Daily Gospel ~ Wednesday, 30 October 2013

Daily Gospel ~ Wednesday, 30 October 2013

At this, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.(John 6:68, Messianic WEB)

Wednesday  of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Saint of the Day:

SAINT MARCELLUS THE CENTURION
Martyr
(3rd century)

The birthday of the Emperor Maximian Herculeus, in the year 298, was celebrated with extraordinary feasting and solemnity. Marcellus, a Christian centurion or captain in the legion of Trajan, then posted in Spain, not to defile himself with taking part in those impious abominations, left his company, declaring aloud that he was a soldier of Jesus Christ, the eternal King. He was at once committed to prison.

When the festival was over, Marcellus was brought before a judge, and, having declared his faith, was sent under a strong guard to Aurelian Agricolaus, vicar to the prefect of the prætorium, who passed sentence of death upon him. St. Marcellus was forthwith led to execution, and beheaded on the 30th of October.

Cassian, the secretary or notary of the court, refused to write the sentence pronounced against the martyr, because it was unjust. He was immediately hurried to prison, and was beheaded, about a month after, on the 3d of December.

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

Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez

Feastday: October 30

1532 - 1617

Confessor and Jay brother, also called Alonso. He was born in Segovia, Spain, on July 25, 1532, the son of a wealthy merchant, and was prepared for First Communion by Blessed Peter Favre, a friend of Alphonsus' father. While studying with the Jesuits at Alcala, Alphonsus had to return home when his father died. In Segovia he took over the family business, was married, and had a son. That son died, as did two other children and then his wife. Alphonsus sold his business and applied to the Jesuits. His lack of education and his poor health, undermined by his austerities, made him less than desirable as a candidate for the religious life, but he was accepted as a lay brother by the Jesuits on January 31, 1571. He underwent novitiate training and was sent to Montesion College on the island of Majorca. There he labored as a hall porter for twenty-four years. Overlooked by some of the Jesuits in the house, Alphonsus exerted a wondrous influence on many. Not only the young students, such as St. Peter Claver, but local civic tad and social leaders came to his porter's lodge for advice tad and direction. Obedience and penance were the hallmarks of his life, as well as his devotion to the Immaculate Conception. He experienced many spiritual consolations, and he wrote religious treatises, very simple in style but sound in doctrine. Alphonsus died after a long illness on October 31, 1617, and his funeral was attended by Church and government leaders. He was declared Venerable in 1626, and was named a patron of Majorca in 1633. Alphonsus was beatified in 1825 and canonized in September 1888 with St. Peter Claver.

Wednesday  of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Book of Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered. 27 He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit’s mind, because he makes intercession for the holy ones according to God.

28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.‡ 30 Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.(Messianic WEB)

Psalm 13:4 Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him”;

Lest my adversaries rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your loving kindness.

My heart rejoices in your salvation.

6 I will sing to the LORD,

because he has been good to me.(Messianic WEB)

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ According to Saint Luke 13:22 He went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and traveling on to Jerusalem. 23 One said to him, “Lord, are they few who are saved?”

He said to them, 24  “Strive to enter in by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in, and will not be able. 25  When once the master of the house has risen up, and has shut the door, and you begin to stand outside, and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ then he will answer and tell you, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 26  Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27  He will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.’ 28  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets, in God’s Kingdom, and yourselves being thrown outside. 29  They will come from the east, west, north, and south, and will sit down in God’s Kingdom. 30  Behold, there are some who are last who will be first, and there are some who are first who will be last.”(Messianic WEB)

Wednesday  of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Commentary of the day:

Vatican Council II 

Declaration on the Church's relations with non-christian religions « Nostra Aetate », 4

"You will see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God "

As the sacred synod searches into the mystery of the Church, it remembers the bond that spiritually ties the people of the New Covenant to Abraham's stock. Thus the Church of Christ acknowledges that, according to God's saving design, the beginnings of her faith and her election are found already among the Patriarchs, Moses and the prophets. She professes that all who believe in Christ - Abraham's sons according to faith (Gal 3,7) - are included in the same Patriarch's call, and likewise that the salvation of the Church is mysteriously foreshadowed by the chosen people's exodus from the land of bondage. The Church, therefore, cannot forget that she received the revelation of the Old Testament through the people with whom God in His inexpressible mercy concluded the Ancient Covenant. Nor can she forget that she draws sustenance from the root of that well-cultivated olive tree onto which have been grafted the wild shoots, the Gentiles.(Rm 11,17).  Indeed, the Church believes that by His cross Christ, Our Peace, reconciled Jews and Gentiles making both one in Himself.(Eph 2,14f.).
The Church keeps ever in mind the words of the Apostle Paul about his kinsmen: "theirs is the sonship and the glory and the covenants and the law and the worship and the promises; theirs are the fathers and from them is the Christ according to the flesh" (Rm 9,4-5), the Son of the Virgin Mary. She also recalls that the Apostles, the Church's main-stay and pillars, as well as most of the early disciples who proclaimed Christ's Gospel to the world, sprang from the Jewish people.

~~~~~~~