Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 05-24-05

USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 05-24-05 | New American Bible

[Salvation]

May 24, 2005
Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm: Tuesday 24

Reading I
Sir 35:1-12

To keep the law is a great oblation,
and he who observes the
commandments sacrifices a peace offering.
In works of charity one offers fine flour,
and when he gives alms he presents his sacrifice of praise.
To refrain from evil pleases the LORD,
and to avoid injustice is an atonement.
Appear not before the LORD empty-handed,
for all that you offer is in fulfillment of the precepts.
The just one's offering enriches the altar
and rises as a sweet odor before the Most High.
The just one's sacrifice is most pleasing,
nor will it ever be forgotten.
In a generous spirit pay homage to the LORD,
be not sparing of freewill gifts.
With each contribution show a cheerful countenance,
and pay your tithes in a spirit of joy.
Give to the Most High as he has given to you,
generously, according to your means.

For the LORD is one who always repays,
and he will give back to you sevenfold.
But offer no bribes, these he does not accept!
Trust not in sacrifice of the fruits of extortion.
For he is a God of justice,
who knows no favorites.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 50:5-6, 7-8, 14 and 23

R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Gather my faithful ones before me,
those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice."
And the heavens proclaim his justice;
for God himself is the judge.
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Hear, my people, and I will speak;
Israel, I will testify against you;
God, your God, am I.
Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Offer to God praise as your sacrifice
and fulfill your vows to the Most High.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God."
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.


Gospel
Mk 10:28-31

Peter began to say to Jesus,
"We have given up everything and followed you."
Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you,
there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or lands
for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel
who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age:
houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands,
with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.
But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first."

[Salvation]

For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments, questions, discussion.

[Salvation]

Alleluia Ping!

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From: Sirach 35:1-12

Worship Pleasing to God

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[1] He who keeps ihe law makes many offerings; he who heeds the commandments
sacrifices a peace offering. [2] He who returns a kindness offers fine
flour, and he who gives alms sacrifices a thank offering. [3] To keep from
wickedness is pleasing to the Lord, and to forsake unrighteousness is
atonement. [4] Do not appear before the Lord empty-handed; [5] for all these
things are to be done because of the commandment. [6] The offering of a
righteous man anoints the altar, and its pleasing odor rises before the Most
High. [7] The sacrifice of a righteous man is acceptable, and the memory of
it will not be forgotten. [8] Glorify the Lord generously, and do not stint
the first fruits of your hands. [9] With every gift show a cheerful face,
and dedicate your tithe with gladness. [10] Give to the Most High as he has
given, and as generously as your hand has found. [11] For the Lord is the
one who repays, and he will repay you sevenfold. [12] Do not offer him a
bribe, for he will not accept it; and do not trust to an unrighteous
sacrifice; for the Lord is the judge, and with him is no partiality.

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­

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­

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Commentary:

34:18-35:20. These verses contain Ben Sirach's teaching about the worship of
God. The predominant idea is that the worship that is pleasing to God is not
mere liturgical ritual: true adoration must be backed up by righteous
living. The passage begins with maxims reminiscent of the prophets' teaching
on social justice and religious worship (34:18-22).

More than one of the counsels contained here was used by the Fathers of the
Church as a basis for instructing the faithful on worship pleasing to the
Lord. For example, St Gregory the Great takes to task those who use
ill-gotten gains to pay for Church services: "Many of them often offer to
God what they have stolen from the poor. But as a wise man once said: In his
anger God will reject them. What could be worse in the eyes of a father than
the death of his son? We can see in this question the anger with which God
would view any offering of that kind" ("Regula Pastoralis, 3,21). It can
never be said often enough that "to take away a neighbor's living is to
murder him"(34:22; cf. Jas 5:4). A worker indeed has a right to be properly
paid for his work. "Remuneration for work should guarantee man the
opportunity to provide a dignified livelihood for himself and his family on
the material, social, cultural and spiritual level to correspond to the role
and the productivity of each, the relevant economic factors in his
employment and the common good" ("Gaudium Et Spes", 67).

The passage goes on to stress that fasting and prayer is to be genuine
person must sincerely repent his sins (34:23-26), and then it goes back to
the subject of acts of religious worship (35:1-11). Ben Sirach has nothing
against religious ceremonies; on the contrary: the Law prescribes the
offerings that should be made to God, and it should be generously adhered to
(cf. 35:10). However, he has three very clear things to say that help to
personalize religious worship: almsgiving is an act of worship (35:2); an
upright life, that keeps to the Law, is an offering pleasing to God (35:3);
and offerings to the Lord should be generously and gladly made (35:4-10).

From 35:11 on, the Lord is the subject of the sentences. Ben Sirach tells us
God is: he pays well (35:11), he is a judge (35:11-15), who rewards a person
according to his works; and he identifies the person whom God listens
to--the generous giver (35:11), the one who is wronged (35 13), the orphan
and the widow (35:14), the one who serves Him (35:16), the humble person
(35:17). Most of these qualities (those of God as well as those of people
who have recourse to him) can be found, all together, in Jesus' attitude to
the sick, to sinners and to the poor.

---

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

[Salvation]

From: Mark 10:28-31

Poverty and Renunciation (Continuation)

---

­

---

[28] Peter began to say to Him (Jesus), "Lo, we have left everything
and followed You." [29] Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no
one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or
children or lands, for My sake and for the Gospel, [30] who will not
receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to
come eternal life. [31] But many that are first will be last, and the
last first."

---

­

---

­

---

Commentary:

28-30. Jesus Christ requires every Christian to practise the virtue of
poverty: He also requires us to practise real and effective austerity
in the possession and use of material things. But of those who have
received a specific call to apostolate--as in the case, here, of the
Twelve--He requires absolute detachment from property, time, family,
etc. so that they can be fully available, imitating Jesus Himself who,
despite being Lord of the universe, became so poor that He had nowhere
to lay His head (cf. Matthew 8:20). Giving up all these things for the
sake of the Kingdom of Heaven also relieves us of the burden they
involve: like a soldier shedding some encumbrance before going into
action, to be able to move with more agility. This gives one a certain
lordship over all things: no longer the slave of things, one
experiences that feeling St. Paul referred to: "As having nothing, and
yet possessing everything" (2 Corinthians 6:10). A Christian who sheds
his selfishness in this way has acquired charity and, having charity,
he has everything: "All are yours; you are Christ's; and Christ is
God's" (1 Corinthians 3:22-23).

The reward for investing completely in Christ will be fully obtained in
eternal life: but we will also get it in this life. Jesus says that
anyone who generously leaves behind his possessions will be rewarded a
hundred times over in this life.

He adds "with persecutions" (v. 30) because opposition is part of the
reward for giving things up out of love for Jesus Christ: a Christian's
glory lies in becoming like the Son of God, sharing in His cross so as
later to share in His glory: "provided we suffer with Him in order that
we may also be glorified with Him (Romans 8:17); "all who desire to
live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted' (2 Timothy
3:12).

29. These words of our Lord particularly apply to those who by divine
vocation embrace celibacy, giving up their right to form a family on
earth. By saying "for My sake and for the Gospel" Jesus indicates that
His example and the demands of His teaching give full meaning to this
way of life: "This, then, is the mystery of the newness of Christ, of
all that He is and stands for; it is the sum of the highest ideals of
the Gospel and of the Kingdom; it is a particular manifestation of
grace, which springs from the paschal mystery of the Savior and renders
the choice of celibacy desirable and worthwhile on the part of those
called by our Lord Jesus. Thus, they intend not only to participate in
Christ's priestly office, but also to share with Him His very condition
of living" (Paul VI, "Sacerdotalis Coelibatus", 23).

---

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

[Salvation]

Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi (Feast)

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Revelation 21:1-5 Psalm 95:1-7 John 10:22-30 One should never deny the body what is due to it, that the body itself may not hinder what is due the soul. -- St Peter of Alcantara

[Salvation]

Catholic Culture

Collect: Lord, you place deep in our hearts the love of Mary, Help of Christians. Through her prayers grant wisdom to our leaders and integrity to our citizens. Under her protection may Australia be granted harmony justice and peace. 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. Activities: » Ave Maria Dear » Beautiful, Glorious » Mary Garden » May, the Month of Mary more » Salve Regina » Stella Matutina » 'Tis Said of Our Dear Lady » What is a Nameday? less Prayers: » Regina Coeli (Queen of Heaven) » May Pilgrimages » Roman Ritual Blessing Before and After Meals: Easter Season (2nd Plan) » May Devotion: Blessed Virgin Mary more » Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Litany of Loretto) » Prayer Cards for Easter Grace at Meals » Prayers for the Easter Season » Novena to the Holy Spirit » Roman Ritual Blessing Before and After Meals: Easter (1st Plan) » Novena to the Holy Spirit (2) » Novena in Honor of Mary Help of Christians » Table Blessing for the Feasts of the Mother of God less

May 24, 2005 Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter; Australia: Solemnity of Mary Help of Christians Today the Church in Australia celebrates the Solemnity of Mary Help of Christians. Mary Help of Christians was adopted as patron of the new Church of Australia in 1844, at a significant time in their history. British settlement was just over fifty years old, the transportation of convicts was coming to an end, and the first elections in Australian history had been held in 1843. Issues of land, immigration and education had begun to surface and the Church was involved in these social problems. The Holy See confirmed the patronage in 1852. Mary Help of Christians As Mother of God's children, Mary has responded by helping Christians throughout the ages. She has done this by coming to the aid of individuals, families, towns, kingdoms and nations. In 1214 she gave the Rosary to Saint Dominic as a weapon to combat the Albigesian heresy which was devastating Southern France. It is very clear to Christians and it is also the Will of God that we have and will continue to have the Help of Mary through the recitation of the Holy Rosary. In the year 1531 Our Lady appeared in Mexico to an indian named Juan Diego. He was a humble peasant aged 51. As a result of the apparitions, over 10 million indians were converted to Catholicism, the sacrificial killings of babies stopped, and Our Lady left an image which is a reflection of herself imprinted miraculously on the tilma of Juan Diego. In 1571 the whole of Christendom was saved by Mary Help of Christians when faithful Catholics throughout Europe prayed the Rosary. The great battle of Lepanto occurred on October 7th 1571. For this reason this date has been chosen as the feast of the Holy Rosary. In 1573 Pope Pius V instituted the feast in thanksgiving for the decisive victory of Christianity over Islamism. Near the end of the 17th century, Emperor Leopold I of Austria took refuge in the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians at Pasau, when 200000 Ottoman Turks besieged the capital city of Vienna. Pope Innocent XI united Christendom against the ominous attack of Mohammedanism. A great victory occurred thanks to Mary Help of Christians. On September 8th, Feast of Our Lady's Birthday, plans were drawn for the battle. On September 12, Feast of the Holy Name of Mary, Vienna was finally freed through the intercession of Mary Help of Christians. All Europe had joined with the Emperor crying out "Mary, Help!" and praying the Holy rosary. In 1809, Napoleon's men entered the Vatican, arrested Pius VII and brought him in chains to Grenoble, and eventually Fontainbleau. His imprisonment lasted five years. The Pope smuggled out orders from prison for the whole of Christendom to pray to Our Lady Help of Christians, and thus the whole of Europe once again became a spiritual battle ground, not of arms against ruthless arms, but of Rosaries against ruthless military might. Soon Napoleon was off the throne and the Pope freed from prison. After proving her maternal help, throughout the centuries, Our Lady has continued to appear in hundreds of places throughout the world mainly during the 20th century, Lourdes and Fatima being the most famous apparitions. She has brought help from Heaven, and has warned her children to do prayer and penance as a formula for peace. She has stressed that her children must pray the Holy Rosary daily. — Taken from The Work of God website Patron: Church in Australia; Andorran security forces; Austrialian military chaplains; New York; New Zealand. Things to Do: Read this homily by Archbishop Francis P. Carroll, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference, delivered during the Mass of Devotion to Our Lady, Mary Help of Christians. Read more about devotion to Our Lady, Help of Christians in Australia. Make a virtual visit to the chapel of Our Lady, Help of Christians at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Read more about Our Lady, Help of Christians. Travel via the Internet to the Shrine, Mary Help of Christians built by St. John Bosco as a monument to the Virgin Mary, with the title Help of Christians, as the mother church and spiritual center of the Salesian Congregation.

[Salvation]

Homily of the Day

Homily of the Day

Title:	Don't Be a Squirrel
Author:	Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.
Date:	Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Sir 35, 1-12 / Mk 10:28-31

There is something of the squirrel in all of us, gathering up things and "squirreling" them away in assorted hiding places. There's something of the bird in us as well, scooping up all sorts of things at random to weave into its nest. Many objects end up in nests simply because they're brightly colored or shiny. How like our nests, full of useless stuff we just can't say goodbye to!

We have a hard time letting go, not just of things, but of ideas, habits, places, relationships, grievances, angers, griefs, and oh so much more. Letting go is hard, but the very fact of our mortality and of the limited time that is available to any one of us is an unmistakable cue that we need to learn to let go, not just of bad things but of many wonderful things as well. Just like the man on the flying trapeze, we have to let go of one thing that is very secure in order to get to where we need to go next.

God has important work for us at each stage in our lives. The challenge is to know when one work is done and when and where the next is to begin. We'll never find out if we don't listen to the Spirit. We'll never find out, if we don't let go and go with the Spirit.

Let go and your life will blossom. Let go and you'll discover what Jesus meant when he said: "The first shall be last, and the last shall be first."

 

[A CA Guy]

We especially need to pray for what just happened with the 7 Republicans caving to Democrats.
There in effect went the Judges.

Any Catholics or other religious Judges or Judges who actually have a desire to follow the Constitution will be filibustered.

Pray something works out here, whether it be that Republicans force up or down votes.
Also pray for the replacement of Senators McCaine and the 6 others as they attempt re-election.

These 7 IMO just gave good people and God (who loves life) a real slap in the face.

[Okies love Dubya 2]

I ask for the prayers of my fellow Catholics for my maternal grandfather Walter, who is in his final hours in Indianapolis. My mom, uncle, and spouses (stepfather and aunt) are at his bedside. Papa is 85 and a convert to the Church (since 1990). He has seriously declined over the last 6 months and especially the last week or so.

Praise for my niece Kaitlin Rose who was born this morning to my husband's sister and her husband. She weighed in at 7 lbs 10 oz. My sil is a convert to the Church (since 2002). This is her second child.

[Smartass]

THANKS FOR THE PING!

Lord help me to remember
that nothing is going to happen
to me today that You and I
together can't handle.
Amen. †

[Salvation]

**There in effect went the Judges. **

Snow
Chaffee

Who else? (I haven't been on any of the news threads that listed them. Nor did I have a chance to watch Brit Hume this afternoon.)

[Salvation]

Prayers for your grandfather, Walter.

Has he received the Annointing of the Sick?

[Salvation]

 

 

A Voice in the Desert

 

Tuesday May 24, 2005   Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading (Sirach 35:1-12)   Gospel (St. Mark 10:28-31)

 In the first reading, we hear all about the sacrifices that we have to make to God. Naturally, when we think about sacrifices, we are going to think about things that we can offer up, things that are difficult for us. However, Sirach begins by telling us that keeping the law is a great oblation and he who observes the commandments sacrifices a peace offering. Works of charity, he tells us, are like offering fine flour, and in doing so we are offering to God a sacrifice of praise. Refraining from evil, he tells us, is also something which is an atonement, all of these things that we should be doing anyway. It is not necessarily a matter of offering up a holocaust as they would have done in the Old Testament times, but rather it is a matter of doing the very things we are supposed to be doing – but doing them in the right manner – that we are actually able to offer very pleasing and fitting sacrifice to the Lord. 

He goes on to tell us: Appear not before the Lord empty-handed. This is a critical point. It does not matter what kind of financial situation a person is in, anybody and everybody can offer sacrifice to the Lord if we simply do it exactly the way that it is laid out here. All of us can follow the commandments. All of us can do works of charity. All of us can do works of justice. In this way, we can make up for sin and we can also bring the Word of God to other people. These sorts of things are going to be very pleasing to the Lord. 

Now Sirach tells us that if we approach the Lord in the same way that He has approached us, that is, generously and according to our means, God will repay us sevenfold, but then says something very, very important. He says: Do not offer bribes because these He will not accept. How many of us do exactly that, at times? “Lord, I’ll do this for You, if…” “As long as I get this thing, then I will do this.” “I will offer You …, but…” That is not the way to offer sacrifice to the Lord. It is to be offered purely out of love, not out of what we are going to receive. God will take care of His part – that we do not have to worry about – the problem is on our own behalf. It would be easy to sit back and say, “Well, He’s going to give sevenfold.” Our Lord even went beyond that and said, You will receive a hundredfold in this life. We can look at that and say, “Well, if that’s the case, then let me offer something and I’ll have more for myself.” Wrong attitude. It is not going to work because God will not be bribed. It is not a sacrifice if we are looking for something more for ourselves. The sacrifice has to be done, as we are told in Sirach, with a joyful countenance, with a heart that is full of love. And we do not know what it is that Our Lord is going to ask of us, nor do we know what it is He is going to give back in return. All we need to be worried about is seeking His Will and offering ourselves as a sacrifice to the Lord. That is what He is looking for.  

Then the Lord tells us that beyond the hundredfold He is going to give back we are going to be persecuted. That is also essential because no matter how much we would like to have a pure offering being made from these simple hearts of ours, we are not going to be able to do it by ourselves; that all needs to be purified. So the persecution is there to test us, to purify us, so that we will have a pure and beautiful offering to be able to make to the Lord. At this point, we need to try our best to offer a pure sacrifice, but we have to realize that the persecution is what is going to allow us to truly make a pure sacrifice, because when we are being persecuted for the Lord’s sake there is nothing in it for us anymore. We cannot be saying, “Oh, this is so good because I get to be persecuted, and I really like it! Look at what I’m getting in return!” None of us would be so foolish as to say that. At that point, then, the offering becomes pure. It is being done only for the sake of the Lord. 

If we are willing to offer that kind of pure sacrifice with a joyful heart, with full acceptance, then Our Lord tells us that we receive a hundredfold in this life and eternal life in the world to come. What greater thing could we ask for? Our task now is to pray so that we will have a pure heart, so that we will have a generous heart, so that we will offer sacrifices to the Lord that He will be pleased with, and that we will be willing and able to accept whatever befalls us and offer that in union with that sacrifice so the sacrifice will be one which is true, which is pure. In that way, offering pure sacrifice to the Lord, it is perfectly acceptable and will gain for us eternal life. 

*  This text was transcribed from the audio recording with minimal editing.

[Salvation]

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[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Tuesday, May 24, 2005 Meditation Mark 10:28-31 When Jesus sent the rich young man away disappointed, his followers must have wondered what else they would have to do to enter the kingdom of God. After all, this young man seemed to have done all the right things, yet Jesus still wanted more. He even told him to give up all his wealth and follow him. Upon hearing this, the disciples must have wondered if anything they did would be good enough! Jesus calmed his disciples by telling them that the sacrifices they had already made would certainly not go unrewarded. He was well aware of everything they had already given up, and he knew how much further they had to go. But, whatever more was required of them, Jesus wanted to be clear that he would never abandon them. Instead, he invited them to give him every situation, every detail, every aspect of their lives. Jesus is aware of every sacrifice we have made as well. Every time we decide to obey his commands, we enable him to live in us and through us a little more deeply. Every care and concern we show one another is a blessing to the Lord and a blessing on us. All our fights and struggles with our fallen nature—even the ones we lose—can be given to the Lord for eternal glory. Jesus is always with us, fashioning us for his kingdom. Let’s surrender our entire lives to Jesus. Let’s not hold a single thing back from him. He sees everything we do. He honors every decision we make to give up our old lives and follow him. He sees every time we say “no” to temptation and every time we go out of our way to care for someone else. He hears every prayer we utter and sees every time we face the battle between flesh and spirit. Nothing goes unnoticed or unblessed. Let’s go to our gracious and generous God and give him our lives—not just part of us—but the whole of who we are. “Lord Jesus, thank you for your perfect love that casts out fear. Thank you for your faithfulness to me even when I am unfaithful. Your love and faithfulness enable me to stand firm in the midst of temptation and tragedy. Help me to give you every situation so that, more and more, you can dwell in me.” Sirach 35:1-12; Psalm 50:5-8,14,23

[Palladin]

Holy Joseph, patron saint of the dying, please go to Walter's bedside and assist him in his last days and hours. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with him on his way. Amen.

[Smartass]

The New DemoCans Party members:

From the Cans side only...
Sen. John (McBackStaber) McCain,
Sen. John Warner,
Sen. Mike Dewine,
Sen. Susan Collins,
Sen. Olympia Snow,
Sen. Graham, (R-SC)
Sen. Lincoln Chaffee.

[fatima]

Salvation,Mass bump.

[annalex]

Mk 10:28-31
#	Douay-Rheims	Vulgate
28	And Peter began to say unto him: Behold, we have left all things and have followed thee.	coepit Petrus ei dicere ecce nos dimisimus omnia et secuti sumus te
29	Jesus answering said: Amen I say to you, there is no man who hath left house or brethren or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel,	respondens Iesus ait amen dico vobis nemo est qui reliquerit domum aut fratres aut sorores aut matrem aut patrem aut filios aut agros propter me et propter evangelium
30	Who shall not receive an hundred times as much, now in this time: houses and brethren and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions: and in the world to come life everlasting.	qui non accipiat centies tantum nunc in tempore hoc domos et fratres et sorores et matres et filios et agros cum persecutionibus et in saeculo futuro vitam aeternam
31	But many that are first shall be last: and the last, first.	multi autem erunt primi novissimi et novissimi primi

[annalex]

St. Peter, the Vicar of Christ