Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 5-15-03, Optional St. Isidore

Reading I
Acts 13:13-25

From Paphos, Paul and his companions
set sail and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia.
But John left them and returned to Jerusalem.
They continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia.
On the sabbath they entered into the synagogue and took their seats.
After the reading of the law and the prophets,
the synagogue officials sent word to them,
"My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation
for the people, please speak."

So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said,
"Fellow children of Israel and you others who are God-fearing, listen.
The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors
and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt.
With uplifted arm he led them out,
and for about forty years he put up with them in the desert.
When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan,
he gave them their land as an inheritance
at the end of about four hundred and fifty years.
After these things he provided judges up to Samuel the prophet.
Then they asked for a king.
God gave them Saul, son of Kish,
a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
Then he removed him and raised up David as their king;
of him he testified,
I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;
he will carry out my every wish.
From this man's descendants God, according to his promise,
has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.
John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance
to all the people of Israel;
and as John was completing his course, he would say,
‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.
Behold, one is coming after me;
I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.'"

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 89:2-3, 21-22, 25 and 27

R (2) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R Alleluia.
The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever";
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R Alleluia.
"I have found David, my servant;
with my holy oil I have anointed him,
That my hand may be always with him,
and that my arm may make him strong."
R For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R Alleluia.
"My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him,
and through my name shall his horn be exalted.
He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.'"
R For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R Alleluia.

Gospel
Jn 13:16-20

When Jesus had washed the disciples' feet, he said to them:
"Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master
nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.
If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.
I am not speaking of all of you.
I know those whom I have chosen.
But so that the Scripture might be fulfilled,
The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me.
From now on I am telling you before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe that I AM.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send
receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me."

From: Acts 13:13-25

They Cross into Asia Minor

[13] Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga
in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem; [14] but
they passed on from Perga and came to Antioch of Pisidia.

Preaching in the Synagogue of Antioch of Pisidia

And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.
[15] After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the
synagogue sent to them, saying, "Brethren, if you have any word of
exhortation for the people, say it." [16] So Paul stood up, and
motioning with his hand said: "Men of Israel, and you that fear God,
listen. [17] The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made
the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with
uplifted arm He led them out of it. [18] And for about forty years
He bore with them in the wilderness. [19] And when He had destroyed
seven nations in the land of Canaan, He gave them their land as an
inheritance, for about four hundred and fifty years. [20] And after
that He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. [21] Then they
asked for a king; and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the
tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. [22] And when He had removed him,
He raised up David to be their king; of whom He testified and said, "I
have found in David the son of Jesse a man after My heart, who will do
all My will.' [23] Of this man's posterity God has brought Israel a
Savior, Jesus, as He promised. [24] Before His coming John had
preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. [25] And
as John was finishing his course, he said, 'What do you suppose that I
am? I am not He. No, but after me One is coming, the sandals of whose
feet I am not worthy to untie.'"

Commentary:

15. Sabbath services in synagogues went right back to the post-exilic
period (after the Babylonian Captivity, which lasted from 586 to 539
B.C.), and by now they had a very settled form. They consisted of
readings from Sacred Scripture, preaching and public prayers. No one
was especially appointed to preside over these services; the president
or ruler of the synagogue could ask any member of the community to take
the ceremony (cf. 18:8); he supervised the preparations and made sure
that everything was done properly.

16-41. Paul's address here is an excellent example of the way he used
to present the Gospel to a mixed congregation of Jews and proselytes.
He lists the benefits conferred by God on the chosen people from
Abraham down to John the Baptism (verses 16-25); he then shows how all
the messianic prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus (verses 26-37), and,
by way of conclusion, states that justification comes about through
faith in Jesus, who died and then rose from the dead (verse 38-41).

This address contains all the main themes of apostolic preaching, that
is, God's saving initiative in the history of Israel (verses 17-22);
reference to the Precursor (verses 24-25); the proclamation of the
Gospel or "kerygma" in the proper sense (verses 26b-31a); mention of
Jerusalem (verse 31b); arguments from Sacred Scripture (verses 33-37),
complementing apostolic teaching and tradition (verses 38-39); and a
final exhortation, eschatological in character, announcing the future
(verses 40-41). In many respects this address is like those of St.
Peter (cf. 2:14ff; 3:12ff), especially where it proclaims Jesus as
Messiah and in its many quotations from Sacred Scripture, chosen to
show that the decisive event of the Resurrection confirms Christ's
divinity.

Paul gives a general outline of salvation history and then locates
Jesus in it as the expected Messiah, the point at which all the various
strands in that history meet and all God's promises are fulfilled. He
shows that all the steps which lead up to Jesus Christ, even the stage
of John the Baptist, are just points on a route. Earlier, provisional
elements must now, in Christ, give way to a new, definitive situation.

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

From: John 13:16-20

Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet

(Jesus said to His disciples,) [16] "Truly, truly, I say to you, a
servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater
than he who sent him. [17] If you know these things, blessed are you
if you do them. [18] I am not speaking to you all; I know whom I have
chosen; it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, `He who ate my bread
has lifted his heel against me.' [19] I tell you this now, before it
takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am
He. [20] Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives any man whom I
send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."

Commentary:

15-17. Jesus' whole life was an example of service towards men,
fulfilling His Father's will to the point of dying on the Cross. Here
our Lord promises us that if we imitate Him, our Teacher, in
disinterested service (which always implies sacrifice), we will find
true happiness which no one can wrest from us (cf. 16:22; 17:13). "`I
have given you an example', He tells His disciples after washing their
feet, on the night of the Last Supper. Let us reject from our hearts
any pride, any ambition, any desire to dominate; and peace and joy will
reign around us and within us, as a consequence of our personal
sacrifice" (St J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 94).

18. Lifting one's heel against someone means hitting him brutally;
metaphorically, therefore, it means violent enmity. Judas' treachery
fulfills the words of Psalm 41:10 where the psalmist complains bitterly
of a friend's treachery. Once again the Old Testament prefigures
events which find their full expression in the New.

Through Baptism, the Christian has become a son of God and is called to
share in God's good things, not only in Heaven but also on earth: He
has received grace, he shares in the Eucharistic Banquet..., he shares
with his brethren, other Christians, the friendship of Jesus.
Therefore, if a person sins who has been born again through Baptism, in
some sense his is a sort of treachery similar to Judas'. However, we
have the recourse of repentance: if we trust in God's mercy we can set
about recovering our friendship with God.

"React. Listen to what the Holy Spirit tells you: `"Si inimicus meus
maledixisset mihi, sustinuissem utique"'. If it were the enemy who
insulted me, I could put up with that. But you...`"tu vero homo
unanimis, dux meus, et notus meus, qui simul mecum dulces capiebas
cibos"': you, My friend, My Apostle, who sit at My table and take sweet
food with Me!" (St J. Escriva, "The Way", 244).

19. Jesus tells the Apostles in advance about Judas' treachery, so that
when they see Christ's predictions come true, they will realize He has
divine knowledge and that in Him are fulfilled the Scriptures of the
Old Testament (cf. John 2:22). On the words "I am", cf. note on
John 8:21-24.

FEAST OF THE DAY

St. Isidore the Farmer was born at Madrid, Spain in the latter half of
the twelfth century and was named after St. Isidore of Seville. His
parents were simple farm laborers and could not afford to formally
educate him, but infused in him the utmost horror and dread of sin.

From his early years, Isidore worked as a farm hand. Through the
education given to him by his parents and his love of the Lord he
came to consider his labors as a duty to God. Isidore was well known
for his diligence and care in his work and is said to have been
assisted by angles in his prayer-filled labors.

As a young man, Isidore married Maria de la Cabeza (Torribia), who
is also honored as a saint, and together the couple worked and
helped each other grow closer to the Lord. Isidore died around the
year 1130 and was canonized in 1622 after the king was cured of a
fever through his intercession.

Isidore is the patron of farmers and rural communities. He is also
patron of Madrid, Spain, and of the United States National Rural Life
Conference.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

O Sacred Heart of Jesus! I fly to Thee, I unite myself with Thee, I
enclose myself to Thee! Receive this, my call for help, O my Saviour,
as a sign of my horror of all within me contrary to Thy Holy Love. Let
me rather die a thousand times than consent! Be Thou my Strength,
O God: defend me, protect me. I am thine, and desire forever to be
Thine! -St. Margaret Mary Alocoque

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TODAY IN HISTORY

884 Pope Marinus I dies
1800 Pope Pius VII calls on French bishops to return to Gospel principles

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TODAY'S TIDBIT

In rural communities, St. Isidore's feast day is often used as an
opportunity to bless fields and seeds at planting time. It is also
customary in many places to have this blessing following the Sixth
Sunday of Easter, the traditional time for the Lesser Litanies.

----

INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Please pray for all who earn their living through agricultural labor.

The Word Among Us

Thursday, May 15, 2003

Meditation
John 13:16-20

Have you ever had a day like this? You wake up determined to make a difference in the world by living for Christ and being his humble servant. You spring out of bed, zealous to be the messenger of his love—just the kind Jesus had in mind when he said, “Whoever receives one whom I send receives me” (John 13:20). By evening, though, the spring in your step is gone, and you wonder what happened. You tried hard to live as an ambassador for Christ. You really wanted people to know that Jesus is the source of your joy. Yet, looking back on the day, you still had a sense that something was missing. It was as if all your efforts were inadequate—not sufficiently persuasive, faithful, or even loving.

Days like this are bound to come, but when they do, we should look at them as special gifts from God. It’s on these days that we are reminded that on their own, human efforts will always be inadequate! Just as Peter and the other apostles had to let Jesus wash their feet, the same is true for us (John 13:3-12). It’s only as we let Jesus minister to us that we will be made fit to minister to others.

Picture yourself at the bottom of a massive staircase, with Jesus standing at the top. The sight of his glory and the sense of love coming from his heart captivate you and make you want to be with him. But every time you try to go up a step or two, you slip back. Finally, frustrated and a little bit sore from all your falls, you cry out for help. In an instant, Jesus descends to the lowest step, sweeps you up in his arms, and carries you up to the top.

Don’t let today become “one of those days”! Instead, start out by placing yourself in the Lord’s presence through prayer and peaceful openness. Let him sweep you up in his arms and wash your feet. It’s true: You’ll never become a messenger of God’s love on your own. But then again, God never intended you to. May this truth fill all of our hearts with joy and encouragement!

“Jesus, you love me enough to send me to share you with others. Give me a heart of gentle humility, that I may serve as you served.”

One Bread, One Body

<< Thursday, May 15, 2003 >>

St. Isidore the Farmer (USA)

Acts 13:13-25

Psalm 89:2-3, 21-22, 25, 27

John 13:16-20

View Readings

JESUS IS GOD! JESUS IS GOD! JESUS IS GOD!

“Believe that I AM.” —John 13:19

Jesus told His apostles that one of them would betray Him. Jesus explained His reason for doing this: “I tell you this now, before it takes place, so that when it takes place you may believe that I AM” (Jn 13:19). Jesus is working in our lives so that we will have an ever greater faith in Him as the great I AM, God Himself. It is of supreme importance that we believe in Jesus’ divinity. Jesus bluntly stated: “You will surely die in your sins unless you come to believe that I AM” (Jn 8:24).

Because it is absolutely essential to profess Jesus as Lord and God (Rm 10:9; Jn 20:28), the devil tries to orchestrate circumstances and spin interpretations of these circumstances to leave us confused, doubtful about Jesus’ divinity, or even angry with God for permitting tragic events. But the Lord pre-empts these demonic machinations by tipping us off ahead of time that the Lord knows the future and is in control of history — despite reports to the contrary. Jesus is the Lord God. He is forever enthroned on high and now merely waits for the last of His enemies to be placed beneath His feet (Heb 10:12-13).

Right now, you are in a war over your faith in Jesus’ divinity. The greatest of all heresies, Arianism, is subtly attempting to ruin your faith in Jesus’ divinity. Refuse to be robbed of your faith in the Lord Jesus. Proclaim ever more insistently: Jesus, “my Lord and my God!” (Jn 20:28)

Prayer: Father, give me a rock-solid, invincible faith in Jesus’ divinity.

Promise: “I solemnly assure you, he who accepts anyone I send accepts Me, and in accepting Me accepts Him Who sent Me.” —Jn 13:20

Praise: St. Isidore, a peasant farmer, lived in outstanding holiness and humility. His entire life was a constant prayer, whether at work in the fields or at home (see Lk 18:1).

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Catholic Online Saints
St. Isidore, the Farmer
Feastday: May 15

St. Isidore, the Farmer (Feast day - May 15) St. Isidore was born at Madrid, Spain, in the latter half of the twelfth century. For the greater part of his life, he was employed as a laborer on a farm outside the city. Many marvelous happenings accompanied his lifelong work in the fields and continued long after his holy death. He was favored with celestial visions and, it is said, the angels sometimes helped him in his work in the fields. St. Isidore was canonized in 1622. In 1947, he was proclaimed the patron of the National Rural Life Conference in the United States.

Prayer : God, through the intercession of St. Isidore, the holy Farmer, grant that we may overcome all feelings of pride. May we always serve You with that humility which pleases You, through his merits and example.

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