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Catholic Caucus: Sunday Mass Readings, 10-25-09, Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
USCCB.org/New American Bible ^
| 10-25-09
| New American Bible
Posted on 10/24/2009 8:56:35 PM PDT by Salvation
October 25, 2009
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Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Jer 31:7-9
Thus says the LORD:
Shout with joy for Jacob,
exult at the head of the nations;
proclaim your praise and say:
The LORD has delivered his people,
the remnant of Israel.
Behold, I will bring them back
from the land of the north;
I will gather them from the ends of the world,
with the blind and the lame in their midst,
the mothers and those with child;
they shall return as an immense throng.
They departed in tears,
but I will console them and guide them;
I will lead them to brooks of water,
on a level road, so that none shall stumble.
For I am a father to Israel,
Ephraim is my first-born.
Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6
R. (3) The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Then they said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Heb 5:1-6
Brothers and sisters:
Every high priest is taken from among men
and made their representative before God,
to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring,
for he himself is beset by weakness
and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself
as well as for the people.
No one takes this honor upon himself
but only when called by God,
just as Aaron was.
In the same way,
it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest,
but rather the one who said to him:
You are my son:
this day I have begotten you;
just as he says in another place:
You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek.
Mk 10:46-52
As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd,
Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus,
sat by the roadside begging.
On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth,
he began to cry out and say,
"Jesus, son of David, have pity on me."
And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.
But he kept calling out all the more,
"Son of David, have pity on me."
Jesus stopped and said, "Call him."
So they called the blind man, saying to him,
"Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you."
He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
Jesus said to him in reply, "What do you want me to do for you?"
The blind man replied to him, "Master, I want to see."
Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you."
Immediately he received his sight
and followed him on the way.
TOPICS: Catholic; General Discusssion; Prayer; Worship
KEYWORDS: catholic; catholiclist; ordinarytime
For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments, questions, discussion.
1
posted on
10/24/2009 8:56:36 PM PDT
by
Salvation
To: nickcarraway; Lady In Blue; NYer; ELS; Pyro7480; livius; Catholicguy; RobbyS; markomalley; ...
Alleluia Ping!
Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Alleluia Ping List.
2
posted on
10/24/2009 9:21:24 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
3
posted on
10/24/2009 9:32:17 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Today is Priesthood Sunday.......Tell your priest “Thank you” for all he does.
4
posted on
10/24/2009 9:33:21 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
5
posted on
10/24/2009 9:34:08 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Jesus. High Priest
The Year of the Priest
We thank you, God our Father, for those who have responded to your call to priestly ministry.
Accept this prayer we offer on their behalf: Fill your priests with the sure knowledge of your love.
Open their hearts to the power and consolation of the Holy Spirit.
Lead them to new depths of union with your Son.
Increase in them profound faith in the Sacraments they celebrate as they nourish, strengthen and heal us.
Lord Jesus Christ, grant that these, your priests, may inspire us to strive for holiness by the power of their example, as men of prayer who ponder your word and follow your will.
O Mary, Mother of Christ and our mother, guard with your maternal care these chosen ones, so dear to the Heart of your Son.
Intercede for our priests, that offering the Sacrifice of your Son, they may be conformed more each day to the image of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Saint John Vianney, universal patron of priests, pray for us and our priests
6
posted on
10/24/2009 9:35:13 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Pray a Rosary each day for our nation.
1. Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2. The Apostles Creed: I BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
3. The Lord's Prayer: OUR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
4. (3) Hail Mary: HAIL Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen. (Three times)
5. Glory Be: GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Fatima Prayer: Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.
Announce each mystery, then say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be and 1 Fatima prayer. Repeat the process with each mystery.
End with the Hail Holy Queen:
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears! Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus!
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Final step -- The Sign of the Cross
The Mysteries of the Rosary
By tradition, Catholics meditate on these Mysteries during prayers of the Rosary.
The biblical references follow each of the Mysteries below.
The Joyful Mysteries
(Mondays and Saturdays)
1. The Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38) [Spiritual fruit - Humility]
2. The Visitation (Luke 1: 39-56) [Spiritual fruit - Love of Neighbor]
3. The Nativity (Luke 2:1-20) [Spiritual fruit - Poverty of Spirit]
4. The Presentation (Luke 2:21-38) [Spiritual fruit - Purity of mind & body]
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52) [Spiritual fruit - Obedience ]
7
posted on
10/24/2009 9:37:14 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
~ PRAYER ~
St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle
Be our protection against the wickedness
and snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
Cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits
who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen
+
8
posted on
10/24/2009 9:38:05 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
9
posted on
10/24/2009 9:39:38 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
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October Devotion: The Holy Rosary
Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. Pope Leo XIII personally started the practice of devoting October to the Rosary devotion. In a letter of September 1, 1883, mindful of the Rosary's power to strengthen faith and foster a life of virtue, he outlined the triumphs of the Rosary in past times and admonished the faithful to dedicate the month of October to the Blessed Virgin through the daily recitation of her Rosary in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, in order to obtain through her intercession the grace that God would console and defend His Church in her sufferings. We highly recommend that you read Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, or "On the Most Holy Rosary." It explains even further this wonderful devotion, and introduces the optional mysteries of light, or Luminous mysteries.
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INVOCATION
Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us.
TO THE QUEEN OF THE HOLY ROSARY
Queen of the most holy Rosary, in these times of such brazen impiety, manifest thy power with the signs of thine ancient victories, and from thy throne, whence thou dost dispense pardon and graces, mercifully regard the Church of thy Son, His Vicar on earth, and every order of clergy and laity, who are sore oppressed in the mighty conflict. Do thou, who art the powerful vanquisher of all heresies, hasten the hour of mercy, even though the hour of God's justice is every day provoked by the countless sins of men. For me who am the least of men, kneeling before thee in supplication, do thou obtain the grace I need to live righteously upon earth and to reign among the just in heaven, the while in company with all faithful Christians throughout the world, I salute thee and acclaim thee as Queen of the most holy Rosary:
Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us.
TO OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY
O Virgin Mary, grant that the recitation of thy Rosary may be for me each day, in the midst of my manifold duties, a bond of unity in my actions, a tribute of filial piety, a sweet refreshment, an encouragement to walk joyfully along the path of duty. Grant, above all, O Virgin Mary, that the study of thy fifteen mysteries may form in my soul, little by little, a luminous atmosphere, pure, strengthening, and fragrant, which may penetrate my understanding, my will, my heart, my memory, my imagination, my whole being. So shall I acquire the habit of praying while I work, without the aid of formal prayers, by interior acts of admiration and of supplication, or by aspirations of love. I ask this of thee, O Queen of the holy Rosary, through Saint Dominic, thy son of predilection, the renowned preacher of thy mysteries, and the faithful imitator of thy virtues. Amen.
FOR THE CRUSADE OF THE FAMILY ROSARY
The Family Rosary Crusade, organized and directed by Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., sought to revive the practice of families reciting the Rosary daily within their homes. The Crusade has the encouragement and support of Pope Pius XII and it is succeeding admirably in realizing the desire of the Pope that no family would allow a day to pass without the recitation of the Rosary. This prayer was composed by Cardinal Spellman when the Crusade visited his Archdiocese.
O Queen of the most holy Rosary: with hearts full of confidence we earnestly beseech you to bless the Crusade of the Family Rosary. From you came the grace to begin it. >From you must come the grace to win souls to it. We beg you to bless this Crusade so that from every home the incense of this prayer will daily rise before you, O admirable Mother.
O Queen of Homes: by the power of the Rosary we beseech you to embrace all the members of our family in the love of your Immaculate Heart. May you abide with us and we with you, praying to you while you pray for us. May you preside in our homes as once you did at Nazareth with Jesus and Joseph, filling them with the holiness of your presence and inspiration.
O Queen of Peace: it is you who have placed the Rosary in our hands. It is you who bid us to recite it daily. By the power of the Family Rosary we beseech you to obtain peace for uspeace within our hearts, our homes, our country and throughout the world. Through the daily recitation of the Family Rosary we beg you to keep sin from our souls, enmities from our hearts and war from our shores. By the graces received from the devotion of the Family Rosary we pray to be made helpful to one another in following the paths of virtue so that we may be found worthy to be called children of your family, children of your home. Amen.
Cardinal Spellman
Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954
1. Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2. The Apostles Creed: I BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
3. The Lord's Prayer: OUR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
4. (3) Hail Mary: HAIL Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen. (Three times)
5. Glory Be: GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Fatima Prayer: Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.
Announce each mystery, then say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be and 1 Fatima prayer. Repeat the process with each mystery.
End with the Hail Holy Queen:
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears! Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus!
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Final step -- The Sign of the Cross
The Mysteries of the Rosary
By tradition, Catholics meditate on these Mysteries during prayers of the Rosary.
The biblical references follow each of the Mysteries below.
The Joyful Mysteries
(Mondays and Saturdays)
1. The Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38) [Spiritual fruit - Humility]
2. The Visitation (Luke 1: 39-56) [Spiritual fruit - Love of Neighbor]
3. The Nativity (Luke 2:1-20) [Spiritual fruit - Poverty of Spirit]
4. The Presentation (Luke 2:21-38) [Spiritual fruit - Purity of mind & body]
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52) [Spiritual fruit - Obedience ]
The Luminous Mysteries or Mysteries of Light
(Thursdays) see Rosarium Virginis Mariae
1. Jesus' Baptism in the Jordan (II Corinthians 5:21, Matthew 3:17 and parallels) [Spiritual fruit - Gratitude for the gift of Faith]
2. Jesus' self-manifestation at the wedding of Cana (John 2:1- 12) [Spiritual fruit - Fidelity]
3. Jesus' proclamation of the Kingdom of God, with His call to conversion (Mark 1:15, Mark 2:3-13; Luke 7:47- 48, John 20:22-23) [Spiritual fruit - Desire for Holiness]
4. Jesus' Transfiguration (Luke 9:35 and parallels) [Spiritual fruit - Spiritual Courage]
5. Jesus' institution of the Eucharist, as the sacramental expression of the Paschal Mystery. (Luke 24:13-35 and parallels, 1 Corinthians 11:24-25) [Spiritual fruit - Love of our Eucharistic Lord]
The Sorrowful Mysteries
(Tuesdays and Fridays)
1. The Agony in the Garden (Matthew 26:36-46, Luke 22:39-46) [Spiritual fruit - God's will be done]
2. The Scourging at the Pillar (Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15, John 19:1) [Spiritual fruit - Mortification of the senses]
3. The Crowning with Thorns (Matthew 27:27-30, Mark 15:16-20, John 19:2) [Spiritual fruit - Reign of Christ in our heart]
4. The Carrying of the Cross (Matthew 27:31-32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26-32, John 19:17) [Spiritual fruit - Patient bearing of trials]
5. The Crucifixion (Matthew 27:33-56, Mark 15:22-39, Luke 23:33-49, John 19:17-37) [Spiritual fruit - Pardoning of Injuries]
The Glorious Mysteries
(Wednesdays and Sundays)
1.The Resurrection (Matthew 28:1-8, Mark 16:1-18, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-29) [Spiritual fruit - Faith]
2. The Ascension (Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:6-11) [Spiritual fruit - Christian Hope]
3. The Descent of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:1-13) [Spiritual fruit - Gifts of the Holy Spirit]
4. The Assumption [Spiritual fruit - To Jesus through Mary]
5. The Coronation [Spiritual fruit - Grace of Final Perseverance]
The Rosary and Me - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus
Rosary promoted as path to Christ and peace [at third annual Rosary Bowl NW]
The Efficacy and Power of One Hail Mary [Ecumenical]
“Let Us Do It!“ (Sunday: Rosary to be simultaneously prayed on five continents)
Beginning Catholic: How to Pray the Rosary: Contemplating Christ With Mary [Ecumenical]
[Oregon] Rosary Bowl focuses on links between prayer, evangelization
Rosary Is a School of Mary, Says Pope: Encourages Recitation [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
The Rosary and the Republic
Protestants and the rosary
Estimated 50,000 recite rosary in event at Rose Bowl
The Rosary and Orthodoxy
Father Benedict Groeschel on the Rosary
THE HOLY ROSARY
Catholic Caucus: The Holy Rosary
The Power of the Rosary - A Weapon Against Terrorism
Rosary May Contribute to Unity Says Protestant Theologian
Papal Address on the Rosary as a Weapon of Peace
Very simple guide to praying/learning the Rosary
October: Month of the Holy Rosary
Rosary-Prayers Aiming to Break Record [Catholic Caucus]
Rosary vs. Repetitious Prayer [Ecumenical]
The Luminous Mysteries [of the Rosary]: Knowing Jesus in His Public Ministry
New campaign launched to promote family rosary
Chant the Rosary... in Latin!
Protestants and the rosary
Estimated 50,000 recite rosary in event at Rose Bowl
Our Lady of Victory (HLI Page)
Tips on Praying a Family Rosary
SRI LANKA CATHOLICS START ROSARY CHAIN FOR PEACE
Rosary Aids Spiritual Growth, Says Pope
Pray the Rosary
Rosary to Mark St. Martha's Feast
THE HOLY ROSARY
Catholic Caucus: The Holy Rosary
[Catholic Caucus] One Million Rosaries
Praying the Rosary By Bishop Fulton J. Sheen(Catholic Caucus)
____________________________________________________________
Pray the Rosary.
Pray without ceasing.
How Europe Escaped Speaking Arabic
The Battle of Lepanto
Civilization in the Balance: The Battle of Lepanto and Election ‘08
LEPANTO
A Call To Prayer: This Lepanto Moment [Repost]
Lepanto, 1571: The Battle That Saved Europe
Celebrating the Battle of Lepanto
Clash of civilizations: Battle of Lepanto revisited
Lepanto, Bertone e Battesimo, Oh My!
Lepanto Sunday
Our Lady of the Rosary of La Naval (A Mini-Lepanto in the Philippines)
Swiss Guards at the Battle of Lepanto, 7 October 1571
Battle of Lepanto
LEPANTO, 7 OCTOBER 1571: The Defense of Europe
Battle of Lepanto
Remember Lepanto!
The Battle of Lepanto
On This Day In History, The Battle of Lepanto
The Battle of Lepanto
Chesterton's Lepanto
The Miracle At Lepanto...
Lepanto
The Naval Battle of Lepanto
The Battle of Lepanto
10
posted on
10/24/2009 9:57:13 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Holy Father's Prayer Intentions For October 2009
General: That Sunday may be lived as the day on which Christians gather to celebrate the risen Lord, participating in the Eucharist.
Mission: That the entire People of God, to whom Christ entrusted the mandate to go and preach the Gospel to every creature, may eagerly assume their own missionary responsibility and consider it the highest service they can offer humanity.
11
posted on
10/24/2009 10:08:52 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
From: Jeremiah 31:7-9
Restoration promised
[7] For thus says the Lord:
“Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,
and raise shouts for the chief of the nations;
proclaim, give praise, and say,
‘The Lord has saved his people,
the remnant of Israel.’
[8] Behold, I will bring them from the north country,
and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth,
among them the blind and the lame,
the woman with child and her who is in travail, together;
a great company, they shall return here.
[9] With weeping they shall come,
and with consolations I will lead them back,
I will make them walk by brooks of water,
in a straight path in which they shall not stumble;
for I am a father to Israel,
and Ephraim is my first-born.
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
31:1-14. The oracles in this chapter hinge on the promise that Israel will relive its
experiences of earlier times, when it enjoyed the love and protection of God, its
father and shepherd, as it made its way through the wilderness to find tranquility
in the promised land.
The prophet again predicts the happy return of the exiles (vv. 2-3) and the resto-
ration of Israel and of the holy city, here given the glorious name of Zion (vv. 4-6).
The people will return home rejoicing at the goodness of God (vv. 7-9), who will
continue to shower blessings on them (vv. 10-14). The passage stresses the
kindness shown by God. He reveals himself as “a father to Israel” (v. 9) and
“shepherd” to his flock (v. 10), for he is faithful to the love he has for them (v. 3).
Referring to this and other passages in the prophetical books that speak of God’s
tender mercy, John Paul II points out that “it is significant that in their preaching
the prophets link mercy, which they often refer to because of the people’s sins,
with the incisive image of love on God’s part. The Lord loves Israel with the love
of a special choosing, much like the love of a spouse (cf. e.g. Hos 2:21-25; Is 54
6-8), and for this reason he pardons its sins and even its infidelities and betrayals.
When he finds repentance and true conversion, he brings his people back to
grace (cf. Jer 31:20; Ezek 39:25-29). In the preaching of the prophets, mercy sig-
nifies a special power of love, which prevails over the sin and infidelity of the cho-
sen people. [...] Connected with the mystery of creation is the mystery of the
election, which in a special way shaped the history of the people whose spiritual
father is Abraham by virtue of his faith. Nevertheless, through this people which
journeys forward through the history both of the Old Covenant and of the New,
that mystery of election refers to every man and woman, to the whole great hu-
man family. ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore I have continued
my faithfulness to you’ (Jer 31:3)” (”Dives in Misericordia, 4).
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
12
posted on
10/24/2009 10:17:26 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
From: Hebrews 5:1-6
Christ Has Been Made High Priest by God the Father
[1] For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of
men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. [2] He can deal gently
with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. [3] Be-
cause of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of
the people. [4] And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by
God, just as Aaron was.
[5] So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appoin-
ted by him who said to him, “Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee”; [6]
as he says also in another place, “Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of
Melchizedek.”
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
1-10. The central theme of the epistle, broached in 2:17 and taken up again in 4:
14-15, is discussed from here up to the start of chapter 10 — the theme of Christ
as high priest, the high priest who really can free us from all sin. In fact, Christ is
the only perfect Priest: other priests—in both natural religions and the Jewish re-
ligion — are only prefigurements of Christ. The first thing to be emphasized, be-
cause the writer is addressing people of Jewish background, is that Christ’s priest-
hood is on a higher plane than that of the priests of the Old Law. However, the
argument applies not only to the priesthood of Aaron, to whose family all Israelite
priests belonged, but also, indirectly, to all forms of priesthood before Christ. But
there is a basic difference, in that whereas other priests were chosen by men,
Aaron was chosen by God. Sacred Scripture introduces him as Moses’ brother
(cf. Ex 6:20), acting as his interpreter to Pharaoh (because Moses was “slow of
speech”: Ex 4: 10; cf. 7:1-2) and joining him to lead the people out of Egypt (cf.
Ex 4:27-30). After the Israelites left Egypt, God himself instituted the priesthood
of Aaron to minister and carry out divine worship at the tabernacle and later at
the temple in Jerusalem (cf. Ex 28:1-5).
Divine intervention, therefore, brought to a close the period when sacrifice was
offered by the head of the family or the chief of the tribe and when no specific
calling or external ordination rite was connected with priesthood. Thus, for exam-
ple, in the Book of Genesis we read that Cain, and Abel, themselves offered sac-
rifices (cf. Gen 4:35), as did Noah after coming safely through the flood (cf. Gen
8:20); and the patriarchs often offered sacrifices to God in adoration or thanksgi-
ving or to renew their Covenant—for example, Abraham (cf. Gen 12:8; 15:8-17;
22:1-13) and Jacob (cf. Gen 26:25; 33:20), etc.
Although for a considerable time after the institution of the Aaron priesthood,
sacrifices continued to be offered also by private individuals — forexample, in the
period of the Judges, the sacrifice of Gideon (Judg 6:18,25-26) or that of Sam-
son’s parents (Judg 13:15-20) — gradually the convictions grew that to be a priest
a person had to have a specific vocation, one which was not given to anyone out-
side males of the line of Aaron (cf. Judg 17:7-13), whom God had chosen from
out of all the people of Israel, identifying him by the sign of his rod sprouting buds
(Num 17:16-24). God himself meted out severe punishment to Korah and his
sons when they tried to set themselves up as rivals of Aaron: they were devoured
by fire from heaven (cf. Num 16); and it was specified in Mosaic legislation time
and time again that only the sons of Aaron could act as priests (cf. Num 3:10;
17:5; 18:7). This priesthood offered the sacrifices of Mosaic worship—the burnt
offerings, cereal offerings, sin offerings and peace offerings (cf. Lev 6). To the de-
scendants of Aaron, assisted by the Levites, was entrusted also the care of the
tabernacle and the protection of the ark of the Covenant. They received their mi-
nistry and had it confirmed by the offering of sacrifice and by anointing of the
man’s head and hands with oil (Ex 29; Lev 8-9; Num 3:3). For all these reasons
Hebrew priests were honored and revered by the people and regarded (not without
reason, because God had ordained them) as on a much higher plane than other
priests particularly those of the peoples of Canaan, the priests of Baal, for exam-
ple. In Christ’s time the high priest was the highest religious authority in Israel;
his words were regarded as oracular statements, and his decisions could have
important political repercussions.
However, Christ came with the very purpose of taking this ancient institution and
transforming it into a new, eternal priesthood. Every Christian priest is, as it were,
Christ’s instrument or an extension of his sacred humanity. Christian priests do
not act in their own name, nor are they mere representatives of the people: they
act in the name of God. “Here we have the priest’s identity: he is direct and daily
instrument of the saving grace which Christ has won for us” (St. J. Escriva, “In
Love with the Church”, 39). It is really Christ who is acting through them by
means of their words, gestures etc. All of this means that Christian priesthood
cannot be separated from the eternal priesthood of Christ. This extension of God’s
providence (in the form of the Old Testament priesthood and the priesthood insti-
tuted by Christ in the New Testament and the mission entrusted to New Testa-
ment priests) should lead us to love and honor the priesthood irrespective of the
human defects and shortcomings of these ministers of God: “To love God and
not venerate his Priests...is not possible” (St J. Escriva, “The Way”, 74).
1a. These words provide a very good short definition of what every priest is.
“The office proper to a priest”, St Thomas Aquinas points out, “is to be a media-
tor between God and the people, inasmuch as he bestows divine things on the
people (he is called “sacerdos” (priest), which means ‘a giver of sacred things’,
“sacra dans” [...]), and again inasmuch as he offers the people’s prayer to God
and in some way makes satisfaction to God for their sins” (”Summa Theologiae”,
III, q.22, a.1).
In this passage of the letter we can detect an echo of the description of Aaron in
the Book of Sirach: “He chose him out of all the living to offer sacrifice to the Lord,
incense and a pleasing odor as a memorial portion, to make atonement for the
people” (Sir 45:16). Four elements characterize the office of the high priest (the
text speaks of the “high” priest in the strict sense, but it is applicable to all
priests —1) his special dignity, because although he is a man he has been spe-
cially chosen by God; 2) the purpose of his mission, which is the good of man-
kind (”to act on behalf of men”); 3) the “material” side of his office, that is, public
divine worship; 4) the specific acts he must perform, the offering of sacrifice at
appropriate times.
In the specific case of priesthood instituted by God—such as that of Aaron or the
new priesthood instituted by Christ—the calling (”taken” or “chosen” from among
men) is not simply an influence the person feels interiorly, or a desire to be a
priest: its divine origin is confirmed by nomination by the proper authority, and
by official consecration.
1b. A priest is “chosen from among men”, that is, he should possess a human
nature. This is a further sign of God’s mercy: to bring about our salvation he uses
someone accessible to us, one who shares our human condition, “so that man
might have someone like himself to have recourse to” (St Thomas, “Commentary
on Heb, ad loc.”). These words also indicate the extent of God’s kindness be-
cause they remind us that the divine Redeemer not only offered himself and
made satisfaction for the sins of all, but desired that “the priestly life which the
divine Redeemer had begun in his mortal body by his prayers and sacrifice
(should not cease). He willed it to continue unceasingly through the ages in his
mystical body, which is the Church; and therefore he instituted a visible priest-
hood to offer everywhere a clean oblation (Mal 1:11), so that all men all over the
world, being diverted from sin, might serve God conscientiously, and of their own
free will” (Pius XII, “Mediator Dei”, 1).
He is “chosen from among men” also in the sense that he is given special con-
secration which is some way marks him off from the rest of the people of God.
St John Chrysostom comments, recalling Jesus triple question to Peter after the
Resurrection (cf. Jn 21:15-17): “When he asked Peter if he loved him, he did not
do so because he needed to know whether his disciple loved him, but because
he wanted to show how great his own love was; thus, when he says, ‘Who then
is the faithful and prudent servant’, he does not say this because he does not
know the answer, but in order to show us how unique and wonderful an honor it
is, as can be deduced from the rewards: ‘he will place him over all his goods.’
And he concludes that the priest ought to be outstanding in holiness (”De Sacer-
dotio”, II, 1-2).
“The priests of the New Testament”, Vatican II reminds us, “are, by their vocation
to ordination, set apart in some way in the midst of the people of God, but this is
not in order that they should be separated from that people or from anyone, but
that they should be completely consecrated to the task for which God chose
them” (”Presbyterorum Ordinis”, 3). This calling, then, constitutes a distinction
but not a separation because it is indissolubly linked to a specific mission: a
priest is “chosen from among men” but for the purpose of acting “on behalf of
men in relation to God”. In this delicate balance between divine call and spiritual
mission to men lies the essence of priesthood. Christians, therefore, should ne-
ver view a priest as “just another person”. “They want to find in the priest the vir-
tues appropriate to any Christian and even any upright man—understanding, jus-
tice, commitment to work (priestly work, in this case), charity, good manners,
social refinement. But the faithful also want to be able to recognize clearly the
priestly character: they expect the priest to pray, not to refuse to administer the
sacraments; they expect him to be open to everyone and not set himself up to
take charge of people or become an aggressive leader of human factions, of
whatever shade (cf. “Presbyterorum Ordinis”, 6). They expect him to bring love
and devotion to the celebration of Mass, to sit in the confessional, to console the
sick and the troubled; to teach sound doctrine to children and adults, to preach
the Word of God and no mere human science which—no matter how well he may
know it—is not the knowledge that saves and brings eternal life; they expect him
to give counsel and be charitable to those in need” (St. J. Escriva, “In Love with
the Church”, 42).
Priests “could not be the servants of Christ unless they were witnesses and dis-
pensers of a life other than that of this earth. On the other hand, they would be
powerless to serve men if they remained aloof from their life and circumstances”
(”Presbyterorum Ordinis”, 3). In this connection, Pope John Paul II has made the
following appeal: “Yes, you are chosen from among men, given to Christ by the
Father, to be in the world, “in the heart of society”. You are appointed to act on
behalf of men (Heb 5:1). The priesthood is the sacrament whereby the Church
is to be seen as the society of the people of God; it is the ‘social’ sacrament.
Priests should ‘convoke’ each of the communities of the people of God, around
them but not for themselves—for Christ!” (”Homily at an Ordiation of Priests”, 15
June 1980).
The specific function of the priest has, then, been clearly identified: he is con-
cerned about his brethren but he is not here to solve temporal problems; his role
is only “in relation to God”. “Christian ministerial priesthood is different from any
other priesthood in that it is not an office to which someone is appointed by others
to intercede with God on their behalf; it is a mission to which a man is called by
God (Heb 5: 1-10; 7:24; 9: 11-28) to be towards others a living sign of the pre-
sence of Christ, the only Mediator (1 Tim 2:5), Head and Shepherd of his people
[...]. In other words, Christian priesthood is essentially (this is the only possible
way it can be understood) an eminently sacred mission, both in its origin (Christ)
and in its content (the divine mystery) and by the very manner in which it is con-
ferred (a sacrament)” (A. del Portillo, “On Priesthood”, pp. 59f).
2-3. From the moral qualities a priest needs, these verses single out mercy and
compassion, which lead him, on the one hand, to be gentle to sinners and, at the
same time, to desire to make personal reparation for their sins. The Latin transla-
tion of v. 2a puts the emphasis on the fact that the priest shares in suffering for
sin: he can “suffer along with” (”aeque condolere”) but in just measure on seeing
those who go astray, and, imitating Christ, he can himself perform some of the
penance those sinners should be doing. The original word translated here as
“deal gently” recalls the profound, but serene, sorrow which Abraham felt when
Sarah died (cf. Gen 23:2) and at the same time it alludes to the need for forbea-
rance, generosity and understanding: a priest must be a person who, while rejec-
ting sin, is understanding to the sinner and conscious that it may take him time
to mend his ways. He is also inclined to put the sinner’s intentions in the best
light (cf. Gal 6:1): people do not always sin deliberately; they can sin out of ig-
norance (that is, not realizing the gravity of their actions) and, more often than
not, out of weakness.
The Old Testament makes a clear distinction between sin committed unwittingly
(cf. Lev 4:2-27; Num 14:24, 27-29) and sins of rebelliousness (cf. Num 15:22-31;
Deut 17:12). Further on (cf. Heb 6:4-6; 10:26-27; 12:17), the letter will again refer
to the gravity of sins committed out of malice. Here, however, it is referring to sin,
whether grave or not, committed out of weakness. “Ignorant” and “wayward” are
almost synonymous, for a person who sins out of ignorance is described in He-
brews by a word which means “he who goes astray, he who does not know the
way”. The basic reason why a priest should be understanding and compassio-
nate is his awareness of his own weakness. Thus, the Church puts these words
on his lips in Eucharistic Prayer I: “’nobis quoque peccatoribus’—for ourselves,
too, sinners” (cf. Wis 9:5-6). A priest is compassionate and understanding be-
cause “he himself is beset with weakness”. The word translated as “beset” con-
tains the idea of surrounded or covered by or wrapped as if in a cloak. Pope Pius
XI wrote: “When we see a man exercising this faculty (of forgiving sins), we can-
not but repeat (not out of pharisaical scandal, but with reverent amazement)
those words, ‘Who is this, who even forgives sins?’ (Lk 7:49). It is the Man-God,
who had and has ‘authority on earth to forgive sins’ (Lk 5:24), and has chosen to
communicate it to his priests, and thereby with the generosity of divine mercy to
meet the human conscience’s need of purification. Hence the great consolation
the guilty man receives who experiences remorse and contritely hears the priest
tell him in God’s name, ‘I absolve you from your sins.’ The fact that he hears this
said by someone who himself will need to ask another priest to speak the same
words to him, does not debase God’s merciful gift: it enhances it, for the hand of
God who works this wonder is seen (as operating) by means of a frail creature”
(Pius XII, “Ad Catholici Sacerdotii”).
3. Everyone, including the priest, is a sinner. In the Old Testament rites for the
Day of Atonement (”Yom Kippur”), the high priest, before entering the Holy of
Holies, offered a sin-offering for his own sins (cf. Lev 16:3, 6, 11; Heb 9:6-14); so
too the priests of the New Testament have a duty to be holy, to reject sin, to ask
for forgiveness of their own sins, and to intercede for sinners.
The model the priest should always have before him is Jesus Christ, the eternal
high priest. “The main motive force actuating a priest should be the determination
to attain the closest union with the divine Redeemer [...]. He should continually
keep Christ before his eyes. Christ’s commands, actions and example he should
follow most assiduously, in the conviction that it is not enough for him to submit
to the duties by which the faithful are bound, but that he must at a daily increa-
sing pace pursue the perfection of life which the high dignity of a priest demands”
(Pius XII, “Menti Nostrae”, 7). But, one might object, Christ never had any defect,
never sinned, because his human nature was perfect and totally holy: is he not
therefore too perfect a model for men who when it comes down to it are sinners?
The answer is, No, not at all, for he himself said, “I have given you an example,
that you also should do as I have done to you” (Jn 13:15). Besides, when the text
(v. 2) refers to “weakness” this may refer to two things the weakness of human
nature (of man as creature), and the imperfection resulting from his faults and his
passions. The former kind of defect is one Christ shares with us; the second is
one he does not.
For this very reason, in the case of the priest, consciousness of his sins, plus
his conviction that he has been called by Christ, moves him to be very committed
to his apostolic ministry of reconciliation and penance; and in the first instance
priests perform this ministry for one another. “Priests, who are consecrated by
the anointing of the Holy Spirit and sent by Christ, mortify the works of the flesh
in themselves and dedicate themselves completely to the service of people” (Va-
tican II, “Presbyterorum Ordinis”, 12). As Pope John Paul II has stressed, “the
priest’s celebration of the Eucharist and administration of the other sacraments,
his pastoral zeal, his relationship with the faithful, his communion with this bro-
ther priests, his collaboration with his bishop, his life of prayer — in a word, the
whole of his priestly existence — suffers an inexorable decline if by negligence
or for some other reason he fails to receive the sacrament of Penance at regular
intervals and in a spirit of genuine faith and devotion. If a priest were no longer to
go to confession or properly confess his sins, his priestly being and his priestly
action would feel the effect of this very soon, and it would also be noticed by the
community of which he was the pastor.
“But I also add that even in order to be a good and effective minister of Penance
he priest needs to have recourse to the source of grace and holiness present in
this sacrament. We priests, on the basis of our personal experience, can certain-
ly say that, the more careful we are to receive the sacrament of Penance and to
approach it frequently and with good dispositions, the better we fulfill our own mi-
nistry as confessors and ensure that our penitents benefit from it. And on the
other hand this ministry would lose much of its effectiveness if in some way we
were to stop being good penitents. Such is the internal logic of this great sacra-
ment. It invites all of us priests of Christ to pay renewed attention to our personal
confession” (”Reconciliatio Et Paenitentia”, 31).
What the Pope says here ultimately stems from the fact that “ as ministers of the
sacred mysteries, especially in the sacrifice of the Mass, priests act in a special
way in the person of Christ who gave himself as a victim to sanctify men” (”Pres-
byterorum Ordinis”, 13).
In this way, “Christ the shepherd is present in the priest so as continually to ac-
tualize the universal call to conversion and repentance which prepares for the co-
ming of the Kingdom of heaven (cf. Mt 4:17). He is present in order to make men
understand that forgiveness of sins, the reconciliation of the soul and God, can-
not be the outcome of a monologue, no matter how keen a person’s capacity for
reflection and self-criticism. He reminds us that no one, alone, can calm his own
conscience; that the contrite heart must submit its sins to the Church — institution,
to the man-priest, who in the sacrament of Penance is a permanent objective wit-
ness to the radical need which fallen humanity has of the man-God, the only Just
One, the only Justifier” (A. del Potillo, “On Priesthood”, p. 62).
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
13
posted on
10/24/2009 10:18:42 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
From: Mark 10:46-52
The Blind Man of Jericho
[46] And they (Jesus and His disciples) came to Jericho; and as He was leaving
Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the
son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. [47] And when he heard that it was
Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mer-
cy on me!: [48] And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out
all he more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” [49] And Jesus stopped and
said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; rise,
He is calling you.” [50] And throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to
Jesus. [51] And Jesus said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And
the blind man said to Him, “Master, let me receive my sight.” [52] And Jesus
said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he
received his sight and followed him on the way.
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
46-52. “Hearing the commotion the crowd was making, the blind man asks,
‘What is happening?’ They told him, ‘It is Jesus of Nazareth.’ At this his soul was
so fired with faith in Christ that he cried out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on
me!’
“Don’t you feel the same urge to cry out? You who are also waiting at the side
of the way, of this highway of life that is so very short? You who need more light,
you who need more grace to make up your mind to seek holiness? Don’t you feel
an urgent need to cry out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me’? What a
beautiful aspiration for you to repeat again and again!...
“’Many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.’ As people have done to you, when
you sensed that Jesus was passing your way. Your heart beat faster and you
too began to cry out, prompted by an intimate longing. Then your friends, the
need to do the done thing, the easy life, your surroundings, all conspired to tell
you: ‘Keep quiet, don’t cry out. Who are you to be calling Jesus? Don’t bother
Him.’
“But poor Bartimaeus would not listen to them. He cried out all the more: ‘Son
of David, have mercy on me.’ Our Lord, who had heard him right from the begin-
ning, let him persevere in his prayer. He does the same with you. Jesus hears
our cries from the very first, but he waits. He wants us to be convinced that we
need Him. He wants us to beseech Him, to persist, like the blind man waiting
by the road from Jericho. ‘Let us imitate him. Even if God does not immediately
give us what we ask, even if many people try to put us off our prayers, let us still
go on praying’ (St. John Chrysostom, “Hom. on St. Matthew”, 66).
“’And Jesus stopped, and told them to call Him.’ Some of the better people in
the crowd turned to the blind man and said, ‘Take heart; rise, He is calling you.’
Here you have the Christian vocation! But God does not call only once. Bear in
mind that our Lord is seeking us at every moment: get up, He tells us, put aside
your indolence, your easy life, your petty selfishness, your silly little problems.
Get up from the ground, where you are lying prostrate and shapeless. Acquire
height, weight and volume, and a supernatural outlook.
“And throwing off his mantle the man sprang up and came to Jesus. He threw
off his mantle! I don’t know if you have ever lived through a war, but many years
ago I had occasion to visit a battlefield shortly after an engagement. There strewn
all over the ground, were greatcoats, water bottles, haversacks stuffed with family
souvenirs, letters, photographs of loved ones...which belonged, moreover, not to
the vanquished but to the victors! All these items had become superfluous in the
bid to race forward and leap over the enemy defenses. Just as happened to
Bartimaeus, as he raced towards Christ.
“Never forget that Christ cannot be reached without sacrifice. We have to get rid
of everything that gets in the way—greatcoat, haversack, water bottle. You have
to do the same in this battle for the glory of God, in this struggle of love and
peace by which we are trying to spread Christ’s Kingdom. In order to serve the
Church, the Pope and all souls, you must be ready to give up everything super-
fluous....
“And now begins a dialogue with God, a marvelous dialogue that moves us and
sets our hearts on fire, for you and I are now Bartimaeus. Christ, who is God,
begins to speak and asks, ‘Quid tibi vis faciam?’ ‘What do you want Me to do
for you?’ The blind man answers. ‘Lord, that I may see.’ How utterly logical! How
about yourself, can you really see? Haven’t you too experienced at times what
happened to the blind man of Jericho? I can never forget how, when meditating
on this passage many years back, and realizing that Jesus was expecting some-
thing of me, though I myself did not know what it was, I made up my own aspira-
tions: ‘Lord, what is it You want! What are You asking of me’? I had a feeling that
He wanted me to take on something new and the cry, ‘Rabboni, ut videam’, ‘Mas-
ter, that I may see,’ moved me to beseech Christ again and again, ‘Lord, what-
eveit is that You wish, let it be done.’
“Pray with me now to our Lord: ‘doce me facere voluntatem tuam, quia Deus
meus es tu” (Psalm 142:10) (’teach me to do Thy will, for You art my God’). In
short, our lips should express a true desire on our part to correspond effectively
to our Creator’s promptings, striving to follow out His plans with unshakeable
faith, being fully convinced that He cannot fail us....
“But let us go back to the scene outside Jericho. It is now to you that Christ is
speaking. He asks you, ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ ‘Master, let me
receive my sight.’ Then Jesus answers, ‘Go your way. Your faith has made you
well.’ And immediately he received his sight and followed Him on His way.” Fol-
lowing Jesus on His way. You have understood what our Lord was asking to
from you and you have decided to accompany Him on His way. You are trying
to walk in His footsteps, to clothe yourself in Christ’s clothing, to be Christ Him-
self: well, your faith, your faith in the light our Lord is giving you, must be both
operative and full of sacrifice. Don’t fool yourself. Don’t think you are going to
find new ways. The faith He demands of us is as I have said. We must keep in
step with Him, working generously and at the same time uprooting and getting
rid of everything that gets in the way” (St. J. Escriva, “Friends of God”, 195-
198).
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
14
posted on
10/24/2009 10:19:48 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Scripture readings taken from the Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd
Mass Readings
| First reading |
Jeremiah 31:7-9 © |
|
The Lord says this:
Shout with joy for Jacob!
Hail the chief of nations!
Proclaim! Praise! Shout:
‘The Lord has saved his people,
the remnant of Israel!’
See, I will bring them back
from the land of the North
and gather them from the far ends of earth;
all of them: the blind and the lame,
women with child, women in labour:
a great company returning here.
They had left in tears,
I will comfort them as I lead them back;
I will guide them to streams of water,
by a smooth path where they will not stumble.
For I am a father to Israel,
and Ephraim is my first-born son.
|
| Psalm or canticle: Psalm 125:1-7 |
| Second reading |
Hebrews 5:1-6 © |
|
Every high priest has been taken out of mankind and is appointed to act for men in their relations with God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins; and so he can sympathise with those who are ignorant or uncertain because he too lives in the limitations of weakness. That is why he has to make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. No one takes this honour on himself, but each one is called by God, as Aaron was. Nor did Christ give himself the glory of becoming high priest, but he had it from the one who said to him: You are my son, today I have become your father, and in another text: You are a priest of the order of Melchizedek, and for ever.
|
| Gospel |
Mark 10:46-52 © |
|
As Jesus left Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (that is, the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting at the side of the road. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout and to say, ‘Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.’ And many of them scolded him and told him to keep quiet, but he only shouted all the louder, ‘Son of David, have pity on me.’ Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him here.’ So they called the blind man. ‘Courage,’ they said ‘get up; he is calling you.’ So throwing off his so cloak, he jumped up and went to Jesus. Then Jesus spoke, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Rabbuni,’ the blind man said to him ‘Master, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has saved you.’ And immediately his sight returned and he followed him along the road.
|
15
posted on
10/24/2009 10:22:37 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Zenit-Master, I Want to See!
Master, I Want to See!
Biblical Reflection for 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time B
By Father Thomas Rosica, CSB
TORONTO, OCT. 21, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Mark's healing stories of the blind man of Bethsaida (8:22-26) and the healing of Bartimaeus, the blind man on the road to Jericho (10:46-52) were undoubtedly popular stories in the early Church and they remain very significant stories for the contemporary Church.
These miracles have always fascinated me because I grew up with my father who was an eye doctor. How frequently we spoke about sight impairments, eye diseases, stigmatisms, cataracts and 20/20 vision! My father was also a member of a charitable society that assisted the blind, and I remember vividly volunteering as a child with my father and his doctor colleagues who hosted memorable Christmas parties for blind people.
Road to Jericho
Mark tells the story of Jesus' encounter with Bartimaeus, a blind man and a beggar (10:46-52) in the Gospel for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B). Jesus had made the long, arduous journey down the desert valley from Galilee in the north. He was on his way to Jerusalem, a daunting climb from an oasis on the desert floor to the hills of Judea.
As Jesus passed through Jericho, Bartimaeus heard the din of the crowd and knew that the chance of a lifetime was within his grasp. Bartimaeus was not about to miss this opportunity! From the roadside, he began to cry out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Some people in Jesus' entourage were embarrassed to have this dirty, rude beggar bother the master and they attempted to silence him.
What were they embarrassed about? Bartimaeus was simply trying to engage the culture around him and let the people know that he, too, had a right to see Jesus. If individuals in the crowd had heard the rumors about Jesus' healing powers, wouldn't they be kind to this poor beggar and bring him to Jesus for healing?
Bartimaeus would not be denied -- and neither would Jesus. As the shouts of the beggar reached his ears, Jesus brushed aside the restraints of his disciples and called to the blind man. Bartimaeus threw off his cloak and drew near to that welcoming voice, which responded to his pleas, "What do you want me to do for you?"
"Lord, that I may see." And Bartimaeus did see, not just with his eyes but more importantly, with his heart. Though Bartimaeus was blind to many things, he clearly saw who Jesus is. Seeing "who Jesus is" is the goal of faith, and it leads to discipleship. At the end of the story, Bartimaeus regained his sight and followed Jesus on the way. Given that the very next verse in Mark narrates the entry into Jerusalem, we can be certain that Bartimaeus followed Jesus on the way to the cross.
Blindness metaphor
Compassion for the outcast was a hallmark of Jesus' ministry and healing stories in the Gospels never seem to be simply a reversal of physical misfortune. In the stories of those who "once were blind, but now they see," the connections between seeing and believing are so strong that these miracles worked by Jesus are more about growing in faith than letting the scales of blindness fall away.
Disciples of Jesus have vision problems. How often do we use the metaphor of blindness to describe our inability to grasp the meaning of the suffering we endure? We sometimes describe our blindness as an inability to see the forest for the trees, but that is a rather simplistic analysis. More worrisome is the inherited blindness which so often assumes that there are no lessons left to learn. Arrogance is very often the root of our blindness. We need the miracle of restored sight each day.
What corners of the church, of society and of our culture need serious healing, restoration and reformation in our time? Where are our blind spots? Where are the big problems with near-sightedness and far-sightedness? How often do we prefer monologue to dialogue, refusing to believe that we might learn from those who oppose us and disagree with us; refusing to engage the culture around us and preferring a narrow, obstinate and angry way of existing? How often do we say that there are no other ways to look at an issue than our way ... or the highway!
How often do we behave like those who tried to prevent Bartimaeus from seeing and meeting the Lord? Against the cries of the scoffers and cynics in our midst, do we dare to bring our friends, colleagues and loved ones into the very presence of the Lord? How can we not, when we know the result of a lifetime without Christ?
Healing, restoration and sight
Abortion is the most serious wound inflicted not only on individuals and their families who should provide the sanctuary for life, but inflicted as well on society and its culture, by the very people who ought to be society's promoters and defenders. It is important to recall Benedict XVI's words and pro-life vision at the opening ceremony of World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney, on July 17, 2008:
"And so we are led to reflect on what place the poor and the elderly, immigrants and the voiceless, have in our societies. How can it be that domestic violence torments so many mothers and children? How can it be that the most wondrous and sacred human space -- the womb -- has become a place of unutterable violence?"
The Roman Catholic Church offers a teaching on the inviolability, the sacredness and the dignity of the human person: a 20/20 vision for which we must strive each day if we claim to be pro-life.
Opposition to abortion and euthanasia does not excuse indifference to those who suffer from poverty, violence and injustice. We must strive to see the whole picture, not with tunnel vision.
To say that we are pro-life means that we are against whatever is opposed to life itself, such as any type of murder, genocide, abortion, euthanasia or wilful self-destruction. We stand firmly against whatever violates the dignity of the human person such as mutilation, torments inflicted on body or mind, attempts to coerce the will itself, whatever insults human dignity such as subhuman living conditions, arbitrary imprisonment, deportation, slavery, prostitution, the selling of women and children, and disgraceful working conditions where people are treated as instruments of gain rather than as free and responsible persons. All of these things and more destroy human life and poison human society.
Capuchin Cardinal Sean O'Malley, archbishop of Boston, recently wrote: "Our ability to change people's hearts and help them to grasp the dignity of each and every life, from the first moment of conception to the last moment of natural death, is directly related to our ability to increase love and unity in the Church, for our proclamation of the Truth is hindered when we are divided and fighting with each other."
Being pro-life is one of the deepest expressions of our baptism: We stand up as sons and daughters of the light, clothed in humility and charity, filled with conviction, speaking the truth to power with firmness, conviction and determination, and never losing joy and hope.
Being pro-life is not an activity for a political party or a particular side of the spectrum. It is an obligation for everyone: left, right and center! If we are pro-life, we must engage the culture around us, and not curse it. We must see others as Jesus does, and we must love them to life, even those who are opposed to us.
As we recognize the things that blind us from the Lord and paralyze us from effective action, let us never cease begging the Lord to heal us! "Lord, that I may see!" And when our vision is restored, let us get up to follow him joyfully along the way to the Kingdom.
A Prayer for Sight Origen (185-253)
May the Lord Jesus touch our eyes,
As he did those of the blind.
Then we shall begin to see in visible things
Those which are invisible.
May He open our eyes to gaze not on present realities,
But on the blessings to come.
May he open the eyes of our heart to contemplate God in Spirit,
Through Jesus Christ the Lord,
To whom belong power and glory through all eternity. Amen.
[The readings for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time B are Jeremiah 31:7-9; Hebrew 5:1-6; and Mark 10:46-52]
* * *
Basilian Father Thomas Rosica, chief executive officer of the Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation and Television Network in Canada, is a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.
16
posted on
10/24/2009 10:26:20 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Bartimaeus: The Everyman
October 24th, 2009 by Fr. Paul Scalia
We know very little about the people our Lord healed. We know he healed many, but we hear few details about them. And yet from each one of them we can learn something about ourselves and about the healing we need to receive from Jesus. Blind Bartimaeus is one such figure. If we pass over him as just a man our Lord healed, then we risk missing the significance of his appearance. He serves as a kind of “everyman” — an image of our wounded human nature seeking the healing that Christ brings. The scene is the drama of man in miniature, providing both a description of us … and a challenge to us.
His condition, first, summarizes what sin has done to us: We are blind. Bartimaeus suffered a physical blindness. But we suffer a more severe kind: spiritual blindness. Original sin has introduced a blindness into our intellect. We do not see the truth of things — of God or of ourselves — as clearly as we should. Sin directs our sight to things below. By way of it we lower our heads, turning them away from our heavenly calling. And our own personal sins only aggravate this situation. Persistence in sin only blinds us more.
Like Bartimaeus, we are also beggars. We stand in need of God’s mercy and grace. A beggar does not ask for something luxurious or frivolous. He asks for what he needs, for what he cannot live without. Such is our situation before God. We need the mercy that frees us from sin and the grace that brings us to heaven. And the worst fate we could suffer is to think that we are not beggars — that we are sufficient and adequate in all things, not in need of God at all.
Next, the cry of Bartimaeus gives voice to the longing of every human heart: “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me!” Whether we realize it, whether we allow them to be heard, our hearts cry out to Jesus. Only the Lord can satisfy that longing for peace that everyone experiences and that the history of man displays. The record of man’s sorrow and the sadness we all experience is our human nature crying out with Bartimaeus, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me!”
Further, “many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.” So also many today do not like to hear our plea. The Church cries out for mercy. She begs the Lord to end the evils all around us – the assaults on life, the decay of society. She pleads with men to end their sin and turn to the Lord. But as the crowd once tried to hush Bartimaeus, so now the world wants the Church to be silent — lest she wake society’s anesthetized conscience and disrupt its “progress.”
The similarities end there. And the challenges begin. Given the summary of our human condition that Bartimaeus provides — that we find ourselves in him — we have to decide whether we will imitate him. Will we follow him in seeking the healing we need? He did not stop crying out to Jesus, but “kept calling out all the more, ‘Son of David, have pity on me.’” Will we continue to cry out, even though the world may criticize and shun us? Will we allow the world to silence us?
Further, he did not allow his disability to keep him from Jesus. When he heard that our Lord was calling him, this blind beggar “threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.” A remarkable feat for a man so disabled. By that act he invites and challenges us to seek the Lord — who is calling us as well — no matter what the difficulties.
Fr. Scalia is parochial vicar of St. Rita parish in Alexandria, VA.
(This article courtesy of the Arlington Catholic Herald.)
17
posted on
10/24/2009 10:32:06 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
The Work of God
Year B - 30th Sunday in ordinary time What do you want me to do for you? Mark 10:46-5246 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho, with his disciples, and a very great multitude, Bartimeus the blind man, the son of Timeus, sat by the way side begging.
47 Who when he had heard, that it was Jesus of Nazareth, began to cry out, and to say: Jesus son of David, have mercy on me.
48 And many rebuked him, that he might hold his peace; but he cried a great deal the more: Son of David, have mercy on me.
49 And Jesus, standing still, commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying to him: Be of better comfort: arise; he called you.
50 Who casting off his garment leaped up, and came to him.
51 And Jesus answering, said to him: What do you want me to do for you? And the blind man said to him: Rabboni, that I may see.
52 And Jesus said to him: Go your way, your faith has made you whole. And immediately he saw, and followed him in the way.Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus Jesus son of David, have mercy on me. – Can you see how easy it is to ask for my compassion and how I am always ready to respond? … I told him, What do you want me to do for you? And the blind man said: Rabboni, that I may see. I said to him Go on your way, your faith has made you whole, and instantly he recovered his sight.
First of all, this man has recognized me as the Son of David; he has believed in the Holy Scriptures, in the promises made to the people of Israel and has given credit to my Mercy and my Power. He has recognized the promised Messiah and despite being blind he used his voice to call my attention and benefit from my gift.
When someone invokes my compassion, he not only obtains what he needs, but the rays of my mercy envelope his body, mind, soul and spirit. I know the pain, the wounds, the resentments, the sin and the needs of each one; my wish is to heal and to bless all those who come to me with faith.
My Mercy is infinite and very easy to receive, but it is obtained according to the faith and hope with which it is requested, since I reward the humility of everyone who calls me. One of the gifts that my Father has given to everyone is suffering, without it human beings would feel themselves in a Paradise that would not have a connection with God and they would never feel fear of offending Him or the need of finding Him.
Suffering came to the world as a consequence of sin. It was well that in my Mercy I opened the eyes of many blind people, but it is even more important that each one opens his spiritual eyes to see the way I see, this way they can know me and live in my Presence.
Many have the notion that miracles do not exist, many discredit the Holy Scriptures denying them; I assure you that miracles continue to occur daily as a reward to faith. If someone comes to me with faith and confidence in my power, I will respond to him in accordance with the Will of my Father who wishes the salvation of all his children. Many don’t obtain what they wish, but I assure you that all prayers are listened to and there is always an answer in connection with each petition.
There is more joy in giving than in receiving, I feel great joy being able to help a soul that comes to me, I rejoice in humility and repentance. This is why I don’t judge but understand human misery. I wait eagerly that every soul leaves the ways of darkness and comes back to my light to obtain the benefits that my Mercy wishes to grant.
Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary |
18
posted on
10/24/2009 10:36:19 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
A Sacred Page
So much could be said about this reading it is difficult to know where to start! Here I want to highlight Jesus' role as the Davidic healer.
Healing and the Eschatological/Messianic Age
The story of the healing of Bartimaeus clearly links Jesus’ role as healer to his identity as the Son of David. In fact, all of the Gospels link Jesus’ ability to heal to his role as the Davidic messiah (cf. Matt 9:27; 20:31; Mark 10:48; Luke 18:38–39). Indeed, a number of prophetic texts, Second Temple sources and later rabbinic writings specifically associate the arrival of the eschatological age with the idea of healing.[1] Here I will only list a few:
Isa 29:18: “In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.”
Isa 35:5: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then shall the lame man leap like a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing for joy.”
Numerous other biblical texts could also be cited (cf. Isa 19:22; 30:26; 53:5; 57:18–19; 58:7; Jer 30:17; 33:6; Ezek 47:12; Hos 6:1; 7:1; Mal 4:2). In addition, the eschatological age is also linked with healing in non-biblical Second Temple sources.
Jubilees 23:29–30: “And all of their days they will be complete and live in peace and rejoicing and there will be not Satan and no evil (one) who will destroy, because all of their days will be days of blessing and healing. And then the Lord will heal his servants, and they will rise up and see great peace.”
1 Enoch 96:3: “But you, who have experienced pain, fear not, for there shall be a healing medicine for you.”
One particular text is worth mentioning here. One of the Dead Sea Scrolls, 4Q521, which draws from the passage from Isaiah 35 cited above and links it with Isaiah 61, reveals that the Messiah will be a healer. The fragment begins: “1 [for the heav]ens and the earth will listen to his anointed one, 2 [and all th]at is in them will not turn away from the precepts of the holy ones. . .” The fragment then continues to explain that the Lord
“will honour the pious upon the throne of an eternal kingdom, freeing prisoners, giving sight to the blind, straightening out the twis[ted.]… And the Lord will perform marellous acts such as have not existed just as he sa[id,] [for] he will heal the badly wounded and will make the dead live, he will proclaim good news to the poor and […]…[…] he will lead […] … and enrich the hungry.” (4Q521 2 II, 7 and 11-13).
Jesus' Role as the Healer Messiah
The tradition linking healing to the eschatological age is especially present in Matthew and Luke, where Jesus appeals to his ability to heal lepers as evidence that he is the Messiah. One particularly important passage is found in both Matthew and Luke. When John the Baptist’s disciples come asking him whether he is “the one to come,” Jesus states, “the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them” (Matt 11:5//Luke 7:22). As is well-known, in this saying Jesus conflates Isaiah 35 and 61, mirroring 4Q521. Strikingly, both the Qumran text and Jesus insert a statement about raising the dead prior to the task of preaching to the poor.[2]
Jesus' Role As the Davidic Healer
Of course, the Gospels link Jesus’ role as healer precisely to his role as the Davidic messiah. What is interesting about this is that there really is no clear pre-Christian text describing the Davidic messiah as a healer. There is at least one text that should be mentioned here: Ezekiel 34. There the Lord promises to help the sheep who are weak and crippled (cf. Ezek 34:4, 16) within the same context in which he promises to send a Davidic Messiah (cf. Ezek 34:23–24).[3] But even here the connection is rather ambiguous.
So how did Jesus’ role as healer come to be associated with his role as the eschatological Son of David? Well, certainly given the fact that the messiah was already linked with healing in 4Q521 it is not surprising that Jesus’ role as the Davidic Messiah would be connected with his healing. Yet we might also point out that the ink could have been established in connection with the fact that David was remembered for having exorcistic and healing abilities (cf. 1 Sam 16:14–23; Josephus, A.J. 166–68; 11QPsa XI, 2–11; L. A. B. 60:1). Even more descriptive are the numerous texts relating Solomon’s abilities as an exorcist and healer (cf. Josephus, A.J. 8:42–49; Apoc. Adam 7:13; cf. also Wis 7:20).[4] It is therefore easy to see how Jesus’ healing abilities could have been linked with his exorcistic powers and how these together could be have been linked with his role as the eschatological “Son of David.”
In fact, as Meier explains, that a Solomonic reference is present here is strongly suggested by the fact that, with the exception of one occurrence where it is linked with Absalom (cf. 2 Sam 13:1), the term “Son of David” is normally used as a referent to Solomon (cf. 1 Chron. 28:22; 2 Chron 1:1; 13:6; 30:26; 35:3; Prov 1:1; Eccl 1:1). [5] In light of this Bartimaeus cry is not at all surprising―“Have mercy on me, Son of David!”
For notes -- Click on the link.
19
posted on
10/24/2009 10:42:50 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time
First Reading – Jer. 31:7-9Responsorial Psalm – Ps. 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6Second Reading – Heb. 5:1-6Gospel Reading – Mk. 10:46-52I
n 930 B.C., King Solomon’s reign over the 12 tribes of Israel would end in utter disgrace because his heart was turned to the gods of his 700 foreign wives (cf. 1 Kings 11:1-10). After this, the united twelve tribes would divide – ten tribes to the north (now called the Kingdom of Israel) and two tribes to the south (now called the Kingdom of Judah).
The northern kingdom of Israel was profoundly idolatrous from the start. God had warned them to change their wicked ways through prophets such as Hosea and Amos, but to no avail. God would deal with their wickedness in 722 B.C. by allowing the Assyrians to overtake the northern kingdom. The Assyrians deported many of the northern Israelites to other nations and repopulated the land with foreigners.
The southern kingdom, the Kingdom of Judah, was not much more faithful to the Lord and also abandoned him through idolatry. Through the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Joel and Micah, God warned them to change their evil ways and eventually allowed the Babylonians to overtake the Kingdom of Judah. The Babylonians began to exile those in the southern kingdom beginning in 605 B.C., and later, dealt Judah a deadly blow by taking Jerusalem, destroying the city, its walls, and most importantly its temple.
The reading from the prophet Jeremiah for this Sunday is a word of comfort and hope regarding the return from exile, and the restoration of the kingdom. “Behold, I will bring them back from the north country [Babylon]…among them the blind and the lame…” (31:8).
In Jesus’ day, however, these promises seemed to have gone unfulfilled. Even though Judah physically returned from exile 70 years after the beginning of their captivity, they remained under foreign domination, first under the Greeks, and then under the Romans. Since, the return from Babylon there was also no reigning king in the Davidic kingdom. In Jesus’ day, they still await the Messiah, the anointed one, the new king.
As Dr. Mary Healy recognizes in her book, The Gospel of Mark, “One of the promises associated with the coming of the messiah was the opening of the eyes of the blind” (p. 217). It is not a coincidence that it is a blind man who calls out to Jesus, referring to him as the “Son of David.”
The blind man will be cured of his physical blindness by Jesus, but in his blindness he already sees more clearly than most of his contemporaries. His referring to Jesus as the “Son of David” is indeed a proclamation of faith. The blind man recognizes that Jesus can heal and save him, and that this also means that Jesus, the Son of David, is there to restore the kingdom and bring the world itself back from exile, captivity and bondage.
In his blindness he sees the restoration of the Davidic kingdom which had lay in ruins for hundreds of years, even though God swore to David that his son would reign on his throne forever. The prophet Samuel told David, “Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son…and your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever” (1 Samuel 7:11c-16).
Here we have the covenant made with David sung about in Psalm 89:3-4: “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: I will establish you descendents forever and build your throne for all generations.”
If we read further into Jeremiah, in the same chapter 31 read for this Sunday, we hear, “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah” (v.31). Of course Jesus, the new and everlasting Davidic king, will definitive restore the kingdom, by establishing the new covenant in his blood.
20
posted on
10/24/2009 10:49:12 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time |
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21
posted on
10/24/2009 10:51:39 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
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The Angelus
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The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of
our death. Amen.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
Hail Mary . . .
And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary . . .
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
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22
posted on
10/24/2009 10:53:34 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Please be one
of the many who
oppose abortion!
23
posted on
10/24/2009 10:54:24 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation
I don’t mean to hijack Holy Scripture, but we just found out at Mass that we are losing BOTH of our priests, and we do not know who will take their places. They have only 3 more weeks.
My heart is broken at yet another loss because I was so fond of Fr Jim who is our pastor. Just when I am starting to get back into the Faith.
Please pray that God will send a good, holy, and strong man to lead our parish. Thank you so much.
24
posted on
10/25/2009 9:44:22 AM PDT
by
Infidel Heather
(In God I trust, not the Government.)
To: Infidel Heather
Prayers for your priests and for your parish. I can sympathize since we went through five priests in about seven years at my parish. I joke about it now, but it wasn’t funny at the time.
Prayers to the Holy Spirit for your parish.
25
posted on
10/25/2009 4:03:31 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Office of Readings and Invitatory Psalm
Office of Readings
If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.
O God, come to my aid.
– O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 103 (104) |
| Hymn to God the Creator |
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My Lord God, you are robed in majesty and splendour, wrapped in light as in a cloak. Alleluia.
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Bless the Lord, my soul!
Lord, my God, how great you are!
You are robed in majesty and splendour;
you are wrapped in light as in a cloak.
You stretch out the sky like an awning,
you build your palace upon the waters.
You make the clouds your chariot,
you walk upon the wings of the wind.
You make the breezes your messengers,
you make burning fire your minister.
You set the earth upon its foundation:
from age to age it will stand firm.
Deep oceans covered it like a garment,
and the waters stood high above the mountains;
but you rebuked them and they fled;
at the sound of your thunder they fled in terror.
They rise to the mountains or sink to the valleys,
to the places you have decreed for them.
You have given them a boundary they must not cross;
they will never come back to cover the earth.
You make springs arise to feed the streams,
that flow in the midst of the mountains.
All the beasts of the field will drink from them
and the wild asses will quench their thirst.
Above them will nest the birds of the sky,
from among the branches their voices will sound.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
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My Lord God, you are robed in majesty and splendour, wrapped in light as in a cloak. Alleluia.
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| Psalm 103 (104) |
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The Lord brought forth bread from the land, and wine to make man’s heart strong. Alleluia.
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From your palace you water the mountains,
and thus you give plenty to the earth.
You bring forth grass for the cattle,
and plants for the service of man.
You bring forth bread from the land,
and wine to make man’s heart rejoice.
Oil, to make the face shine;
and bread to make man’s heart strong.
The trees of the Lord have all that they need,
and the cedars of Lebanon, that he planted.
Small birds will nest there,
and storks at the tops of the trees.
For wild goats there are the high mountains;
the crags are a refuge for the coneys.
He made the moon so that time could be measured;
the sun knows the hour of its setting.
You send shadows, and night falls:
then all the beasts of the woods come out,
lion cubs roaring for their prey,
asking God for their food.
When the sun rises they come back together
to lie in their lairs;
man goes out to his labour,
and works until evening.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
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The Lord brought forth bread from the land, and wine to make man’s heart strong. Alleluia.
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| Psalm 103 (104) |
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God saw all that he had made, and indeed it was very good. Alleluia.
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How many are your works, O Lord!
You have made all things in your wisdom,
and the earth is full of your creatures.
The sea is broad and immense:
sea-creatures swim there, both small and large,
too many to count.
Ships sail across it;
Leviathan lives there, the monster;
you made him to play with.
All of them look to you
to give them their food when they need it.
You give it to them, and they gather;
you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
But turn away, and they are dismayed;
take away their breath, and they die,
once more they will turn into dust.
You will send forth your breath, they will come to life;
you will renew the face of the earth.
Glory be to the Lord, for ever;
let the Lord rejoice in his works.
He turns his gaze to the earth, and it trembles;
he touches the mountains, and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord all my life;
as long as I exist, I will sing songs to God.
May my praises be pleasing to him;
truly I will delight in the Lord.
Let sinners perish from the earth,
let the wicked vanish from existence.
Bless the Lord, my soul!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
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God saw all that he had made, and indeed it was very good. Alleluia.
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Happy are your eyes, because they see.
– Happy are your ears, because they hear.
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| Reading |
Wisdom 1:1-15 © |
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Love virtue, you who are judges on earth,
let honesty prompt your thinking about the Lord,
seek him in simplicity of heart;
since he is to be found by those who do not put him to the test,
he shows himself to those who do not distrust him.
But selfish intentions divorce from God;
and Omnipotence, put to the test, confounds the foolish.
No, Wisdom will never make its way into a crafty soul
nor stay in a body that is in debt to sin;
the holy spirit of instruction shuns deceit,
it stands aloof from reckless purposes,
is taken aback when iniquity appears.
Wisdom is a spirit, a friend to man,
though she will not pardon the words of a blasphemer,
since God sees into the innermost parts of him,
truly observes his heart,
and listens to his tongue.
The spirit of the Lord, indeed, fills the whole world,
and that which holds all things together knows every word that is said.
The man who gives voice to injustice will never go unnoticed,
nor shall avenging Justice pass him by.
For the godless man’s deliberations will be examined,
and a report of his words will reach the Lord
to convict him of his crimes.
There is a jealous ear that overhears everything,
not so much as a murmur of complaint escapes it.
Beware, then, of complaining about nothing,
and keep your tongue from finding fault;
since the most secret word will have repercussions,
and a lying mouth deals death to the soul.
Do not court death by the errors of your ways,
nor invite destruction through your own actions.
Death was not God’s doing,
he takes no pleasure in the extinction of the living.
To be – for this he created all;
the world’s created things have health in them,
in them no fatal poison can be found,
and Hades holds no power on earth;
for virtue is undying.
|
| Reading |
A letter to the Corinthians by Pope St Clement I |
| In his goodness to all, God gives order and harmony to the world |
|
Let us fix our gaze on the Father and Creator of the whole world, and let us hold on to his peace and blessings, his splendid and surpassing gifts. Let us contemplate him in our thoughts and with our mind’s eye reflect upon the peaceful and restrained unfolding of his plan; let us consider the care with which he provides for the whole of his creation.
By his direction the heavens are in motion, and they are subject to him in peace. Day and night fulfil the course he has established without interfering with each other. The sun, the moon and the choirs of stars revolve in harmony at his command in their appointed paths without deviation. By his will the earth blossoms in the proper seasons and produces abundant food for men and animals and all the living things on it without reluctance and without any violation of what he has arranged.
Yet unexplored regions of the abysses and inexpressible realms of the deep are subject to his laws. The mass of the boundless sea, joined together by his ordinance in a single expanse, does not overflow its prescribed limits but flows as he commanded it. For he said: Thus far shall you come, and your waves will be halted here. The ocean, impassable for men, and the worlds beyond it are governed by the same edicts of the Lord.
The seasons, spring, summer, autumn and winter, follow one another in harmony. The quarters from which the winds blow function in due season without the least deviation. And the ever-flowing springs, created for our health as well as our enjoyment, unfailingly offer their breasts to sustain human life. The tiniest of living creatures meet together in harmony and peace. The great Creator and Lord of the universe commanded all these things to be established in peace and harmony, in his goodness to all, and in overflowing measure to us who seek refuge in his mercies through our Lord Jesus Christ; to him be glory and majesty for ever and ever. Amen.
|
| Hymn |
Te Deum |
|
God, we praise you; Lord, we proclaim you!
You, the Father, the eternal –
all the earth venerates you.
All the angels, all the heavens, every power –
The cherubim, the seraphim –
unceasingly, they cry:
“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts:
heaven and earth are full of the majesty of your glory!”
The glorious choir of Apostles –
The noble ranks of prophets –
The shining army of martyrs –
all praise you.
Throughout the world your holy Church proclaims you.
– Father of immeasurable majesty,
– True Son, only-begotten, worthy of worship,
– Holy Spirit, our Advocate.
You, Christ:
– You are the king of glory.
– You are the Father’s eternal Son.
– You, to free mankind, did not disdain a Virgin’s womb.
– You defeated the sharp spear of Death, and opened the kingdom of heaven to those who believe in you.
– You sit at God’s right hand, in the glory of the Father.
– You will come, so we believe, as our Judge.
And so we ask of you: give help to your servants, whom you set free at the price of your precious blood.
Number them among your chosen ones in eternal glory.
Bring your people to safety, Lord, and bless those who are your inheritance.
Rule them and lift them high for ever.
Day by day we bless you, Lord: we praise you for ever and for ever.
Of your goodness, Lord, keep us without sin for today.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us.
Let your pity, Lord, be upon us, as much as we trust in you.
In you, Lord, I trust: let me never be put to shame.
|
| Concluding Prayer |
|
Almighty and ever-living God, give us more faith, more hope, and more love.
Make us love what you have taught,
so that we are worthy to receive what you have promised.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
Amen.
|
26
posted on
10/25/2009 4:20:36 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Catholic Culture
Daily Readings for: October 25, 2009
(Readings on USCCB website)
Collect: Almighty and ever-living God, strengthen our faith, hope, and love. May we do with loving hearts what you ask of us and come to share the life you promise. 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.
RECIPES
ACTIVITIES
PRAYERS
Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time Old Calendar: Feast of the Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ
And they came to Jericho; and as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, Bartimae'us, a blind beggar, the son of Timae'us, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" (Mk 10:46-52).
Sunday Readings
The first reading, from the book of the Prophet Jeremiah, 31:7-9, "Behold I will bring them back from the land of the north; I will gather them from the ends of the world, with the blind and the lame in their midst, the mothers and those with child; they shall return as an immense throng." Today's reading talks about the restoration of Israel and the new exodus.
The second reading, from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews, 5:1-6, "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." Paul develops the figure of Melchisedech as a type of Christ, the eternal High Priest of the New Covenant. Unlike the Levitical priests, Melchisedech is given no genealogy in Scripture. Paul sees in this fact the intention of the Holy Spirit to prefigure Christ's eternal priesthood.
We read in this Sunday's Gospel (Mark 10:46-52) that, while the Lord passes through the streets of Jericho, a blind man named Bartimaeus addresses him, crying out loudly: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" This entreaty moves Christ's heart, who pauses, has him called and cures him.
The decisive moment was the personal, direct encounter between the Lord and that man who was suffering. They are before one another -- God with his will to cure and the man with his desire to be cured. Two liberties, two converging wills, "What do you want me to do for you?" the Lord asks him. "Let me receive my sight," replies the blind man. "Go your way; your faith has made you well."
With these words, the miracle is realized -- God's joy, man's joy. And Bartimaeus, who had recovered his sight — recounts the Gospel — "followed him on the way": That is, he becomes his disciple and goes up with the Master to Jerusalem to take part with him in the great mystery of salvation. In the essential of its passages, this account evokes the itinerary of the catechumen toward the sacrament of baptism, which in the early Church was also called "lllumination."
Faith is a path of illumination; it starts from the humility of acknowledging one's need of salvation and arrives at the personal encounter with Christ, who calls [one] to follow him on the way of love. On this model the itineraries of Christian initiation have been established in the Church, which prepare for the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist.
In places of past evangelization — where the baptism of children is widespread — catechetical and spiritual experiences are proposed to young people and adults which enable them to undertake a path of rediscovery of the faith in a mature and conscious way, in order to assume later a coherent commitment to witness. How important is the work that pastors and catechists carry out in this field!
The rediscovery of the value of one's baptism is the basis of the missionary commitment of every Christian, because we see in the Gospel that he who lets himself be fascinated by Christ cannot do without witnessing the joy of following in his footsteps. In this month of October, especially dedicated to the mission, we understand even more that, in virtue of baptism, we have an inherent missionary vocation.
We invoke the intercession of the Virgin Mary so that missionaries of the Gospel will multiply. Intimately united to the Lord, may every baptized person hear that he is called to proclaim the love of God to all, with the testimony of his own life.
Angelus Address, Pope Benedict XVI, October 29, 2006
27
posted on
10/25/2009 4:25:48 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Lauds -- Morning Prayer
Morning Prayer (Lauds)
If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.
O God, come to my aid.
– O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 117 (118) |
| A cry of rejoicing and triumph |
|
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Alleluia.
|
|
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
and his kindness is for ever.
Now let Israel say, he is good
and his kindness is for ever.
Now let the house of Aaron say it too:
that his kindness is for ever.
Now let all who fear the Lord say it too:
that his kindness is for ever.
In my time of trial I called out to the Lord:
he listened, and led me to freedom.
The Lord is with me,
I will fear nothing that man can do.
The Lord, my help, is with me,
and I shall look down upon my enemies.
It is good to seek shelter in the Lord,
better than to trust in men.
It is good to seek shelter in the Lord,
better than to trust in the leaders of men.
All the nations surrounded me,
and in the Lord’s name I slew them.
They crowded in and besieged me,
and in the Lord’s name I slew them.
They surrounded me like swarms of bees,
they burned like a fire of dry thorns,
and in the Lord’s name I slew them.
They chased and pursued me, to make me fall,
and the Lord came to my help.
The Lord is my strength and my rejoicing:
he has become my saviour.
A cry of joy and salvation
in the dwellings of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand has triumphed!
The Lord’s right hand has raised me up;
the Lord’s right hand has triumphed.”
I shall not die, but live,
and tell of the works of the Lord.
The Lord chastised me severely
but did not let me die.
Open the gates of righteousness:
I will go in, and thank the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord;
it is the upright who enter here.
I will thank you, for you listened to me,
and became my saviour.
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the corner-stone.
It was the Lord who did this –
it is marvellous to behold.
This is the day that was made by the Lord:
let us rejoice today, and be glad.
Lord, keep me safe;
O Lord, let me prosper!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
The Lord is God, he shines upon us!
Arrange the procession, with close-packed branches,
up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, I will give thanks to you;
my God, I will give you praise.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
and his kindness is for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
|
|
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Alleluia.
|
| Canticle |
Daniel 3 |
| Let every creature praise the Lord |
|
Let us sing a hymn to our God. Alleluia.
|
|
Blessed are you, Lord God of our fathers,
praised and exalted for ever.
Blessed is the holy name of your glory
praised above all things and exalted for ever.
Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory
praised and glorious above all things for ever.
Blessed are you who gaze on the depths,
seated on the cherubim,
praised and exalted for ever.
Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven
praised and glorious for ever.
Bless the Lord, all his works,
praise and exalt him for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
|
|
Let us sing a hymn to our God. Alleluia.
|
| Psalm 150 |
| Praise the Lord |
|
Praise the Lord for all his greatness. Alleluia.
|
|
Praise the Lord in his sanctuary,
praise him in his mighty firmament.
Praise him for his mighty deeds,
praise him for all his greatness.
Praise him with trumpet-blasts,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with timbrel and dance,
praise him with strings and pipes,
praise him with cymbals resounding,
praise him with cymbals of jubilation.
All that breathes, praise the Lord!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
|
|
Praise the Lord for all his greatness. Alleluia.
|
| Short reading |
Ezekiel 36:25-27 © |
|
I shall pour clean water over you and you will be cleansed; I shall cleanse you of all your defilement and all your idols. I shall give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you; I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh instead. I shall put my spirit in you, and make you keep my laws and sincerely respect my observances.
|
| Canticle |
Benedictus |
| The Messiah and his forerunner |
|
‘Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.’ – ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ – ‘Master, let me see again.’
|
|
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption.
He has raised up the sign of salvation
in the house of his servant David,
as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones,
his prophets through the ages:
to rescue us from our enemies
and all who hate us,
to take pity on our fathers,
to remember his holy covenant
and the oath he swore to Abraham our father,
that he would give himself to us,
that we could serve him without fear
– freed from the hands of our enemies –
in uprightness and holiness before him,
for all of our days.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High:
for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path,
to let his people know their salvation,
so that their sins may be forgiven.
Through the bottomless mercy of our God,
one born on high will visit us
to give light to those who walk in darkness,
who live in the shadow of death;
to lead our feet in the path of peace.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
|
|
‘Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.’ – ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ – ‘Master, let me see again.’
|
| Prayers and Intercessions |
? |
|
Let us give thanks to our Saviour who came down into this world as God in our midst. Let us cry out to him:
– Christ, king of glory, be our light and our joy!
Christ our Lord, you are the light dawning from on high, the first-fruits of the resurrection that is to come:
may we not remain in shadow but follow you and walk in the light of true life.
– Christ, king of glory, be our light and our joy!
Make us perceive your goodness in every created thing,
so that we see your glory wherever we look.
– Christ, king of glory, be our light and our joy!
Lord, do not let evil defeat us today,
but may we, armed with goodness, defeat evil ourselves.
– Christ, king of glory, be our light and our joy!
You were baptized in Jordan and anointed with the Holy Spirit:
make us give thanks to that same Spirit today.
– Christ, king of glory, be our light and our joy!
|
|
Our Father, who art in Heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
|
|
Almighty and ever-living God, give us more faith, more hope, and more love.
Make us love what you have taught,
so that we are worthy to receive what you have promised.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
Amen.
|
|
May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.
|
| A M E N |
28
posted on
10/25/2009 4:38:59 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
The Word Among Us
Meditation: Mark 10:46-52
Bartimaeus certainly knew how to stand out in a crowd.
A blind beggar, he was convinced that Jesus had the power to restore his sight. And he was desperate enough to cry out to Jesus over and over again until he received the healing he sought.
We may not be physically blind, but we all have some degree of spiritual blindness. And the answer for us is the same as it was for Bartimaeus: We need to call out to Jesus over and over again.
Bartimaeus threw pride out the window because he wanted to see so badly. He embarrassed himself and his friends, but he didn’t care. He even went so far as to beg Jesus for his sight. He was willing to become a “fool” just so that he could see Jesus (1 Corinthians 3:18). There was no way he was going to miss out on a golden opportunity like this.
Bartimaeus was rewarded for his persistence and foolishness: Jesus healed his blindness. And that’s not all. Bartimaeus was so moved by what he experienced—and by who he experienced—that he became a follower of Jesus.
Do you believe that Jesus wants to show himself to you? Do you believe that he can heal your spiritual blindness? He can, and it begins as you follow Bartimaeus’ example and seek the Lord. Set your eyes and your heart on Jesus. Cry out for him as loud as you can.
It’s not that Jesus is hard of hearing or far away. Rather, crying out like Bartimaeus is a way for us to put our whole heart into our prayer. It’s our way of saying, “With all that I have, Lord, I stand here pleading.”
How will we know if our spiritual sight is being restored? We will know when we are moved to give our lives to Jesus. We will know when our hearts are warmed by Jesus’ love and when we are moved to give our lives to him—just as Bartimaeus did.
“Jesus, open my eyes! I want to see you and know you more than anything else in this world. Please, Lord, let me see.”
Jeremiah 31:7-9; Psalm 126:1-6; Hebrews 5:1-6
29
posted on
10/25/2009 4:41:04 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
How Did You Spend Your Dash?
Pastor’s Column
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 25, 2009
Sometimes a message can be expressed without a lot of words. There is much wisdom in this simple poem. I keep it on the refrigerator; perhaps it will get you to thinking as well……
Father Gary
I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend
He spoke of the dates on her tombstone from the beginning… to the end.
He noticed first the day of birth and the following date with tears,
But what he said mattered most of all was the dash between those years.
For that dash represented all the time that she spent alive on earth;
And only now do those who love her know what that line is worth.
For it matters not how much we own; the cars, the house, the cash --
What matters most is how we live and love and how we spent our dash.
So think about this long and hard…. Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left, that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough to consider what’s true and real,
And always try to understand the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more,
And love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile…
Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So when your eulogy’s being read with your life’s actions to rehash…
Will you be proud of what they’ll say -- and how you spent your dash?
30
posted on
10/25/2009 6:32:12 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Faith and Family Live
Bartimaeus, Jeremiah and You
by Tom and April Hoopes in Faith on Saturday, October 24, 2009 6:00 AM
(In this weekly column, Tom and April Hoopes share family-friendly ways of observing the liturgical year and celebrating the Sunday readings.)
Sunday, Oct. 25, is the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B, Cycle I).
Papal
At 9:30 a.m. Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Benedict XVI will close the Synod of Bishops for Africa. The last synod for Africa was in 1994 — and it’s unusual to have another so soon. But consider Africa’s last 15 years: More than half of the country’s bishops were named in that time period. The continent’s Catholic population increased by nearly a third. There are 20% more parishes. There are a third more priests. There are 20% more women religious.
The growth of the Church is accelerated in Africa, and, thus, so is the need to manage it. Would that every continent needed a synod as often.
Readings
Jeremiah 31:7-9; Psalm 126:1-6; Hebrews 5:1-6; Mark 10:46-52
Our Take
Today’s first reading is an example of radical trust in God.
It’s written by Jeremiah, who has a reputation as a doom-and-gloom prophet because he saw so clearly the horror of the destruction of Jerusalem and the tragedy of the exile of the Jewish people — and wrote about it forcefully.
Jeremiah saw failure throughout his life. He pinned his early hopes on Josiah, a reforming Judean king who was strict about the Law. He probably expected Josiah’s religious revival to be blessed by God and to lead to greater days. But Josiah’s campaign ended on the battlefield. After his death, under Josiah’s successor, Jehoiachin, Jerusalem fell into idolatry, and then fell into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar.
A false prophet proclaimed that God would hand a victory to the Israelites anyway. Jeremiah tried to stop a foolhardy revolt, but failed. Nebuchadnezzar retaliated against the upstart Jews by destroying Jerusalem.
It was in the wake of that defeat that Jeremiah delivered the prophecy in today’s first reading. It announces not only Israel’s rescue from exile, but a “new covenant.”
The Psalm today records the people’s joy when the first part of that prophecy came true. The second reading — about the new high priest, Christ, and the new priesthood “in the order of Melchizedek” — is an elaboration on the covenant prophecy of Jeremiah.
It wasn’t human wisdom that allowed Jeremiah to make such a prophecy at the most inopportune time — when it was most likely to be rejected and misunderstood. It was, simply, the truth.
Today’s Gospel shows how this lesson can apply to each of us in the circumstances of our own lives.
Bartimaeus knows that Christ is passing by, and calls out to him. It seems a futile effort. After all, the walls of a city are lined with beggars. Why should his cries be any more fruitful than anyone else’s?
Yet “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me,” he continues to call. He doesn’t care that Christ isn’t showering him with attention. He doesn’t care what people around him think. He doesn’t care that people who should know better are telling him his quest is useless. He just calls out to Christ his simple request.
He is rewarded. Jesus replies: “What do you want me to do for you?”
We can expect the same reply from Jesus when we call to him persistently. And the blind man shows us how to answer: “Master, I want to see.”
This is a simple request on his part; and it’s analogous to what we should request: “Master, I want to see. I want to know your presence. I want to see sin for what it is. I want to see the truth of the choices I face. I want to see you for who you are on your terms, not guess at it in darkness.
“I want to be like Jeremiah in the ruins of Jerusalem — aware of the grave limitations of my circumstances, but even more aware of the hope inherent in your world.”
That’s a prayer Christ is all too ready to answer.
—This article originally appeared in our sister publication, the National Catholic Register.
31
posted on
10/25/2009 10:26:01 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Vespers -- Evening Prayer
Vespers (Evening Prayer)
O God, come to my aid.
– O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 109 (110) |
| The Messiah, king and priest |
|
Christ the Lord is a priest for ever, a priest of the order of Melchisedech. Alleluia.
|
|
The Lord has said to my lord:
“Sit at my right hand
while I make your enemies your footstool.”
From Zion the Lord will give you a sceptre,
and you will rule in the midst of your foes.
Royal power is yours in the day of your strength,
among the sacred splendours.
Before the dawn, I begot you from the womb.
The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent:
“You are a priest for ever,
a priest of the priesthood of Melchisedech.”
The Lord is at your right hand,
and on the day of his anger he will shatter kings.
He will drink from the stream as he goes –
he will hold his head high.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
|
|
Christ the Lord is a priest for ever, a priest of the order of Melchisedech. Alleluia.
|
| Psalm 113B (115) |
| Praise of the true God |
|
Our God is in the heavens; and what he wills, he does. Alleluia.
|
|
Not to us, Lord, not to us,
but to your own name give the glory,
because of your kindness and faithfulness.
Why should the nations say:
“Where is their God?”
Our God is in the heavens,
and what he wills, he does.
The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths but do not speak,
they have eyes but do not see.
They have ears but do not hear,
they have nostrils but do not smell.
They have hands but they do not feel,
they have feet but they do not walk;
no voice comes from their throats.
Their makers will be like them,
and all who put their trust in them.
The house of Israel trusts in the Lord;
he is their help and their shield.
The house of Aaron trusts in the Lord;
he is their help and their shield.
All who fear the Lord trust in the Lord;
he is their help and their shield.
The Lord has remembered us and he will bless us.
He will bless the house of Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron –
he will bless all who fear the Lord.
May the Lord add to your numbers
and to those of your children.
May the Lord bless you,
the Lord who made heaven and earth.
The heavens are the Lord’s,
but the earth he has given to men.
It is not the dead who will praise you, O Lord,
nor those who go down into the silence;
but we, who live, will bless the Lord,
now and for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
|
|
Our God is in the heavens; and what he wills, he does. Alleluia.
|
| Canticle |
(Apocalypse 19) |
| The wedding of the Lamb |
|
Praise God, all his servants, small and great. Alleluia.
|
|
Alleluia.
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
because his judgements are true and just.
Alleluia.
Alleluia.
Praise our God, all his servants,
and you who fear him, small and great.
Alleluia.
Alleluia.
For the Lord reigns, our God, the Almighty:
let us rejoice and exult and give him glory.
Alleluia.
Alleluia.
The marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his spouse has made herself ready.
Alleluia.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
|
|
Praise God, all his servants, small and great. Alleluia.
|
| Short reading |
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 © |
|
We feel that we must be continually thanking God for you, brothers whom the Lord loves, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctifying Spirit and by faith in the truth. Through the Good News that we brought he called you to this so that you should share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
|
| Canticle |
Magnificat |
| My soul rejoices in the Lord |
|
Jesus said to the blind man, ‘Go; your faith has saved you.’ And immediately his sight returned and he followed him along the road.
|
|
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.
For he has shown me such favour –
me, his lowly handmaiden.
Now all generations will call me blessed,
because the mighty one has done great things for me.
His name is holy,
his mercy lasts for generation after generation
for those who revere him.
He has put forth his strength:
he has scattered the proud and conceited,
torn princes from their thrones;
but lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel,
he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
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Jesus said to the blind man, ‘Go; your faith has saved you.’ And immediately his sight returned and he followed him along the road.
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| Prayers and Intercessions |
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Christ gives eternal salvation to those who come to God through him: he lives and intercedes for us for ever. Filled with this belief we give him praise and honour and humbly beg him:
– Lord, remember your people.
As the sun is setting we call on you, the Sun of righteousness that never sets:
may all mankind be bathed in your light for ever.
– Lord, remember your people.
Uphold the Covenant that you sealed with your holy blood:
sanctify your Church and make her pure.
– Lord, remember your people.
Remember, Lord, your people:
your people, in whom you dwell.
– Lord, remember your people.
Guide travellers on straight and peaceful paths:
may they arrive safely where they are going.
– Lord, remember your people.
Accept, Lord, the souls of the deceased:
give them forgiveness and everlasting glory.
– Lord, remember your people.
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Our Father, who art in Heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
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Almighty and ever-living God, give us more faith, more hope, and more love.
Make us love what you have taught,
so that we are worthy to receive what you have promised.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
Amen.
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May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.
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| A M E N |
32
posted on
10/25/2009 10:31:52 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Regnum Christi
| The Gentle Mercy of God |
| | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY |
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Sunday, 30th week, OT
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Father Michael Sliney, LC
Mark 10:46-52
As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, son of David, have pity on me." And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me." Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take courage; get up, he is calling you." He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man replied to him, "Master, I want to see." Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you." Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe in you with a faith that never seeks to test you. I trust in you, hoping to learn to accept and follow your will, even when it does not make sense to the way that I see things. I love you Lord. May my love for you and those around me be similar to the love you have shown to me.
Petition: Christ Jesus, grant me the gift of faith.
1. The Lord Helps Those Who Help Themselves Bartimaeus has character. As a beggar, he’s sharp enough to realize that it’s not good business to annoy the people he needs to beg from. Yet when Jesus passes nearby, he refuses to be silenced even when he’s rebuked by his “customers”. He’s driven by the certainty that Jesus can change his lot in life. Nobody, therefore, is going to keep Bartimaeus from his goal of meeting Christ. Do I have a similar kind of certitude that proximity to Our Lord is a necessity for me, that only he can heal my wounds and keep me on the right path towards heaven? Do I make sure nothing separates me from him?
2. “Jesus, Help Me!” Pope Benedict encourages us to look to the merciful heart of the Lord, “In our difficulties, problems and temptations, we must not simply engage in a theoretical reflection -- from whence do they come? -- but must react positively, invoking the Lord, maintaining a living contact with the Lord. Beyond that, we must cry out the name of Jesus, ‘Jesus, help me!’ And we may be sure that he listens to us, as he is near to those who seek him. Let us not be discouraged; rather, let us run with ardor…and we too will reach life, Jesus, the Lord” (Angelus, February 8, 2006).
3. The Gift of Faith The faith of the blind beggar was what allowed Christ to cure him. Faith is not something that we can earn or acquire through willpower or sheer effort. Faith is a gift. This gift must be sought in humble and constant prayer. We have all received this gift through baptism, but it is a gift that needs to grow. “Lord, increase my faith!”
Conversation with Christ: Thank you, Lord! Like the sight you gave to Bartimaeus, you have given me so many graces and special favors, beginning with the amazing gift of my Catholic faith. From the heart I thank you for so much love.
Resolution: I will pray with perseverance and trust for those virtues I most need, especially for the gift of faith to see Christ acting in my daily life. |
33
posted on
10/25/2009 10:35:13 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
October 24th, 2009 by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.
Jer 31:7-9 / Heb 5:1-6 / Mk 10:46-52
For about 1500 years, from the time of Moses down to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD, Jewish worship centered on sacrifices in their temple. There was a special sacrifice for every circumstance and each one was grounded in a key insight into human nature.
For example, every morning began with the holocaust sacrifice. An unblemished lamb and a loaf of the finest bread were burned on the altar, and a cup of choice wine was poured into the ground. Symbolically, the people were giving back to God the essentials they needed to live. In effect they were saying, “We know it all comes from you, Lord, and we’re very grateful.” How wise they were!
They had other sacrifices as well. Sacrifices of praise and of thanksgiving. Sacrifices for sins and for peace. Each one had its own prescribed ritual and special meaning, but probably the most interesting of all was the sacrifice for unknown sins.
This was more than just a bit of insurance in case a person had skipped the fine print and ended up breaking some obscure rule he knew nothing about. The sacrifice for unknown sins came from something the wise old rabbis had learned about human nature, and that is, sometimes we’re all spiritually blind.
Sometimes we just don’t see ourselves clearly or accurately. Sometimes we don’t see what we’re doing to others, what effect we’re having on them. Sometimes we don’t see the big patterns in our lives, though everyone else sees them. And sometimes we don’t see the not-so-lovely ideas that are shaping our lives at the core. Sometimes our blindness lasts just a little while, and sometimes a whole lifetime. But always inner blindness is a hazard for every one of us. It can strike any one of us at a moment’s notice! Now why is that so? Why do good people like us fail to see so much?
I think there are probably two reasons: First of all, very few of us were ever taught to ask carefully at every turn of the road, “What am I really doing, and why am I doing it?” We just weren’t taught to look methodically for the truth about ourselves. And so, unseeing, we live a lot on the outside of things.
Secondly, even those who were taught discover that quite often, as we begin to see, fear intervenes, and turns out the lights. Fear of the ugliness we may see. Fear of what we may have to change if we let ourselves see. Fear that whatever is wrong will be too much for us. Fear there’s nothing of value within us. And, so out of fear, often we live unseeing on the outside of things.
Our fears would be entirely justifiable if we were walking this road alone. But we are not alone. The Lord himself is at our side with his hand outstretched to steady and encourage and strengthen us. We have no cause to fear now, and no reason to close our eyes any more, for there is nothing that we and the Lord cannot face together.
And so it is time for us to cry out with that blind man in the Gospel, “Lord, I want to see. Lord, I am ready to see whatever there is to see, because now I know for sure that I’m not alone!”
34
posted on
10/25/2009 10:42:48 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
One Bread, One Body
One Bread, One Body
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Jeremiah 31:7-9
Hebrews 5:1-6
View Readings |
Psalm 126:1-6
Mark 10:46-52
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WANT ADS
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"Jesus asked him, 'What do you want Me to do for you?' " —Mark 10:51
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One of Jesus' favorite questions is: "What do you want?" (Mk 10:51; Mt 20:21; Jn 5:6) Many times we don't know what we want, and Jesus challenges us to clarify this. Often we want things which are incompatible. We want to sin and still have a loving relationship with the Lord. We want to "do our own thing" and still be free. We want both selfishness and happiness. If we face reality, we see that these things are incompatible. Therefore, we must decide what we want most and reject the other "wants." Another problem in deciding what we want is denial. We see this especially with alcoholism and other addictive behavior. But all sin produces some denial. In denial, we will not admit our true needs. This prevents us from wanting these needs fulfilled. For example, if sinners deny their sin, they'll not want forgiveness. If the spiritually blind deny their blindness, they'll not want sight. If the enslaved deny their slavery, they'll not want freedom. We can even deny our denial. Therefore, we must repent, face reality, and come out of denial. Now, we can answer Jesus' question: "What do you want Me to do for you?" |
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Prayer: Sacred Heart of Jesus, may I want what You want.
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Promise: "They departed in tears, but I will console them and guide them." —Jer 31:9
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Praise: Praise You, Jesus, Healer, Redeemer, and Savior! Heaven and earth are full of Your glory. Alleluia!
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35
posted on
10/25/2009 10:45:12 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Compline -- Night Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer)
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
This is an excellent moment for an examination of conscience. In a communal celebration of Compline, one of the penitential acts given in the Missal may be recited.
Christ, thou who art the light and day,
Who chasest nightly shades away,
Thyself the Light of Light confessed,
And promiser of radiance blest:
O holy Lord, we pray to thee,
Throughout the night our guardian be;
In thee vouchsafe us to repose,
All peaceful till the night shall close.
O let our eyes due slumber take,
Our hearts to thee forever wake:
And let thy right hand from above
Shield us who turn to thee in love.
O strong defender, hear our prayers,
Repel our foes and break their snares,
And govern thou thy servants here,
Those ransomed with thy life-blood dear.
Almighty Father, this accord
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord,
Who with the Holy Ghost and thee
Doth reign through all eternity.
Psalm 90 (91)
The protection of the Most High |
He will shade you with his wings; you will not fear the terror of the night.
He who lives under the protection of the Most High
dwells under the shade of the Almighty.
He will say to the Lord:
“You are my shelter and my strength,
my God, in whom I trust.”
For he will free you from the hunter’s snare,
from the voice of the slanderer.
He will shade you with his wings,
you will hide underneath his wings.
His faithfulness will be your armour and your shield.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day;
nor the plague that walks in the shadows,
nor the death that lays waste at noon.
A thousand will fall at your side,
at your right hand ten thousand will fall,
but you it will never come near.
You will look with your eyes
and see the reward of sinners.
For the Lord is your shelter and refuge;
you have made the Most High your dwelling-place.
Evil will not reach you,
harm cannot approach your tent;
for he has set his angels to guard you
and keep you safe in all your ways.
They will carry you in their arms
in case you hurt your foot on a stone.
You walk on the viper and cobra,
you will tread on the lion and the serpent.
Because he clung to me, I shall free him:
I shall lift him up because he knows my name.
He will call upon me and for my part, I will hear him:
I am with him in his time of trouble.
I shall rescue him and lead him to glory.
I shall fill him with length of days
and show him my salvation.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
He will shade you with his wings; you will not fear the terror of the night.
| Reading |
Apocalypse 22:4-5 |
They will see the face of the Lord, and his name will be marked on their foreheads. There will be no more night: they will not need sunlight or lamp-light, because the Lord God himself will shine upon them. And they will reign for ever and ever.
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
You have redeemed us, Lord, God of faithfulness.
– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace.
Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace.
You have fulfilled your promise.
My own eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples.
A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness;
the glory of your people Israel.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace.
Let us pray.
Today we have celebrated the mystery of the Christ’s resurrection, and so now we humbly ask you, Lord, that we may rest in your peace, far from all harm, and rise rejoicing and giving praise to you.
Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
May the almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
A M E N
Hail to you, O Queen, mother of loving kindness,
our life, our happiness, our hope.
Hear us cry out to you,
children of Eve in our exile.
Hear as we sigh, with groaning and weeping
in this life, this valley of tears.
Come then, our Advocate, turn towards us
the gaze of your kind and loving eyes.
And show us Jesus, the blessed fruit of your womb,
when at last our exile here is ended.
36
posted on
10/25/2009 10:47:00 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation
| Mark |
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English: Douay-Rheims |
Latin: Vulgata Clementina |
Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000) |
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Mark 10
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| 46. |
And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho, with his disciples, and a very great multitude, Bartimeus the blind man, the son of Timeus, sat by the way side begging. |
Et veniunt Jericho : et proficiscente eo de Jericho, et discipulis ejus, et plurima multitudine, filius Timæ Bartimæus cæcus, sedebat juxta viam mendicans. |
και ερχονται εις ιεριχω και εκπορευομενου αυτου απο ιεριχω και των μαθητων αυτου και οχλου ικανου υιος τιμαιου βαρτιμαιος ο τυφλος εκαθητο παρα την οδον προσαιτων |
| 47. |
Who when he had heard, that it was Jesus of Nazareth, began to cry out, and to say: Jesus son of David, have mercy on me. |
Qui cum audisset quia Jesus Nazarenus est, cœpit clamare, et dicere : Jesu fili David, miserere mei. |
και ακουσας οτι ιησους ο ναζωραιος εστιν ηρξατο κραζειν και λεγειν ο υιος δαυιδ ιησου ελεησον με |
| 48. |
And many rebuked him, that he might hold his peace; but he cried a great deal the more: Son of David, have mercy on me. |
Et comminabantur ei multi ut taceret. At ille multo magis clamabat : Fili David, miserere mei. |
και επετιμων αυτω πολλοι ινα σιωπηση ο δε πολλω μαλλον εκραζεν υιε δαυιδ ελεησον με |
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And Jesus, standing still, commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying to him: Be of better comfort: arise, he calleth thee. |
Et stans Jesus præcepit illum vocari. Et vocant cæcum, dicentes ei : Animæquior esto : surge, vocat te. |
και στας ο ιησους ειπεν αυτον φωνηθηναι και φωνουσιν τον τυφλον λεγοντες αυτω θαρσει εγειραι φωνει σε |
| 50. |
Who casting off his garment leaped up, and came to him. |
Qui projecto vestimento suo exiliens, venit ad eum. |
ο δε αποβαλων το ιματιον αυτου αναστας ηλθεν προς τον ιησουν |
| 51. |
And Jesus answering, said to him: What wilt thou that I should do to thee? And the blind man said to him: Rabboni, that I may see. |
Et respondens Jesus dixit illi : Quid tibi vis faciam ? Cæcus autem dixit ei : Rabboni, ut videam. |
και αποκριθεις λεγει αυτω ο ιησους τι θελεις ποιησω σοι ο δε τυφλος ειπεν αυτω ραββουνι ινα αναβλεψω |
| 52. |
And Jesus saith to him: Go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he saw, and followed him in the way. |
Jesus autem ait illi : Vade, fides tua te salvum fecit. Et confestim vidit, et sequebatur eum in via. |
ο δε ιησους ειπεν αυτω υπαγε η πιστις σου σεσωκεν σε και ευθεως ανεβλεψεν και ηκολουθει τω ιησου εν τη οδω |
37
posted on
10/26/2009 10:08:24 AM PDT
by
annalex
(http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
To: annalex
46. And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
47. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, you Son of David, have mercy on me.
48. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, You Son of David, have mercy on me.
49. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying to him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calls you.
50. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
51. And Jesus answered and said to him, What will you that I should do to you? The blind man said to him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
52. And Jesus said to him, Go your way; your faith has made you whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
JEROME; The name of the city agrees with the approaching Passion of our Lord; for it is said, And they came to Jericho. Jericho means moon or anathema; but the failing of the flesh of Christ is the preparation of the heavenly Jerusalem. It goes on: And as he went out of Jericho with his disciples, and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the wayside begging.
BEDE; Matthew says, that there were two blind men sitting by the wayside, who cried to the Lord, and received their sight; but Luke relates that one blind man was enlightened by Him, with a like order of circumstances, as He was going into Jericho; where no one, at least no wise human, will suppose that the Evangelists wrote things contrary to one another, but that one wrote more fully, what another has left out. We must therefore understand that one of them was the more important, which appears from this circumstance, that Mark has related the name and the name of his father.
AUG. It is for this reason that Mark wished to relate his case alone, because his receiving his sight had gained for the miracle a fame, illustrious in proportion to the extent of the knowledge of his affliction. But although Luke relates a miracle done entirely in the same way nevertheless we must understand that a similar miracle was wrought on another blind man, and a similar method of the same miracle. It goes on: And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, you Son of David, have mercy upon me.
PSEUDO-CHRYS; The blind man calls the Lord, the Son of David, hearing the way in which the passing multitude praised Him, and feeling sure that the expectation of the prophets was fulfilled There follows And many charged him that he should hold his peace.
ORIGEN; As if he said, Those who were foremost in believing rebuked him when to He cried, You Son of David, that he might hold his peace, and cease to call Him by a contemptible name, when he ought to say, Son of God, have pity upon me. He however did not cease; wherefore it goes on: But he cried the more a great deal, You Son of David, have mercy upon me; and the Lord hearth his cry; wherefore there follows:
And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. But observe, that the blind man, of whom Luke speaks, is inferior to this one; for neither did Jesus call him, nor order him to be called, but He commanded him to be brought to Him, as though unable to come by himself; but this blind man by the command of our Lord is called to Him. Wherefore it goes on: And they call the blind man, saying to him, Be of good comfort, rise, he calls you; but he casting away his garment, comes to Him.
It goes on: And he casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. Perchance, the garment of the blind man means the veil of blindness and poverty, with which he was surrounded, which he cast away and came to Jesus; and the Lord questions him, as he is approaching. Wherefore there follows: And Jesus answered and said to him, What will you that I should do to thee.
BEDE; Could He who was able to restore sight be ignorant of what the blind man wanted? His reason then for asking is that prayer may be made to Him; He puts the question, to stir up the blind man's heart to pray.
CHRYS. Or He asks, lest men should think that what He granted the man was not what he wanted. For it was His practice to make the good disposition of those who were to be cured known to all men, and then to apply the remedy, in order to stir up others to emulation, and to show that He who was to be cured was worthy to obtain the grace. It goes on: The blind man said to him, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
BEDE; For the blind man looks down upon every gift except light, because, whatever a blind man may possess, without light he cannot see what he possesses.
PSEUDO-JEROME; But Jesus, considering his ready will, rewards him with the fulfillment of his desire.
ORIGEN; Again, it is more worthy to say Rabboni, our, as it is in other places, Master, than to say Son of David; wherefore He gives him health, not on his saying, Son of David, but when he said Rabboni. Wherefore there follows: And Jesus said to him, Go your way; your faith has made you whole. And immediately he received his, sight, and followed him in the way.
THEOPHYL. The mind of the blind man is grateful, for when he was made whole, he did not leave Jesus, but followed Him.
BEDE; In a mystical sense, however, Jericho, which means the moon, points out the waning of our fleeting race. The Lord restored sight to the blind man, when drawing near to Jericho, because coming in the flesh, and drawing near to His Passion, He brought many to the faith; for it was not in the first years of His Incarnation, but in the few years before He suffered, that He showed the mystery of the Word to the world.
PSEUDO-JEROME; But the blindness in part, brought upon the Jews, will in the end be enlightened when He sends to them the Prophet Elias.
BEDE; Now in that on approaching Jericho, the restored sight to one man, and on quitting it to two, He intimated, that before His Passion He preached only to one nation, the Jews, but after His resurrection and ascension, through His Apostles He opened the mysteries both of His Divinity and His Humanity to Jews and Gentiles. Mark indeed, in writing that one receives his sight, refers to the saving of the Gentiles, that the figure might agree with the salvation of those, whom He instructed in the faith; but Matthew, who write His Gospel to the faithful among the Jews, because it was all so to reach the knowledge of the Gentiles, fitly says that two receive their sight, that He might teach us that the grace of faith belonged to each people.
Therefore, as the Lord was departing with His disciples and a great multitude from Jericho, the blind man was sitting, begging by the wayside; that is, when the Lord ascended into heaven, and many of the faithful followed Him, yes when all the elect from the beginning of the world entered together with Him the gate of heaven, presently the Gentile people began to have hope of its own illumination; for it now sits begging by the wayside, because it has not entered upon and reached the path of truth.
PSEUDO-JEROME; The people of the Jews also, because it kept the Scriptures and did not fulfill them, begs and starves by the wayside; but he cries out Son of David, have mercy upon me, because the Jewish people is enlightened by the merits of the Prophets. Many rebuke him that He may hold his peace that is sins and devils restrain the cry of the poor; and He cried out more because when the battle waxes great, hands are to be lofted up with crying to the Rock of help that is Jesus of Nazareth.
BEDE; Again, the people of the Gentiles having heard of the fame of the name of Christ, sought to be made a partaker of Him, but many spoke against Him, first the Jews, then also the Gentiles, but the world which was to be enlightened should call upon Christ. The furry of those who attacked Him, however, could not deprive of salvation those who where fore-ordained to life.
And He heard the blind man's cry as He was passing, but stood when He restored his sight, because by His Humanity He pitied him, who by the power of His Divinity has driven away the darkness from our mind; for in that Jesus was born and suffered for our sakes, He as it were passed by, because this action is temporal; but when God is said to stand, it means, that, Himself without change, He sets in order all changeable things.
But the Lord calls the blind man, who cries to Him, which He sends the word of faith to the people of the Gentiles by preachers; and they call on the blind man to be of good cheer and to rise, and bid him come to the Lord, when by preaching to the simple, they bid him have hope of salvation, and rise from the sloth of vice, and gird themselves for a life or virtue. Again, he throws away his garment and heaps, who, throwing aside the bands of the world, with unencumbered pace hastens to the Giver of eternal light.
PSEUDO-JEROME; Again, time Jewish people comes leaping, stripped of the old man, as a hart leaping on the mountains, that is, laying aside sloth, it meditates on Patriarchs, Prophets, and Apostles on high, and raises itself to heights of holiness. How consistent also is the order of salvation. First we heard by the Prophets, then we cry aloud by faith, next we are called by Apostles, we rise u by penitence, we are stripped of our old garment by baptism, and of our choice we are questioned. Again, the blind man when asked requires, that he may see the will of the Lord.
BEDE; Therefore let us also imitate him, let us not seek for riches, earthly goods, or honors from the Lord, but for that Light, which we alone with the Angels can see, the way to which is faith; wherefore also Christ answers to the blind man, Your faith has saved you. But he sees and follows who works what his understanding tells him is good; for he follows Jesus, who understands and executes what is good, who imitates Him, who had no wish to prosper in this world, and bore reproach and derision. And because we have fallen from inward joy, by delight in the things of the body, He shows us what bitter feelings the return thither will cost us.
THEOPHYL. Further, it says that he followed the Lord in the way, that is, in this life, because after it all are excluded who follow Him not here, by working His commandments.
PSEUDO-JEROME; Or, this is the way of which He said, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. This is the narrow way, which leads to the heights of Jerusalem, and Bethany, to the mount of Olives, which is the mount of light and consolation.
Catena Aurea Mark 10
38
posted on
10/26/2009 10:08:56 AM PDT
by
annalex
(http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
To: annalex
Jesus heals the blind man
Ivory carving, 400 AD
39
posted on
10/26/2009 10:09:23 AM PDT
by
annalex
(http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
To: All
The Blind Man Speaks Up
October 26th, 2009 by Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D.
There were hundreds in the crowd that day at Jericho. No doubt all of them had needs, many of them urgent. But this Sunday’s gospel tells us that apparently only one of them had the audacity to speak up and ask for help from the prophet that everyone had come to see.
The man happened to be a blind beggar, the son of a man named Timaeus. Bartimaeus probably did not know that the celebrity was, as our second reading tells us, the great high priest according to the order of Melchizedek who was appointed by God to take away the sins of the world. It’s likely too that he did not know that this Jesus was the Son of God, the incarnate Word, equal to the Father.
But in the few words he spoke, as recorded in the Gospel, we see that he did believe several important things about this VIP. First, by calling him “Son of David” he was indicating his faith that Jesus was the messiah, the king destined to revive the fortunes of Israel and fulfill the legacy of the one who delivered Israel from the scourge of its enemies. He also evidently believed that this teacher (whom he called Rabbouni) had the power to rid him of his own personal scourge, blindness. This was a power that neither the kings nor the rabbis of Israel typically possessed.
So Bartimaeus had faith in Jesus. And he received the miracle he so ardently desired. Jesus told him that it was his faith, in fact, that saved him.
But silent conviction alone would not have done the trick. No, had he just believed quietly in the man who everyone was making a fuss about, Jesus would have walked right by him.
Fortunately, Bartimaeus had the kind of faith that speaks up and acts up. Jesus says elsewhere in the Gospel that he who asks, receives. He tells parables about seemingly rude widows and neighbors who make a nuisance of themselves, persistently asking for what they want and finally getting it.
Maybe Bartimaeus heard these words of Jesus on another occasion. Or maybe he simply knew this by instinct and the promptings of grace. If he really believed that Jesus could do anything, why would he allow the Rabbi to pass him by without fulfilling his urgent need? Carpe Diem!
Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52) makes it clear that if faith is humble and receptive, it is not demure, shy, or reticent. Faith takes initiative. It can actually be boisterous, even outrageous at times. He can’t see exactly where Jesus is and so can’t walk right up to him to present his request in a dignified, semi-private manner. So he uses what he has: his voice. He makes a scene. The more people tell him to be quiet the louder he shouts. And when he finally gets Jesus’s attention and is summoned, the text says he eagerly leaps to his feet.
As I read this story, I’m tempted to think “if I’d have been there, with the Lord Jesus standing there in front of me, I’d have spoken up as well.”
Well, every Sunday I’m confronted with the real and true presence of the same One who healed Bartimaeus. For in the Eucharist the sacrament of sacraments, it is not just God’s grace (which is awesome enough) but Christ’s bodily presence which is made available. Guaranteed.
So why do so many of us go to Mass again and again and walk out the door much the same as we went in? Why so little healing, so little growth in holiness? Maybe because we lack the outrageous faith of Bartimaeus. Every sacramental celebration, especially the Eucharist, says the Catechism (CCC 739, 1106), is a new Pentecost. The gifts of the Holy Spirit, forgiveness, healing, purification, guidance, all are there for the taking. We don’t need to shout like Bartimaeus. But like him, we can determine to stop going home empty handed.
Dr. D'Ambrosio studied under Avery Cardinal Dulles for his Ph.D. in historical theology and taught for many years at the University of Dallas. He now directs www.crossroadsinitiative.com, which offers Catholic resources for RCIA and adult and teen faith formation, with a special emphasis on the Eucharist, the Theology of the Body, the early Church Fathers, and the Sacrament of Confirmation.
(This article originally appeared in Our Sunday Visitor and is used by permission of the author.)
40
posted on
10/26/2009 10:33:10 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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