Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 07-23-04, Optional, St. Bridget of Sweden

USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 07-23-04 | New American Bible

[Salvation]

July 23, 2004
Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm: Friday 32 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel

Reading I
Jer 3:14-17


Return, rebellious children, says the LORD,
for I am your Master;
I will take you, one from a city, two from a clan,
and bring you to Zion.
I will appoint over you shepherds after my own heart,
who will shepherd you wisely and prudently.
When you multiply and become fruitful in the land,
says the LORD,
They will in those days no longer say,
"The ark of the covenant of the LORD!"
They will no longer think of it, or remember it,
or miss it, or make another.

At that time they will call Jerusalem the LORD's throne;
there all nations will be gathered together
to honor the name of the LORD at Jerusalem,
and they will walk no longer in their hardhearted wickedness.

Be amazed at this, O heavens,
and shudder with sheer horror, says the LORD.
Two evils have my people done:
they have forsaken me, the source of living waters;
They have dug themselves cisterns,
broken cisterns, that hold no water.

Responsorial Psalm
Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12abcd, 13

R (see 10d) The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
proclaim it on distant isles, and say:
He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together,
he guards them as a shepherd his flock.
R The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
The LORD shall ransom Jacob,
he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror.
Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion,
they shall come streaming to the LORD's blessings:
The grain, the wine, and the oil,
the sheep and the oxen.
R The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Then the virgins shall make merry and dance,
and young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.
R The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

Gospel
Mt 13:18-23

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Hear the parable of the sower.
The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the Kingdom
without understanding it,
and the Evil One comes and steals away
what was sown in his heart.
The seed sown on rocky ground
is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy.
But he has no root and lasts only for a time.
When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word,
he immediately falls away.
The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word,
but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word
and it bears no fruit.
But the seed sown on rich soil
is the one who hears the word and understands it,
who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold."

[Salvation]

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

[Salvation]

Alleluia Ping!

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

[Salvation]

Wounds of Christ -- 5,480 [The Fifteen Prayers of St. Bridget of Sweden]

Saint Bridget Of Sweden

[Salvation]

From: Matthew 13:18-23


Parable of the Sower. The Meaning of the Parables (Continuation)

---

(Jesus said to His disciples,) [18] "Hear then the parable of the
sower. [19] When any one hears the Word of the Kingdom and does not
understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in
hies heart; this is what was sown along the path. [20] As for what was
sown on rocky ground, this is he who hears the Word and immediately
receives it with joy; [21] yet he has no root in himself, but endures
for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of
the Word, immediately he falls away. [22] As for what was sown among
thorns, this is he who hears the Word, but the cares of the world and
the delight in riches choke the Word, and it proves unfruitful. [23] As
for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the Word and
understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a
hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."

---

Commentary:


19. He does not understand because he does not love--not because he is
not clever enough: lack of love opens the door of the soul to the
devil.

---

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]

FEAST OF THE DAY

St. Bridget was born in Sweden in 1303. When Bridget was the age
of seven, she began to receive visions of Christ, especially visions of
his Crucifixion. These visions helped form the ideals of charity, and
penance that Bridget followed later in her life.

At the age of sixteen, Bridget was married to the prince of Sweden.
The marriage bore eight children and Bridget devoted herself to their
care and education. Bridget and her husband both worked to live
holy lives and lived the last years of their marriage in a monastic
lifestyle.

After the death of her husband, Bridget devoted herself to an ascetic
life and used her wealth to found a religious order based on the Rule
of St. Augustine. The Order of the Most Holy Savior, also known as
the Bridgetines, devoted themselves to adoration of the Blessed
Sacrament, contemplative life and prayer for the souls in Purgatory.

In the year 1350, Bridget made a pilgrimage to Rome and never had
the opportunity to return home. While in Rome, Bridget spoke out
against Church abuses but was plagued by many people who
opposed her views. Bridget also spoke out against the Avignon
papacy and worked to have the pope returned to Rome. After a
difficult pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Bridget died in Rome in the year
1373.

During her life, Bridget wrote down the spiritual experiences of her
life in the in several volumes and always strove to be a model of
virtue. St. Bridget is honored as the patroness of Sweden.


QUOTE OF THE DAY

Before you receive Jesus Christ, you should remove from your heart
all worldly attachments which you know to be displeasing to Him. -St.
Augustine


TODAY IN HISTORY

685 Pope John V begins his reign


TODAY'S TIDBIT

The Bridgettines, founded by St. Bridget of Sweden in 1344, profess
the rule of St. Augustine with special constitutions. They are
enclosed and contemplative, praying for the relief of the souls in
Purgatory and adoring the Blessed Sacrament.


INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Please pray for the souls in Purgatory.

[Salvation]

**In the year 1350, Bridget made a pilgrimage to Rome and never had
the opportunity to return home. While in Rome, Bridget spoke out
against Church abuses but was plagued by many people who
opposed her views.**

St. Bridget, through your intercession help us to bring an end to all the abuses being practiced during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist today. In His name we pray, Amen.

[Salvation]

Friday, July 23, 2004
Feria

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Jeremiah 3:14-17 Jeremiah 31:10-13 Matthew 13:18-23 What has a person to fear who lives in the arms and bosom of God?  -- St. Paul of the Cross

[NYer]

Friday July 23, 2004   Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading (Jeremiah 3:14-17)   Gospel (St. Matthew 13:18-23)

Our Lord, through the prophet Jeremiah, speaks at that time about what would be happening in the future. Jeremiah was living around 500 or 600 years before Our Lord, and it was at the time when the people went into exile because of their disobedience. Recall that the people of Israel had the Ark of the Covenant as their most holy and sacred possession, and what a shock it would have been to hear the prophet say that the day will come when they will no longer say, “The ark of the Lord,” nor will they miss it nor will they try to build another one. This is something that the Jewish people could not have even fathomed at that time. Well, interestingly, from the time of the prophet Jeremiah until now, the Ark of the Covenant has not been seen. There is a replica of the ark that was built for an island where the Jews had gone into exile (that [the replica] is now down in Ethiopia), but the actual ark, according to Scripture, is in a cave on Mount Nebo where the prophet Jeremiah put it. And he put rocks in front of the cave so no one will find it until all the children of Israel are gathered together.

To this day, the Jewish people are not saying anything about the ark and they are not trying to build a new one. The reason is, of course, because we have the new Ark of the Covenant who is our Blessed Lady, and we have the New Covenant who is Our Lord. God has taken what was there – already sacred and beautiful, but only a symbol of what was to come – and He has now given to us a New Covenant. And in that New Covenant which was carried in the new Ark of the Covenant, we have the means by which we will be able to walk, as the prophet said, “no longer in hardheartedness.”

That is exactly what God is looking for: hearts that are open to be able to receive His Word, as Our Lord made very clear in the Gospel reading today, the type of heart that is seeking the Lord, that is not going to have all kinds of worldliness within, that is not going to be afraid, that is not just going to be a flash in the pan; but rather a heart that is truly seeking Him, that desires His Word and desires to live according to His Word. That is what Our Lord is looking for, and that is possible. It was not very possible according to the old way because, as Saint Paul makes clear, that was a law that was written in stone. But now we follow a covenant which is written in our hearts, so it is all there. In the Old Testament, to be able to truly open the heart to the Lord was not easy because it was a following of external laws. In the New Testament, it is made very simple because it is a matter of loving a Person.

So everything is already there for our success; all we have to do is choose it, which is not an easy thing because, for any of us, if we simply try to go inside and say, “Now, open your heart and let the Lord in; give it all over to the Lord,” that is a terrifying prospect. We are all afraid of being hurt, we are afraid of being violated, we are afraid to be vulnerable, and therefore we slam the doors of our hearts shut and we do not open them even to the Lord. That is something we all have to look at in prayer: Am I opening my heart to the Lord? Not just a little crack in the door, but to really open the heart, to give it over to Christ. And it is not just giving lip service, as I am sure we have all gone to prayer many times over and said, “Lord, take it all. I’m Yours. Take whatever You want. Here’s my heart; enter in. Do whatever needs to be done.” That is all up here in the head. I am talking about getting down into the heart and actually doing it because, even though we have given Him permission, He is not going to violate us. He is not going to push Himself on us in a way that we are not willing to do. So even though we want it, we do not will it, and that is what we have to do. It is not a question of the head; it is a question of the heart.

And so if we want no longer to walk in our hardheartedness then what we need to do is allow our hearts to be soft, and that means to open them to Christ, to allow that covenant which is written in our hearts to grow, to flourish, and to bear fruit for the Lord. To bear fruit for the Lord requires only one thing, and that is to love Him – and that means to love Him in our hearts and from our hearts, to let Him in, to let Him become the King of our hearts, to be enthroned there, to be loved there, to be worshiped there, to be served there. That is what we need to be able to do, and that is the biggest challenge of our entire life. As wonderful as it sounds, it is not easy. Sin has hampered our ability, Satan’s lies have hampered our ability, and our own fear gets in the way and makes it very, very difficult for us to do this. But that is what the Lord places before us. It is not beyond us because we have Our Lord. We have the New Covenant, we have redemption, and so all these things are possible – not by ourselves, but by His grace. So we need to pray and we need to ask Him to do this in us and for us so that we will be able to cooperate and open our hearts and no longer walk in the ways of hardhearted wickedness, but walk according to the New Covenant in the ways of love.

[NYer]

July 23 - Feast of St. Charbel

       "From the top of the cedar, from the highest branch I will take a shoot and plant it myself on a very high mountain...this branch will bear fruit and become a noble cedar". (Ezekiel 17:22-26)    The Story of Charbel
 

On May 8, 1828 in a mountain village of Beka'kafra, the highest village in the near-east, Charbel was born to a poor Maronite family. From childhood his life revealed a calling to "bear fruit as a noble Cedar of Lebanon". Charbel "grew in age and wisdom before God and men". At 23 years old he entered the monastery of
Our Lady of Mayfouk (north of Byblos) where he became a novice. After two years of novitiate, in 1853, he was sent to St. Maron monastery where he pronounced the monastic vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Charbel was then transferred to the monastery of Kfeifan where he studied philosophy and theology. His
ordination to the priesthood took place in 1859, after which he was sent back to St. Maron monastery. His teachers provided him with good education and nurtured within him a deep love for monastic life.

During his 19 years at St. Maron monastery, Charbel performed his priestly ministry and his monastic duties in an edifying way. He totally dedicated himself to Christ with undivided heart to live in silence before Nameless One. In 1875 Charbel was granted permission to live as a hermit nearby the monastery at St. Peter and Paul hermitage. His 23 years of solitary life were lived in a spirit of total abandonment to God.

Charbel's companions in the hermitage were the Sons of God, as encountered in the Scriptures and in the Eucharist, and the Blessed Mother. The Eucharist became the center of his life. He consumed the Bread of his Life and was consumed by it. Though this hermit did not have a place in the world, the world had a great place in his heart. Through prayer and penance he offered himself as a sacrifice so that the world would return to God. It is in this light that one sees the importance of the following Eucharistic prayer in his life:

            "Father of Truth, behold Your Son a sacrifice  pleasing to You, accept this offering of Him  who died for me..."

On December 16, 1898 while reciting the "Father of Truth" prayer at the Holy Liturgy Charbel suffered a stroke. He died on Christmas Eve at the age of 70. Through faith this hermit received the Word of God and through love he continued the Ministry of Incarnation.

On the evening of his funeral, his superior wrote: "Because of what he will do after his death, I need not talk about his behavior". A few months after his death a bright light was seen surrounding his tomb. The superiors opened it to find his body still intact. Since that day a blood-like liquid flows from his body. Experts and doctors are unable to give medical explanations for the incorruptibility and flexibility. In the years 1950 and 1952 his tomb was opened and his body still had the appearance of a living one.

The spirit of Charbel still lives in many people. His miracles include numerous healings of the body and of the spirit. Thomas Merton, the American Hermit, wrote in his journal: "Charbel lived as a hermit in Lebanon---he was a Maronite. He died. Everyone forgot about him. Fifty years later, his body was discovered  incorrupt and in short time he worked over 600 miracles. He is my new companion. My road has taken a new turning. It seems to me that I have  been asleep for 9 years---and before that I was dead."

At the closing of the Second Vatican Council, on December 5, 1965 Charbel was beatified by Pope Paul VI who said:
"...a hermit of the Lebanese mountain is inscribed in the number of the blessed...a new eminent member of monastic sanctity is enriching, by his example and his intercession, the entire Christian people... May he make us understand, in a world largely fascinated by wealth and comfort, the paramount value of poverty, penance, and asceticism,  to liberate the soul in its ascent to God..."

On October 9, 1977 during the World Synod of Bishops, Pope Paul VI canonized Blessed Charbel among the ranks of the Saints.

        "The just will flourish like the palm tree, like              the Cedar of Lebanon shall he grow."

[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Friday, July 23, 2004

Meditation
Jeremiah 3:14-17



For the ancient Israelites, the “ark of the covenant” (Jeremiah 3:16) was the visible sign of God’s presence with them—something so holy that no one was to touch it under pain of death. This wooden box, which contained the stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written, was Israel’s pride and joy. But it was lost when Jerusalem was sacked by the Babylonians in the sixth century before Christ. When the ark disappeared, so did the people’s hope of seeing God’s holy presence restored in their midst.

Against this background, Jeremiah prophesied that God would reestablish his presence through something far greater than the ark. He will gather his scattered people into his holy city. Jerusalem itself will become “the throne of the Lord” (Jeremiah 3:17). There he will remove evil from the people’s hearts and give them new hearts of love and forgiveness. Their unity will show forth God’s healing grace and saving presence to the whole world.

For us Christians, this promise of restoration also points to a heavenly reality: the New Jerusalem above, the mother of all Christians (Galatians 4:26), which is already present on earth as the church. Jesus came to unite all things in heaven and on earth under his lordship (Ephesians 1:10). His church stands as the visible sign of his saving presence and of the unity God wants for all of us. As members of the church, we are charged with living out this unity and bringing the gospel message of reconciliation and peace to the world.

How on earth can we accomplish so large a task? Through small, everyday actions, we can bring the unity God so cherishes closer every day. We can comfort someone who is mourning the death of a loved one. We can visit shut-ins and prisoners. We can begin to forgive our enemies, show patience to those who bother us, and treat the less fortunate with mercy and compassion. Even the mightiest fire begins with just one spark! God has placed the fire of his love within each of us. Let’s fan the flames and allow the Holy Spirit to draw us all closer together.

“Lord Jesus, let the fire of your love consume me, that I may be a channel of your peace and unity to those around me.”

[Salvation]

American Cathlic's Saint of the Day

July 23, 2004

St. Bridget

(1303?-1373)

From age seven on, Bridget had visions of Christ crucified. Her visions formed the basis for her activity—always with the emphasis on charity rather than spiritual favors.

She lived her married life in the court of the Swedish king Magnus II. Mother of eight children (the second eldest was St. Catherine of Sweden), she lived the strict life of a penitent after her husband’s death.

Bridget constantly strove to exert her good influence over Magnus; while never fully reforming, he did give her land and buildings to found a monastery for men and women. This group eventually expanded into an Order known as the Bridgetines (still in existence).

In 1350, a year of jubilee, Bridget braved a plague-stricken Europe to make a pilgrimage to Rome. Although she never returned to Sweden, her years in Rome were far from happy, being hounded by debts and by opposition to her work against Church abuses.

A final pilgrimage to the Holy Land, marred by shipwreck and the death of her son, Charles, eventually led to her death in 1373. In 1999, she, Saints Catherine of Siena and Edith Stein were named co-patronesses of Europe.

Comment:

Bridget’s visions, rather than isolating her from the affairs of the world, involved her in many contemporary issues, whether they be royal policy or the Avignon papacy. She saw no contradiction between mystical experience and secular activity, and her life is a testimony to the possibility of a holy life in the market place.

Quote:

Despite the hardships of life and wayward children (not all became saints), Margery Kempe of Lynn says Bridget was “kind and meek to every creature” and “she had a laughing face.”

[Salvation]

**In 1999, she,[Saint Bridget of Sweden], Saints Catherine of Siena and Edith Stein were named co-patronesses of Europe.**

We can pray to these three saints to deliver Europe from the grip of indifference it is currently experiencing!

[Salvation]

One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

All Issues > Volume 20, Number 4

<< Friday, July 23, 2004 >>

St. Bridget

Jeremiah 3:14-17

Jeremiah 31:10-13

Matthew 13:18-23

View Readings

HOW TO GET GOOD LEADERS

“Return, rebellious children, says the Lord, for I am your Master.” —Jeremiah 3:14

The Lord promised that, if we repented of our rebellion against Him, He would appoint over us wise and prudent leaders after His own heart (Jer 3:15). Then we would become fruitful and reach new heights (Jer 3:16ff).

We do not produce “grain a hundred- or sixty- or thirtyfold” (Mt 13:8) if we do not repent of:

• not growing in understanding God’s word (Mt 13:19). The Holy Spirit has been given to us as our Teacher (Jn 14:26). If we are docile to the Spirit, we will have a good understanding of God’s word.
• not rooting God’s word in our lives (Mt 13:21). Our superficiality is due to our refusal to repent of selfishness and lukewarmness (Rv 3:16).
• giving in to “worldly anxiety and the lure of money” (Mt 13:22). By the power of the Holy Spirit, we must and can crucify our “flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal 5:24). In other words, we must live our Baptisms.

Do you believe we need better leaders in government, church, and business, especially the media? If so, repent of your own sins, especially of rejecting God’s word. Then you will be spiritually fruitful, and you will be led into a much better world, even leading to a civilization of love and life.

Prayer: Father, may I never underestimate the importance of my repentance.

Promise: “There all nations will be gathered together to honor the name of the Lord at Jerusalem, and they will walk no longer in their hardhearted wickedness.” —Jer 3:17

Praise: St. Bridget was not only fruitful by bearing eight children, she also bore fruit later in life by the founding of a monastery which eventually led to twenty-seven houses of religious.

[Salvation]

Homily of the Day

Homily of the Day

Title:	He Knows: Let Him Show You!
Author:	Monsignor Dennis Clark, PhD.
Date:	Friday, July 23, 2004

Jeremiah 3:14-17 / Matthew 13:18-23

In the course of our individual lifetimes, how often have we heard the stories of Jesus? There is no counting them. The Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, the Woman Caught in the Act of Adultery — we know them well. They’re a part of the "furniture" of our lives. But it seems fair to ask: What have we learned from them? Have our lives taken on a shape that would indicate we’ve listened to the inside of their stories? If not, why not?

Jesus offers us an answer in today’s gospel. His message may have gotten to our hearts, but it keeps getting choked and drowned out there. The business of daily life distracts us and pulls our attentions in other directions, and we find ourselves saying of Jesus’ message: "I just haven’t got time for that!" What an irony: The business of daily life is exactly what Jesus is talking about! Doing each day well, with grace and purpose, is what He is trying to teach us.

Don’t squander your days by inattention. Jesus knows where life is to be found. Let Him show you!

[annalex]

Mt 13:18-23
#	Douay-Rheims	Vulgate
18	Hear you therefore the parable of the sower.	vos ergo audite parabolam seminantis
19	When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, there cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart: this is he that received the seed by the way side.	omnis qui audit verbum regni et non intellegit venit malus et rapit quod seminatum est in corde eius hic est qui secus viam seminatus est
20	And he that received the seed upon stony ground, is he that heareth the word, and immediately receiveth it with joy.	qui autem supra petrosa seminatus est hic est qui verbum audit et continuo cum gaudio accipit illud
21	Yet hath he not root in himself, but is only for a time: and when there ariseth tribulation and persecution because of the word, he is presently scandalized.	non habet autem in se radicem sed est temporalis facta autem tribulatione et persecutione propter verbum continuo scandalizatur
22	And he that received the seed among thorns, is he that heareth the word, and the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choketh up the word, and he becometh fruitless.	qui autem est seminatus in spinis hic est qui verbum audit et sollicitudo saeculi istius et fallacia divitiarum suffocat verbum et sine fructu efficitur
23	But he that received the seed upon good ground, is he that heareth the word, and understandeth, and beareth fruit, and yieldeth the one an hundredfold, and another sixty, and another thirty.	qui vero in terra bona seminatus est hic est qui audit verbum et intellegit et fructum adfert et facit aliud quidem centum aliud autem sexaginta porro aliud triginta