Posted on 06/18/2017 8:11:57 PM PDT by Salvation
KEYWORDS: catholic; mt5; ordinarytime; prayer; saints;
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From: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10
St Paul, a True Servant of Christ
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Commentary:
1-10. St Paul concludes his long defense of his apostolic ministry (cf. 3:1-6:10)
by saying that he has always tried to act as a worthy servant of God. First he
calls on the Corinthians to have a sense of responsibility so that the grace of
God be not ineffective in them (vv. 1-2), and then he briefly describes the afflic-
tions this ministry has meant for him. Earlier, he touched on this subject (cf.
4:7-12), and he will deal with it again in 11:23-33.
1-2. St Paul exhorts the faithful not to accept the grace of God in vain-which
would happen if they did not cultivate the faith and initial grace they received in
Baptism and if they neglected the graces which God continues to send them.
This exhortation is valid for all Christians: “We receive the grace of God in vain”,
St Francis de Sales points out, “when we receive it at the gate of our heart,
without allowing it to enter: we receive it without receiving it; we receive it with-
out fruit, since there is no use in feeling the inspiration if one does not consent
unto it. And just as the sick man who has the medicine in his hands, if he takes
only part of it, will only partially benefit from it, so too, when God sends a great
and mighty inspiration to move us to embrace his love, if we do not avail of it in
its entirety, we shall benefit from it only partially” (”Treatise on the Love of God”,
book 2, chap. 11).
The Apostle urges them to cultivate the grace they have been given, using a quo-
tation from Isaiah (49:8): the right time has come, the day of salvation. His words
recall our Lord’s preaching in the synagogue of Nazareth (cf. Lk 4:16-21).
The “acceptable time” will last until Christ comes in glory at the end of the world
(in the life of the individual, it will last until the hour of his death); until then, every
day is “the day of salvation”: “’Ecce none dies salutis’, the day of salvation is
here before us. The call of the good shepherd has reached us: ‘”ego vocavi te no-
mine too”, I have called you by name’ (Is 43:1). Since love repays love, we must
reply: ‘”ecce ego quia vocasti me”, Here I am, for you called me’ (1 Sam 3:5) [...].
I will be converted, I will turn again to the Lord and love him as he wants to be
loved” (St. J. Escriva, “Christ Is Passing By”, 59).
3. St Paul had previously warned the Corinthians of the danger of being a stum-
bling block for others (cf. 1 Cor 8:8-13). All Christians need to heed this warning,
especially those who have positions of greater responsibility in the Church. The
Apostle feels urged by this duty to live always as a “servant of God”, ensuring
that his conduct is always in accord with what he preaches and avoiding doing
anything which could in any way be misunderstood (cf. 1 Cor 9:12; 10:32f).
4-10. In these verses the Apostle outlines what his desire to be a faithful servant
of God has involved. We can distinguish four parts in this short description: first
he speaks of the sufferings he has borne with great patience (vv. 4f); then of the
virtues which help him overcome these severe trials (vv. 6-7a); then of the wea-
pons which he uses in this difficult spiritual combat (vv. 7b-8a); and finally, in a
series of antitheses he contrasts human judgments of himself and his co-workers,
with the true facts (vv. 8b-10).
“These words of the Apostle”, Monsignor Escriva comments, “should make you
happy, for they are, as it were, a ratification of your vocation as ordinary Chris-
tians in the middle of the world, sharing with others—your equals—the enthusiasms,
the sorrows and the joys of human life. All this is a way to God. What God asks
of you is that you should, always, act as his children and servants.
“But these ordinary circumstances of life will be a divine way only if we really
change ourselves, if we really give ourselves. For St Paul uses hard words. He
promises that the Christian will have a hard life, a life of risk and of constant ten-
sion. How we disfigure Christianity if we try to turn it into something nice and
comfortable! But neither is it correct to think that this deep, serious way of life,
which is totally bound up with all the difficulties of human existence, is some-
thing full of anguish, oppression or fear.
“The Christian is a realist. His supernatural and human realism helps him appre-
ciate all the aspects of his life—sorrow and joy, his own and other people’s suf-
fering, certainty and doubt, generosity and selfishness. The Christian experiences
all this, and he confronts it all, with human integrity and with the strength he re-
ceives from God” (”Christ Is Passing By”, 60).
4-5. Patience, which enables the Apostle to endure all his difficulties, is a virtue
necessary for the Christian’s life, which helps him endure physical or moral pain
with residence, peace and serenity. St Teresa of Avila has a poem which touches
on this: “Let nothing disturb thee; let nothing dismay thee; all things pass; God
never changes; patience attains all that it strives for. He who has God finds he
lacks nothing: God alone suffices” (”Poems”, 30).
6-7. Forbearance is a virtue which helps us to seek a very distant good, one
which will take a long time to obtain, and to endure this delay without losing
heart. St Paul includes it among the fruits of the Holy Spirit (cf. Gal 5:22).
“By the Holy Spirit”: that is, directed in apostolic work by the Holy Spirit, who
enlightens him in his preaching and moves the hearts of his hearers, preparing
them to accept the Gospel.
“By truthful speech”: St Paul has already spoken to the Corinthians about this,
by pointing to the sincerity of his preaching, the fact that he does not mislead
them or flatter them (cf. 2:17; 4:2). It is not the preacher’s skill but the “power
of God” that causes his message to be accepted (cf. 1 Cor 2:4f).
7-8. “The weapons of righteousness”: St Paul also calls these the “armor of light”
(Rom 13:12) as opposed to that of iniquity (cf. Rom 6:13) and worldly weapons
(cf. 2 Cor 10:4), and he will write further about this, using the metaphor of com-
batants of his time: “Take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to with-
stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded
your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and ha-
ving shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; above all taking
the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word
of God” (Eph 6:13-17).
This reference in v. 7 to weapons for the right hand and for the left comes from
the practice of soldiers, who wielded offensive weapons — lance and sword —
with one hand and carried defensive weapons—the shield—in the other.
8-10. In seven antitheses the Apostle contrasts his enemies’ mistaken opinions
about himself and his co-workers, with the true facts. As a faithful follower of our
Lord, he bears out what Jesus said would happen: “A disciple is not above his
teacher, nor a servant above his master; it is enough for the disciple to be like
his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the
house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household” (Mt
10:24f).
It is quite possible for a disciple of Christ to meet up with opposition from people
who misread his actions or his intentions, for there are some who “when they
discover something which is clearly good, poke at it to see if there is not some-
thing bad hidden underneath” (St Gregory the Great, “Moralia”, 6, 22). As in St
Paul’s case, disciples should keep on working, and not let themselves become
disillusioned or bitter: “With me it is a very small thing I should be judged by
you” (1 Cor 4:3).
10. “Always rejoicing”: even in the midst of severe difficulties St Paul always ma-
nages to remain cheerful. Joy is a Christian gift, the result of divine filiation—our
realization that God is our Father, that he is all-powerful and that he has bound-
less love for us; it is something we should never lose: “let them be sad who are
determined not to recognize that they are children of God” (St. J. Escriva,
“Friends of God”, 108).
“As having nothing, yet possessing everything”: “They have nothing and possess
everything who are the lovers of God, for when they lack earthly things, they are
content to say, ‘My Lord, you alone are enough for me’, and that leaves them fully
satisfied” (St Alphonsus, “The Love of Jesus Christ Reduced to Practice”, chap.
14).
*********************************************************************************************
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 5:38-42
Jesus and His Teaching, the Fulfillment of the Law (Continuation)
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
38-42. Among the Semites, from whom the Israelites stemmed, the law of ven-
geance ruled. It led to interminable strife, and countless crimes. In the early
centuries of the chosen people, the law of retaliation was recognized as an ethi-
cal advance, socially and legally: no punishment could exceed the crime, and
any punitive retaliation was outlawed. In this way, the honor of the clans and
families was satisfied, and endless feuds avoided.
As far as New Testament morality is concerned, Jesus establishes a definitive
advance: a sense of forgiveness and absence of pride play an essential role.
Every legal framework for combating evil in the world, every reasonable defense
of personal rights, should be based on this morality. The three last verses refer
to mutual charity among the children of the Kingdom, a charity which presup-
poses and deeply imbues justice.
*********************************************************************************************
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.
Liturgical Colour: Green.
First reading |
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2 Corinthians 6:1-10 © |
Responsorial Psalm |
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Psalm 97(98):1-4 © |
Gospel Acclamation | Jn14:23 |
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Or | Ps118:105 |
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Gospel | Matthew 5:38-42 © |
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Pray for Pope Francis
Lovely readings as we prepare for a night’s rest. Here’s wishing a good week to everyone with God’s grace and blessing.
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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.
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 ]
St. Michael the Archangel
~ PRAYER ~
St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle
Be our protection against the wickedness
and snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
Cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen
+
The devotion consists in the divine worship of the human heart of Christ, which is united to His divinity and which is a symbol of His love for us. The aim of the devotion is to make our Lord king over our hearts by prompting them to return love to Him (especially through an act of consecration by which we offer to the Heart of Jesus both ourselves and all that belongs to us) and to make reparation for our ingratitude to God.
INVOCATION
O Heart of love, I put all my trust in Thee; for I fear all things from my own weakness, but I hope for all things from Thy goodness.
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
PRAYER TO THE SACRED HEART
Devotion to the Sacred Heart was the characteristic note of the piety of Saint Gertrude the Great (1256-1302), Benedictine nun and renowned mystic. She was, in fact, the first great exponent of devotion to the Sacred Heart. In our efforts to honor the Heart of Jesus we have this prayer as a model for our own:
Hail! O Sacred Heart of Jesus, living and quickening source of eternal life, infinite treasure of the Divinity, and burning furnace of divine love. Thou art my refuge and my sanctuary, 0 my amiable Savior. Consume my heart with that burning fire with which Thine is ever inflamed. Pour down on my soul those graces which flow from Thy love, and let my heart be so united with Thine, that our wills may be one, and mine in all things be conformed to Thine. May Thy divine will be equally the standard and rule of all my desires and of all my actions. Amen.
Saint Gertrude
FOR THE CHURCH
O most holy Heart of Jesus, shower Thy blessings in abundant measure upon Thy holy Church, upon the Supreme Pontiff and upon all the clergy; to the just grant perseverance; convert sinners; enlighten unbelievers; bless our relations, friends and benefactors; assist the dying; deliver the holy souls in purgatory; and extend over all hearts the sweet empire of Thy love. Amen.
A PRAYER OF TRUST
O God, who didst in wondrous manner reveal to the virgin, Margaret Mary, the unsearchable riches of Thy Heart, grant that loving Thee, after her example, in all things and above all things, we may in Thy Heart find our abiding home.
Roman Missal
ACT OF LOVE
Reveal Thy Sacred Heart to me, O Jesus, and show me Its attractions. Unite me to It for ever. Grant that all my aspirations and all the beats of my heart, which cease not even while I sleep, may be a testimonial to Thee of my love for Thee and may say to Thee: Yes, Lord, I am all Thine;
pledge of my allegiance to Thee rests ever in my heart will never cease to be there. Do Thou accept the slight amount of good that I do and be graciously pleased to repair all m] wrong-doing; so that I may be able to bless Thee in time and in eternity. Amen.
Cardinal Merry del Val
MEMORARE TO THE SACRED HEART
Remember, O most sweet Jesus, that no one who has had recourse to Thy Sacred Heart, implored its help, or sought its mercy was ever abandoned. Encouraged with confidence, O tenderest of hearts, we present ourselves before Thee, crushed beneath the weight of our sins. In our misery, O Sacred Heart of Jesus, despise not our simple prayers, but mercifully grant our requests. Amen.
Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954
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"Behold this Heart which has loved men so much, and yet men do not want to love Me in return. Through you My divine Heart wishes to spread its love everywhere on earth."
- Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary
Our Lord also made 12 promises to St. Margaret Mary for those that are devoted to His Sacred Heart.
"Hand him your cloak as well"
Living on Love is giving without limit
Without claiming any wages here below.
Ah! I give without counting, truly sure
That when one loves, one does not keep count!...
Overflowing with tenderness, I have given everything,
To his Divine Heart... lightly I run.
I have nothing left but my only wealth:
Living on Love.
Living on Love is banishing every fear,
Every memory of past faults.
I see no imprint of my sins.
In a moment, Love has burned everything...
Divine Flame, O sweetest Blaze!
I make my home in your hearth.
In your fire I gladly sing: (cf Dn 3,51)
I live on Love!...
Living on Love what strange folly!
The world says to me, Ah! stop your singing,
Don't waste your perfumes, your life.
Learn to use them well...
Loving you, Jesus, is such fruitful loss!...
All my perfumes are yours forever.
I want to sing on leaving this world:
I die of Love!
To love is to give everything. It's to give oneself.
St. Ignatius of Loyola
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