Daily Gospel For Tuesday, 18 February 2014

Daily Gospel For Tuesday, 18 February 2014

“Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.’”(John 6:68)

Tuesday of the 6th Week of Ordinary Time

Saint of the Day:

SAINT FLAVIAN
Bishop and Martyr
(+ 449)

FLAVIAN was elected Patriarch of Constantinople in 447. His short episcopate of two years was a time of conflict and persecution from the first. Chrysaphius, the emperor's favorite, tried to extort a large sum of money from him on the occasion of his consecration. His fidelity in refusing this simoniacal betrayal of his trust brought on him the enmity of the most powerful man in the empire.

A graver trouble soon arose. In 448 Flavian had to condemn the rising heresy of the monk Eutyches, who obstinately denied that Our Lord was in two perfect natures after His Incarnation. Eutyches drew to his cause all the bad elements which so early gathered about the Byzantine court. His intrigues were long baffled by the vigilance of Flavian; but at last he obtained from the emperor the assembly of a council at Ephesus, in August 449, presided over by his friend Dioscorus, Patriarch of Alexandria. Into this "robber council," as it is called, Eutyches entered, surrounded by soldiers. The Roman legates could not even read the Pope's letters; and at the first sign of resistance to the condemnation of Flavian, fresh troops entered with drawn swords, and, in spite of the protests of the legates, terrified most of the bishops into acquiescence.

The fury of Dioscorus reached its height when Flavian appealed to the Holy See. Then it was that he so forgot his apostolic office as to lay violent hands on his adversary. St. Flavian was set upon by Dioscorus and others, thrown down, beaten, kicked, and finally carried into banishment. Let us contrast their ends. Flavian clung to the teaching of the Roman Pontiff, and sealed his faith with his blood. Dioscorus excommunicated the Vicar of Christ, and died obstinate and impenitent in the heresy of Eutyches.

Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]

Tuesday of the 6th Week of Ordinary Time

Letter of James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him.

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, produces death. 16 Don’t be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow. 18 Of his own will he gave birth to us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

Psalms 94:12 Blessed is the man whom you discipline, Yah,
    and teach out of your law;

13 that you may give him rest from the days of adversity,
    until the pit is dug for the wicked.

14 For Yahweh won’t reject his people,
    neither will he forsake his inheritance.

15 For judgment will return to righteousness.
    All the upright in heart shall follow it.

18 When I said, “My foot is slipping!”
    Your loving kindness, Yahweh, held me up.

19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me,
    your comforts delight my soul.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 8:14 They forgot to take bread; and they didn’t have more than one loaf in the boat with them. 15 He warned them, saying, “Take heed: beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”

16 They reasoned with one another, saying, “It’s because we have no bread.”

17 Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, “Why do you reason that it’s because you have no bread? Don’t you perceive yet, neither understand? Is your heart still hardened? 18 Having eyes, don’t you see? Having ears, don’t you hear? Don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?”

They told him, “Twelve.”

20 “When the seven loaves fed the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?”

They told him, “Seven.”

21 He asked them, “Don’t you understand, yet?”

Tuesday of the 6th Week of Ordinary Time

Commentary of the Day:

Saint Gertrude of Helfta (1256-1301), Benedictine nun 

Exercises, no. 5 ; SC 127 (trans. ©Cistercian publications Inc., 1989 alt.)

" Do you not yet understand or comprehend?"

“O God, my God, for you I watch at daybreak” (Ps 63[62],2 Vg)... O serenest light of my soul, very brightest morning, ah, break into day in me now and begin so to shine for me that by your light I may see light” (Ps 36,9[35,10). Through you may my night be turned into day. By the love of your love, O my dearest morning, let me reckon everything that you are not as if it were nothing and void. Ah! Visit me now in the morning at daybreak that I may be suddenly transformed entirely into you... Brought to nothing in myself, let me flow into you completely so that from now on I may never be found within myself during this fleeting time but may dwell closely bound to you for all eternity...
Oh when will such beauty refresh me? O Jesus, imperial Morning Star (Rv 22,16), refulgent with divine brightness, when will your presence enlighten me? O most loveable radiance, when will you satisfy me with yourself? If only I might here perceive the fine rays of your beauty for a little while... anticipate your gentleness for a short time and pleasantly taste you beforehand, my chosen portion (cf Ps 16[15],5)... You are the bright mirror of the holy Trinity that, there above, we are permitted to contemplate with the eye of a pure heart (Mt 5,8), but here only obscurely.

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