Daily Gospel for Monday, 26 May 2014

Daily Gospel for Monday, 26 May 2014
"Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.'"(John 6:68)
Monday of the Sixth week of Easter
Saints for the Day:

SAINT PHILIP NERI

Priest

(1515-1595)

Philip was one of the noble line of Saints raised up by God in the sixteenth century to console and bless His Church. After a childhood of angelic beauty the Holy Spirit drew him away from Florence, the place of his birth, showed him the world, that he might freely renounce it, led him to Rome, modelled him in mind and heart and will, and then, as by a second Pentecost, came down in visible form and filled his soul with light and peace and joy. He would have gone to India, but God reserved him for Rome.
There he went on simply from day to day, drawing souls to Jesus, exercising them in mortification and charity, and binding them together by cheerful devotions; thus, unconsciously to himself, under the hands of Mary, as he said, the Oratory grew up, and all Rome was pervaded and transformed by its spirit.
His life was a continuous miracle, his habitual state an ecstasy. He read the hearts of men, foretold their future, knew their eternal destiny. His touch gave health of body; his very look calmed souls in trouble and drove away temptations. He was gay, genial, and irresistibly winning; neither insult nor wrong could dim the brightness of his joy.
Philip lived in an atmosphere of sunshine and gladness which brightened all who came near him. "When I met him in the street," says one, "he would pat my cheek and say, 'Well, how is Don Pellegrino?' and leave me so full of joy that I could not tell which way I was going."
Others said that when he playfully pulled their hair or their ears, their hearts would bound with joy. Marcio Altieri felt such overflowing gladness in his presence that he said Philip's room was a paradise on earth.
Fabrizio de Massimi would go in sadness or perplexity and stand at Philip's door; he said it was enough to see him, to be near him. And long after his death it was enough for many, when troubled, to go into his room to find their hearts lightened and gladdened. He inspired a boundless confidence and love, and was the common refuge and consoler of all. A gentle jest would convey his rebukes and veil his miracles. The highest honors sought him out, but he put them from him.
He died in his eightieth year, in 1595, and bears the grand title of Apostle of Rome.
Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]
Monday of the Sixth week of Easter
Acts of the Apostles 16:11 Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis; 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the foremost of the district, a Roman colony. We were staying some days n this city.
13 On the Sabbath day we went outside of the city by a riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down, and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul. 15 When she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and stay.” So she persuaded us.
Psalm 149:1 Praise Yahweh!
    Sing to Yahweh a new song,
    his praise in the assembly of the saints.
2 Let Israel rejoice in him who made them.
    Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3 Let them praise his name in the dance!
    Let them sing praises to him with tambourine and harp!
4 For Yahweh takes pleasure in his people.
    He crowns the humble with salvation.
5 Let the saints rejoice in honor.
    Let them sing for joy on their beds.
6 May the high praises of God be in their mouths,
    and a two-edged sword in their hand;
9 to execute on them the written judgment.
    All his saints have this honor.
Praise Yah!
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 15:26 “When the Counselor[a] has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will testify about me. 27 You will also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.
16:1 “These things have I spoken to you, so that you wouldn’t be caused to stumble. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time comes that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God. 3 They will do these things[b] because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have told you these things, so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.
Footnotes:
a. John 15:26 Greek Parakletos: Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, and Comforter.
John 16:3 TR adds “to you”
Monday of the Sixth week of Easter
Commentary of the Day:

Saint Peter Chrysologus (c.406-450), Bishop of Ravenna, Doctor of the Church 

Sermon 108 ; PL 52, 499

Offer a sacrifice to God

“I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice” (Rm 12,1). With this plea the apostle Paul raises all men to participation in the priesthood... We do not look outside ourselves for something to offer God but bring with us and within us something to sacrifice to God for our own advantage... “I urge you by the mercies of God.” Brothers, this sacrifice is in Christ's image, he who laid down his life here below and offered it for the life of the world. Indeed he made a living sacrifice of his body who yet lives after being killed. In so great a sacrifice death was destroyed, removed by the sacrifice... Hence martyrs are born at the time of their death and begin to live as their life ends; they live when they are killed and shine in heaven when people on earth think they have been snuffed out...
The prophet sang: “You did not ask for sacrifice or oblation but a body you have prepared for me” (Ps 39[40],7). Become both the sacrifice that is offered and the one who offers it to God. Do not lose what God's power has granted you. Put on the cloak of holiness. Take up the belt of chastity. May Christ be the veil over your head; the cross the breastplate that gives you perseverance. Keep in your heart the sacrament of Holy Scripture. May your prayer burn constantly like a sweet-smelling fragrance to God. Take up “the sword of the Spirit” (Eph 6,17); may your heart be the altar where, without fear, you may offer your whole self, your whole life...
Offer your faith to make reparation for unbelief; offer your fasting to put an end to voraciousness; offer your chastity that sensuality may die; be fervent that wrongdoing may cease; exercise mercy to end avarice; and to suppress foolishness, offer your holiness. Thus will your life become your offering if it has not been wounded by sin. Your body lives, yes, it lives, each time that, putting evil to death within you, you offer living virtues to God.
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