Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 02-14-04, Memorial, St. Cyril & St. Methodius

USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 02-14-04 | Bew American Bible

[Salvation]

February 14, 2004
Memorial of Saint Cyril, monk, and Saint Methodius, Bishop

Psalm: Saturday 9 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel

Reading I
1 Kgs 12:26-32; 13:33-34

Jeroboam thought to himself:
"The kingdom will return to David's house.
If now this people go up to offer sacrifices
in the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem,
the hearts of this people will return to their master,
Rehoboam, king of Judah,
and they will kill me."
After taking counsel, the king made two calves of gold
and said to the people:
"You have been going up to Jerusalem long enough.
Here is your God, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt."
And he put one in Bethel, the other in Dan.
This led to sin, because the people frequented those calves
in Bethel and in Dan.
He also built temples on the high places
and made priests from among the people who were not Levites.
Jeroboam established a feast in the eighth month
on the fifteenth day of the month
to duplicate in Bethel the pilgrimage feast of Judah,
with sacrifices to the calves he had made;
and he stationed in Bethel priests of the high places he had built.

Jeroboam did not give up his evil ways after this,
but again made priests for the high places
from among the common people.
Whoever desired it was consecrated
and became a priest of the high places.
This was a sin on the part of the house of Jeroboam
for which it was to be cut off and destroyed from the earth.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 106:6-7ab, 19-20, 21-22

R (4a) Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
We have sinned, we and our fathers;
we have committed crimes; we have done wrong.
Our fathers in Egypt
considered not your wonders.
R Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
They made a calf in Horeb
and adored a molten image;
They exchanged their glory
for the image of a grass-eating bullock.
R Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
They forgot the God who had saved them,
who had done great deeds in Egypt,
Wondrous deeds in the land of Ham,
terrible things at the Red Sea.
R Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

Gospel
Mk 8:1-10

In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat,
Jesus summoned the disciples and said,
"My heart is moved with pity for the crowd,
because they have been with me now for three days
and have nothing to eat.
If I send them away hungry to their homes,
they will collapse on the way,
and some of them have come a great distance."
His disciples answered him, "Where can anyone get enough bread
to satisfy them here in this deserted place?"
Still he asked them, "How many loaves do you have?"
They replied, "Seven."
He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground.
Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them,
and gave them to his disciples to distribute,
and they distributed them to the crowd.
They also had a few fish.
He said the blessing over them
and ordered them distributed also.
They ate and were satisfied.
They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets.
There were about four thousand people.

He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples
and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

[Salvation]

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

[Salvation]

From: Mark 8:1-10

Second Miracle of the Loaves

---

[1] In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had
nothing to eat, He (Jesus) called His disciples to Him, and said to
them, [2] "I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with
Me now three days, and have nothing to eat; [3] and if I send them away
hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them
have come a long way." [4] And His disciples answered Him, "How can one
feed these men with bread here in the desert?" [5] And He asked them,
"How many loaves have you?" They said, "Seven." [6] And He commanded
the crowd to sit down on the ground; and He took the seven loaves, and
having given thanks He broke them and gave them to His disciples to set
before the people; and they set them before the crowd. [7] And they had
a few small fish; and having blessed them, He commanded that these also
should be set before them. [8] And they ate, and were satisfied; and
took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. [9] And there
were about four thousand people. [10] And He sent them away; and
immediately He got into the boat with His disciples, and went to the
district of Dalmanutha.

---

Commentary:

1-9. Jesus repeats the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and
the fish: the first time (Mark 6:33-44) He acted because He saw a huge
crowd like "sheep without a shepherd"; now He takes pity on them
because they have been with Him for three days and have nothing to
eat.

This miracle shows how Christ rewards people who persevere in following
Him: the crowd had been hanging on His words, forgetful of everything
else. We should be like them, attentive and ready to do what He
commands, without any vain concern about the future, for that would
amount to distrusting Divine Providence.

10. "Dalmanutha": this must have been somewhere near the Lake of
Gennesaret, but it is difficult to localize it more exactly. This is
the only time it is mentioned in Sacred Scripture. In the parallel
passage in St. Matthew (15:39) Magadan (sometime Magdala) is
mentioned.

---

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

[Salvation]

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[Salvation]

Thought for the Day

Following the holy Fathers, we unanimously teach and confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ: the same perfect in divinity and perfect in humanity, the same truly God and truly man, composed of rational soul and body; consubstantial with the Father as to his divinity and consubstantial with us as to his humanity; "like us in all things but sin". He was begotten from the Father before all ages as to his divinity and in these last days, for us and for our salvation, was born as to his humanity of the virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

 -- Council of Chalcedon

[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Saturday, February 14, 2004 Meditation Mark 8:1-10 How do you feel when someone opens the door for you—especially if your hands are full? Doesn’t it warm your heart a bit? Aren’t you more likely to remember the nurse in the hospital who greeted you with a warm smile as opposed to the one who did nothing more than perform her duties? We all recognize compassion and kindness when we see it, and in many instances, it brightens our day. Jesus told his disciples that he had compassion on the crowd that had been with him for three whole days and had run out of food. He wanted to show them that it wasn’t right to dismiss the people and hope for the best. He wanted to show them that authentic compassion involves going beyond the practical and involves laying down our lives to some degree to help alleviate the suffering of someone else. Jesus showed this kind of compassion throughout his life. It’s the reason why he healed the sick and cast out demons. It’s the reason why he labored far into the night preaching and teaching. Ultimately, it’s also the reason why he laid aside his heavenly splendor and became one of us. Jesus didn’t just stay up in heaven shaking his head with pity over our sorry state. Nor did he snap his fingers and make everything right again. With his Father’s full blessing, Jesus took upon himself our humanity and died for our sin. And in so doing, he accomplished far more than mere pity or a concern for the practical could ever had done. Our own compassion for others can be just as powerful and life-giving. Whether comforting a grieving friend or giving time in a parish ministry, we can be Jesus’ hands in this world. There’s no special magic formula to follow. All it takes is the desire to give away even a little bit of what you have received from Christ. Whenever we empty ourselves in this way, we will find Jesus filling us up even more—to the point where his love flows out of us and empowers us to feed the “hungry” who are all around us. “Jesus, open my eyes to all my brothers and sisters who are lonely and brokenhearted. Teach me to love them with your love and to feed them with your word.”

[Salvation]

Saints (and brothers) Cyril and Methodius

[Salvation]

One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

All Issues > Volume 20, Number 2

<< Saturday, February 14, 2004 >>

St. Cyril & St. Methodius St. Valentine

1 Kings 12:26-32; 13:33-34

Psalm 106:6-7, 19-22

Mark 8:1-10

View Readings

WHAT RELIGION ARE YOU?

“Jeroboam thought to himself: ‘The kingdom will return to David’s house. If now this people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, the hearts of this people will return to their master, Rehoboam, king of Judah.’ ” —1 Kings 12:26-27

Jeroboam realized that religion is part of human nature. Therefore, human beings must be religious. The only question is: “Will we be committed to the only true religion, Judaism fulfilled in Christianity, or will we be involved in some of the many thousands of false religions?” Even people who pride themselves on not being religious do so religiously, or they play games with the word “religion.” The billions of Communists and other secular humanists are examples of this.

God constantly calls us away from false religions to “worship the Father in Spirit and truth. Indeed, it is just such worshipers the Father seeks” (Jn 4:23). The writer of the book of James summarizes the old covenant’s delineation of true religion: Religion that is pure and undefiled before God is to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world (see Jas 1:27, RNAB). Even with these clarifications, human beings tend to be deceived about religion. So God the Father sent Jesus, fully man and fully God.

Now we know the only Way to which our religious aspirations should be directed. Now we know the Way to the true, religious life (see Jn 14:6).

Prayer: Father, free me from false religions. Give me Your pure, true religion in Christ.

Promise: “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd. By now they have been with Me three days and have nothing to eat.” —Mk 8:2

Praise: Sts. Cyril and Methodius were natural brothers who worked hard to preach the good news to the Poles. In so doing, they helped bring us Pope John Paul II eleven centuries later.

[Salvation]

FEAST OF THE DAY

Saints Cyril and Methodius were brothers born into a Christian family
during the ninth century. Their father was an officer living in Greece
and the family grew up in a strongly Slavic community. Both boys
grew in wisdom and holiness as they progressed through life. Both
worked in a monastery for a while but Methodius was called away to
serve as a bishop in the newly independent Slavic lands. Cyril soon
followed his brother and the two worked together to convert many
souls to God.

Cyril and Methodius appealed to the people on many levels. Cyril
created an alphabet and together with his brother, used this to
translate much of the Liturgy and the Bible into a language that the
Slavs could understand. Cyril and Methodius preached to the people
in their own tongue and adapted Liturgies so that these non-Latin
people could more fully involve themselves in the Liturgies. Cyril and
Methodius worked together for many years, until the death of Cyril in
869. After that, Methodius worked alone to convert the Slavic
peoples until his death in 884. Together Saints Cyril and Methodius
brought Christianity to much of Eastern Europe and with their literary
and scholastic accomplishments, made many connections between
Eastern and Western Europe and served as a "spiritual bridge
between Eastern and Western traditions" (Pope John Paul II). These
two brothers are called the "Apostles to the Slavs" and are patrons of
Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, and all
of Europe.


QUOTE OF THE DAY

Let it be assured that to do no wrong is really superhuman and
belongs to God alone. -St. Gregory Nazianzen


TODAY IN HISTORY

885 Death of St. Methodius


TODAY'S TIDBIT

Valentine was a priest in Rome, who assisted the martyrs during
persecution of Claudius II. Around the year 270, He was arrested,
and sent to the prefect of Rome for torture and sentencing. When it
became obvious Valentine would not apostatize, he was
commended him to be beaten and later beheaded. The importance
of his feast day was begun to abolish the heathen's custom of boys
drawing the names of girls, in honor of their goddess Februata Juno.
To end this, several zealous pastors substituted the names of saints
in for the names of the girls and this grew to become a tradition.


INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Pope John Paul II has called Sts. Cyril and Methodius a "spiritual
bridge between Eastern and Western traditions." Please pray for the
ecumenical efforts working to mend the Great Schism and unite the
Church into one body again.

[Askel5]

thanks, Salvation.

[Salvation]

You're welcome! Have a blessed and Happy Valentine's Day!

[GirlShortstop]

Sts. Cyril and Methodius were natural brothers who worked hard to preach the good news to the Poles.
Founder of the Methodist church?   :-p

God constantly calls us away from false religions to -- worship the Father in Spirit and truth.  Indeed, it is just such worshipers the Father seeks? (Jn 4:23).  The writer of the book of James summarizes the old covenant's delineation of true religion:  Religion that is pure and undefiled before God is to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world (see Jas 1:27, RNAB).  Even with these clarifications, human beings tend to be deceived about religion.  So God the Father sent Jesus, fully man and fully God.

Now we know the only Way to which our religious aspirations should be directed. Now we know the Way to the true, religious life (see Jn 14:6).

I hope you don't mind me sharing something that I think is remarkable about reading the Good News, or a reflection upon it.  So often it happens for me that when I read a verse, or a chapter, it will affirm "a thought I just had today..."  Maybe you know very well what I mean.  It happened again today:

I watched a BookTV event, the author was a muslim woman taking Q&A. Long story short, she cited from the Koran "a story" of creation.  As she briefly relayed it (she's a very well educated, intelligent woman), it was abundantly clear that there exists major, serious contradictions between the Bible and the Koran.  I don't want to elaborate much further as I'm not so much challenging beliefs with this post.  Nonetheless, what I heard brought clarity in that it affirmed my belief in Truth, Jesus.  I even talked with my husband about how impossible it is to see Islam as a true faith.  The belief in God, the God of Abraham, isn't this Allah of islam; and of Jesus, c'mon Muslims... a mere prophet?!

Anyway, to get to my point, after a chat with my valentine, I check out the Religion forum and your post Salvation.... and voilá,  that "wow" experience hit again as I read through it:

God constantly calls us away from false religions...
Now we know the Way to the true, religious life (see Jn 14:6).

Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life.   No one comes to the Father except through me".

Proof a plenty for me that when God creates our souls, He infuses the desire for Truth.  
Salvation, you are an angel in the Religion Forum with your daily efforts.  Thank you.

[Salvation]

Isn't it amazing sometimes how what you read from the Bible coordinates with something that just happened to you.

I always say, "Ain't no such thing as a coincidence."

God bless!

[Salvation]

Isn't it amazing sometimes how what you read from the Bible coordinates with something that just happened to you.

I always say, "Ain't no such thing as a coincidence."

God bless!

[RockDoc]

Just curious - Do you know why St. Valentine was removed from the Church calender.

[oceanperch]

Happy St. Valentines Day Bump.

[Dajjal]

Bump for Sts. Cyril & Methodius

[Salvation]

As someone mentioned on either this thread or another -- maybe the Valentine thread posted by NYer -- there are two St. Valentine's: one a bishop and one a priest.

Valentine's day is connected with the one that is a priest. Also there is some disucussion about whether the real St. Valentine was really St. Anthony of Padua.

I'll try to find the Valentine thread for you.