Saturday
of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 352
Lectionary: 352
Beloved,
remember the words spoken beforehand
by the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit.
Keep yourselves in the love of God
and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ
that leads to eternal life.
On those who waver, have mercy;
save others by snatching them out of the fire;
on others have mercy with fear,
abhorring even the outer garment stained by the flesh.
To the one who is able to keep you from stumbling
and to present you unblemished and exultant,
in the presence of his glory,
to the only God, our savior,
through Jesus Christ our Lord
be glory, majesty, power, and authority
from ages past, now, and for ages to come. Amen.
by the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit.
Keep yourselves in the love of God
and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ
that leads to eternal life.
On those who waver, have mercy;
save others by snatching them out of the fire;
on others have mercy with fear,
abhorring even the outer garment stained by the flesh.
To the one who is able to keep you from stumbling
and to present you unblemished and exultant,
in the presence of his glory,
to the only God, our savior,
through Jesus Christ our Lord
be glory, majesty, power, and authority
from ages past, now, and for ages to come. Amen.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 63:2, 3-4, 5-6
R.
(2b) My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
O God, you are my God whom I seek;
for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts
like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary
to see your power and your glory,
For your kindness is a greater good than life;
my lips shall glorify you.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
Thus will I bless you while I live;
lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.
As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,
and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
O God, you are my God whom I seek;
for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts
like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary
to see your power and your glory,
For your kindness is a greater good than life;
my lips shall glorify you.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
Thus will I bless you while I live;
lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.
As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,
and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
AlleluiaSEE COL 3:16A, 17C
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly;
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly;
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMK 11:27-33
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."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Fearing the truth, by Augustine of
Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Fearing a stoning, but fearing more an admission
of the truth, they answered the truth with a lie, reminiscent of the Scripture:
'injustice has lied within herself' (Psalm 27:12). For they said, 'We know
not.' And because they had shut themselves up against him, by asserting that
they did not know what they knew, the Lord did not open up to them because they
did not knock. For it has been said, 'Knock and it will be opened to you'
(Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:9). But they not only had not knocked that it might be
opened, but by their denial they barricaded the door itself against themselves.
And the Lord said to them, 'Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these
things' (Matthew 21:27; Mark 11:33; Luke 20:7). (excerpt from TRACTATE ON JOHN 2.9.4)
SATURDAY, MAY 28, MARK 11:27-33
Weekday
(Jude 17, 20b-25; Psalm 19)
Weekday
(Jude 17, 20b-25; Psalm 19)
KEY VERSE: "Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things" (v 33).
TO KNOW: 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 he 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 LOVE: Do I pray for secular as well as religious authorities?
TO SERVE: 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, in the Liturgy, and reflections on popular devotions to Mary, her feast days, and the Rosary.
Saturday 28 May 2016
Sat 28th.
Jude
17, 20-25. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God—Ps 62(63):2-6. Mark 11:27-33.
God, you are my God and I long for you.
Let’s take a moment to remind ourselves of what it
feels like to long for something. It’s a feeling that comes from our deepest
knowing, our core, our soul, and it’s a thirst we want quenched. We are all
created by God and therefore have a spark of God in us. We will not be complete
until we return to God. The wonderful thing is, our God longs for us also.
God, creator of us all, we take a moment now to gaze
upon you, and our eyes meet with longing for each other. May we feel satiated
with your love and peace and discover the strength and trust to live this love
for others.
MINUTE
MEDITATIONS
|
Act of Justice
|
We
have a responsibility to balance the scales, to show love where there is hate,
to provide food where there is hunger, and to protect what is vulnerable. If
life has treated you well, then justice demands that you help balance the
scales.
May 28
Venerable Pierre Toussaint
(1766-1853)
Venerable Pierre Toussaint
(1766-1853)
Born
in modern-day Haiti and brought to New York City as a slave, Pierre died a free
man, a renowned hairdresser and one of New York City’s most well-known
Catholics.
Pierre Bérard, a plantation owner, made Toussaint a house slave and allowed his grandmother to teach her grandson how to read and write. In his early 20s, Pierre, his younger sister, his aunt and two other house slaves accompanied their master’s son to New York City because of political unrest at home. Apprenticed to a local hairdresser, Pierre learned the trade quickly and eventually worked very successfully in the homes of rich women in New York City.
When his master died, Pierre was determined to support his master’s widow, himself and the other house slaves. He was freed shortly before the widow’s death in 1807.
Pierre Bérard, a plantation owner, made Toussaint a house slave and allowed his grandmother to teach her grandson how to read and write. In his early 20s, Pierre, his younger sister, his aunt and two other house slaves accompanied their master’s son to New York City because of political unrest at home. Apprenticed to a local hairdresser, Pierre learned the trade quickly and eventually worked very successfully in the homes of rich women in New York City.
When his master died, Pierre was determined to support his master’s widow, himself and the other house slaves. He was freed shortly before the widow’s death in 1807.
Four
years later he married Marie Rose Juliette, whose freedom he had purchased.
They later adopted Euphémie, his orphaned niece. Both preceded him in death. He
attended daily Mass at St. Peter’s Church on Barclay Street, the same parish
that St. Elizabeth Seton attended.
Pierre donated to various charities, generously assisting blacks and whites in need. He and his wife opened their home to orphans and educated them. The couple also nursed abandoned people who were suffering from yellow fever. Urged to retire and enjoy the wealth he had accumulated, Pierre responded, “I have enough for myself, but if I stop working I have not enough for others.”
He was originally buried outside St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, where he was once refused entrance because of his race. His sanctity and the popular devotion to him caused his body to be moved to St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue.
Pierre Toussaint was declared Venerable in 1996.
Pierre donated to various charities, generously assisting blacks and whites in need. He and his wife opened their home to orphans and educated them. The couple also nursed abandoned people who were suffering from yellow fever. Urged to retire and enjoy the wealth he had accumulated, Pierre responded, “I have enough for myself, but if I stop working I have not enough for others.”
He was originally buried outside St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, where he was once refused entrance because of his race. His sanctity and the popular devotion to him caused his body to be moved to St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue.
Pierre Toussaint was declared Venerable in 1996.
Comment:
Pierre was internally free long before he was legally free. Refusing to become bitter, he daily chose to cooperate with God’s grace, eventually becoming a compelling sign of God’s wildly generous love.
Pierre was internally free long before he was legally free. Refusing to become bitter, he daily chose to cooperate with God’s grace, eventually becoming a compelling sign of God’s wildly generous love.
Quote:
Emma Cary, one of Pierre’s customers, said: “His life was so perfect, and he explained the teaching of the Church with a simplicity so intelligent and courageous that everyone honored him as a Catholic. He would explain the devotion to the Mother of God with the utmost clearness, or show the union of the natural and supernatural gifts in the priest.”
Emma Cary, one of Pierre’s customers, said: “His life was so perfect, and he explained the teaching of the Church with a simplicity so intelligent and courageous that everyone honored him as a Catholic. He would explain the devotion to the Mother of God with the utmost clearness, or show the union of the natural and supernatural gifts in the priest.”
LECTIO DIVINA: MARK 11,27-33
Lectio
Divina:
Saturday,
May 28, 2016
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.
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