Mark
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Mark 12
13.	And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians; that they should catch him in his words.	Et mittunt ad eum quosdam ex pharisæis, et herodianis, ut eum caperent in verbo.	και αποστελλουσιν προς αυτον τινας των φαρισαιων και των ηρωδιανων ινα αυτον αγρευσωσιν λογω
14.	Who coming, say to him: Master, we know that thou art a true speaker, and carest not for any man; for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar; or shall we not give it?	Qui venientes dicunt ei : Magister, scimus quia verax es, et non curas quemquam : nec enim vides in faciem hominum, sed in veritate viam Dei doces. Licet dari tributum Cæsari, an non dabimus ?	οι δε ελθοντες λεγουσιν αυτω διδασκαλε οιδαμεν οτι αληθης ει και ου μελει σοι περι ουδενος ου γαρ βλεπεις εις προσωπον ανθρωπων αλλ επ αληθειας την οδον του θεου διδασκεις εξεστιν κηνσον καισαρι δουναι η ου
15.	Who knowing their wiliness, saith to them: Why tempt you me? bring me a penny that I may see it.	Qui sciens versutiam illorum, ait illos : Quid me tentatis ? afferte mihi denarium ut videam.	δωμεν η μη δωμεν ο δε ειδως αυτων την υποκρισιν ειπεν αυτοις τι με πειραζετε φερετε μοι δηναριον ινα ιδω
16.	And they brought it him. And he saith to them: Whose is this image and inscription? They say to him, Caesar's.	At illi attulerunt ei. Et ait illis : Cujus est imago hæc, et inscriptio ? Dicunt ei : Cæsaris.	οι δε ηνεγκαν και λεγει αυτοις τινος η εικων αυτη και η επιγραφη οι δε ειπον αυτω καισαρος
17.	And Jesus answering, said to them: Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.	Respondens autem Jesus dixit illis : Reddite igitur quæ sunt Cæsaris, Cæsari : et quæ sunt Dei, Deo. Et mirabantur super eo.	και αποκριθεις ο ιησους ειπεν αυτοις αποδοτε τα καισαρος καισαρι και τα του θεου τω θεω και εθαυμασαν επ αυτω

Ordinary Time: June 6th

Optional Memorial of St. Norbert, bishop

MASS READINGS

June 06, 2017 (Readings on USCCB website)

COLLECT PRAYER

O God, who made the Bishop Saint Norbert a servant of your Church outstanding in his prayer and pastoral zeal, grant, we ask, that by the help of his intercession, the flock of the faithful may always find shepherds after your own heart and be fed in the pastures of salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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Canons Regular Of Premontre (Norbertines: Premonstratensians: O. Praem.) | Helen Walker Homan

Old Calendar: St. Norbert

St. Norbert was born at Xanten near Cologne about the year 1080. As a young cleric he resided at the court of the Archbishop of Cologne and then at that of the emperor where he allowed himself to be influenced by the spirit of the world. But he was won back by grace; caught by a storm during a journey on horseback he made up his mind to take his clerical obligations seriously. After ordination to the priesthood he devoted himself to itinerant preaching.

In 1120, on the advice of the bishop of Laon, he settled in the forest of Voix, not far from Soissons at a place called Premontre, in order to found a community of regular Canons. In 1126 he was sent to what was then one of the outposts of Christendom for he was appointed archbishop of Magdeburg. He died in 1134.

St. Norbert
Although a cleric, Norbert led a very worldly life for a number of years. The decisive change took place suddenly in 1115. While riding one day, he was overtaken by a thunderstorm. A flash of lightning struck the ground before him, the horse threw him, and he seemed to hear a voice upbraiding him for his conduct.

As in the case of St. Paul, the experience wrought a complete transformation. Norbert decided to give away his property and income rights, and to lead a life of abnegation, devoting himself particularly to preaching. In 1120 he founded the Order of Premonstratensians (the first monastery was at Premontre) according to the rule of St. Augustine; approval came from Pope Honorius II in 1126.

In 1125, he was named archbishop of Magdeburg. On July 13, 1126, Norbert entered the city and came barefoot to the cathedral. About to enter the archepiscopal palace, he was refused admission by the porter, who failed to recognize a bishop so poorly dressed. "You know me better and see me with clearer eyes than those who are forcing me to this palace. Poor and wretched man that I am, I should never have been assigned to this place," Norbert answered when the porter later sought his pardon.

Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Patron: Bohemia, peace.

Things to Do:

Read the life of St. Norbert written by his first disciple, Hugh, who succeded him in the government of his order.
St. Norbert was called the “Apostle of the Blessed Sacrament”. Try making a holy hour today and pray to St. Norbert to help us to have a great love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, too.
For those interested in liturgical music you can read about Norbertine Gregorian Chant. The order has its "own" chant.
Read this brief history and overview of the Norbertine Order.
Here is an excellent link to even more information about St. Norbert.
The Norbertine order has been around for 900 years. The Canons Regular of Prémontré, otherwise known as the Premonstratensians or the Norbertines, run the parish of Our Lady of England, Storrington. Learn more about their charism here.

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Mark 12:13-17

Saint Norbert, Bishop (Optional Memorial)

Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. (Mark 12:17)

It was supposed to be a trick question. The Herodians and Pharisees wanted to trap Jesus by asking something that he couldn’t answer without making someone angry. “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar?” (Mark 12:14). Jesus’ answer would either alienate the crowds or antagonize the Romans. But Jesus wasn’t interested in debating. Instead, he turned the conversation back to his Father.

“Whose image and inscription is this?” (Mark 12:16). By using the word “image,” Jesus moves beyond the question of taxes. Obviously, the coin showing Caesar’s image rightfully belongs to him. But what—or who—bears God’s image? What—or who—belongs to him?

We do! God created us in his own image and likeness (Genesis 1:27). The Jewish leaders questioning Jesus probably knew this passage well. And they were “utterly amazed” at the way Jesus had turned the tables on them (Mark 12:17). But Jesus wasn’t trying to silence them. He wanted to remind them: you belong to God.

So do we. So shouldn’t our lives reflect that? But what does it mean to “repay” ourselves to God?

First, it doesn’t mean we’re a piece of property that God has a claim on. No, we are his treasured children. He loves us; we belong to him as a child belongs to his or her father. It’s a relationship based on love, not possession.

What it does mean is that we give ourselves fully to God. How? By letting him draw us closer to him. Think about how you feel when you feel close to your spouse or someone in your family. Doesn’t your love for that person grow? You might feel a sense of peace. You might feel your heart softening toward him more. We know God’s love, and we are moved to love him in return. We see his goodness toward us, and we want to be just as good to those around us.

Being drawn closer to God in prayer makes it a joy to “repay the Lord” for all the great good he has done for us (Psalm 116:12).

“Lord, draw me closer. I give my life to you—my past, my present, and my future.”

Tobit 2:9-14
Psalm 112:1-2, 7-9

Regnum Christi

June 6, 2017 – A Taxing Question

06 Jun 2017

Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Father Edward McIlmail, LC

Mark 12:13-17

Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent to Jesus to ensnare him in his speech. They came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion. You do not regard a person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?” Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.” They brought one to him and he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They replied to him, “Caesar’s.” So Jesus said to them, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” They were utterly amazed at him.

Introductory Prayer: Lord, I come before you humbly. As one who has frequently fallen into sin, I am aware of my weakness. Your great love, though, assures me that your grace can keep me on the path to holiness.

Petition: Give me guidance, Lord, on a big decision that I have to make.

1. Setting the Trap: The Pharisees and Herodians use an old ploy ― flattery ― to try to trap Jesus. It is a ploy that enjoys a long shelf-life. Flattery can cause us to lower our guard. “You’re an intelligent person, why don’t you …?” Or: “You’re a good parent, you already have two kids. You don’t really believe the Church on …?” Being Christian in the world often means living among devious people. Hence, Jesus warned us to “be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves” (Matthew 10:16). To maintain a balance, we have to live only for God. Is it Christ who shapes my day?

2. Lying in Wait: They pose a false dilemma to Jesus. It’s “either/or.” Either Jesus must accept Caesar totally, or rebel against Rome. Such is how the world sees it. It’s still either/or. Either we embrace Darwinism (no questions asked), or we cling to Creationism. Either we are tolerant of alternate lifestyles, or we are insufferable bigots. But things are more complicated than that. Moreover, the Catholic faith is often “both/and.” Hence, we give to Caesar and to God what belongs to each. And how do we decide what belongs to whom? That’s where things get tricky. And that is precisely why we are called as Christians to develop our gifts, our intelligence, our prayer life ― so as to make the right choices. Catholicism is not a religion for robots. It demands that we use our freedom and gifts responsibly to do God’s will. Am I using my gifts well? Do I develop my skills and intellect so as to better serve God?

3. The Trap is Sprung, the Game is Over: Jesus’ response floors his critics. Why? Partly because he throws the question back to them. Now they have to decide what belongs to Caesar — and what belongs to God. “You must decide,” was Karol Wojtyla’s signature phrase as a confessor. Nothing can so frighten us as freedom. It frightened Jesus’ audience. How am I using my own freedom? How am I using the time God gives me?

Conversation with Christ: Help me realize, Lord, that you are calling me in freedom. You respect the freedom you gave me, even if I misuse it. But I don’t want to misuse it. I want to render a good account of my life at Judgment Day.

Resolution: I will read some Scripture or a few paragraphs from the Catechism or a papal document today, to try to form myself better in the faith.

Homily of the Day

June 6, 2017

In today’s Gospel reading, the questions that the Pharisees and the Sadducees asked Jesus were another unfair attempt or plot to entrap Jesus in theological disputes so they could accuse him of heresy of even sedition.

Jesus refutes them head-on with precise replies which are not only theologically and scripturally sound but which also expose the supposed truth-seeking Sadducees for what they really are. When we allow situations and particular instances to determine truths for ourselves, like trying to justify lying and not telling the truth to protect our own feelings or those of others, we are acting like the Sadducees and are indeed rejecting God’s truth.
Jesus’ replies confirm that truth is not variable and that, with a clear understanding of God built through strong relationships, we would not fall into the same trap as the Pharisees and Sadducees. If all our actions and intentions are truly directed to God and his greater glory, we would not to worry about misunderstandings or trivia presented but instead truly acknowledge the power of God as the God of the living and of truth. We would know the truth not merely through speech but have that knowledge deeply imprinted in our minds and hearts, which the Pharisees and Sadducees missed.

God’s truth teaches us to understand and respect the many different and complicated spheres and relationships in our lives: “Return to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”