Posted on 02/03/2020 3:12:17 AM PST by Salvation
An informant came to David with the report,
The children of Israel have transferred their loyalty to Absalom.
At this, David said to all his servants
who were with him in Jerusalem:
Up! Let us take flight, or none of us will escape from Absalom.
Leave quickly, lest he hurry and overtake us,
then visit disaster upon us and put the city to the sword.
As David went up the Mount of Olives, he wept without ceasing.
His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot.
All those who were with him also had their heads covered
and were weeping as they went.
As David was approaching Bahurim,
a man named Shimei, the son of Gera
of the same clan as Sauls family,
was coming out of the place, cursing as he came.
He threw stones at David and at all the kings officers,
even though all the soldiers, including the royal guard,
were on Davids right and on his left.
Shimei was saying as he cursed:
Away, away, you murderous and wicked man!
The LORD has requited you for all the bloodshed in the family of Saul,
in whose stead you became king,
and the LORD has given over the kingdom to your son Absalom.
And now you suffer ruin because you are a murderer.
Abishai, son of Zeruiah, said to the king:
Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king?
Let me go over, please, and lop off his head.
But the king replied: What business is it of mine or of yours,
sons of Zeruiah, that he curses?
Suppose the LORD has told him to curse David;
who then will dare to say, Why are you doing this?
Then the king said to Abishai and to all his servants:
If my own son, who came forth from my loins, is seeking my life,
how much more might this Benjaminite do so?
Let him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to.
Perhaps the LORD will look upon my affliction
and make it up to me with benefits
for the curses he is uttering this day.
David and his men continued on the road,
while Shimei kept abreast of them on the hillside,
all the while cursing and throwing stones and dirt as he went.
R. (8a) Lord, rise up and save me.
O LORD, how many are my adversaries!
Many rise up against me!
Many are saying of me,
There is no salvation for him in God.
R. Lord, rise up and save me.
But you, O LORD, are my shield;
my glory, you lift up my head!
When I call out to the LORD,
he answers me from his holy mountain.
R. Lord, rise up and save me.
When I lie down in sleep,
I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.
I fear not the myriads of people
arrayed against me on every side.
R. Lord, rise up and save me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A great prophet has arisen in our midst
and God has visited his people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the sea,
to the territory of the Gerasenes.
When he got out of the boat,
at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him.
The man had been dwelling among the tombs,
and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain.
In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains,
but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed,
and no one was strong enough to subdue him.
Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides
he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones.
Catching sight of Jesus from a distance,
he ran up and prostrated himself before him,
crying out in a loud voice,
What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?
I adjure you by God, do not torment me!
(He had been saying to him, Unclean spirit, come out of the man!)
He asked him, What is your name?
He replied, Legion is my name. There are many of us.
And he pleaded earnestly with him
not to drive them away from that territory.
Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside.
And they pleaded with him,
Send us into the swine. Let us enter them.
And he let them, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine.
The herd of about two thousand rushed down a steep bank into the sea,
where they were drowned.
The swineherds ran away and reported the incident in the town
and throughout the countryside.
And people came out to see what had happened.
As they approached Jesus,
they caught sight of the man who had been possessed by Legion,
sitting there clothed and in his right mind.
And they were seized with fear.
Those who witnessed the incident explained to them what had happened
to the possessed man and to the swine.
Then they began to beg him to leave their district.
As he was getting into the boat,
the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him.
But Jesus would not permit him but told him instead,
Go home to your family and announce to them
all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.
Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis
what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed.
For the readings of the Optional Memorial of Saint Blase, please go here.
For the readings of the Optional Memorial of Saint Ansgar, please go here.
KEYWORDS: catholic; mk5; ordinarytime; prayer; saints;
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Mark | |||
English: Douay-Rheims | Latin: Vulgata Clementina | Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000) | |
Mark 5 |
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1. | AND they came over the strait of the sea into the country of the Gerasens. | Et venerunt trans fretum maris in regionem Gerasenorum. | και ηλθον εις το περαν της θαλασσης εις την χωραν των γαδαρηνων |
2. | And as he went out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the monuments a man with an unclean spirit, | Et exeunti ei de navi, statim occurrit de monumentis homo in spiritu immundo, | και εξελθοντι αυτω εκ του πλοιου ευθεως απηντησεν αυτω εκ των μνημειων ανθρωπος εν πνευματι ακαθαρτω |
3. | Who had his dwelling in the tombs, and no man now could bind him, not even with chains. | qui domicilium habebat in monumentis, et neque catenis jam quisquam poterat eum ligare : | ος την κατοικησιν ειχεν εν τοις μνημασιν και ουτε αλυσεσιν ουδεις εδυνατο αυτον δησαι |
4. | For having been often bound with fetters and chains, he had burst the chains, and broken the fetters in pieces, and no one could tame him. | quoniam sæpe compedibus et catenis vinctus, dirupisset catenas, et compedes comminuisset, et nemo poterat eum domare : | δια το αυτον πολλακις πεδαις και αλυσεσιν δεδεσθαι και διεσπασθαι υπ αυτου τας αλυσεις και τας πεδας συντετριφθαι και ουδεις αυτον ισχυεν δαμασαι |
5. | And he was always day and night in the monuments and in the mountains, crying and cutting himself with stones. | et semper die ac nocte in monumentis, et in montibus erat, clamans, et concidens se lapidibus. | και δια παντος νυκτος και ημερας εν τοις ορεσιν και εν τοις μνημασιν ην κραζων και κατακοπτων εαυτον λιθοις |
6. | And seeing Jesus afar off, he ran and adored him. | Videns autem Jesum a longe, cucurrit, et adoravit eum : | ιδων δε τον ιησουν απο μακροθεν εδραμεν και προσεκυνησεν αυτω |
7. | And crying with a loud voice, he said: What have I to do with thee, Jesus the Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God that thou torment me not. | et clamans voce magna dixit : Quid mihi et tibi, Jesu Fili Dei altissimi ? adjuro te per Deum, ne me torqueas. | και κραξας φωνη μεγαλη ειπεν τι εμοι και σοι ιησου υιε του θεου του υψιστου ορκιζω σε τον θεον μη με βασανισης |
8. | For he said unto him: Go out of the man, thou unclean spirit. | Dicebat enim illi : Exi spiritus immunde ab homine. | ελεγεν γαρ αυτω εξελθε το πνευμα το ακαθαρτον εκ του ανθρωπου |
9. | And he asked him: What is thy name? And he saith to him: My name is Legion, for we are many. | Et interrogabat eum : Quod tibi nomen est ? Et dicit ei : Legio mihi nomen est, quia multi sumus. | και επηρωτα αυτον τι σοι ονομα και απεκριθη λεγων λεγεων ονομα μοι οτι πολλοι εσμεν |
10. | And he besought him much, that he would not drive him away out of the country. | Et deprecabatur eum multum, ne se expelleret extra regionem. | και παρεκαλει αυτον πολλα ινα μη αυτους αποστειλη εξω της χωρας |
11. | And there was there near the mountain a great herd of swine, feeding. | Erat autem ibi circa montem grex porcorum magnus, pascens. | ην δε εκει προς τω ορει αγελη χοιρων μεγαλη βοσκομενη |
12. | And the spirits besought him, saying: Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. | Et deprecabantur eum spiritus, dicentes : Mitte nos in porcos ut in eos introëamus. | και παρεκαλεσαν αυτον παντες οι δαιμονες λεγοντες πεμψον ημας εις τους χοιρους ινα εις αυτους εισελθωμεν |
13. | And Jesus immediately gave them leave. And the unclean spirits going out, entered into the swine: and the herd with great violence was carried headlong into the sea, being about two thousand, and were stifled in the sea. | Et concessit eis statim Jesus. Et exeuntes spiritus immundi introierunt in porcos : et magno impetu grex præcipitatus est in mare ad duo millia, et suffocati sunt in mari. | και επετρεψεν αυτοις ευθεως ο ιησους και εξελθοντα τα πνευματα τα ακαθαρτα εισηλθον εις τους χοιρους και ωρμησεν η αγελη κατα του κρημνου εις την θαλασσαν ησαν δε ως δισχιλιοι και επνιγοντο εν τη θαλασση |
14. | And they that fed them fled, and told it in the city and in the fields. And they went out to see what was done: | Qui autem pascebant eos, fugerunt, et nuntiaverunt in civitatem et in agros. Et egressi sunt videre quid esset factum : | οι δε βοσκοντες τους χοιρους εφυγον και ανηγγειλαν εις την πολιν και εις τους αγρους και εξηλθον ιδειν τι εστιν το γεγονος |
15. | And they came to Jesus, and they see him that was troubled with the devil, sitting, clothed, and well in his wits, and they were afraid. | et veniunt ad Jesum : et vident illum qui a dæmonio vexabatur, sedentem, vestitum, et sanæ mentis, et timuerunt. | και ερχονται προς τον ιησουν και θεωρουσιν τον δαιμονιζομενον καθημενον και ιματισμενον και σωφρονουντα τον εσχηκοτα τον λεγεωνα και εφοβηθησαν |
16. | And they that had seen it, told them, in what manner he had been dealt with who had the devil; and concerning the swine. | Et narraverunt illis, qui viderant, qualiter factum esset ei qui dæmonium habuerat, et de porcis. | διηγησαντο δε αυτοις οι ιδοντες πως εγενετο τω δαιμονιζομενω και περι των χοιρων |
17. | And they began to pray him that he would depart from their coasts. | Et rogare cperunt eum ut discederet de finibus eorum. | και ηρξαντο παρακαλειν αυτον απελθειν απο των οριων αυτων |
18. | And when he went up into the ship, he that had been troubled with the devil, began to beseech him that he might be with him. | Cumque ascenderet navim, cpit illum deprecari, qui a dæmonio vexatus fuerat, ut esset cum illo, | και εμβαντος αυτου εις το πλοιον παρεκαλει αυτον ο δαιμονισθεις ινα η μετ αυτου |
19. | And he admitted him not, but saith to him: Go into thy house to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had mercy on thee. | et non admisit eum, sed ait illi : Vade in domum tuam ad tuos, et annuntia illis quanta tibi Dominus fecerit, et misertus sit tui. | ο δε ιησους ουκ αφηκεν αυτον αλλα λεγει αυτω υπαγε εις τον οικον σου προς τους σους και αναγγειλον αυτοις οσα σοι ο κυριος πεποιηκεν και ηλεησεν σε |
20. | And he went his way, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men wondered. | Et abiit, et cpit prædicare in Decapoli, quanta sibi fecisset Jesus : et omnes mirabantur. | και απηλθεν και ηρξατο κηρυσσειν εν τη δεκαπολει οσα εποιησεν αυτω ο ιησους και παντες εθαυμαζον |
We know more about the devotion to Saint Blaise by Christians around the world than we know about the saint himself. His feast is observed as a holy day in some Eastern Churches. In 1222, the Council of Oxford prohibited servile labor in England on Blaises feast day. The Germans and Slavs hold him in special honor, and for decades many United States Catholics have sought the annual Saint Blaise blessing for their throats.
We know that Bishop Blaise was martyred in his episcopal city of Sebastea, Armenia, in 316. The legendary Acts of St. Blaise were written 400 years later. According to them Blaise was a good bishop, working hard to encourage the spiritual and physical health of his people. Although the Edict of Toleration (311), granting freedom of worship in the Roman Empire, was already five years old, persecution still raged in Armenia. Blaise was apparently forced to flee to the back country. There he lived as a hermit in solitude and prayer, but he made friends with the wild animals. One day a group of hunters seeking wild animals for the amphitheater stumbled upon Blaises cave. They were first surprised and then frightened. The bishop was kneeling in prayer surrounded by patiently waiting wolves, lions and bears.
The legend has it that as the hunters hauled Blaise off to prison, a mother came with her young son who had a fish bone lodged in his throat. At Blaises command the child was able to cough up the bone.
Agricolaus, governor of Cappadocia, tried to persuade Blaise to sacrifice to pagan idols. The first time Blaise refused, he was beaten. The next time he was suspended from a tree and his flesh torn with iron combs or rakes. Finally, he was beheaded.
Four centuries give ample opportunity for fiction to creep in with fact. Who can be sure how accurate Blaises biographer was? But biographical details are not essential. Blaise is seen as one more example of the power those have who give themselves entirely to Jesus. As Jesus told his apostles at the Last Supper, If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you (John 15:7). With faith we can follow the lead of the Church in asking for Blaises protection.
Throat Ailments
English Wool Combers
The apostle of the north (Scandinavia) had enough frustrations to become a saintand he did. He became a Benedictine at Corbie, France, where he had been educated. Three years later, when the king of Denmark became a convert, Ansgar went to that country for three years of missionary work, without noticeable success. Sweden asked for Christian missionaries, and he went there, suffering capture by pirates and other hardships on the way. Fewer than two years later, he was recalled, to become abbot of New Corbie (Corvey) and bishop of Hamburg. The pope made him legate for the Scandinavian missions. Funds for the northern apostolate stopped with Emperor Louiss death. After 13 years work in Hamburg, Ansgar saw it burned to the ground by invading Northmen; Sweden and Denmark returned to paganism.
He directed new apostolic activities in the North, traveling to Denmark and being instrumental in the conversion of another king. By the strange device of casting lots, the king of Sweden allowed the Christian missionaries to return.
Ansgars biographers remark that he was an extraordinary preacher, a humble and ascetical priest. He was devoted to the poor and the sick, imitating the Lord in washing their feet and waiting on them at table. He died peacefully at Bremen, Germany, without achieving his wish to be a martyr.
Sweden became pagan again after his death, and remained so until the coming of missionaries two centuries later.
History records what people do, rather than what they are. Yet the courage and perseverance of men and women like Ansgar can only come from a solid base of union with the original courageous and persevering Missionary. Ansgars life is another reminder that God writes straight with crooked lines. Christ takes care of the effects of the apostolate in his own way; he is first concerned about the purity of the apostles themselves.
Denmark
From: 2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30; 16-5-13
David’s Flight
Hushai Undertakes to Work for David
Shimel Curses David
[9] Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.” [10] But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’”And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD has bidden him. [12] It may be that the LORD will look upon my affliction, and that the LORD will repay me with good for this cursing of me today.” [13] So David and his men went on the road, while Shime-i went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him and flung dust.
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Commentary:
15:13-17. Faced with the imminent arrival of his usurping son, David takes flight. In a poignant scene he processes out of the city, as if accepting that God’s plan includes Absalom’s revolt. He does not want to delay, in case that should put the city itself at risk (v. 14). David’s original conquest of the city was a sign of God’s protection; now it most seem as though God has abandoned him. The humbled king leaves on foot (15:30) but he cherishes the hope that the city will remain the royal capital: he has left his concubines in the palace and they will look after it for whomever the Lord chooses to be its master.
Although this is humiliating flight, David is consoled by unconditional support from certain quarters (vv. 18, 23). He stops at the last house to bid farewell to the city he founded.
15:24-37. The ark must stay in Jerusalem, the religious capital, as a sign that the Lord will continue to protect its inhabitants and the rightful king, whoever he may be. David hopes to return to the ark if he still finds favor with the Lord. Even though David knows that leaving Jerusalem is a punishment from God (v. 26), he continues to act as king and he sends trusted men to the city to be his spies and report back on the position there (v. 28). Meanwhile he loses some adherents, including the treacherous Ahithophel (v. 31), and gains better ones.
16:1-14. For David the flight from Jerusalem is a time of sorrow, although it serves to purify his soul. Not only does he have to abandon his beloved city; he is jeered and despised by many of his subjects. The first two persons who come out to meet him (Ziba and Shimei) are from the north and they serve to remind him that there are still supporters of Saul who hate him. Ziba, who has his own reasons for doing so, informs David that Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son and a man treated with deference at David’s court (cf. 9:6-13), has gone over to Absalom. David takes a decision which will be moderated when he later discovers Mephibosheth’s part in the plot not to have been so very serious (cf. 19:25-31). Shimei acts in a cowardly and disrespectful way towards David; but the king, instead of reacting with violence, accepts these humiliations as coming from God. Thus, his religious piety is growing and he is learning to accept his well-deserved punishment.
From: Mark 5:1-20
The Gerasene Demoniac
[14] The herdsmen fled, and told it in the city and the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. [15] And they came to see Jesus, and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. [16] And those who had seen it told what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine. [17] And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their neighborhood. [18] And as He was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged Him that he might be with Him. [19] But He refused, and said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.” [20] And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and all men marvelled.
Liturgical Colour: Green.
First reading |
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2 Samuel 15:13-14,30,16:5-13 © |
Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 3:2-8 © |
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Gospel Acclamation | Jn17:17 |
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Or: | Lk7:16 |
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Gospel | Mark 5:1-20 © |
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