Posted on 07/01/2018 9:08:15 PM PDT by Salvation
KEYWORDS: catholic; mt8; ordinarytime; prayer;
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From: Amos 2:6-10, 13-16
Against Israel
[9] Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them,
whose height was like the height of the cedars,
and who was as strong as the oaks;
I destroyed his fruit above,
and his roots beneath.
[10] Also I brought you up out of the land of Egypt,
and led you forty years in the wilderness,
to possess the land of the Amorite.
[13] “Behold, I will press you down in your place,
as a cart full of sheaves presses down.
[14] Flight shall perish from the swift,
and the strong shall not retain his strength,
nor shall the mighty save his life;
[15] he who handles the bow shall not stand,
and he who is swift of foot shall not save himself,
nor shall he who rides the horse save his life;
[16] and he who is stout of heart among the mighty
shall flee away naked in that day,” says the Lord.
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Commentary:
2:4-16. This passage contains a brief oracle on Judah (vv. 4-5) and another on
Israel (vv. 6-16). The oracle against Judah is less severe than the previous ones
and the one in vv. 6-16, which are more generic in tone; for this reason, some
authors think that it must be a later addition. It reproaches Judah for breaking
the commandments of the Law and for being unfaithful to God.
The oracle against Israel, on the other hand, is much longer and more explicit.
It mentions Israel’s transgressions (and then punishment) and also the benefits
that the people have received from God. These transgressions will be referred to
throughout the book (cf. 3:1-9:10). They were largely to do with injustice towards
the poor (synonymous with the righteous: cf. v. 6) and the needy (vv. 6-7); incest
or idolatry (v. 7) and aberrant forms of worship (v. 8). They commit these crimes,
forgetting how good God has been to them — setting them free from bondage in
Egypt (v. 10), giving them the promised land (v. 10), and providing them with pro-
phets and Nazirites to be their guides (v. 11). But Israel is proud and ungrateful,
and will be punished. This punishment will be so all-embracing and so sudden
that none will be able to escape or resist it (vv. 14-16).
St Jerome, commenting on v. 14, considers the example of Israel’s pride for the
benefit of his readers. Those will feel devoid of strength who “trust in their own
strength and do not rely on the mercy of God, as Scripture tells us: ‘I will des-
troy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart’ (1 Cor
1:19; cf. Is 29:14). Authentic wisdom cannot be destroyed nor knowledge of the
truth undone, but the wisdom of those who believe themselves to be wise and
who trust only in their own understanding will perish. The mighty man who shall
not save his life (cf. Amos 2:14) dies because he is not dressed in the armour
of an apostle. He bears a shield, but it is not the shield of faith; he has girded
his loins, but not with the truth; he wears a suit of armour, but it is not the ar-
mour of righteousness; he carries a sword, but it is not the sword of salvation.
This mighty warrior cannot he made holy by his battles nor wage the war of the
Lord” (St Jerome, Commentarii in Amos, 2, 13-16).
********************************************************************************************
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 8:18-22
Demands for Following Christ
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
18-22. From the very outset of His messianic preaching, Jesus rarely stays in the
same place; He is always on the move. He “has nowhere to lay His head” (Mat-
thew 8:20). Anyone who desires to be with him has to “follow Him”. This phrase
“following Jesus” has a very precise meaning: it means being His disciple (cf.
Matthew 19:28). Sometimes the crowds “follow Him”; but Jesus’ true disciples
are those who “follow Him” in a permanent way, that is, who keep on following
Him: being a “disciple of Jesus” and “following Him” amount to the same thing.
After our Lord’s ascension, “following Him” means being a Christian (cf. Acts 8:
26). By the simple and sublime fact of Baptism, every Christian is called, by a
divine vocation, to be a full disciple of our Lord, with all that that involves.
The evangelist here gives two specific cases of following Jesus. In the case of
the scribe our Lord explains what faith requires of a person who realizes that he
has been called; in the second case—that of the man who has already said “yes”
to Jesus—He reminds him of what His commandment entails. The soldier who
does not leave his position on the battlefront to bury his father, but instead leaves
that to those in the rearguard, is doing his duty. If service to one’s country makes
demands like that on a person, all the more reason for it to happen in the service
of Jesus Christ and His Church.
Following Christ, then, means we should make ourselves totally available to Him;
whatever sacrifice He asks of us we should make: the call to follow Christ means
staying up with Him, not falling behind; we either follow Him or lose Him. In the
Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) Jesus explained what following Him involves
—a teaching which we find summarized in even the most basic catechism of
Christian doctrine: a Christian is a man who believes in Jesus Christ —a faith he
receives at Baptism—and is duty bound to serve Him. Through prayer and friend-
ship with the Lord every Christian should try to discover the demands which this
service involves as far as he personally is concerned.
20. “The Son of Man”: this is one of the expressions used in the Old Testament
to refer to the Messiah. It appeared first in Daniel 7:14 and was used in Jewish
writings in the time of Jesus. Until our Lord began to preach it had not been un-
derstood in all its depth. The title “the Son of man” did not fit in very well with Je-
wish hopes of an earthly Messiah; this was why it was Jesus’ favorite way of in-
dicating that He was the Messiah—thereby avoiding any tendency to encourage
Jewish nationalism. In the prophecy of Daniel just mentioned this messianic title
has a transcendental meaning; by using it Jesus was able discreetly to proclaim
that He was the Messiah and yet avoid people interpreting His role in a political
sense. After the Resurrection the Apostles at last realized that “Son of Man”
meant nothing less than “Son of God”.
22. “Leave the dead to bury their own dead”: although this sounds very harsh, it
is a style of speaking which Jesus did sometimes use: here the “dead” clearly
refers to those whose interest is limited to perishable things and who have no
aspirations towards the things that last forever.
“If Jesus forbade him,” St. John Chrysostom comments, “it was not to have us
neglect the honor due to our parents, but to make us realize that nothing is more
important than the things of Heaven and that we ought to cleave to these and not
to put them off even for a little while, though our engagements be ever so indi-
spensable and pressing” (”Hom. on St. Matthew”, 27).
*********************************************************************************************
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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Amos 2:6-10,13-16 © |
Because of your crimes I will crush you into the ground |
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Responsorial Psalm |
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Psalm 49(50):16-23 © |
Gospel Acclamation | Jn8:12 |
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Or: | Ps94:8 |
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Gospel | Matthew 8:18-22 © |
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The Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head |
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Pray for Pope Francis.
50 Boko Haram Islamic Radicals Killed; 1,000 Hostages, Women and Children, Rescued in Nigeria
Nigeria: In the Face of Ongoing Islamist Attacks, the Faith is Growing
US Promises to Help Nigeria Exterminate Boko Haram
Is This Bishop Right about the Rosary Conquering Boko Haram? [Catholic Caucus]
Why Boko Haram and ISIS Target Women
Report reveals scale of Boko Haram violence inflicted on Nigerian Catholics
Military evacuating girls, women rescued from Boko Haram
Echos of Lepanto Nigerian bishop says rosary will bring down Boko Harm
After vision of Christ, Nigerian bishop says rosary will bring down Boko Haram (Catholic Caucus)
Nigerian Bishop Says Christ Showed Him How to Beat Islamic Terror Group
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
+
A Prayer for PriestsO my God, help those priests who are faithful to remain faithful; to those who are falling, stretch forth Your Divine Hand that they may grasp it as their support. In the great ocean of Your mercy, lift those poor unfortunate ones who have fallen, that being engulfed therein they may receive the grace to return to Your Great Loving Heart. Amen. Precious Blood of Jesus, protect them!
The Most Precious Blood of Jesus
July is traditionally associated with the Precious Blood of Our Lord. It may be customary to celebrate the votive Mass of the Precious Blood on July 1.
The extraordinary importance of the saving Blood of Christ has ensured a central place for its memorial in the celebration of this cultic mystery: at the centre of the Eucharistic assembly, in which the Church raises up to God in thanksgiving "the cup of blessing" (1 Cor 10, 16; cf Ps 115-116, 13) and offers it to the faithful as a "real communion with the Blood of Christ" (1 Cor 10, 16); and throughout the Liturgical Year. The Church celebrates the saving Blood of Christ not only on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, but also on many other occasions, such that the cultic remembrance of the Blood of our redemption (cf 1 Pt 1, 18) pervades the entire Liturgical Year. Hence, at Vespers during Christmastide, the Church, addressing Christ, sings: "Nos quoque, qui sancto tuo redempti sumus sanguine, ob diem natalis tui hymnum novum concinimus." In the Paschal Triduum, the redemptive significance and efficacy of the Blood of Christ is continuously recalled in adoration. During the adoration of the Cross on Good Friday the Church sings the hymn: "Mite corpus perforatur, sanguis unde profluit; terra, pontus, astra, mundus quo lavanturflumine", and again on Easter Sunday, "Cuius corpus sanctissimum in ara crucis torridum, sed et cruorem roesum gustando, Deo vivimus (194).
Catholic Word of the Day: LITANY OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD, 09-25-12
ST. GASPAR: Founder of the Society of the Precious Blood
Mass in the Cathedral of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ (London, 9/18)
Devotion to the Drops of Blood Lost by our Lord Jesus Christ on His Way to Calvary (Prayer/Devotion)
Chaplet of the Most Precious Blood
Catholic Word of the Day: PRECIOUS BLOOD, 12-03-11
The Traditional Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Catholic Caucus)
Devotion to the Precious Blood
DOCTRINE OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,And More on the Precious Blood
Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ
NOTHING IS MORE POTENT AGAINST EVIL THAN PLEADING THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST
Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus
St. Bruno
|
The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.
Amen. "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Lk 1:28) "Blessed are you among women, |
Matthew | |||
English: Douay-Rheims | Latin: Vulgata Clementina | Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000) | |
Matthew 8 |
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18. | And Jesus seeing great multitudes about him, gave orders to pass over the water. | Videns autem Jesus turbas multas circum se, jussit ire trans fretum. | ιδων δε ο ιησους πολλους οχλους περι αυτον εκελευσεν απελθειν εις το περαν |
19. | And a certain scribe came and said to him: Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou shalt go. | Et accedens unus scriba, ait illi : Magister, sequar te, quocumque ieris. | και προσελθων εις γραμματευς ειπεν αυτω διδασκαλε ακολουθησω σοι οπου εαν απερχη |
20. | And Jesus saith to him: The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests: but the son of man hath not where to lay his head. | Et dicit ei Jesus : Vulpes foveas habent, et volucres cæli nidos ; Filius autem hominis non habet ubi caput reclinet. | και λεγει αυτω ο ιησους αι αλωπεκες φωλεους εχουσιν και τα πετεινα του ουρανου κατασκηνωσεις ο δε υιος του ανθρωπου ουκ εχει που την κεφαλην κλινη |
21. | And another of his disciples said to him: Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. | Alius autem de discipulis ejus ait illi : Domine, permitte me primum ire, et sepelire patream meum. | ετερος δε των μαθητων αυτου ειπεν αυτω κυριε επιτρεψον μοι πρωτον απελθειν και θαψαι τον πατερα μου |
22. | But Jesus said to him: Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead. | Jesus autem ait illi : Sequere me, et dimitte mortuos sepelire mortuos suos. | ο δε ιησους ειπεν αυτω ακολουθει μοι και αφες τους νεκρους θαψαι τους εαυτων νεκρους |
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