family
and
keep us safe in Your care,
for
all our hope is in You.
We
ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who
lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
One
God, forever and ever. Amen.
2) GOSPEL READING - MARK
8:1-10
In
those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus
summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd,
because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I
send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some
of them have come a great distance.” His disciples answered him, “Where can
anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Still he
asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven.” He ordered
the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave
thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they
distributed them to the crowd. They also had a few fish. He said the blessing
over them and ordered them distributed also. They ate and were satisfied. They
picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets. There were about four thousand
people. He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples and
came to the region of Dalmanutha.
3) REFLECTION
The
Gospel today speaks about the second multiplication of the loaves. The unitive
thread of several episodes in this part of the Gospel of Mark is the food, the
bread. After the banquet of death (Mk 6:17-29), comes the banquet of life (Mk
6:30-44). During the crossing of the Lake the disciples are afraid, because
they have understood nothing of the bread multiplied in the desert (Mk 6:
51-52). Then Jesus declares that all food is pure (Mk 7: 1-23). In Jesus’
conversation with the Canaanite woman, the gentiles ate the crumbs which fell
from the table of the children (Mk 7:24-30). And here, in today s Gospel, Mark
speaks about the second multiplication of the loaves (Mk 8:1-10).
Mark
8: 1-3: The situation of the people and the reaction of Jesus. The crowds who
gathered around Jesus in the desert had no food to eat. Jesus calls the
disciples and presents the problem to them: I feel pity for this people,
because for three days they have been following Me and have not eaten. If I
send them away to their homes without eating, they will faint on the way; and
some came from very far! In Jesus’ concern there are two important things: a)
People forget home and food and follow Jesus to the desert! This is a sign that
Jesus aroused great sympathy, up to the point that people followed Him into the
desert and remained with Him three days! b) Jesus does not ask them to solve
the problem. He only expresses His concern to the disciples. It seems to be a
problem without a solution.
Mark
8: 4: The reaction of the disciples: the first misunderstanding. The disciples
then think of a solution, according to which someone had to bring bread for the
people. It does not even occur to them that the solution could come from the
people themselves. They say: And how could we feed all these people in the
desert? In other words, they think of a traditional solution. Someone has to
find the money, buy bread and distribute it to the people. They themselves
perceive that, in that desert, to buy bread, this solution is not possible, but
they see no other possibility to solve the problem. That is, if Jesus insists
in not sending the people back to their homes, there will be no way to feed
them!
Mark
8:5-7: The solution found by Jesus. First of all, He asks how much bread they
have: seven loaves! Then He orders the people to sit down. Then, He takes those
seven loaves of bread, gives thanks, breaks them and gives them to the
disciples to distribute; and they distribute them to the crowds. And He does
the same thing with the fish. As in the first multiplication (Mk 6: 41), the
way in which Mark describes Jesus’ attitude, recalls the Eucharist. The message
is this: participation in the Eucharist should lead to the gift and to the
sharing of bread with those who have no bread.
Mark
8: 8-10: The result: Everyone ate, they were satisfied and bread was left over!
This was an unexpected solution, which began within the people, with the few
loaves of bread that they had brought! In the first multiplication, twelve
baskets of bread were left over; here, seven. In the first one, they served
five thousand people. Here four thousand. In the first one there were five
loaves of bread and two fish. Here, seven loaves of bread and a few fish.
The
time of the dominant ideology. The disciples thought one way, Jesus thinks in
another way. In the way of thinking of the disciples there is the dominant
ideology, the common way of thinking of people. Jesus thinks in a different
way. It is not by going with Jesus and living in a community that a person is
already a saint and renewed. Among the disciples, the old mentality always
emerges again, because the leaven of Herod and of the Pharisees (Mk 8:15), that
is, the dominant ideology, had profound roots in the life of those people. The
conversion requested by Jesus is a deep conversion. He wants to uproot the
various types of leaven.
*
The leaven of the community closed up in itself, without any openness. Jesus
responds: The one who is not against is in favor! (Mk 9:39-40). For Jesus, what
is important is not if the person forms part of the community or not, but if
he/she is generous, available or not to do the good which the community has to
do.
*
The leaven of the group which considers itself superior to others. Jesus
responds: You do not know what spirit animates you (Lk 9:55).
*
The leaven of the mentality of class and of competition, which characterized
the society of the Roman Empire and which permeated the small community which
was just beginning. Jesus responds: Let the first one be the last one (Mk
9:35). This is the point on which He insists the most; it is the
strongest point of His witness: “I have not come to be served, but to serve”
(Mk 10:45; Mt 20: 28; Jn 13:1-16).
*
The leaven of the mentality of the culture of the time. Jesus responds: Allow
the little ones to come to me!. Jesus indicates that the little ones are the
models of discipleship for adults: anyone who does not accept the kingdom of
God as a child will not enter it (Lk 18:17).
The
reading of the Gospel, done in community, can help us to change life and the
vision and can help us to continue to convert ourselves and to be faithful to
the words of Jesus.
4) PERSONAL QUESTIONS
We
can always encounter misunderstandings with friends and enemies. What is the
misunderstanding between Jesus and the disciples on the occasion of the
multiplication of the loaves? How does Jesus face this misunderstanding?
In
your house, with your neighbors or in the community, have there been
misunderstandings? How have you reacted?
Has
your community had misunderstandings or conflicts with the civil or
ecclesiastical authority? How did this happen?
What
is the leaven which today prevents the realization of the Gospel and should be
eliminated?
5) CONCLUDING PRAYER
Lord,
You have been our refuge from age to age.
Before
the mountains were born,
before
the earth and the world came to birth,
from
eternity to eternity You are God. (Ps 90:1-2)
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