Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 06-27-15. OM, St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop & Doctor/Church

The LORD appeared to Abraham by the Terebinth of Mamre, as Abraham sat in the entrance of his tent, while the day was growing hot. Looking up, he saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them; and bowing to the ground, he said: “Sir, if I may ask you this favor, please do not go on past your servant. Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet, and then rest yourselves under the tree. Now that you have come this close to your servant, let me bring you a little food, that you may refresh yourselves; and afterward you may go on your way.” The men replied, “Very well, do as you have said.”

Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah, “Quick, three measures of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls.” He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice steer, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it. Then Abraham got some curds and milk, as well as the steer that had been prepared, and set these before them; and he waited on them under the tree while they ate.

They asked him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” He replied, “There in the tent.” One of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah will then have a son.” Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent, just behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years, and Sarah had stopped having her womanly periods. So Sarah laughed to herself and said,

“Now that I am so withered and my husband is so old, am I still to have sexual pleasure?” But the LORD said to Abraham: “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I really bear a child, old as I am?’ Is anything too marvelous for the LORD to do? At the appointed time, about this time next year, I will return to you, and Sarah will have a son.” Because she was afraid, Sarah dissembled, saying, “I didn’t laugh.” But he replied, “Yes you did.”

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

“For he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.”

“He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.”

“He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, The promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.”

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.

For I too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven, but the children of the Kingdom will be driven out into the outer darkness, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”

And Jesus said to the centurion, “You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.” And at that very hour his servant was healed.

Jesus entered the house of Peter, and saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand, the fever left her, and she rose and waited on him.

When it was evening, they brought him many who were possessed by demons, and he drove out the spirits by a word and cured all the sick, to fulfill what had been said by Isaiah the prophet:

From: Genesis 18:1-15

The Apparition of God at Mamre

[1] And the Lord appeared to him (Abraham) by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at
the door of his tent in the heat of the day. [2] He lifted up his eyes and looked,
and behold, three men stood in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the
tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth, [3] and said, “My lord, if
I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. [4] Let a little water
be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, [5] while I
fetch a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may
pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have
said.” [6] And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Make ready
quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes. [7] And Abra-
ham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good and gave it to the servant,
who hastened to prepare it. [8] Then he took curds, and milk, and the calf which
he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree
while they ate.

Isaac’s Birth is Promised

[9] They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the
tent.” [10a] The Lord said, “I will surely return to you in the spring, and Sarah
your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.
[11] Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be
with Sarah after the manner of women. [12] So Sarah laughed to herself, saying,
“After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?” [13] The
Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a
child, now that I am old?’ [14] Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed
time I will return to you, in the spring, and Sarah shall have a son.” [15] But Sa-
rah denied, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you
did laugh.”

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Commentary:

18:1-19:38. These two episodes—God’s appearance to Abraham at Mamre and
the destruction of Sodom—form a single account. Once again we can see the
sort of relationship that obtains between God and Abraham; this time, what is
emphasized is not just the promise of a son for Sarah, but also the patriarch’s
intercession on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah. This intercession saves Lot and
his family (cf. 19:29). Thus, Abraham is already a blessing for all the descendants
of Lot. This narrative is quite colorful, and includes some curious little details —
making it one of the most popular passages in the story of the patriarchs.

18:1-15. This new appearance of God to Abraham is somewhat mysterious: the
three men stand for God. When Abraham speaks to them, sometimes he addres-
ses them in the singular (as if there were one person there: cf. v. 3), and some-
times in the plural (as if there were three: cf. v. 4). That is why some Fathers in-
terpreted this appearance as an early announcement of the mystery of the Holy
Trinity; others, following Jewish tradition (cf. Heb 13:2) take these personages to
be angels. The sacred text says that one of the three men (Yahweh, apparently)
stays with Abraham (cf. v. 22), while the other two, who are referred to as angels,
go to Sodom (cf. 19:1). Although the early chapters of Genesis do not expressly
talk about the creation of angels, that creation can be read into the word “hea-
vens” in Gen 1:1: “at the beginning of time, God created out of nothing both types
of creatures, spiritual and corporeal, that is, angelic and earthly,” says Lateran
Council IV (”De Fide Catolica”). In Holy Scripture angels are mentioned as being
servants and messengers of God, and, despite the way they are sometimes des-
cribed, such as in this passage, they should be understood as being purely spiri-
tual, personal and immortal creatures, endowed with intelligence and will. “Angels
have been present since creation (cf. Job 38:7, where the angels are called ‘sons
of God’) and throughout the history of salvation, announcing this salvation from
afar or near and serving the accomplishment of the divine plan: they closed the
earthly paradise (cf. Gen 3:24); protected Lot (cf. Gen 19); saved Hagar and her
child (cf. Gen 21:17); stayed Abraham’s hand (cf. Gen 22.11); communicated the
law by their ministry (cf. Acts 7:53); led the people of God (cf. Ex 23:20-23); an-
nounced births (cf. Judg 13) and callings (cf. Judg 6:11-24; Is 6:6); and assisted
the prophets (cf. 1 Kings 19:5), just to cite a few examples. Finally, the angel
Gabriel announced the birth of the Precursor and that of Jesus himself (cf. Lk
1:11-26)” (”Catechism of the Catholic Church”, 332).

In the general context of Genesis, this episode points up the new situation crea-
ted by the Covenant. God speaks to Abraham directly, as he spoke to Adam be-
fore he committed sin. Abraham, for his part, receives God through his hospita-
lity, and God again promises that Sarah will have a son (now specifying when
the child will be born). “Because Abraham believed in God and walked in his pre-
sence and in covenant with him (cf. Gen 15:6; 17:1-2), the patriarch is ready to
welcome a mysterious Guest into his tent. Abraham’s remarkable hospitality at
Mamre foreshadows the annunciation of the true Son of the promise (cf. Gen 18:
1-15; Lk 1: 26-38). After that, once God has confided his plan, Abraham’s heart
is attuned to his Lord’s compassion for men and he dares to intercede for them
with bold confidence (cf. Gen 18:16-33)” (ibid., 2571).

18:6. The measure mentioned here, a “seah” (pl. “seim”) is a measure of dry
grain (cf. 1 Sam 25:18; 2 Kings 7:1, 16, 18) which was probably a third of an
ephah, that is, about seven liters or two gallons.

18:10. “In the spring”; this could also be translated as “next year”. Literally, “the
time of life”, which some interpret as “the time of a woman’s pregnancy”, that is,
nine months.

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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 8:5-17

The Centurion’s Faith

[5] As He (Jesus) entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to Him, besee-
ching Him [6] and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terri-
ble distress.” [7] And He said to him, “I will come and heal him.” [8] But the cen-
turion answered Him, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof;
but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. [9] For I am a man under
authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to
another, ‘Come,’ and he comes and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” [10]
When Jesus heard him, He marvelled, and said to those who followed Him, “Tru-
ly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. [11] I tell you, many
will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
in the Kingdom of Heaven, [12] while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into
the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.” [13] And to the
centurion Jesus said, “Go; be it done for you as you have believed.” And the ser-
vant was healed at that very moment.

A Number of Cures

[14] And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick
with fever; [15] He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and ser-
ved Him. [16] That evening they brought to Him many who were possessed with
demons; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick.
[17] This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, “He took our infir-
mities and bore our diseases.”

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Commentary:

5-11. “Centurion”: an officer of the Roman army in control of one hundred men.
This man’s faith is still an example to us. At the solemn moment when a Chris-
tian is about to receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, the Church’s liturgy
places on his lips and in his heart these words of the centurion, to enliven his
faith: Lord, I am not worthy...”.

The Jews of this time regarded any Jew who entered a Gentile’s house as con-
tracting legal impurity (cf. John 19:28; Acts 11:2-3). This centurion has the defe-
rence not to place Jesus in an embarrassing position in the eyes of His fellow
Israelites. He shows that he is convinced that Jesus has the power over disease
and illness; he suggests that if Jesus just says the word, He will do what is nee-
ded without having actually to visit the house; he is reasoning, in a simple, logi-
cal way, on the basis of his own professional experience. Jesus avails of this
meeting with a Gentile believer to make a solemn prophecy to the effect that
His Gospel is addressed to the world at large; all men, of every nation and race,
of every age and condition, are called to follow Christ.

14-15. After his body—or soul—is healed, everyone is called to “rise up” from his
previous position, to serve Jesus Christ. No laments, no delays; instead one
should make oneself immediately available to the Lord.

16-17. The expulsion of evil spirits is one of the main signs of the establishment
of the Kingdom of God (cf. Matthew 12:8). Similarly, the healing of diseases,
which ultimately are the result of sin, is one of the signs of the “works of the
Messiah” proclaimed by the prophets (cf. Isaiah 29:18; 35:5-6).

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 18:1-15 ©
The Lord appeared to Abraham at the Oak of Mamre while he was sitting by the entrance of the tent during the hottest part of the day. He looked up, and there he saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them, and bowed to the ground. ‘My lord,’ he said ‘I beg you, if I find favour with you, kindly do not pass your servant by. A little water shall be brought; you shall wash your feet and lie down under the tree. Let me fetch a little bread and you shall refresh yourselves before going further. That is why you have come in your servant’s direction.’ They replied, ‘Do as you say.’

Abraham hastened to the tent to find Sarah.’ ‘Hurry,’ he said ‘knead three bushels of flour and make loaves.’ Then running to the cattle Abraham took a fine and tender calf and gave it to the servant, who hurried to prepare it. Then taking cream, milk and the calf he had prepared, he laid all before them, and they ate while he remained standing near them under the tree.
‘Where is your wife Sarah?’ they asked him. ‘She is in the tent’ he replied. Then his guest said, ‘I shall visit you again next year without fail, and your wife will then have a son.’ Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well on in years, and Sarah had ceased to have her monthly periods. So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, ‘Now that I am past the age of child-bearing, and my husband is an old man, is pleasure to come my way again!’ But the Lord asked Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh and say, “Am I really going to have a child now that I am old?” Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the same time next year I shall visit you again and Sarah will have a son.’ ‘I did not laugh’ Sarah said, lying because she was afraid. But he replied, ‘Oh yes, you did laugh.’

Canticle

Luke 1:46-50,53-55 ©
The Lord remembered his mercy.
My soul glorifies the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.
The Lord remembered his mercy.
He looks on his servant in her nothingness;
henceforth all ages will call me blessed.
The Almighty works marvels for me.

  Holy his name!
The Lord remembered his mercy.
His mercy is from age to age,
  on those who fear him.
He fills the starving with good things,
  sends the rich away empty.
The Lord remembered his mercy.
He protects Israel, his servant,
  remembering his mercy,
the mercy promised to our fathers,
  to Abraham and his sons for ever.
The Lord remembered his mercy.

Gospel Acclamation

cf.2Tim1:10
Alleluia, alleluia!
Our Saviour Jesus Christ abolished death
and he has proclaimed life through the Good News.
Alleluia!
Or

Mt8:17
Alleluia, alleluia!
He took our sicknesses away,
and carried our diseases for us.
Alleluia!

Gospel

Matthew 8:5-17 ©
When Jesus went into Capernaum a centurion came up and pleaded with him. ‘Sir,’ he said ‘my servant is lying at home paralysed, and in great pain.’ ‘I will come myself and cure him’ said Jesus. The centurion replied, ‘Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof; just give the word and my servant will be cured. For I am under authority myself, and have soldiers under me; and I say to one man: Go, and he goes; to another: Come here, and he comes; to my servant: Do this, and he does it.’ When Jesus heard this he was astonished and said to those following him, ‘I tell you solemnly, nowhere in Israel have I found faith like this. And I tell you that many will come from east and west to take their places with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the kingdom of heaven; but the subjects of the kingdom will be turned out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.’ And to the centurion Jesus said, ‘Go back, then; you have believed, so let this be done for you.’ And the servant was cured at that moment.
And going into Peter’s house Jesus found Peter’s mother-in-law in bed with fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.
That evening they brought him many who were possessed by devils. He cast out the spirits with a word and cured all who were sick. This was to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah:
He took our sicknesses away and carried our diseases for us.

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 ]

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