Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales,
bishop and doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 315
Lectionary: 315
Saul took three thousand picked
men from all Israel
and went in search of David and his men
in the direction of the wild goat crags.
When he came to the sheepfolds along the way, he found a cave,
which he entered to relieve himself.
David and his men were occupying the inmost recesses of the cave.
and went in search of David and his men
in the direction of the wild goat crags.
When he came to the sheepfolds along the way, he found a cave,
which he entered to relieve himself.
David and his men were occupying the inmost recesses of the cave.
David’s servants said to him,
“This is the day of which the LORD said to you,
‘I will deliver your enemy into your grasp;
do with him as you see fit.’”
So David moved up and stealthily cut off an end of Saul’s mantle.
Afterward, however, David regretted that he had cut off
an end of Saul’s mantle.
He said to his men,
“The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master,
the LORD’s anointed, as to lay a hand on him,
for he is the LORD’s anointed.”
With these words David restrained his men
and would not permit them to attack Saul.
Saul then left the cave and went on his way.
David also stepped out of the cave, calling to Saul,
“My lord the king!”
When Saul looked back, David bowed to the ground in homage and asked Saul:
“Why do you listen to those who say,
‘David is trying to harm you’?
You see for yourself today that the LORD just now delivered you
into my grasp in the cave.
I had some thought of killing you, but I took pity on you instead.
I decided, ‘I will not raise a hand against my lord,
for he is the LORD’s anointed and a father to me.’
Look here at this end of your mantle which I hold.
Since I cut off an end of your mantle and did not kill you,
see and be convinced that I plan no harm and no rebellion.
I have done you no wrong,
though you are hunting me down to take my life.
The LORD will judge between me and you,
and the LORD will exact justice from you in my case.
I shall not touch you.
The old proverb says, ‘From the wicked comes forth wickedness.’
So I will take no action against you.
Against whom are you on campaign, O king of Israel?
Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, or a single flea!
The LORD will be the judge; he will decide between me and you.
May he see this, and take my part,
and grant me justice beyond your reach!”
When David finished saying these things to Saul, Saul answered,
“Is that your voice, my son David?”
And Saul wept aloud.
Saul then said to David: “You are in the right rather than I;
you have treated me generously, while I have done you harm.
Great is the generosity you showed me today,
when the LORD delivered me into your grasp
and you did not kill me.
For if a man meets his enemy, does he send him away unharmed?
May the LORD reward you generously for what you have done this day.
And now, I know that you shall surely be king
and that sovereignty over Israel shall come into your possession.”
“This is the day of which the LORD said to you,
‘I will deliver your enemy into your grasp;
do with him as you see fit.’”
So David moved up and stealthily cut off an end of Saul’s mantle.
Afterward, however, David regretted that he had cut off
an end of Saul’s mantle.
He said to his men,
“The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master,
the LORD’s anointed, as to lay a hand on him,
for he is the LORD’s anointed.”
With these words David restrained his men
and would not permit them to attack Saul.
Saul then left the cave and went on his way.
David also stepped out of the cave, calling to Saul,
“My lord the king!”
When Saul looked back, David bowed to the ground in homage and asked Saul:
“Why do you listen to those who say,
‘David is trying to harm you’?
You see for yourself today that the LORD just now delivered you
into my grasp in the cave.
I had some thought of killing you, but I took pity on you instead.
I decided, ‘I will not raise a hand against my lord,
for he is the LORD’s anointed and a father to me.’
Look here at this end of your mantle which I hold.
Since I cut off an end of your mantle and did not kill you,
see and be convinced that I plan no harm and no rebellion.
I have done you no wrong,
though you are hunting me down to take my life.
The LORD will judge between me and you,
and the LORD will exact justice from you in my case.
I shall not touch you.
The old proverb says, ‘From the wicked comes forth wickedness.’
So I will take no action against you.
Against whom are you on campaign, O king of Israel?
Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, or a single flea!
The LORD will be the judge; he will decide between me and you.
May he see this, and take my part,
and grant me justice beyond your reach!”
When David finished saying these things to Saul, Saul answered,
“Is that your voice, my son David?”
And Saul wept aloud.
Saul then said to David: “You are in the right rather than I;
you have treated me generously, while I have done you harm.
Great is the generosity you showed me today,
when the LORD delivered me into your grasp
and you did not kill me.
For if a man meets his enemy, does he send him away unharmed?
May the LORD reward you generously for what you have done this day.
And now, I know that you shall surely be king
and that sovereignty over Israel shall come into your possession.”
Responsorial
Psalm57:2, 3-4, 6 AND 11
R. (2a) Have mercy on me, God,
have mercy.
Have mercy on me, O God; have mercy on me,
for in you I take refuge.
In the shadow of your wings I take refuge,
till harm pass by.
R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
I call to God the Most High,
to God, my benefactor.
May he send from heaven and save me;
may he make those a reproach who trample upon me;
may God send his mercy and his faithfulness.
R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
above all the earth be your glory!
For your mercy towers to the heavens,
and your faithfulness to the skies.
R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
Have mercy on me, O God; have mercy on me,
for in you I take refuge.
In the shadow of your wings I take refuge,
till harm pass by.
R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
I call to God the Most High,
to God, my benefactor.
May he send from heaven and save me;
may he make those a reproach who trample upon me;
may God send his mercy and his faithfulness.
R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
above all the earth be your glory!
For your mercy towers to the heavens,
and your faithfulness to the skies.
R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
Alleluia2 COR 5:19
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMK 3:13-19
Jesus went up the mountain and
summoned those whom he wanted
and they came to him.
He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles,
that they might be with him
and he might send them forth to preach
and to have authority to drive out demons:
He appointed the Twelve:
Simon, whom he named Peter;
James, son of Zebedee,
and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges,
that is, sons of thunder;
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus;
Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean,
and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
and they came to him.
He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles,
that they might be with him
and he might send them forth to preach
and to have authority to drive out demons:
He appointed the Twelve:
Simon, whom he named Peter;
James, son of Zebedee,
and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges,
that is, sons of thunder;
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus;
Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean,
and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
For the
readings of the Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, please go here.
Meditation:
"Jesus
appointed twelve to be with him"
What
is God's call on your life? When Jesus embarked on his mission he chose twelve
men for the task of preaching the kingdom of God and healing the sick in the
power of that kingdom. In the choice of the twelve, we see a characteristic
feature of God's work: Jesus chose very ordinary people. They were
non-professionals, who had no wealth or position. They were chosen from the
common people who did ordinary things, had no special education, and no social
advantages. Jesus wanted ordinary people who could take an assignment and do it
extraordinarily well. He chose these men, not for what they were, but for what
they would be capable of becoming under his direction and power.
Jesus
calls you to serve him - will you say yes today and tomorrow?
When the Lord calls us to serve, we must not shrug back because we think that we have little or nothing to offer. The Lord takes what ordinary people, like us, can offer and uses it for greatness in his kingdom. Do you make your life an offering to the Lord and allow him to use you as he sees fit?
When the Lord calls us to serve, we must not shrug back because we think that we have little or nothing to offer. The Lord takes what ordinary people, like us, can offer and uses it for greatness in his kingdom. Do you make your life an offering to the Lord and allow him to use you as he sees fit?
"Lord
Jesus, fill me with gratitude and generosity for all you have done for me. Take
my life and all that I have as an offering of love for you, who are my
All."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: The renaming of Matthew by Jesus, by
Bede the Venerable, 672-735 A.D.
"We
must not pass over the fact that Matthew had two names, for he was also called
Levi, and that name too bears witness to the grace granted to him. Levi means
'added' (or 'a joining') or 'taken up,' signifying that he was 'taken up'
through being chosen by the Lord, and 'added' to the number of the apostolic
band. Mark and Luke generously chose to use this name alone, so as to not make
glaringly conspicuous his former way of life, for he was now their companion in
the work of the Gospel (Mark 2:14, Luke 5:27). In setting down the list of the
twelve apostles, they simply called him Matthew, not mentioning Levi (Mark
3:18, Luke 6:15). Matthew himself, on the other hand (in accord with what is
written, 'The just man is the first accuser of himself; his friend came and
searched him out' - Proverbs 18:17), calls himself by his ordinary name when
telling of being called from his tax-collector's place, but adds pointedly 'the
publican' (Matthew 10:3) - 'Thomas,' he says, 'and Matthew the publican.' In
this way he offers to publicans and sinners greater confidence in securing
their salvation." (excerpt from HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 1.21)
FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, MARK 3:13-19
Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, bishop and doctor of the Church
(1 Samuel 24:3-21; Psalm 57)
Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, bishop and doctor of the Church
(1 Samuel 24:3-21; Psalm 57)
KEY VERSE: "He appointed twelve that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach" (v 14).
TO KNOW: In Scripture, the mountain was a special place of God's revelation (Moses, Ex 19:3; Elijah, 1 Kgs 19:8-12). Jesus went up the mountain to summon those with whom he would share his ministry. His co-workers would be "sent forth" (the meaning of the word "apostle") to preach with the power and authority of his name. These men were eye-witnesses to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus (Acts 4:33). In the first covenant, there were twelve tribes that formed the foundation for the people of God (Gn 49). In the new covenant, there would be Twelve Apostles who would be signs of the newly restored twelve tribes of Israel, the Church. Peter is always first in the list. He is the foundation "rock" (Greek, Petros) upon which the Church would be built (Mt 16:18).
TO LOVE: Have I heard the Lord’s call to follow him?
TO SERVE: Holy Apostles, help me to follow your example.
Saint Francis de Sales, bishop and doctor of the Church
Francis de Sales was born in Savoy near Annecy in 1567, shortly after the conclusion of the Council of Trent. He studied the law, but abandoned the prospect of a brilliant career, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1593. Francis was appointed bishop of Geneva, and spent the rest of his life reforming and reorganizing the diocese and in caring for the souls of his people by preaching and spiritual guidance. He became the spiritual director of Saint Jane de Chantal with whom he founded the nuns of the Visitation in 1610. In his most famous writings, the “Introduction to the Devout Life” (1609) and the “Treatise on the Love of God” (1616), Francis taught that that true holiness is not reserved for monks and hermits alone. We can all attain a devout and spiritual life no matter what our position in society. In this he anticipated the Second Vatican Council's teaching that all Christians are called to holiness (Lumen Gentium, chapter 4). Francis died at Lyons on December 28, 1622 and was canonized in 1665. He was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1877 and Patron of the Catholic Press in 1923.
Friday 24 January 2020
1 Samuel 24: 3-21. Psalm 56(57): 2-4, 6, 11. Mark 3:13-19.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy – Psalm 56(57): 2-4, 6, 11.
‘And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles.’
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy – Psalm 56(57): 2-4, 6, 11.
‘And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles.’
In today’s Gospel we hear of the twelve appointed by Jesus ‘to
be with him, to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out
demons.’
Just like the twelve apostles God calls each of us by name.
There is an intimacy to this call, a tenderness, a dignity, for as we read in the
prophet Isaiah ‘you are precious in my eyes, and honoured, and I love you’
(Isaiah 43:4). Jesus announces the kingdom by his life, and we carry forth this
message and reality to the people we meet in our days. By our pattern of
living, with our quality of presence, we attend to God’s love resounding at the
heart of all things and are transformed. Made new in the Spirit, we can go out
with joy in our hearts to give glory to God’s name, proclaiming with wonder the
Good News.
Saint Francis de Sales
Saint of the Day for January 24
(August 21, 1567 – December 28, 1622)
Saint Francis de Sales’ Story
Francis was destined by his father to be a lawyer so that the
young man could eventually take his elder’s place as a senator from the
province of Savoy in France. For this reason Francis was sent to Padua to study
law. After receiving his doctorate, he returned home and, in due time, told his
parents he wished to enter the priesthood. His father strongly opposed Francis
in this, and only after much patient persuasiveness on the part of the gentle
Francis did his father finally consent. Francis was ordained and elected
provost of the Diocese of Geneva, then a center for the Calvinists. Francis set
out to convert them, especially in the district of Chablais. By preaching and
distributing the little pamphlets he wrote to explain true Catholic doctrine,
he had remarkable success.
At 35, he became bishop of Geneva. While administering his
diocese he continued to preach, hear confessions, and catechize the children.
His gentle character was a great asset in winning souls. He practiced his own
axiom, “A spoonful of honey attracts more flies than a barrelful of vinegar.”
Besides his two well-known books, the Introduction to
the Devout Life and A Treatise on the Love of God, he
wrote many pamphlets and carried on a vast correspondence. For his writings, he
has been named patron of the Catholic Press. His writings, filled with his
characteristic gentle spirit, are addressed to lay people. He wants to make
them understand that they too are called to be saints. As he wrote in The
Introduction to the Devout Life: “It is an error, or rather a heresy, to
say devotion is incompatible with the life of a soldier, a tradesman, a prince,
or a married woman…. It has happened that many have lost perfection in the
desert who had preserved it in the world.”
In spite of his busy and comparatively short life, he had time
to collaborate with another saint, Jane Frances de Chantal, in the work of
establishing the Sisters of the Visitation. These women were to practice the
virtues exemplified in Mary’s visit to Elizabeth: humility, piety, and mutual
charity. They at first engaged to a limited degree in works of mercy for the
poor and the sick. Today, while some communities conduct schools, others live a
strictly contemplative life.
Reflection
Francis de Sales took seriously the words of Christ, “Learn of
me for I am meek and humble of heart.” As he said himself, it took him 20 years
to conquer his quick temper, but no one ever suspected he had such a problem,
so overflowing with good nature and kindness was his usual manner of acting.
His perennial meekness and sunny disposition won for him the title of
“Gentleman Saint.”
Saint Francis de Sales is the Patron Saint of:
Authors
Deafness
Journalists
Writers
Deafness
Journalists
Writers
Lectio Divina: Mark 3:13-19
Lectio Divina
Friday, January 24, 2020
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Almighty God,
ruler of all things in heaven and on earth,
listen favorably to the prayer of Your people,
and grant us Your peace in our day.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever. Amen.
ruler of all things in heaven and on earth,
listen favorably to the prayer of Your people,
and grant us Your peace in our day.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel reading - Mark 3:13-19
Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and
they came to him. He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they
might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority
to drive out demons: He appointed the Twelve: Simon, whom he named Peter;
James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges,
that is, sons of thunder; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James
the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who
betrayed him.
3)Reflection
• The Gospel today describes the acceptance and mission of the
twelve apostles. Jesus begins with two disciples to whom He adds two others (Mk
1:16-20). Gradually, the number increased. Luke tells us that He called the 72
disciples so as to go on mission with Him (Lk 10:1).
• Mark 3:13-15: The call for a two-fold mission. Jesus calls whom He wants and they go with Him, they follow Him. Then, “He appointed twelve, to be His companions and to be sent out to proclaim the message, with power to drive out devils.” Jesus calls them for a double purpose, for a two-fold mission: (a) to be with Him, that is, to form the community of which He, Jesus, is the center; (b) to pray and to have power to drive out devils, that is, to announce the Good News and to fight against the power of evil that ruins the life of people and alienates people. Mark says that Jesus went up to the mountain, and, while He was there, He called the disciples. The call means climbing up. In the Bible, to climb the mountain recalls the mountain that Moses climbed when he had the encounter with God (Ex 24:12). Luke says that Jesus went up to the mountain, prayed all night, and the following day He called the disciples. He prayed to God so as to know whom to choose (Lk 6:12-13). After having called them, Jesus makes the election official and creates a more stable group of twelve people in order to give more consistency to the mission and to signify the continuity of God’s project. The twelve apostles of the New Testament are the successors of the twelve tribes of Israel.
• Thus, the first community of the New Testament comes into being, a model community, which gradually grows around Jesus during the three years of His public activity. At the beginning they are only four (Mk 1:16-20). Shortly afterwards the community increases as the mission is developing, extending into the towns and villages of Galilee. There is a time when they do not even have the time to eat or to rest (Mk 3:2). This is why Jesus was concerned with giving the disciples some rest (Mk 6:31) and to increase the number of missionaries (Lk 10:1). In this way, Jesus tries to maintain the two-fold objective of the call: to be with Him and to go on mission. The community which is formed in this way around Jesus has three characteristics which belong to His nature: it is a forming, missionary community, and is inserted among the poor of Galilee.
• Mark 3:16-19: The list of names of the twelve apostles. Immediately after, Mark gives the names of the twelve: Simon to whom He gave the name of Peter; James and John the sons of Zebedee, to whom He gave the name of Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, the man who was to betray Him. The majority of these names come from the Old Testament. For example, Simon is the name of one of the sons of the patriarch Jacob (Gn 29:33). James is the same as Jacob (Gn 25: 26). Judas is the name of the other son of Jacob (Gn 35:23). Matthew also bore the name of Levi (Mk 2:14), who was the other son of Jacob (Gn 35:23). Of the twelve apostles, seven have a name that comes from the time of the patriarchs. Two have the name of Simon; two are called James; two Judas; one Levi. There is only one who has a Greek name: Philip. It would be like in a family where all have names of ancient times and only one has a modern name. This reveals the desire that people have to remake history from the beginning! It is worthwhile to think about the names which we give our children today. Like the apostles, each one of us is called by God by our name.
• Mark 3:13-15: The call for a two-fold mission. Jesus calls whom He wants and they go with Him, they follow Him. Then, “He appointed twelve, to be His companions and to be sent out to proclaim the message, with power to drive out devils.” Jesus calls them for a double purpose, for a two-fold mission: (a) to be with Him, that is, to form the community of which He, Jesus, is the center; (b) to pray and to have power to drive out devils, that is, to announce the Good News and to fight against the power of evil that ruins the life of people and alienates people. Mark says that Jesus went up to the mountain, and, while He was there, He called the disciples. The call means climbing up. In the Bible, to climb the mountain recalls the mountain that Moses climbed when he had the encounter with God (Ex 24:12). Luke says that Jesus went up to the mountain, prayed all night, and the following day He called the disciples. He prayed to God so as to know whom to choose (Lk 6:12-13). After having called them, Jesus makes the election official and creates a more stable group of twelve people in order to give more consistency to the mission and to signify the continuity of God’s project. The twelve apostles of the New Testament are the successors of the twelve tribes of Israel.
• Thus, the first community of the New Testament comes into being, a model community, which gradually grows around Jesus during the three years of His public activity. At the beginning they are only four (Mk 1:16-20). Shortly afterwards the community increases as the mission is developing, extending into the towns and villages of Galilee. There is a time when they do not even have the time to eat or to rest (Mk 3:2). This is why Jesus was concerned with giving the disciples some rest (Mk 6:31) and to increase the number of missionaries (Lk 10:1). In this way, Jesus tries to maintain the two-fold objective of the call: to be with Him and to go on mission. The community which is formed in this way around Jesus has three characteristics which belong to His nature: it is a forming, missionary community, and is inserted among the poor of Galilee.
• Mark 3:16-19: The list of names of the twelve apostles. Immediately after, Mark gives the names of the twelve: Simon to whom He gave the name of Peter; James and John the sons of Zebedee, to whom He gave the name of Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, the man who was to betray Him. The majority of these names come from the Old Testament. For example, Simon is the name of one of the sons of the patriarch Jacob (Gn 29:33). James is the same as Jacob (Gn 25: 26). Judas is the name of the other son of Jacob (Gn 35:23). Matthew also bore the name of Levi (Mk 2:14), who was the other son of Jacob (Gn 35:23). Of the twelve apostles, seven have a name that comes from the time of the patriarchs. Two have the name of Simon; two are called James; two Judas; one Levi. There is only one who has a Greek name: Philip. It would be like in a family where all have names of ancient times and only one has a modern name. This reveals the desire that people have to remake history from the beginning! It is worthwhile to think about the names which we give our children today. Like the apostles, each one of us is called by God by our name.
4) Personal questions
• To be with Jesus and to go on mission is the two-fold purpose
of the Christian community. How do you take on this commitment in the community
to which you belong?
• Jesus called the twelve disciples by their names. You, I, we, all of us exist because God calls us by our name. Think about this!
• Jesus called the twelve disciples by their names. You, I, we, all of us exist because God calls us by our name. Think about this!
5) Concluding prayer
Show us, Lord, Your faithful love,
grant us Your saving help.
His saving help is near for those who fear Him,
His glory will dwell in our land. (Ps 85:7, 9)
grant us Your saving help.
His saving help is near for those who fear Him,
His glory will dwell in our land. (Ps 85:7, 9)
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