Reading 1 1 Sm 18:6-9; 19:1-7

When David and Saul approached
(on David's return after slaying the Philistine),
women came out from each of the cities of Israel to meet King Saul,
singing and dancing, with tambourines, joyful songs, and sistrums.
The women played and sang:

"Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his ten thousands."

Saul was very angry and resentful of the song, for he thought:
"They give David ten thousands, but only thousands to me.
All that remains for him is the kingship."
And from that day on, Saul was jealous of David.

Saul discussed his intention of killing David
with his son Jonathan and with all his servants.
But Saul's son Jonathan, who was very fond of David, told him:
"My father Saul is trying to kill you.
Therefore, please be on your guard tomorrow morning;
get out of sight and remain in hiding.
I, however, will go out and stand beside my father
in the countryside where you are, and will speak to him about you.
If I learn anything, I will let you know."

Jonathan then spoke well of David to his father Saul, saying to him:
"Let not your majesty sin against his servant David,
for he has committed no offense against you,
but has helped you very much by his deeds.
When he took his life in his hands and slew the Philistine,
and the LORD brought about a great victory
for all Israel through him,
you were glad to see it.
Why, then, should you become guilty of shedding innocent blood
by killing David without cause?"
Saul heeded Jonathan's plea and swore,
"As the LORD lives, he shall not be killed."
So Jonathan summoned David and repeated the whole conversation to him.
Jonathan then brought David to Saul, and David served him as before.

Responsorial Psalm PS 56:2-3, 9-10a, 10b-11, 12-13

R. (5b) In God I trust; I shall not fear.
Have mercy on me, O God, for men trample upon me;
all the day they press their attack against me.
My adversaries trample upon me all the day;
yes, many fight against me.
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.
My wanderings you have counted;
my tears are stored in your flask;
are they not recorded in your book?
Then do my enemies turn back,
when I call upon you.
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.
Now I know that God is with me.
In God, in whose promise I glory,
in God I trust without fear;
what can flesh do against me?
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.
I am bound, O God, by vows to you;
your thank offerings I will fulfill.
For you have rescued me from death,
my feet, too, from stumbling;
that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.

Alleluia See 2 Tm 1:10

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

Gospel Mk 3:7-12

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples.
A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea.
Hearing what he was doing,
a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem,
from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan,
and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.
He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd,
so that they would not crush him.
He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases
were pressing upon him to touch him.
And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him
and shout, "You are the Son of God."
He warned them sternly not to make him known.

From: 1 Samuel 18:6-9, 19:1-7

Saul’s Jealousy of David

[6] As they were coming home, when David returned from slaying the Philistine,
the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King
Saul, with timbrels, with songs and with instruments of music. [7] And the wo-
men sang to one another as they made merry, “Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his ten thousands.” [8] And Saul was very angry, and this saying dis-
pleased him; he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me
they have ascribed thousands; and what more can he have but the kingdom?”
[9] And Saul eyed David from that day on.

David Flees

[1] And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should
kill David. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted much in David. [2] And Jonathan
told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you; therefore take heed to yourself in
the morning, stay in a secret place and hide yourself; [3] and I will go out and
stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father
about you; and if I learn anything I will tell you.” [4] And Jonathan spoke well of
David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Let not the king sin against his servant
David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have been
of good service to you; [5] for he took his life in his hand and he slew the Philis-
tine, and the LORD wrought a great victory for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced;
why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?” [6]
And Saul hearkened to the voice of Jonathan; Saul swore, “As the LORD lives,
he shall not be put to death.” [7] And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan
showed him all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was
in his presence as before.

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

118:6-16. Saul’s admiration of David after the defeat of Goliath soon turned into
envy and jealousy. The more the people’s regard and enthusiasm for David grew
(to the point of composing a chant in his honor: cf. 21:12; 29:5), the more jea-
lous the king became. Saul’s attempt on David’s life (cf. 19:9-10) confirms Saul’s
malice and baseness. The key to this episode is provided by the text: “The Lord
was with (David) and had departed from Saul” (v. 12; cf. 18:28). David’s succes-
ses (18:5, 14-15) are due to his skill but above all to God, who protects him.

19:1-24. David’s flight from the court of Saul allows the writer to include some
episodes (not interconnected) which serve to highlight the difference between
the baseness of Saul, and David’s generosity and shrewdness. At a formal go-
vernment meeting (vv. 1-7) Saul proposes that David be killed. The only oppo-
sing voice is that of Jonathan, who stands up for his best friend. Friendship tri-
umphs. Then in an informal situation at home Saul’s viciousness leads him to
throw his spear at his shield-bearer, but David proves too quick. These two epi-
sodes are repeated — the first, at greater length in chapter 20, and the second,
almost word for word, in 18:10-11. The sacred writer includes them here in pas-
sing, the more to contrast the two men.

The third episode takes place in David’s own house (vv. 11-17). Michal, his wife,
cleverly arranges a trick to help David escape and frustrate her father’s plans.
Saul can see that even his own daughter has abandoned him and is on David’s
side. On the “image” (”teraphim”), see the note on Judges 17:5.

The last event (vv. 18-24) also has its parallel (10:10-12); both passages justify
the popular saying recorded in v. 24: “Is Saul also among the prophets?” How-
ever, in this context the episode is a sort of legal suit in which Samuel is the
witness and God the judge the verdict is in David’s favor, and Saul is condemned.
Samuel who in his time anointed both of them and later came out in favor of Da-
vid and against Saul (cf. 13:13-14), can now see that the Lord himself with his
spirit is thwarting the evil intentions of Saul and preventing him from reaching Da-
vid’s base. At Gibe-ah (cf. 1 Sam 10:9ff) a prophetical ecstasy was a method the
Lord used to make known his plans for Saul, but now, here at Ramah, the ecsta-
sy paralyzes Saul, leaves him naked for a whole day and prevents him from do-
ing away with David. This is the final proof, solemnized by the presence of Sa-
muel that David is the one who enjoys the Lord’s protection, whereas Saul has
been rejected.

*********************************************************************************************
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: Mark 3:7-12

Cures Beside the Sea of Galilee

[7] Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Gali-
lee followed; also from Judea [8] and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the
Jordan and from about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, hearing all that He did,
came to Him. [9] And He told His disciples to have a boat ready for Him; [10] for
He had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon Him to touch
Him. [11] And whenever the unclean spirits beheld Him, they fell down before Him
and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” [12] And He strictly ordered them not to
make Him known.

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

10. During our Lord’s public life people were constantly crowding round Him to
be cured (cf. Luke 6:19; 8:45; etc). As in the case of many other cures, St. Mark
gives us a graphic account of what Jesus did to these people (cf. Mark 1: 31,41;
7:31-37; 8:22-26; John 9:1-7, 11, 15). By working these cures our Lord shows
that He is both God and man: He cures by virtue of His divine power and using
His human nature. In other words, only in the Word of God become man is the
work of our Redemption effected, and the instrument God used to save us was
the human nature of Jesus—His Body and Soul—in the unity of the person of the
Word (cf. Vatican II, “Sacrosanctum Concilium”, 5).

This crowding round Jesus is repeated by Christians of all times: the holy human
nature of our Lord is our only route to salvation; it is the essential means we must
use to unite ourselves to God. Thus, we can today approach our Lord by means
of the sacraments, especially and pre-eminently the Eucharist. And through the
sacraments there flows to us, from God, through the human nature of the Word,
a strength which cures those who receive the sacraments with faith (cf. St Tho-
mas Aquinas, “Summa theologiae”, III, q. 62, a. 5).

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

Mark
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Mark 3
7.	But Jesus retired with his disciples to the sea; and a great multitude followed him from Galilee and Judea,	Jesus autem cum discipulis suis secessit ad mare : et multa turba a Galilæa et Judæa secuta est eum,	και ο ιησους ανεχωρησεν μετα των μαθητων αυτου προς την θαλασσαν και πολυ πληθος απο της γαλιλαιας ηκολουθησαν αυτω και απο της ιουδαιας
8.	And from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and from beyond the Jordan. And they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, hearing the things which he did, came to him.	et ab Jerosolymis, et ab Idumæa, et trans Jordanem : et qui circa Tyrum et Sidonem multitudo magna, audientes quæ faciebat, venerunt ad eum.	και απο ιεροσολυμων και απο της ιδουμαιας και περαν του ιορδανου και οι περι τυρον και σιδωνα πληθος πολυ ακουσαντες οσα εποιει ηλθον προς αυτον
9.	And he spoke to his disciples that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.	Et dicit discipulis suis ut navicula sibi deserviret propter turbam, ne comprimerent eum :	και ειπεν τοις μαθηταις αυτου ινα πλοιαριον προσκαρτερη αυτω δια τον οχλον ινα μη θλιβωσιν αυτον
10.	For he healed many, so that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had evils.	multos enim sanabat, ita ut irruerent in eum ut illum tangerent, quotquot habebant plagas.	πολλους γαρ εθεραπευσεν ωστε επιπιπτειν αυτω ινα αυτου αψωνται οσοι ειχον μαστιγας
11.	And the unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him: and they cried, saying:	Et spiritus immundi, cum illum videbant, procidebant ei : et clamabant, dicentes :	και τα πνευματα τα ακαθαρτα οταν αυτον εθεωρει προσεπιπτεν αυτω και εκραζεν λεγοντα οτι συ ει ο υιος του θεου
12.	Thou art the Son of God. And he strictly charged them that they should not make him known.	Tu es Filius Dei. Et vehementer comminabatur eis ne manifestarent illum.	και πολλα επετιμα αυτοις ινα μη φανερον αυτον ποιησωσιν

(*) "συ ει ο υιος του θεου" ("Thou art the Son of God") begins verse 12 in the translations.

7. But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judea,
8. And from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things He did, came to him.
9. And he spoke to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him, because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.
10. For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.
11. And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, You ard the Son of God.
12. And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.

THEOPHYL. At the same time again, he goes away, that by quitting the ungrateful he might do good to more, for many followed him, and he healed them. For there follows, And great multitude from Galilee, &c. Syrians and Sidonians, being foreigners, receive benefit from Christ; but His kindred the Jews persecute Him: thus there is no profit in relationship, if there be not a similarity in goodness.

BEDE; For the strangers followed Him, because they saw the works of His powers, and in order to hear the words of His teaching. But the Jews, induced solely by their opinion of His powers, in a vast multitude come to hear Him, and to beg for His aiding health; wherefore there follows, And he spoke to his disciples, that they should wait, &c.

THEOPHYL. Consider then how he hid His glory, for he begs for a little ship, lest the crowd should hurt Him, so that entering into it, he might remain unharmed. it follows, As many as had scourges, &c. But he means by scourges, diseases, for God scourges us, as a father does His children.

BEDE; Both therefore fell down before the Lord, those who had the plagues of bodily diseases, and those who were vexed by unclean spirits. The sick did this simply with the intention of obtaining health, but the demoniacs, or rather the devils within them, because under the mastery of a fear of God they were compelled not only to fall down before Him, but also to praise His majesty; wherefore it goes on, And they cried out, saying, You are the Son of God. And here we must wonder at the blindness of the Arians, who, after the glory of His resurrection, deny the Son of God, Whom the devils confess to be the Son of God, though still clothed with human flesh.

There follows, And he straitly charged them, that they should not make him known. For God said to the sinner, Why do you preach my laws? A sinner is forbidden to preach the Lord, lest any one listening to his preaching should follow him in his error, for the devil is an evil master, who always mingles false things with true, that the semblance of truth may cover the witness of fraud. But not only devils, but persons healed by Christ, and even Apostles, are ordered to be silent concerning Him before the Passion, lest by the preaching of the majesty of His Divinity, the economy of His Passion should be retarded. But allegorically, in the Lord's coming out of the synagogue, and them retiring to the sea, The prefigured the salvation of the Gentiles, to whom The deigned to come through their faith, having quitted the Jews on account of their perfidy. For the nations, driven about in divers by-paths of error, are fitly compared to the unstable sea.

Again, a great crowd from various provinces followed Him, because He has received with kindness many nations, who came to Him through the preaching of the Apostles. But the ship waiting upon the Lord in the sea is the Church, collected from amongst the nations; and He goes into it lest the crowd should throng Him, because flying from the troubled minds of carnal persons, The delights to come to those who despise the glory of this world, and to dwell within them. Further, there is a difference between thronging the Lord, and touching Him; for they throng Him, when by carnal thoughts and deeds they trouble peace, in which truth dwells; but he touches Him, who by faith and love has received Him into his heart; wherefore those who touched Him are said to have been saved.

THEOPHYL. Morally again, the Herodians, that is, persons who love the lusts of the flesh, wish to slay Christ. For the meaning of Herod is, 'of skin.' But those who quit their country, that is, a carnal mode of living, follow Christ, and their plagues are healed, that is, the sins which wound their conscience. But Jesus in us is our reason, which commands that our vessel, that is, our body, should serve Him, lest the troubles of worldly affairs should press upon our reason.

Catena Aurea Mark 3

Readings at Mass

Liturgical Colour: Red.

First reading
1 Samuel 18:6-9,19:1-7 ©

On their way back, as David was returning after killing the Philistine, the women came out to meet King Saul from all the towns of Israel, singing and dancing to the sound of tambourine and lyre and cries of joy; and as they danced the women sang:

‘Saul has killed his thousands,

and David his tens of thousands.’

Saul was very angry; the incident was not to his liking. ‘They have given David the tens of thousands,’ he said ‘but me only the thousands; he has all but the kingship now.’ And Saul turned a jealous eye on David from that day forward.

Saul told Jonathan his son and all his servants of his intention to kill David. Now Jonathan, Saul’s son, held David in great affection; and so Jonathan warned David; ‘My father Saul is looking for a way to kill you,’ he said ‘so be on your guard tomorrow morning; hide away in some secret place. Then I will go out and keep my father company in the fields where you are hiding, and will talk to my father about you; I will find out what the situation is and let you know.’

So Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father; he said, ‘Let not the king sin against his servant David, for he has not sinned against you, and what he has done has been greatly to your advantage. He took his life in his hands when he killed the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw it yourself and rejoiced; why then sin against innocent blood in killing David without cause?’ Saul was impressed by Jonathan’s words and took an oath, ‘As the Lord lives, I will not kill him.’ Jonathan called David and told him all these things. Then Jonathan brought him to Saul, and David attended on him as before.

Psalm
Psalm 55:2-3,9-14 ©

In God I trust: I shall not fear.

Have mercy on me, God, men crush me;

they fight me all day long and oppress me.

My foes crush me all day long,

for many fight proudly against me.

In God I trust: I shall not fear.

You have kept an account of my wanderings;

you have kept a record of my tears;

(are they not written in your book?)

Then my foes will be put to flight

on the day that I call to you.

In God I trust: I shall not fear.

This I know, that God is on my side.

In God, whose word I praise,

in the Lord whose word I praise,

in God I trust; I shall not fear;

what can mortal man do to me?

In God I trust: I shall not fear.

I am bound by the vows I have made you.

O God, I will offer you praise

for you have rescued my soul from death,

you kept my feet from stumbling

that I may walk in the presence of God

and enjoy the light of the living.

In God I trust: I shall not fear.

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	Mark 3:7-12 ©

Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lakeside, and great crowds from Galilee followed him. From Judaea, Jerusalem, Idumaea, Transjordania and the region of Tyre and Sidon, great numbers who had heard of all he was doing came to him. And he asked his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, to keep him from being crushed. For he had cured so many that all who were afflicted in any way were crowding forward to touch him. And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, would fall down before him and shout, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But he warned them strongly not to make him known.

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 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]

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January 21, 2016

Memorial of Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr

Reading 1 1 Sm 18:6-9; 19:1-7

Responsorial Psalm PS 56:2-3, 9-10a, 10b-11, 12-13

Alleluia See 2 Tm 1:10

Gospel Mk 3:7-12

Readings at Mass