Daily Gospel for Thursday, 5 June 2014

Daily Gospel for Thursday, 5 June 2014
" Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.'"(John 6:68)
Thursday of the Seventh week of Easter
Saints for the Day:

ST. BONIFACE

Bishop, Martyr

(+ 754)

St. Boniface was born at Crediton in Devonshire, England, about the year 673. Some missionaries staying at his father's house spoke to him of heavenly things, and inspired him with a wish to devote himself, as they did, to God.
He entered the monastery of Exminster, and was there trained for his apostolic work. His first attempt to convert the pagans in Holland having failed, he went to Rome to obtain the Pope's blessing on his mission, and returned with authority to preach to the German tribes. It was a slow and dangerous task; his own life was in constant peril, while his flock was often reduced to abject poverty by the wandering robber bands. Yet his courage never flagged. He began with Bavaria and Thuringia, next visited Friesland, and then passed on to Hesse and Saxony, everywhere destroying the idol temples and raising churches on their site. He endeavored, as far as possible, to make every object of idolatry contribute in some way to the glory of God; on one occasion, having cut down on immense oak which was consecrated to Jupiter, he used the tree in building a church, which he dedicated to the Prince of the Apostles.
He was then recalled to Rome, consecrated Bishop by the Pope, and returned to extend and organize the rising German Church. With diligent care he reformed abuses among the existing clergy, and established religious houses throughout the land.
At length, feeling his infirmities increase, and fearful of losing his martyr's crown, Boniface appointed a successor to his monastery, and set out to convert a fresh pagan tribe. While St. Boniface was waiting to administer the sacrament of Confirmation to some newly-baptized Christians, a troop of pagans arrived armed with swords and spears. His attendants would have opposed them, but the Saint said to his followers: "My children cease your resistance; the long-expected day is come at last. Scripture forbids us to resist evil. Let us put our hope in God, He will save our souls." Scarcely had he ceased speaking, when the barbarians fell upon him and slew him with all his attendants, to the number of fifty-two.
Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]
Thursday of the Seventh week of Easter
Acts of the Apostles 22:30 But on the next day, desiring to know the truth about why he was accused by the Jews, he freed him from the bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.
23:6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”
7 When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these. 9 A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees part stood up, and contended, saying, “We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let’s not fight against God!”
10 When a great argument arose, the commanding officer, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.
11 The following night, the Lord stood by him, and said, “Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome.”
Psalm 16: A Poem by David.
1 Preserve me, God, for in you do I take refuge.
2 My soul, you have said to Yahweh, “You are my Lord.
    Apart from you I have no good thing.”
5 Yahweh assigned my portion and my cup.
    You made my lot secure.
7 I will bless Yahweh, who has given me counsel.
    Yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons.
8 I have set Yahweh always before me.
    Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices.
    My body shall also dwell in safety.
10 For you will not leave my soul in Sheol,[a]
    neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption.
11 You will show me the path of life.
    In your presence is fullness of joy.
In your right hand there are pleasures forever more.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 16:10 Sheol is the place of the dead.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 17:20 Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me. 22 The glory which you have given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, even as we are one; 23 I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 Righteous Father, the world hasn’t known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and will make it known; that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Thursday of the Seventh week of Easter
Commentary for the Day:

Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873-1897), Carmelite, Doctor of the Church 

Autobiographical Manuscript C, 34-35 (trans. ©Institute of Carmelite Studies)

"Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me"

I want to be able to say to you, O my God: “I have glorified you on earth; I have finished the work you gave me to do. I have manifested your name to those whom you have given me... Father, I will that where I am these also whom you have given me  may be with me, and that the world may know that you have loved them as you have loved me” (cf. Jn 17,4f.). Yes, Lord, this is what I would like to repeat after you before flying into your arms. Perhaps this is boldness? No, for a long time you permitted me to be bold with You. You have said to me as the father of the prodigal son said to his older son: "Everything that is mine is yours” (Lk 15,31). Your words, O Jesus, are mine, then, and I can make use of them to draw upon the souls united to me the favors of the heavenly Father... 
Your love has gone before me, and it has grown with me, and now it is an abyss whose depths I cannot fathom. Love attracts love, and, my Jesus, my love leaps toward yours; it would like to fill the abyss which attracts it, but alas! it is not even like a drop of dew lost in the ocean! For me to love you as you love me, I would have to borrow your own love, and then only would I be at rest. O my Jesus, it is perhaps an illusion but it seems to me that you cannot fill a soul with more love than the love with which You have filled mine; it is for this reason that I dare to ask you to love those whom you have given me with the love with which you loved me. One day, in heaven if I discover you love them more than me, I shall rejoice at this, recognizing that these souls merit your love much more than I do; but here on earth, I cannot conceive a greater immensity of love than the one which it has pleased you to give me freely, without any merit on my part.

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