"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."[John 6:68]
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B
Saints of the day:
SAINTS CRISPIN and CRISPINIAN
Martyrs
(† c. 287)
These two glorious martyrs came from Rome to preach the Faith in Gaul toward the middle of the third century. Fixing their residence at Soissons, they instructed many in the Faith of Christ, which they preached publicly in the day, and at night they worked at making shoes, though they are said to have been nobly born, and brothers.Martyrs
(† c. 287)
The infidels listened to their instructions, and were astonished at the example of their lives, especially of their charity, disinterestedness, heavenly piety, and contempt of glory and all earthly things; and the effect was the conversion of many to the Christian faith.
The brothers had continued their employment several years when a complaint was lodged against them. The emperor, to gratify their accusers and give way to his savage cruel, gave orders that they should be convened before Biotin's Varus, the most implacable enemy of the Christians.
The martyrs were patient and constant under the most cruel torments, and finished their course by the sword about the year 287.
Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]
Saint Gaudentius
Feastday: January 5
Death: 1004
Benedictine bishop and friend of St. Adalbert. While going to Prussia with St. Adalbert, Gaudentius escaped a massacre that claimed his brother's life. He became the first bishop of Gnesen, appointed by Emperor Otto III in 1000.
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B
Book of Jeremiah 31:7 (8) Look! I am bringing them from the land in the north,
gathering them from the far ends of the earth;
among them are the blind and lame,
women with children, women in labor,
all together, a vast throng
returning here.
8 (9) They will come weeping and praying
as I bring them back.
I will lead them by streams of water
on smooth paths, so that they won’t stumble.
For I am a father to Isra’el,
and Efrayim is my firstborn son.”
9 (10) Nations, hear the word of Adonai!
Proclaim it in the coastlands far away. Say:
“He who scattered Isra’el is gathering him,
guarding him like a shepherd his flock.”
Psalms 126:(0) A song of ascents:
(1) When Adonai restored Tziyon’s fortunes,
we thought we were dreaming.
2 Our mouths were full of laughter,
and our tongues shouted for joy.
Among the nations it was said,
“Adonai has done great things for them!”
3 Adonai did do great things with us;
and we are overjoyed.
4 Return our people from exile, Adonai,
as streams fill vadis in the Negev.
5 Those who sow in tears
will reap with cries of joy.
6 He who goes out weeping
as he carries his sack of seed
will come home with cries of joy
as he carries his sheaves of grain.
Letter to the Hebrews 5:1 For every cohen gadol taken from among men is appointed to act on people’s behalf with regard to things concerning God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and with those who go astray, since he too is subject to weakness. 3 Also, because of this weakness, he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor upon himself, rather, he is called by God, just as Aharon was.
5 So neither did the Messiah glorify himself to become cohen gadol; rather, it was the One who said to him,
“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.”[Hebrews 5:5 Psalm 2:7]
6 Also, as he says in another place,
“You are a cohen forever,
to be compared with Malki-Tzedek.”[Hebrews 5:6 Psalm 110:4]
Holy Gospel of Yeshua the Messiah according to Saint Mark 10:46 They came to Yericho; and as Yeshua was leaving Yericho with his talmidim and a great crowd, a blind beggar, Bar-Timai (son of Timai), was sitting by the side of the road. 47 When he heard that it was Yeshua from Natzeret, he started shouting, “Yeshua! Son of David! Have pity on me!” 48 Many people scolded him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the louder, “Son of David! Have pity on me!” 49 Yeshua stopped and said, “Call him over!” They called to the blind man, “Courage! Get up! He’s calling for you!” 50 Throwing down his blanket, he jumped up and came over to Yeshua. 51 “What do you want me to do for you?” asked Yeshua. The blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me be able to see again.” 52 Yeshua said to him, “Go! Your trust has healed you.” Instantly he received his sight and followed him on the road.
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B
Commentary of the day:
Saint Gregory of Nyssa (c.335-395), monk and Bishop
The Life of Moses, II, 231-233, 251-253 (copyright Classics of Western Spirituality)
"Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way"
[The Lord said to Moses on Mount Sinai: “Let me see your glory!” He answered: “I will make all my beauty pass before you... But my face you cannot see” (Ex 33,18f).] Such an experience seems to me to belong to the soul which loves what is beautiful. Hope always draws the soul from the beauty which is seen to what is beyond... And the bold request which goes up the mountains of desire asks this: to enjoy the Beauty not in mirrors and reflections, but face to face. The divine voice granted what was requested in what was denied...: the munificence of God assented to the fulfilment of the desire but did not promise any cessation or satiety of the desire... The true sight of God consists in this, that the one who looks up to God never ceases in that desire. For he says: “You cannot see my face and live”...
But when the Lord who spoke to Moses came to fulfill his own law, he likewise gave a clear explanation to his disciples, laying bare the meaning of what had previously been said in a figure when he said: “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine “ (Lk 9,23) and not "If any man will go before me." And to the one asking about eternal life he proposes the same thing, for he says: “Come, follow me” (Lk 18,22). Now, he who follows sees the back. So Moses, who eagerly seeks to behold God, is now taught how he can behold Him: to follow God wherever he might lead is to behold God...
Someone who does not know the way cannot complete his journey safely in any other way than by following behind his guide. He who leads, then, by his guidance shows the way to the one following. He who follows will not turn aside from the right way if he always keeps the back of his leader in view. For he who moves to one side or brings himself to face his guide assumes another direction for himself than the one his guide shows him. Therefore God says to the one who is led: “My face is not to be seen”, that is, “Do not face your guide”. If he does so, his course will certainly be in the opposite direction... You see how it is so great a thing to learn how to follow God... No longer does any offense which comes about through evil withstand the one who thus follows him.
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