Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings 9-June-2023

Universalis/Jerusalem Bible ^

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9 June 2023

Friday of week 9 in Ordinary Time



Saint Ephrem Catholic Church, Bensalem, PA

Readings at Mass

Liturgical Colour: Green. Year: A(I).

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First reading	Tobit 11:5-17 ©

Tobit's sight is restored to him

Anna was sitting, watching the road by which her son would come. She was sure at once it must be he and said to the father, ‘Here comes your son, with his companion.’

  Raphael said to Tobias before he reached his father, ‘I give you my word that your father’s eyes will open. You must put the fish’s gall to his eyes; the medicine will smart and will draw a filmy white skin off his eyes. And your father will be able to see and look on the light.’

  The mother ran forward and threw her arms round her son’s neck. ‘Now I can die,’ she said ‘I have seen you again.’ And she wept. Tobit rose to his feet and stumbled across the courtyard through the door. Tobias came on towards him (he had the fish’s gall in his hand). He blew into his eyes and said, steadying him, ‘Take courage, father!’ With this he applied the medicine, left it there a while, then with both hands peeled away a filmy skin from the corners of his eyes. Then his father fell on his neck and wept. He exclaimed, ‘I can see, my son, the light of my eyes!’ And he said:

‘Blessed be God!

Blessed be his great name!

Blessed be all his holy angels!

Blessed be his great name for evermore!

For he had scourged me

and now has had pity on me

and I see my son Tobias.’

Tobias went into the house, and with a loud voice joyfully blessed God. Then he told his father everything: how his journey had been successful and he had brought the silver back; how he had married Sarah, the daughter of Raguel; how she was following him now, close behind, and could not be far from the gates of Nineveh.

  Tobit set off to the gates of Nineveh to meet his daughter-in-law, giving joyful praise to God as he went. When the people of Nineveh saw him walking without a guide and stepping forward as briskly as of old, they were astonished. Tobit described to them how God had taken pity on him and had opened his eyes. Then Tobit met Sarah, the bride of his son Tobias, and blessed her in these words, ‘Welcome, daughter! Blessed be your God for sending you to us, my daughter. Blessings on your father, blessings on my son Tobias, blessings on yourself, my daughter. Welcome now to your own house in joyfulness and in blessedness. Come in, my daughter.’ He held a feast that day for all the Jews of Nineveh.

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Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 145(146):2,7-10 ©

My soul, give praise to the Lord.

or

Alleluia!

My soul, give praise to the Lord:

  I will praise the Lord all my days,

  make music to my God while I live.

My soul, give praise to the Lord.

or

Alleluia!

It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever,

  who is just to those who are oppressed.

It is he who gives bread to the hungry,

  the Lord, who sets prisoners free,

My soul, give praise to the Lord.

or

Alleluia!

It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind,

  who raises up those who are bowed down,

the Lord, who protects the stranger

  and upholds the widow and orphan.

My soul, give praise to the Lord.

or

Alleluia!

It is the Lord who loves the just

  but thwarts the path of the wicked.

The Lord will reign for ever,

  Zion’s God, from age to age.

My soul, give praise to the Lord.

or

Alleluia!

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Gospel Acclamation	cf.Ps18:9

Alleluia, alleluia!

Your words gladden the heart, O Lord,

they give light to the eyes.

Alleluia!

Or:	Jn14:23

Alleluia, alleluia!

If anyone loves me he will keep my word,

and my Father will love him,

and we shall come to him.

Alleluia!

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Gospel	Mark 12:35-37 ©

'David himself calls him Lord'

At that time while teaching in the Temple, Jesus said, ‘How can the scribes maintain that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, moved by the Holy Spirit, said:

The Lord said to my Lord:

Sit at my right hand

and I will put your enemies

under your feet.

David himself calls him Lord, in what way then can he be his son?’ And the great majority of the people heard this with delight.

Christian Art

Each day, The Christian Art website gives a picture and reflection on the Gospel of the day.

The readings on this page are from the Jerusalem Bible, which is used at Mass in most of the English-speaking world. The New American Bible readings, which are used at Mass in the United States, are available in the Universalis apps, programs and downloads.

You can also view this page with the Gospel in Greek and English.

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

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KEYWORDS: catholic; mk12; ordinarytime; prayer

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Alleluia Ping

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Jim still needs our prayers. Thread 2
Prayer thread for Salvation's recovery
Pray for Ukraine

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Mark
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Mark 12
35.	And Jesus answering, said, teaching in the temple: How do the scribes say, that Christ is the son of David?	Et respondens Jesus dicebat, docens in templo : Quomodo dicunt scribæ Christum filium esse David ?	και αποκριθεις ο ιησους ελεγεν διδασκων εν τω ιερω πως λεγουσιν οι γραμματεις οτι ο χριστος υιος εστιν δαυιδ
36.	For David himself saith by the Holy Ghost: The Lord said to my Lord, Sit on my right hand, until I make thy enemies thy footstool.	Ipse enim David dicit in Spiritu Sancto : Dixit Dominus Domino meo : Sede a dextris meis, donec ponam inimicos tuos scabellum pedum tuorum.	αυτος γαρ δαυιδ ειπεν εν πνευματι αγιω λεγει ο κυριος τω κυριω μου καθου εκ δεξιων μου εως αν θω τους εχθρους σου υποποδιον των ποδων σου
37.	David therefore himself calleth him Lord, and whence is he then his son? And a great multitude heard him gladly.	Ipse ergo David dicit eum Dominum, et unde est filius ejus ? Et multa turba eum libenter audivit.	αυτος ουν δαυιδ λεγει αυτον κυριον και ποθεν υιος αυτου εστιν και ο πολυς οχλος ηκουεν αυτου ηδεως

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Catena Aurea by St. Thomas Aguinas

35. And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the Scribes that Christ is the Son of David?

36. For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

37. David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.

THEOPHYLACT. Because Christ was coming to His Passion, He corrects a false opinion of the Jews, who said that Christ was the Son of David, not his Lord; wherefore it is said, And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple.

PSEUDO-JEROME. That is, He openly speaks to them of Himself, that they may be inexcusable; for it goes on: How say the Scribes that Christ is the Son of David?

THEOPHYLACT. But Christ shews Himself to be the Lord, by the words of David. For it goes on: For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand; as if He had said, Ye cannot say that David said this without the grace of the Holy Spirit, but he called Him Lord in the Holy Spirit; and that He is Lord, he shews, by this that is added, Till I make thine enemies thy footstool; for they themselves were His enemies, whom God put under the footstool of Christ.

BEDE. (ubi sup.) But the putting own of His enemies by the Father, does not shew the weakness of the Son, but the unity of nature, by which One works in the Other; for the Son also subjects the Father’s enemies, because He glorifies His Father upon earth.

GLOSS. (non occ.) Thus then the Lord concludes from what has gone before the doubtful question. For from the foregoing words of David it is proved that Christ is the Lord of David, but according to the saying of the Scribes, it is proved that He is his son. And this is what is added, David himself then calls him Lord, how is he then his son?

BEDE. (ubi sup.) The question of Jesus is useful for us even now against the Jews; for they, acknowledging that Christ is to come, assert that He is a mere man, a holy Person descended from David. Let us then ask them, as our Lord has taught us, if He be a mere man, and only the son of David, how David in the Holy Spirit calls Him Lord. They are not however reproved for calling Him David’s son, but for not believing Him to be the Son of God. It goes on, And the common people heard him gladly.

GLOSS. (non occ.) Namely, because they saw that He answered and put questions wisely.

Catena Aurea Mark 12

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The Adoration of the Kings

Jan Gossart

1500-15
Oil on wood, 177 x 162 cm
National Gallery, London

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Saint Ephrem’s Story

Poet, teacher, orator, and defender of the faith, Ephrem is the only Syriac Christian recognized as a doctor of the Church. He took upon himself the special task of opposing the many false doctrines rampant at his time, always remaining a true and forceful defender of the Catholic Church.

Born in Nisibis, Mesopotamia, he was baptized as a young man and became famous as a teacher in his native city. When the Christian emperor had to cede Nisibis to the Persians, Ephrem fled as a refugee to Edessa, along with many other Christians. He is credited with attracting great glory to the biblical school there. He was ordained a deacon but declined becoming a priest. Ephrem was said to have avoided presbyteral consecration by feigning madness!

He had a prolific pen, and his writings best illumine his holiness. Although he was not a man of great scholarship, his works reflect deep insight and knowledge of the Scriptures. In writing about the mysteries of humanity’s redemption, Ephrem reveals a realistic and humanly sympathetic spirit and a great devotion to the humanity of Jesus. It is said that his poetic account of the Last Judgment inspired Dante.

It is surprising to read that he wrote hymns against the heretics of his day. He would take the popular songs of the heretical groups and using their melodies, compose beautiful hymns embodying orthodox doctrine. Ephrem became one of the first to introduce song into the Church’s public worship as a means of instruction for the faithful. His many hymns have earned him the title “Harp of the Holy Spirit.”

Ephrem preferred a simple, austere life, living in a small cave overlooking the city of Edessa. It was here that he died around 373.

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Reflection

Many Catholics still find singing in church a problem, probably because of the rather individualistic piety that they inherited. Yet singing has been a tradition of both the Old and the New Testaments. It is an excellent way of expressing and creating a community spirit of unity as well as of joy. An ancient historian testifies that Ephrem’s hymns “lent luster to the Christian assemblies.” We need some modern Ephrems—and cooperating singers—to do the same for our Christian assemblies today.

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franciscanmedia.org

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Ephrem the Syrian

mosaic in Nea Moni of Chios, Greece
11th century

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NAVARRE BIBLE COMMENTARY (RSV)

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (To the Greater Glory of God)

From: Tobit 11:5-17

(Lectionary: Tobit 11:5-15 [NAB])

Arrival in Nineveh and Cure of Tobit
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[5] Now Anna sat looking intently down the road for her son. [6] And she caught sight of him coming, and said to his father, “Behold, your son is coming, and so is the man who went with him!” [7] Raph′ael said, “I know, Tobi′as, that your father will open his eyes. [8] You therefore must anoint his eyes with the gall; and when they smart he will rub them, and will cause the white films to fall away, and he will see you.”

[9] Then Anna ran to meet them, and embraced her son, and said to him, “I have seen you, my child; now I am ready to die.” And they both wept. [10] Tobit started toward the door, and stumbled. But his son ran to him [11] and took hold of his father, and he sprinkled the gall upon his father’s eyes, saying, “Be of good cheer, father.” [12] And when his eyes began to smart he rubbed them, [13] and the white films scaled off from the corners of his eyes. [14] Then he saw his son and embraced him, and he wept and said, “Blessed art thou, O God, and blessed is thy name for ever, and blessed are all thy holy angels. [15] For thou hast afflicted me, but thou hast had mercy upon me; here I see my son Tobi′as!” And his son went in rejoicing, and he reported to his father the great things that had happened to him in Media.

[16] Then Tobit went out to meet his daughter-in-law at the gate of Nin′eveh, rejoicing and praising God. Those who saw him as he went were amazed because he could see. [17] And Tobit gave thanks before them that God had been merciful to him. When Tobit came near to Sarah his daughter-in-law, he blessed her, saying, “Welcome, daughter! Blessed is God who has brought you to us, and blessed are your father and your mother.” So there was rejoicing among all his brethren in Nin′eveh.

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Commentary:

11:1-14:15. This last part of the story takes us back to Nineveh. The author tells about Tobias’ arrival home with Sarah and the angel, and how Tobit is cured of his blindness (11:1-19). The angel has completed his mission (cf. 3:16-17) and can now reveal who he is, and go back to God (12:1-22). Tobit praises God in a long prayer of rejoicing (13:1-18), and, in due course, after giving his son his spiritual testament, he dies (14:1-11). Having done all that piety demands in Nineveh, Tobias and Sarah move to Media to be with Sarah’s parents (14:12-15).

The story has a happy ending, befitting Tobit’s good works and the mercy of God, who never neglects the righteous. There have been severe trials, but trust in God has been rewarded by special intervention of divine providence through the angel Raphael. This is the main message of the book of Tobias. True, not all painful situations are resolved by angels in the same remarkable way as in the story of Tobit. But we always have angels with us, and they will comfort us if we put our trust in God. We can see this in the life of our Lord: during his passion, an angel of heaven comforted him in the garden of olives (cf. Lk 22:43); but Jesus still had to drink the chalice of suffering and death in order to do his Father’s will and bring about the redemption of mankind.

11:1-15a. The scene prior to the travellers’ entry into Nineveh (vv 1-8) is similar to that described earlier, when Tobias and the angel were nearing Ecbatana (cf. 6:10-17), and it connects up with the passage about the start of the journey through the mention of the dog (cf. 5:16). Once again the angels takes the initiative, by telling Tobit how to cure his father. Then (vv 9-15) everything happens very quickly. Anna is cured of her spiritual blindness on seeing her son, and Tobit of his physical blindness thanks to the angel’s wisdom and Tobias’ obedience. Tobit launches into a spontaneous prayer, blessing God and all his angels, still not knowing who Raphael is.

11:15b-19 The recovery of the money deposited at Rages (which was why Tobias set out in the first place) pales in importance when Tobias tells his father about his marriage to Sarah (v. 15)/ Tobit rejoices at his good fortune (v. 16) and welcomes his daughter-in-law, and a new wedding feast is held (vv. 17-19).

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From: Mark 12:35-37

Christ the Son and Lord of David
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[35] And as Jesus taught in the temple, He said, "How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? [36] David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, declared, `The Lord said to the Lord, Sit at My right hand, till I put Thy enemies under Thy feet'. [37] David himself calls Him Lord; so how is He his son?" And the throng heard Him gladly.

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Commentary:

35-37. Jesus here bears witness, with His special authority, to the fact that Scripture is divinely inspired, when He says that David was inspired by the Holy Spirit when writing Psalm 110. We can see from here that Jews found it difficult to interpret the beginning of the Psalm. Jesus shows the messianic sense of the words "The Lord said to my Lord": the second "Lord" is the Messiah, with whom Jesus implicitly identifies Himself. The mysteriously transcendental character of the Messiah is indicated by the paradox of His being the son, the descendant, of David, and yet David calls Him his Lord. Cf. note on Matthew 22:41-46.

[ Note on Matthew 22:41-46 states: 41-46. God promised King David that one of his descendants would reign forever (2 Samuel 7:12ff); this was obviously a reference to the Messiah, and was interpreted as such by all Jewish tradition, which gave the Messiah the title of "Son of David". In Jesus' time this messianic title was understood in a very nationalistic sense: the Jews were expecting an earthly king, a descendant of David, who would free them from Roman rule. In this passage Jesus shows the Pharisees that the Messiah has a higher origin: He is not only "Son of David"; His nature is more exalted than that, for He is the Son of God and transcends the purely earthly level. The reference to Psalm 110:1 which Jesus uses in His argument explains that the Messiah is God: which is why David calls Him Lord--and why He is seated at the right hand of God, His equal in power, majesty and glory (cf. Acts of the Apostles 33-36; 1 Corinthians 6:25). ]

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Click here to go to the My Catholic Life! Devotional thread for today’s Gospel Reading

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The month of June belongs to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.