Saturday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 352
Lectionary: 352
I thank the LORD
and I praise him;
I bless the name of the LORD.
When I was young and innocent,
I sought wisdom openly in my prayer
I prayed for her before the temple,
and I will seek her until the end,
and she flourished as a grape soon ripe.
My heart delighted in her,
My feet kept to the level path
because from earliest youth I was familiar with her.
In the short time I paid heed,
I met with great instruction.
Since in this way I have profited,
I will give my teacher grateful praise.
I became resolutely devoted to her—
the good I persistently strove for.
My soul was tormented in seeking her,
My hand opened her gate
and I came to know her secrets.
I directed my soul to her,
and in cleanness I attained to her.
I bless the name of the LORD.
When I was young and innocent,
I sought wisdom openly in my prayer
I prayed for her before the temple,
and I will seek her until the end,
and she flourished as a grape soon ripe.
My heart delighted in her,
My feet kept to the level path
because from earliest youth I was familiar with her.
In the short time I paid heed,
I met with great instruction.
Since in this way I have profited,
I will give my teacher grateful praise.
I became resolutely devoted to her—
the good I persistently strove for.
My soul was tormented in seeking her,
My hand opened her gate
and I came to know her secrets.
I directed my soul to her,
and in cleanness I attained to her.
Responsorial PsalmPS 19:8, 9, 10, 11
R. (9ab) The precepts of the Lord give joy to the
heart.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart.
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart.
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
AlleluiaSEE COL 3:16A, 17C
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly;
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly;
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMK 1:27-33
Jesus and his
disciples returned once more to Jerusalem.
As he was walking in the temple area,
the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders
approached him and said to him,
“By what authority are you doing these things?
Or who gave you this authority to do them?”
Jesus said to them, “I shall ask you one question.
Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me.”
They discussed this among themselves and said,
“If we say, ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say,
‘Then why did you not believe him?’
But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”–
they feared the crowd,
for they all thought John really was a prophet.
So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.”
Then Jesus said to them,
“Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
As he was walking in the temple area,
the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders
approached him and said to him,
“By what authority are you doing these things?
Or who gave you this authority to do them?”
Jesus said to them, “I shall ask you one question.
Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me.”
They discussed this among themselves and said,
“If we say, ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say,
‘Then why did you not believe him?’
But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”–
they feared the crowd,
for they all thought John really was a prophet.
So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.”
Then Jesus said to them,
“Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Meditation: "Who
gave you this authority?"
Do you accept the authority of God's word and submit to it with
trust and obedience? Many religious leaders took offense at Jesus because they
could not accept his authority. After Jesus had dramatically cleansed the
temple of the traders and money-changers the Jewish leaders question Jesus to
trap him. If he says his authority is divine they will charge him with
blasphemy. If he has done this on his own authority they might well arrest him
as a mad zealot before he could do more damage.
Jesus, seeing through their trap, poses a question to them and
makes their answer a condition for his answer. Did they accept the work of John
the Baptist as divine or human? If they accepted John's work as divine, they
would be compelled to accept Jesus as the Messiah. They dodged the question
because they were unwilling to face the truth. They did not accept the Baptist
and they would not accept Jesus as their Messiah. Jesus told his disciples that
"the truth will make you free" (John 8:31). Do you know the joy and
freedom of living according to God's word of truth?
"Lord Jesus, your word is life and truth. Instruct my heart
that I may grow in the knowledge of your truth and live according to your
word."
SATURDAY, MAY 30, MARK
11:27-33
Weekday
(Sirach 51:12cd-20; Psalm 19)
Weekday
(Sirach 51:12cd-20; Psalm 19)
KEY VERSE: "Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things" (v 33).
TO READ: The prophet Malachi foretold the arrival of God's messenger who would purify the Temple restoring it as a suitable place of worship (Mal 3:1-3). When Jesus cleansed the Temple making it a "house of prayer for all peoples" (v 17), he incurred the wrath of the religious leaders. They demanded to know by whose authority Jesus was acting. Jesus counter-questioned his adversaries asking them whether John's baptism was of divine or human origin. Because of John's popularity, the religious leaders feared that they might antagonize the people. Because they refused to answer Jesus, he did not answer their question.
TO REFLECT: Do I pray for secular and religious authorities?
TO RESPOND: Lord Jesus, help me to obey your authority in all matters of faith and morals.
Optional Memorial of the
Blessed Virgin Mary
Chapter V of the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, issued by the Holy See in December 2001, describes the Church's traditional dedication of Saturday to the Virgin Mary. "Saturdays stand out among those days dedicated to the Virgin Mary. These are designated as memorials of the Blessed Virgin Mary" (218). The chapter also describes the importance of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, in Catholic devotional life, including the Liturgy, and reflections on popular devotions to Mary, her feast days, and the Rosary.
Saturday 30 May 2015
Ecclesiasticus 51:12-20.
The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart—Ps 18(19):8-11. Mark 11:27-33.
‘By what authority have you
done this?’
Challenged regarding his authority, Jesus asked the chief priests what they thought of John the Baptist. Challenge was met by counter-challenge. Our Lord and his teaching continue to challenge people, including me. What do I think of him? What do I do for him? What do I do for the least of his brothers and sisters?
Challenged regarding his authority, Jesus asked the chief priests what they thought of John the Baptist. Challenge was met by counter-challenge. Our Lord and his teaching continue to challenge people, including me. What do I think of him? What do I do for him? What do I do for the least of his brothers and sisters?
Because Our Lord loves me,
he challenges me. He does not want me to become complacent, self-satisfied,
even a little bit of a Pharisee. Lovingly, gently, but persistently, he tries
to stir my heart.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I
pray, make my heart like yours. Give me a wise and loving heart, a generous
heart.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
|
The Gift of Touch
|
Touch can be an act of kindness when someone is dying. If you
visit a sick person and find that you are at a loss for words, reach out and
touch her hand. It will convey your care for her and can have a calming effect.
It says to the person, “You are appreciated, you are cherished, and you are not
alone.”
May
30
St. Joan of Arc
(1412-1431)
St. Joan of Arc
(1412-1431)
Burned at
the stake as a heretic after a politically-motivated trial, Joan was beatified
in 1909 and canonized in 1920.
Born of a
fairly well-to-do peasant couple in Domremy-Greux (southeast of Paris), Joan
was only 12 when she experienced a vision and heard voices that she later
identified as Sts. Michael the Archangel, Catherine of Alexandria,
and Margaret of Antioch.
During
the Hundred Years War, she led French troops against the English and recaptured
the cities of Orléans and Troyes. This enabled Charles VII to be crowned as
king in Reims in 1429. Captured near Compiegne the following year, she was sold
to the English and placed on trial for heresy and witchcraft. Professors at the
University of Paris supported Bishop Pierre Cauchon of Beauvis, the judge at
her trial; Cardinal Henry Beaufort of Winchester, England, participated in the
questioning of Joan in prison. In the end, she was condemned for wearing men's
clothes. The English resented France's military success–to which Joan
contributed.
On this
day in 1431, she was burned at the stake in Rouen, and her ashes were scattered
in the Seine River. A second Church trial 25 years later nullified the earlier
verdict, which was reached under political pressure.
Remembered
by most people for her military exploits, Joan had a great love for
the sacraments, which strengthened her compassion toward the poor. Popular
devotion to her increased greatly in 19th-century France and later among French
soldiers during World War I. Theologian George Tavard writes that her life
"offers a perfect example of the conjunction of contemplation and
action" because her spiritual insight is that there should be a
"unity of heaven and earth."
Joan of
Arc has been the subject of many books, plays, operas, and movies.
Comment:
"Joan of Arc is like a shooting star across the landscape of French and English history, amid the stories of the Church's saints and into our consciousness. Women identify with her; men admire her courage. She challenges us in fundamental ways. Despite the fact that more than 500 years have passed since she lived, her issues of mysticism, calling, identity, trust and betrayal, conflict and focus are our issues still." (Joan of Arc: God's Warrior, by Barbara Beckwith)
"Joan of Arc is like a shooting star across the landscape of French and English history, amid the stories of the Church's saints and into our consciousness. Women identify with her; men admire her courage. She challenges us in fundamental ways. Despite the fact that more than 500 years have passed since she lived, her issues of mysticism, calling, identity, trust and betrayal, conflict and focus are our issues still." (Joan of Arc: God's Warrior, by Barbara Beckwith)
Quote:
As she was being
burned at the stake, Joan called on Jesus.
Patron Saint of:
France
Military members
France
Military members
LECTIO DIVINA:
MARK 11,27-33
Lectio:
Saturday, May 30, 2015
PRAYER
Lord, Father of goodness and mercy, You has sent your Son
Jesus from heaven to reveal to us the authority and the sweetness of your love.
Send us your Holy Spirit as He descended upon Christ on the baptism in the
Jordan River, and the heavens open with your voice of salvation: "You are
my Son, my beloved," may our hearts not discuss, nor close, but in full
confidence that they can welcome your light and embracement of the Father, now
and forever. Amen.
READING
Jesus and his disciples returned once more to Jerusalem.
As he was walking in the temple area,
the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders
approached him and said to him,
“By what authority are you doing these things?
Or who gave you this authority to do them?”
Jesus said to them, “I shall ask you one question.
Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me.”
They discussed this among themselves and said,
“If we say, ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say,
‘Then why did you not believe him?’
But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”–
they feared the crowd,
for they all thought John really was a prophet.
So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.”
Then Jesus said to them,
“Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
As he was walking in the temple area,
the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders
approached him and said to him,
“By what authority are you doing these things?
Or who gave you this authority to do them?”
Jesus said to them, “I shall ask you one question.
Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me.”
They discussed this among themselves and said,
“If we say, ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say,
‘Then why did you not believe him?’
But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”–
they feared the crowd,
for they all thought John really was a prophet.
So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.”
Then Jesus said to them,
“Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
MEDITATION
* "By what authority?". The word "authority"
is central to this short passage and contains the secret of the faith journey
and spiritual growth that we can fulfill, if we let ourselves be guided by the
Word, in meditation of this Gospel. The provocative question addressed to Jesus
by the scribes and chief priests makes us understand that how distance there is
between him and them and that is why there can be no answer. For the priests
and scribes "Authority" is "power," "strength",
"dominion", "capable of enforcing laws and judge." But
Jesus 'authority' is another thing; in Hebrew this word authority is from a
root of the word that also means "similar to." In fact, Jesus makes
it clear in the place that he was walking (v. 27) and that would lead us to
understand that “authority” is similarity with the Father, the relationship of
love with him, as between Father and son. It is no coincidence that he
immediately appoints the baptism of John.
* "The baptism of John ...." Jesus leads us now
clearly at the starting point, the source, where we really find ourselves in
the encounter with God in the banks of the River Jordan, where he was baptized,
is also prepared our place, because, like him, go down into the water, the fire
of love and allow ourselves to mark with the seal of the Holy Spirit, let us
reach out, gather and visit with these words: "You are my Son, the
beloved" (Mk 11). Jesus tells us that there is no other authority, or
other greatness or riches than this.
* "From heaven or from human origin?". We want to be
with God or with men, or we want follow God or men, or we want to enter into
the light of the Open Skies (Mark 1, 10) or remain in the darkness of our
loneliness?
* "Answer me." It 's beautiful word of Jesus, repeated
forcefully twice (vv. 29 and 30). He calls for a clear choice, a clear
decision, sincere, authentic and profound. The verb "answer", in
Greek means to express the attitude, the ability to distinguish, to separate
things well. The Lord wants to invite us to enter into the deepest part of
ourselves to let go through his words and so, in this strong relationship with
Him, learning more and more to pull ourselves out of important decisions of our
lives or even in our days.
But there is something more to this word so simple and so
beautiful. The Hebrew root expresses at the same time, the response, but also
the misery, poverty, grief, humility. That is, there can be no real answer, if
not humility, if not listening. Jesus is asking the priests and scribes, but to
us, to enter into this dimension of life, this attitude of the soul: to humble
before Him, recognizing our poverty, our need for him, because only this may be
the real answer to his questions.
* They argued among themselves. "Another important verb
that helps us to understand a little bit more about our inner world. This
discussion is in fact a "talk through" as we sense from a literal
translation of the Greek word used by Mark. These people in this passage are
broken inside, are crossed by an injury, are not all in one piece in front of
Jesus talking to each other, bringing together a number of reasons and
considerations, instead of entering into that relationship and in that dialogue
with the Father which was inaugurated with the baptism of Jesus, they remain outside,
at a distance, as the son of the parable, who refuses to join in the feast of
love (cf. Lk 15, 28). They also do not believe in the Word of God, once again
repeated: "You are my Son, my beloved, in you I am well pleased" (Mk
1, 11) and continue to seek and desire the virtue of ' authority and power
rather than the weakness of love.
QUESTIONS
FOR REFLECTION
* The Lord teaches me his authority, even in my life, not
domination, oppression or force but is love, and the ability to be alike, to be
near. I would like to accept this authority of Jesus in my life, I would truly
enter into this relationship of resemblance with him, am I ready to take the
steps of this choice? Am I determined to follow this through?
* Maybe, approaching this Gospel, I did not expect to come back
to the episode of Baptism and the experience so fundamental and source of the
relationship with God the Father. Instead, once again, the Lord wanted to
reveal his love so immense, that does not shrink in any effort, any obstacles
just to reach me. Is my heart, right now, before him? Can I hear the voice of
the Father speaks to me and calls me "son", saying my name? Can I
accept this statement of love? Do I trust him, believe him, and I give myself
to Him? Do I choose heaven or still the earth?
* I cannot think out of this meditation without having given my
answer. Jesus asks me specifically, that "Answer me" is also
addressed to me today. I learned that there can be no one to answer without a
real hearing and listening that can only come from true humility ... Do I want
to take these steps? Or just want to continue to respond with my own
convictions, my old ways of thinking and feeling, from my conceit and
self-sufficiency?
* One last thing. Looking inside of my heart, do I feel being
'too divided, as enemies of Jesus? Is there any wound in me that not allow me
to be whole Christian, or a friend of Christ, or his disciple? What's in my
life that I am broken, which separates me from him?
FINAL
PRAYER
The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul.
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart.
The command of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eye.
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.
The statutes of the LORD are true, all of them just;
More desirable than gold, than a hoard of purest gold,
Sweeter also than honey or drippings from the comb.
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart.
The command of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eye.
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.
The statutes of the LORD are true, all of them just;
More desirable than gold, than a hoard of purest gold,
Sweeter also than honey or drippings from the comb.
