Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 06-30-04, Optl. First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church

USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 06-30-04 | New American Bible

[Salvation]

June 30, 2004
Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm: Wednesday 29 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel

Reading I
Am 5:14-15, 21-24

Seek good and not evil,
that you may live;
Then truly will the LORD, the God of hosts,
be with you as you claim!
Hate evil and love good,
and let justice prevail at the gate;
Then it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts,
will have pity on the remnant of Joseph.

I hate, I spurn your feasts, says the LORD,
I take no pleasure in your solemnities;
Your cereal offerings I will not accept,
nor consider your stall-fed peace offerings.
Away with your noisy songs!
I will not listen to the melodies of your harps.
But if you would offer me burnt offerings,
then let justice surge like water,
and goodness like an unfailing stream.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 50:7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13, 16bc-17

R (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Hear, my people, and I will speak;
Israel, I will testify against you;
God, your God, am I."
R To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.
I take from your house no bullock,
no goats out of your fold."
R To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"For mine are all the animals of the forests,
beasts by the thousand on my mountains.
I know all the birds of the air,
and whatever stirs in the plains, belongs to me."
R To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"If I were hungry, I should not tell you,
for mine are the world and its fullness.
Do I eat the flesh of strong bulls,
or is the blood of goats my drink?"
R To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?"
R To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Gospel
Mt 8:28-34

When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes,
two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him.
They were so savage that no one could travel by that road.
They cried out, "What have you to do with us, Son of God?
Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?"
Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding.
The demons pleaded with him,
"If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine."
And he said to them, "Go then!"
They came out and entered the swine,
and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea
where they drowned.
The swineherds ran away,
and when they came to the town they reported everything,
including what had happened to the demoniacs.
Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus,
and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.

[Salvation]

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

[Salvation]

Seek good and not evil,
that you may live;

Amen!

[Salvation]

Alleluia Ping!

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Alleluia Ping List.

[Salvation]

FEAST OF THE DAY

In July of 64 more than half of Rome was destroyed by fire. Rumors
blamed the Emperor Nero, but he shifted blame to the Christians and
began to persecute them as punishment. This event is thought to be
the first organized persecution against the Church. The historian
Tacitus, in his Annales, said that a "great multitude" of Christians
were put to death. The Christians were tortured and killed in Nero's
gardens, some were beheaded, some were crucified, and some
were burned alive. Along with the account of Tacitus, there is the
account of Pope St. Clement I who gives some details into the
deaths. Clement's comes from his letter to the Corinthians. It is
thought by many historians that both Peter and Paul were killed in
this persecution.


QUOTE OF THE DAY

This is the Bread of everlasting life which supports the substance of
our soul. -St. Ambrose


TODAY IN HISTORY

296 Pope St Marcellinus begins his reign
1139 Death of St. Otto of Bamberg
1741 Pope Benedict XIV publishes an encyclical forbidding traffic in alms


TODAY'S TIDBIT

An encyclical is a pastoral letter written by the Pope and sent to the
whole Church and even to the whole world, to express Church
teaching on some important matter. Encyclicals are expressions of
the ordinary papal magisterium.


INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Please pray for all people struggling to overcome addictions.

[Salvation]

From: Matthew 8:28-34


The Demoniacs of Gadara

---

[28] And when He (Jesus) came to the other side, to the country of the
Gadarenes, two demoniacs met Him coming out of the tombs, so fierce
that no one could pass that way. [29] And behold, they cried out,
"What have You to do with us, O Son of God? Have You come here to
torment us before the time?" [30] Now a herd of many swine was feeding
at some distance from them. [31] And the demons begged Him, "If You
cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine." [32] And He said to
them, "Go." So they came out and went into the swine; and behold, the
whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and perished in the
waters. [33] The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told
everything, and what had happened to the demoniacs. [34] And behold,
all the city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they begged
Him to leave their neighborhood.

---

Commentary:


28. Most Gospel codexes and the New Vulgate say "Gadarenes"; but the
Vulgate and parallel texts in Mark and Luke have "Gerasenes". Both
names are possible; the two main towns in the area were Gerasa and
Gadara. The event reported here could have happened close to both
towns (limits were not very well-defined), though the swine running
down into the lake or sea of Galilee makes Gadara somewhat more
likely. "Gergesenes" was a suggestion put forward by Origen.


28-34. In this episode Jesus once more shows His power over the devil.
That it occurred in Gentile territory (Gerasa and Gadara were in the
Decapolis, east of Jordan) is borne out by the fact that Jews were
forbidden to raise swine, which the Law of Moses declared to be
unclean. This and other instances of expulsion of demons narrated in
the Gospel are referred to in the Acts of the Apostles, when St. Peter
addressed Cornelius and his household: "He went about doing good and
healing all that were oppressed by the devil" (Acts 10:38). It was a
sign that the Kingdom of God had begun (cf. Matthew 12:28).


The attitude of local people towards this miracle reminds us that
meeting God and living a Christian life require us to subordinate
personal plans to God's designs. If we have a selfish or materialistic
outlook we fail to appreciate the value of divine things and push God
out of our lives, begging Him to go away, as these people did.

---

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]

American Cathlic's Saint of the Day

June 30, 2004

First Martyrs of the Church of Rome

(d. 68)

There were Christians in Rome within a dozen or so years after the death of Jesus, though they were not the converts of the “Apostle of the Gentiles” (Romans 15:20). Paul had not yet visited them at the time he wrote his great letter in a.d. 57-58.

There was a large Jewish population in Rome. Probably as a result of controversy between Jews and Jewish Christians, the Emperor Claudius expelled all Jews from Rome in 49-50 A.D. Suetonius the historian says that the expulsion was due to disturbances in the city “caused by the certain Chrestus” [Christ]. Perhaps many came back after Claudius’s death in 54 A.D. Paul’s letter was addressed to a Church with members from Jewish and Gentile backgrounds.

In July of 64 A.D., more than half of Rome was destroyed by fire. Rumor blamed the tragedy on Nero, who wanted to enlarge his palace. He shifted the blame by accusing the Christians. According to the historian Tacitus, a “great multitude” of Christians was put to death because of their “hatred of the human race.” Peter and Paul were probably among the victims.

Threatened by an army revolt and condemned to death by the senate, Nero committed suicide in 68 A.D. at the age of 31.

Comment:

Wherever the Good News of Jesus was preached, it met the same opposition as Jesus did, and many of those who began to follow him shared his suffering and death. But no human force could stop the power of the Spirit unleashed upon the world. The blood of martyrs has always been, and will always be, the seed of Christians.

Quote:

From Pope Clement I, successor of St. Peter: “It was through envy and jealousy that the greatest and most upright pillars of the Church were persecuted and struggled unto death.... First of all, Peter, who because of unreasonable jealousy suffered not merely once or twice but many times, and, having thus given his witness, went to the place of glory that he deserved. It was through jealousy and conflict that Paul showed the way to the prize for perseverance. He was put in chains seven times, sent into exile, and stoned; a herald both in the east and the west, he achieved a noble fame by his faith....”

“Around these men with their holy lives there are gathered a great throng of the elect, who, though victims of jealousy, gave us the finest example of endurance in the midst of many indignities and tortures. Through jealousy women were tormented, like Dirce or the daughters of Danaus, suffering terrible and unholy acts of violence. But they courageously finished the course of faith and despite their bodily weakness won a noble prize.”

[Salvation]

**Wherever the Good News of Jesus was preached, it met the same opposition as Jesus did, and many of those who began to follow him shared his suffering and death. But no human force could stop the power of the Spirit unleashed upon the world. The blood of martyrs has always been, and will always be, the seed of Christians.**

Happening today in the United States, isn't it? Maybe not the martyring part, but definitely the persecution part. Is this a prelude to martyrdom of Americans?? Just a thought.

[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

ign="top" width="399" class="body2"> Wednesday, June 30, 2004

Meditation
Matthew 8:28-34



What have you to do with us, Son of God? (Matthew 8:29)

These demons’ first words to Jesus reveal a lot. In truth, while Jesus came to reveal the love of God for his creation, these demons were filled with irrational hatred. They hated Jesus and feared his power over them. They knew he had the power to overthrow them, but even so they could not stop spewing out their disgust. They were so blinded by hatred and fear that they even begged for their own destruction!

We could dismiss this story as unreal or too dramatic to apply to our lives. Of course, these demons were helplessly bound to their hatred, so much that they seem exaggerated. And we may think the very idea of demonic possession is over-the-top. But let’s not dismiss the lesson God wants to teach us through this story. Let’s take the opportunity to do a little self-examination to see the ways that hatred may have a hold on us.

Let’s look at our relationships. In what ways have we let resentment or enmity take hold of us? Is there someone we just can’t tolerate? Have we been hurt and found ourselves unable to forgive the offending party? Do we feel longstanding contempt for a particular group of people? These are tough questions, but it’s only as we look honestly at them that we can bring our sin into the light and so be healed.

In the same way that Jesus’ mere presence caused the demoniacs to come to him, as we draw near to Jesus now, we can ask him to shed light into our hearts and heal us as well. Let’s not fear being vulnerable in front of Jesus. The truth is, Jesus came in love. We can expose the darkest corners of our hearts to him without fear. He has come only to restore us, not to destroy us. Remember: While the demons were bound to their hatred, we don’t have to be. Jesus is ready to deliver us right now!

“Jesus, I come to you in all honesty and openness. You came in love to deliver me of the ways I am bound by hatred. Help me to forgive specifically those people whom I have hardened my heart against. Lord, I want to be made new!”

[NYer]

In the Eastern Church, today is the Feast of the Twelve Apostles

Biography

• Saint Andrew the First-Called - Saint Andrew was the first called Apostle. Saint Andrew is the brother of St. Peter. They were the sons of Jonas.
• Saint Bartholomew or Nathanael the Apostle - Saint Bartholomew was born in Cana of Galilee.
• Holy Apostle James, Brother of John the Evangelist - Saint James is the brother of Saint John. They are the sons of Zebedee.
• Saint James, the Brother of the Lord - Saint James was the first Bishop of Jerusalem and he wrote an Epistle. Saint James is the son of Cleopas /Clopas / Alpheus, a brother of Saint Joseph, the step-father of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, and Mary, a first cousin of The Theotokos. His blood brothers are Saint Simon the Apostle and Saint Jude or Thaddeus the Apostle.
• Saint John the Theologian and Evangelist - Saint John wrote one of the four Gospels. Also, he wrote three epistle, and the Book of Revelations. He was a favorite Apostle and the bother of Saint James the Great. They are the sons of Zebedee.
• Saint Jude or Thaddeus the Apostle - Saint Jude wrote an Epistle. Saint Jude is the son of Cleopas /Clopas / Alpheus, a brother of Saint Joseph, the step-father of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, and Mary, a first cousin of The Theotokos. His blood brothers are Saint James, the Brother of the Lord and Saint Simon the Apostle.
• Saint Matthew the Evangelist - Saint Matthew wrote one of the four Gospels. Saint Matthew, also called Levi, was the Publican or tax-collector who invited Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ to dinner.
• Saint Peter, the Holy, Glorious and Illustrious Prince of the Apostles - Saint Peter was the first Bishop of Antoich (first Melkite Patriarch) and the first Pope. St. Peter is the brother of Saint Andrew the First-Called. They are the sons of Jonas.
• Saint Philip the Apostle - Saint Philip was born in Beth-saida on the shore of the Lake of Tiberias as was Saint Peter and Saint Andrew.
• Saint Simon the Zealot - Saint Simon is the son of Cleopas /Clopas / Alpheus, a brother of Saint Joseph, the step-father of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, and Mary, a first cousin of The Theotokos. His blood brothers are Saint James, the Brother of the Lord and Saint Jude the Apostle.
• Holy and Glorious Apostle Thomas - Saint Thomas was late for Christ's appearence to the apostles after his resurrection and for the gathering of the apostles just prior to the death of The Theotokos

[Salvation]

One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

All Issues > Volume 20, Number 4

<< Wednesday, June 30, 2004 >>

First Martyrs of Rome

Amos 5:14-15, 21-24

Psalm 50

Matthew 8:28-34

View Readings

“BAD TO THE BONE”

“Hate evil and love good, and let justice prevail.” —Amos 5:15

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil” (Is 5:20). The Lord wants us to “hate evil,” not to rename it by a more acceptable name (Am 5:15). Our culture of death specializes in “spin” control, using smooth words to rename actions which are blatantly and objectively evil in the sight of God. Just because our society regards acts as acceptable and commonplace does not mean God no longer regards them as evil and wrong. Some examples of this are:

• We have a legal right to abort a “fetus.” God considers this evil the murder of a living child (see Ex 20:13).
• Those who support the evil of abortion are called by the supposedly “good” name of pro-choice.
• Homosexual acts are consistently presented in the Bible as abhorrent to the Lord (see Lv 18:22; Rm 1:24-32). Yet if anyone speaks this truth in public, he or she is instantly vilified as evil and intolerant. In truth, it is evil to disregard and shout down God’s good standards.
• Corporations exploit the poor and uneducated, conscripting them to work for low wages in subhuman conditions. This injustice is called by the “good” names of maximizing profits and increasing shareholder value.

These are but a few examples of how our society warps God’s good and holy commands and twists them to appear restrictive, intolerant, and even evil. There can be only one future for “those who call evil good, and good evil,” and that is eternal woe (Is 5:20). Repent! “Make no mistake about it, no one makes a fool of God!” (Gal 6:7) “Seek good and not evil, that you may live” (Am 5:14).

Prayer: Jesus, give me Your mind (1 Cor 2:16) and standards.

Promise: “Let justice surge like water, and goodness like an unfailing stream.” —Am 5:24

Praise: The First Martyrs of Rome went against the popular culture of their time, lost their lives as a result, and now live forever in paradise with their King.

[Salvation]

Homily of the Day

Homily of the Day

Title:	Ignore This Question at Your Peril!
Author:	Monsignor Dennis Clark, PhD.
Date:	Wednesday, June 30, 2004

Amos 5:14-15, 21-24 / Mt 8:28-34

In every generation, one of the most popular children’s games is Hide and Go Seek. And one of the more rotten things that children sometimes do in this game is to send their playmate off to hide and then not bother to look for him or her. Adults often do a variant of that, namely, we look for a place to hide from reality or from the truth, instead of seeking and finding it.

The Old Testament prophets, and later Jesus Himself, saw too much of that at the very core of Jewish religious practice. Most of them thought that they could hide from God under the cover of elaborate rituals, observances, and sacrifices. How small and foolish they imagined God to be, for they thought their hiding out in religion would really work! But it didn’t, for God can’t be fooled!

The only thing that will ever work with God is a pure and trusting heart, from which flows the deeds of love. Our religious practices are means to an end and only that, and they have legitimacy only to the extent that they help us build a pure and trusting heart that does the deeds of love.

This brings us to today’s question: Are you just hanging out or hiding in your church and your religious practices? Or are you being transformed? Is your heart being reshaped or are you just treading water?

You ignore this question at your peril!

[annalex]

Mt 8:28-34
#	Douay-Rheims	Vulgate
28	And when he was come on the other side of the water, into the country of the Gerasens, there met him two that were possessed with devils, coming out of the sepulchres, exceeding fierce, so that none could pass by that way.	et cum venisset trans fretum in regionem Gerasenorum occurrerunt ei duo habentes daemonia de monumentis exeuntes saevi nimis ita ut nemo posset transire per viam illam
29	And behold they cried out, saying: What have we to do with thee, Jesus Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?	et ecce clamaverunt dicentes quid nobis et tibi Fili Dei venisti huc ante tempus torquere nos
30	And there was, not far from them, a herd of many swine feeding.	erat autem non longe ab illis grex porcorum multorum pascens
31	And the devils besought him, saying: If thou cast us out hence, send us into the herd of swine.	daemones autem rogabant eum dicentes si eicis nos mitte nos in gregem porcorum
32	And he said to them: Go. But they going out went into the swine, and behold the whole herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea: and they perished in the waters.	et ait illis ite at illi exeuntes abierunt in porcos et ecce impetu abiit totus grex per praeceps in mare et mortui sunt in aquis
33	And they that kept them fled: and coming into the city, told every thing, and concerning them that had been possessed by the devils.	pastores autem fugerunt et venientes in civitatem nuntiaverunt omnia et de his qui daemonia habuerant
34	And behold the whole city went out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart from their coast.	et ecce tota civitas exiit obviam Iesu et viso eo rogabant ut transiret a finibus eorum