Daily Gospel for Friday, 29 November 2013

Daily Gospel for Friday, 29 November 2013

John 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. (Messianic World English Bible)

Friday of the Thirty-fourth week in Ordinary Time

Saint of the Day:

SAINT SATURNINUS

Bishop and Martyr

(† 250)

Saturninus went from Rome, by direction of Pope Fabian, about the year 245, to preach the faith in Gaul. He fixed his episcopal see at Toulouse, and thus became the first Christian bishop of that city. There were but few Christians in the place. However, their number grew fast after the coming of the Saint; and his power was felt by the spirits of evil, who received the worship of the heathen. His power was felt the more because he had to pass daily through the capitol, the high place of the heathen worship, on the way to his own church.

One day a great multitude was gathered by an altar, where a bull stood ready for the sacrifice. A man in the crowd pointed out Saturninus, who was passing by, and the people would have forced him to idolatry; but the holy bishop answered: "I know but one God, and to Him I will offer the sacrifice of praise. How can I fear gods who, as you say, are afraid of me?" On this he was fastened to the bull, which was driven down the capitol. The brains of the Saint were scattered on the steps. His mangled body was taken up and buried by two devout women.

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

Daniel 7: 2 I,[a] Daniel, saw in my vision by night the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea, 3 and four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then, as I watched, its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a human being; and a human mind was given to it. 5 Another beast appeared, a second one, that looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side, had three tusks[b] in its mouth among its teeth and was told, “Arise, devour many bodies!” 6 After this, as I watched, another appeared, like a leopard. The beast had four wings of a bird on its back and four heads; and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the visions by night a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth and was devouring, breaking in pieces, and stamping what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that preceded it, and it had ten horns. 8 I was considering the horns, when another horn appeared, a little one coming up among them; to make room for it, three of the earlier horns were plucked up by the roots. There were eyes like human eyes in this horn, and a mouth speaking arrogantly.

Judgment before the Ancient One

9 As I watched,

thrones were set in place,

    and an Ancient One[c] took his throne,

his clothing was white as snow,

    and the hair of his head like pure wool;

his throne was fiery flames,

    and its wheels were burning fire.

10 A stream of fire issued

    and flowed out from his presence.

A thousand thousands served him,

    and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him.

The court sat in judgment,

    and the books were opened.

11 I watched then because of the noise of the arrogant words that the horn was speaking. And as I watched, the beast was put to death, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. 13 As I watched in the night visions,

I saw one like a human being[d]

    coming with the clouds of heaven.

And he came to the Ancient One[e]

    and was presented before him.

14 To him was given dominion

    and glory and kingship,

that all peoples, nations, and languages

    should serve him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion

    that shall not pass away,

and his kingship is one

    that shall never be destroyed.

Footnotes:

Daniel 7:2 Theodotion: Aram Daniel answered and said, I

Daniel 7:5 Or ribs

Daniel 7:9 Aram an Ancient of Days

Daniel 7:13 Aram one like a son of man

Daniel 7:13 Aram the Ancient of Days(NRSV)

(Psalm) Daniel 3: 75 Bless the Lord, mountains and hills;

    sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

76 Bless the Lord, all that grows in the ground;

    sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

77 Bless the Lord, you springs;

    sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

78 Bless the Lord, seas and rivers;

    sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

79 Bless the Lord, you whales and all that swim in the waters;

    sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

80 Bless the Lord, all birds of the air;

    sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

81 Bless the Lord, all wild animals and cattle;

    sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.(NRSV)

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 21: The Lesson of the Fig Tree

29 Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 30 as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.(NRSV)

Friday of the Thirty-fourth week in Ordinary Time

Commentary of the Day:

Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890), priest, founder of a religious community, theologian

« The Invisible World » PPS, vol. 4, no.13

“Consider the fig tree"

The earth that we see does not satisfy us; it is but a beginning; it is but a promise of something beyond it; even when it is gayest, with all its blossoms on, and shows most touchingly what lies hid in it, yet it is not enough. We know much more lies hid in it than we see. A world of Saints and Angels, a glorious world, the palace of God, the mountain of the Lord of Hosts, the heavenly Jerusalem, the throne of God and Christ, all these wonders, everlasting, all-precious, mysterious, and incomprehensible, lie hid in what we see. What we see is the outward shell of an eternal kingdom; and on that kingdom we fix the eyes of our faith.

Shine forth, O Lord, as when on thy nativity thine Angels visited the shepherds; let thy glory blossom forth as bloom and foliage on the trees; change with thy mighty power this visible world into that diviner world, which as yet we see not; destroy what we see, that it may pass and be transformed into what we believe. Bright as is the sun, and the sky, and the clouds; green as are the leaves and the fields; sweet as is the singing of the birds; we know that they are not all, and we will not take up with a part for the whole. They proceed from a center of love and goodness, which is God Himself; but they are not His fullness; they speak of heaven, but they are not heaven; they are but as stray beams and dim reflections of His Image; they are but crumbs from the table.

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