Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 07-06-15, OM, St. Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr

Jacob departed from Beer-sheba and proceeded toward Haran. When he came upon a certain shrine, as the sun had already set, he stopped there for the night. Taking one of the stones at the shrine, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep at that spot.

Then he had a dream: a stairway rested on the ground, with its top reaching to the heavens; and God’s messengers were going up and down on it. And there was the LORD standing beside him and saying: “I, the LORD, am the God of your forefather Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you are lying I will give to you and your descendants. These shall be as plentiful as the dust of the earth, and through them you shall spread out east and west, north and south. In you and your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing. Know that I am with you; I will protect you wherever you go, and bring you back to this land. I will never leave you until I have done what I promised you.”

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he exclaimed, “Truly, the LORD is in this spot, although I did not know it!” In solemn wonder he cried out: “How awesome is this shrine! This is nothing else but an abode of God, and that is the gateway to heaven!” Early the next morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head, set it up as a memorial stone, and poured oil on top of it. He called the site Bethel, whereas the former name of the town had been Luz.

Jacob then made this vow: “If God remains with me, to protect me on this journey I am making and to give me enough bread to eat and clothing to wear, and I come back safe to my father’s house, the LORD shall be my God. This stone that I have set up as a memorial stone shall be God’s abode.”

You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, Say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

For he will rescue you from the snare of the fowler, from the destroying pestilence. With his pinions he will cover you, and under his wings you shall take refuge.

Because he clings to me, I will deliver him; I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in distress.

Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.

While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said, “My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured.

When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they ridiculed him. When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. And news of this spread throughout all that land.

From: Genesis 28:10-22a

Jacob’s Dream

[10] Jacob left Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. [11] And he came to a cer-
tain place, and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of
the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to
sleep. [12] And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the
top of it reached to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and
descending on it! [13] And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the
Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which
you lie I will give to you and to your descendants; [14] and your descendants
shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and
to the east and to the north and to the south; and by you and your descendants
shall all the families of the earth bless themselves. [15] Behold, I am with you
and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will
not leave you until I have done that of which I have spoken to you.” [16] Then
Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place; and I
did not know it.” [17] And he was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place!
This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

[18] So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone which he had put
under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. [19] He
called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of the city was Luz at the first.
[20] Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and will keep me in
this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, [21] so that
I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, [22a]
and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house.”

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Commentary:

28:10-22 The narrative continues with this scene which deals with the first appea-
rance of God to Jacob, when he confirms to him the promise he made to Abra-
ham; it also recalls the foundation of the shrine at Bethel.

It is significant that these events occur in Canaan, the land of the promise and
the land to which Jacob and his sons will later have reason to return. After the
exodus from Egypt and the conquest of the land, the Israelites consulted [the
LORD] at Bethel (cf. Judg 20:18, 26-28); and after the division of the country
into two kingdoms, on the death of Solomon, Bethel became one of the main
religious shrines of the Northern kingdom (cf. 1 Kings 12:26-33).

In the context in which it appears here, the account of Jacob’s dream shows how
the patriarch, strengthened by God who has revealed to him his plan, is now able
to face the long years which he will have to spend away from the promised land.
The Lord will not appear to him again until he returns (cf. 32:22-32). The Lord
does the same thing with us, sometimes allowing quite a time to go by when we
do not feel his presence. “You told me that God sometimes fills you with light for
a while and sometimes does not. I reminded you, firmly, that the Lord is always
infinitely good. That is why those moments of light are enough to help you carry
on; but the times when you see no light are good for you too, and make you
more faithful” (St. J. Escriva. “Furrow”, 341).

28:12. As described in the biblical text, the ladder which Jacob sees in his
dream (which might have been like the staircases in Mesopotamian or Egyptian
temples, copied in turn in the shrines of Canaan) is filled with deep symbolism:
it is the link between heaven and earth. Some Fathers of the Church interpret
this ladder as being divine providence, which reaches earth through the ministry
of angels; others see it as a sign of the Incarnation of Christ (who is of the line
of Jacob), for the Incarnation is truly the time when divine and human join, since
Christ is true God and true man.

In St John’s Gospel we see Jacob’s dream fulfilled in the glorification of Jesus
through his death on the cross: “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven
opened, and the angels or God ascending and descending upon the Son of man”
(Jn 1:5 1). And so other prominent interpreters see Jacob’s ladder as represen-
ting the cross, whereby Christ and Christians attain the glory of heaven. St Ber-
nard applied the symbolism of the ladder to the Blessed Virgin: “She is the lad-
der of Jacob, which has twelve rungs, counting the two sides. The right-hand
side is disdain for oneself out of love for God; the left-hand side is disdain for the
world, for love for the Kingdom. The ascent up its twelve rungs represents the
degrees of humility. [...] By these rungs angels ascend and men are raised up...”
(”Sermo ad Beatam Virginem”, 4).

28:14. Once more, divine revelation makes it clear that the reason for choosing
the people of Israel (a choice now confirmed to Jacob) is to have the blessing of
God reach all nations (cf. 12:3), and to let all men, created as they are in God’s
image and likeness (cf. 1:26), benefit from that choice. The fact that God chose
one people does not mean that he has put a limit on his goodness; it is simply
the way that he, the Creator of all, chose to make his fatherly call reach the ears
of all. “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 mys-
tery of election refers to every man and woman, to the whole great human family.
‘I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore I have continued my faithful-
ness to you’ (Jer 31:3)” (”Dives in Misericordiae”, 4).

28:20. St John Chrysostom comments that the words “will give me bread to eat”
were endorsed by Jesus in the Our Father: “Give us this day our daily bread”:
“Let us request of him no material things beyond this. I mean, it would be quite
inappropriate to ask of such a generous giver, who enjoys such an abundance
of power, things that will dissolve with this present life and undergo great trans-
formation and decay. All such things are, in fact, human, whether you refer to
wealth, or power, or human glory. Let us instead ask for what lasts forever, for
what is permanent’ (”Homiliae in Genesim”, 54, 5).

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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.

From: Matthew 9:18-26

The Raising of Jairus’ Daughter

[18] While He (Jesus) was speaking to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt
before Him, saying, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay Your hand on
her, and she will live.” [19] And Jesus rose and followed him, with His disciples.

The Curing of the Woman with a Hemorrhage

[20] And behold, a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years
came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His garment; [21] for she said to
herself, “If I only touch His garment, I shall be made well.” [22] Jesus turned,
and seeing her He said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.”
And instantly the woman was made well. [23] And when Jesus came to the
ruler’s house, and saw the flute players, and the crowd making a tumult, [24]
He said, “Depart; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at Him.
[25] But when the crowd had been put outside, He went in and took her by the
hand, and the girl arose. [26] And the report of this went through all that district.

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Commentary:

18-26. Here are two miracles which occur almost simultaneously. From parallel
passages in Mark (5:21-43) and Luke (8:40-56) we know that the “ruler” (of the
synagogue) referred to here was called Jairus. The Gospels report Jesus raising
three people to life—this girl, the son of the widow of Nain, and Lazarus. In each
case the identity of the person is clearly given.

This account shows us, once again, the role faith plays in Jesus’ saving actions.
In the case of the woman with the hemorrhage we should note that Jesus is won
over by her sincerity and faith: she does not let obstacles get in her way. Simi-
larly, Jairus does not care what people will say; a prominent person in his city,
he humbles himself before Jesus for all to see.

18. “Knelt before Him”: the eastern way of showing respect to God or to impor-
tant people. In the liturgy, especially in the presence of the Blessed Eucharist,
reverences are a legitimate and appropriate external sign of internal faith and
adoration.

23. “The flute players”: engaged to provide music at wakes and funerals.

24. “Depart, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping”: Jesus says the same thing
about Lazarus: “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him”
(John 11:11).

Although Jesus speaks of sleep, there is no question of the girl—or Lazarus, later
—not being dead. For our Lord there is only one true death—that of eternal punish-
ment (cf. Matthew 10:28).

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States. We encourage readers to purchase
The Navarre Bible for personal study. See Scepter Publishers for details.

“Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” — St Jerome

“The Father uttered one Word; that Word is His Son, and He utters Him forever
in everlasting silence: and in silence the soul has to hear it.
— St John of the Cross

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (To the Greater Glory of God)

For: Monday, July 4, 2011

14th Week in Ordinary Time

Optional Memorial: St Elizabeth of Portugal

From: Matthew 9:18-26

The Raising of Jairus’ Daughter

The Curing of the Woman with a Hemorrhage

[20] And behold, a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years
came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His garment; [21] for she said to
herself, “If I only touch His garment, I shall be made well.” [22] Jesus turned,
and seeing her He said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.”
And instantly the woman was made well. [23] And when Jesus came to the
ruler’s house, and saw the flute players, and the crowd making a tumult, [24]
He said, “Depart; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.”And they laughed at Him.
[25] But when the crowd had been put outside, He went in and took her by the
hand, and the girl arose. [26] And the report of this went through all that district.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

23. “The flute players”: engaged to provide music at wakes and funerals.

24. “Depart, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping”: Jesus says the same thing
about Lazarus: “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him”
(John 11:11).

Although Jesus speaks of sleep, there is no question of the girl—or Lazarus, later
—not being dead. For our Lord there is only one true death—that of eternal punish-
ment (cf. Matthew 10:28).

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

Readings at Mass

First reading
Genesis 28:10-22 ©

Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. When he had reached a certain place he passed the night there, since the sun had set. Taking one of the stones to be found at that place, he made it his pillow and lay down where he was. He had a dream: a ladder was there, standing on the ground with its top reaching to heaven; and there were angels of God going up it and coming down. And the Lord was there, standing over him, saying, ‘I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. I will give to you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants shall be like the specks of dust on the ground; you shall spread to the west and the east, to the north and the south, and all the tribes of the earth shall bless themselves by you and your descendants.

Be sure that I am with you; I will keep you safe wherever you go, and bring you back to this land, for I will not desert you before I have done all that I have promised you.’ Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘Truly, the Lord is in this-place and I never knew it!’ He was afraid and said, ‘How awe-inspiring this place is! This is nothing less than a house of God; this is the gate of heaven!’ Rising early in the morning, Jacob took the stone he had used for his pillow, and set it up as a monument, pouring oil over the top of it. He named the place Bethel, but before that the town was called Luz.
Jacob made this vow, ‘If God goes with me and keeps me safe on this journey I am making, if he gives me bread to eat and clothes to wear, and if I return home safely to my father, then the Lord shall be my God. This stone I have set up as a monument shall be a house of God.’

Psalm
Psalm 90:1-4,14-15 ©

My God, in you I trust.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
and abides in the shade of the Almighty
says to the Lord: ‘My refuge,
my stronghold, my God in whom I trust!’

My God, in you I trust.

It is he who will free you from the snare
of the fowler who seeks to destroy you;
he will conceal you with his pinions
and under his wings you will find refuge.

My God, in you I trust.

Since he clings to me in love, I will free him;
protect him for he knows my name.
When he calls I shall answer: ‘I am with you,’
I will save him in distress.
My God, in you I trust.

Gospel Acclamation

cf.Jn6:63,68
Alleluia, alleluia!
Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life;
you have the message of eternal life.
Alleluia!
Or
cf.2Tim1:10
Alleluia, alleluia!
Our Saviour Jesus Christ abolished death
and he has proclaimed life through the Good News.
Alleluia!

Gospel

Matthew 9:18-26 ©
While Jesus was speaking, up came one of the officials, who bowed low in front of him and said, ‘My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and her life will be saved.’ Jesus rose and, with his disciples, followed him. Then from behind him came a woman, who had suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years, and she touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, ‘If I can only touch his cloak I shall be well again.’ Jesus turned round and saw her; and he said to her, ‘Courage, my daughter, your faith has restored you to health.’ And from that moment the woman was well again.

When Jesus reached the official’s house and saw the flute-players, with the crowd making a commotion he said, ‘Get out of here; the little girl is not dead, she is asleep.’ And they laughed at him. But when the people had been turned out he went inside and took the little girl by the hand; and she stood up. And the news spread all round the countryside.

Jesus, High 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

This icon shows Jesus Christ, our eternal high priest.

The gold pelican over His heart represents self-sacrifice.

The border contains an altar and grapevines, representing the Mass, and icons of Melchizedek and St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney.

Melchizedek: king of righteousness (left icon) was priest and king of Jerusalem. He blessed Abraham and has been considered an ideal priest-king.

St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney is the patron saint of parish priests.

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, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from there 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 ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

6. 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 ]

Monday of the Fourteenth week in Ordinary Time

Commentary of the day

Saint Romanos Melodios (?-c 560), composer of hymns

Hymn 23, on the Woman with a haemorrhage

“If only I can touch his cloak, I shall get well.”

Like the woman suffering from a haemorrhage, I prostrate myself before you, Lord, so that you might deliver me from suffering and grant me the forgiveness of my faults, and that I might cry out with compunction of heart: “Savior, save me!”
…

She went to you concealing herself, O Savior, for she thought you were a simple human being, but her healing taught her that you are at the same time God and man. Secretly, she touched your fringe, fearing in her soul…, and she said to herself: “How could I make myself be seen by him who observes everything, I who bear the shame of my faults? If the All-Pure sees the flow of blood, he will distance himself from me who am impure, and it will be more terrible for me than my wound if he turns away from me in spite of my cry: Savior, save me.

“When people see me, everyone pushes me: ‘Where are you going? Be aware of your shame, woman, know who you are and to whom you want to draw near now. You, the impure, drawing near to the All-Pure! Go and purify yourself, and when you have wiped away the stain that you bear, then you will go towards him crying out: Savior, save me.’

Do you want to give me greater pain than my own ill? I know he is pure, and that is why I shall go to him, that I may be freed from disgrace and infamy. Do not stop me… from crying out: Savior, save me.

The source pours forth its torrents for everyone. What right have you to stop it up? … You witness his healings… Every day he encourages us when he says: ‘Come to me, you who are overwhelmed with ills. I will be able to give you relief.’ (cf. Mt 11,28) He likes to give the gift of good health to everyone. And you, why do you treat me harshly by preventing me from crying out to him: Savior, save me?” …

He who knows everything … turns and says to his disciples: “Who touched my clothing?” (Mk 5:30)… Peter, why do you tell me that a large crowd is pressing in on me? They are not touching my divinity, but this woman grasped my divine nature when she touched my visible clothing, and she attained good health when she cried out to me: Lord, save me…

“For now, take courage, woman… From now on, be in good health… This is not the work of my hands, but the work of your faith. For many have touched my fringe, but they did not attain strength because they did not bring faith with them. You have touched me with great faith, you have received good health; that is why I have now placed you before everybody so that you might say: Savior, save me.”

http://dailygospel.org/main.php?language=AM&module=commentary&localdate=20150706

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