Daily Gospel For Thursday, 20 February 2014 & Friday, 21 February 2014

Daily Gospel For Thursday, 20 February 2014 & Friday, 21 February 2014

“Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.’”(John 6:68)

Thursday of the 6th Week of Ordinary Time

Friday of the Sixth week in Ordinary Time

Saint of the Day:

SAINT EUCHERIUS
Bishop
(+ 743)

This Saint was born at Orleans, of a very illustrious family. At his birth his parents dedicated him to God, and set him to study when he was but seven years old, resolving to omit nothing that could be done toward cultivating his mind or forming his heart His improvement in virtue kept pace with his progress in learning: he meditated assiduously on the sacred writings, especially on St. Paul's manner of speaking on the world and its enjoyments as mere empty shadows that deceive us and vanish away. These reflections at length sank so deep into his mind that he resolved to quit the world. To put this design in execution, about the year 714 he retired to the abbey of Jumiége in Normandy, where he spent six or seven years in the practice of penitential austerities and obedience.

Suavaric, his uncle, Bishop of Orleans, having died, the senate and people, with the clergy of that city, begged permission to elect Eucherius to the vacant see. The Saint entreated his monks to screen him from the dangers that threatened him; but they preferred the public good to their private inclinations, and resigned him for that important charge. He was consecrated with universal applause in 721.

Charles Martel, to defray the expenses of his wars and other undertakings, often stripped the churches of their revenues. St. Eucherius reproved these encroachments with so much zeal that, in the year 737, Charles banished him to Cologne. The extraordinary esteem which his virtue procured him in that city moved Charles to order him to be conveyed thence to a strong place in the territory of Liege. Robert, the governor of that country, was so charmed with his virtue that he made him the distributor of his large alms, and allowed him to retire to the monastery of Sarchinium, or St. Tron's.

Here prayer and contemplation were his whole employment till the year 743, in which he died, on the 20th of February.

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

Saint Wulfric

Feastday: February 20

1080 - 1154

Wulfric (d. 1154) + hermit and miracle worker. Born at Compton Martin, near Bristol, England, he became a priest and was excessively materialistic and worldly. After meeting with a beggar, he underwent a personal conversion and became a hermit at Haselbury; Somerset, England. For his remaining years, he devoted himself to rigorous austerities and was known for his miracles and prophecies. While he was never formally canonized, Wulfric was a very popular saint during the Middle Ages, and histomb was visited by many pilgrims. Feast day: February 20.

SAINT PETER DAMIAN
Bishop and Doctor of the Church
(1007-1072)-

St. Peter Damian was born in 1007, and lost both parents at an early age. His eldest brother, in whose hands he was left, treated him so cruelly that a younger brother, a priest, moved by his piteous state, sent him to the University of Parma, where he acquired great distinction. His studies were sanctified by vigils, fasts, and prayers, till at last, thinking that all this was only serving God by halves, he resolved to leave the world.

He joined the monks at Font-Avellano, then in the greatest repute, and by his wisdom and sanctity rose to be Superior. He was employed on the most delicate and difficult missions, amongst others the reform of ecclesiastical communities, which was effected by his zeal.

Seven Popes in succession made him their constant adviser, and he was at last created Cardinal Bishop of Ostia. He withstood Henry IV. of Germany, and labored in defence of Alexander II. against the Antipope, whom he forced to yield and seek for pardon.

He was charged, as Papal Legate, with the repression of simony; again, was commissioned to settle discords amongst various bishops, and finally, in 1072, to adjust the affairs of the Church at Ravenna. He was laid low by a fever on his homeward journey, and died at Faenza, in a monastery of his order, on the eighth day of his sickness, whilst the monks chanted matins around him.

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

Thursday of the 6th Week of Ordinary Time

Friday of the Sixth week in Ordinary Time

James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him? 15 And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food, 16 and one of you tells them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled”; and yet you didn’t give them the things the body needs, what good is it? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself. 18 Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith.

19 You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead? 21 Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness”;[a]and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith.

Footnotes:

a. James 2:23 Genesis 15:6

26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.

James 2:12 My brothers, don’t hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with partiality. 2 For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your synagogue,[a] and a poor man in filthy clothing also comes in; 3 and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing, and say, “Sit here in a good place”; and you tell the poor man, “Stand there,” or “Sit by my footstool”; 4 haven’t you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn’t God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Don’t the rich oppress you, and personally drag you before the courts? 7 Don’t they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called? 8 However, if you fulfill the royal law, according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,”[b] you do well. 9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

Footnotes:

a. James 2:2 or, meeting

b. James 2:8 Leviticus 19:18

Psalm 112:1 Praise Yah![a]
    Blessed is the man who fears Yahweh,
    who delights greatly in his commandments.

2 His offspring[b] will be mighty in the land.
    The generation of the upright will be blessed.

3 Wealth and riches are in his house.
    His righteousness endures forever.

4 Light dawns in the darkness for the upright,
    gracious, merciful, and righteous.

5 It is well with the man who deals graciously and lends.
    He will maintain his cause in judgment.

6 For he will never be shaken.
    The righteous will be remembered forever.

Footnotes:

a. Psalm 112:1 Psalm 112 is an acrostic poem, with each verse after the initial “Praise Yah!” starting with a letter of the alphabet (ordered from Alef to Tav).

b. Psalm 112:2 or, seed

Psalm 34:2 My soul shall boast in Yahweh.

    The humble shall hear of it, and be glad.

3 Oh magnify Yahweh with me.

    Let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought Yahweh, and he answered me,

    and delivered me from all my fears.

5 They looked to him, and were radiant.

    Their faces shall never be covered with shame.

6 This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him,

    and saved him out of all his troubles.

7 Yahweh’s angel encamps around those who fear him,

    and delivers them.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 8:34 He called the multitude to himself with his disciples, and said to them, “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? 37 For what will a man give in exchange for his life? 38 For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him, when he comes in his Father’s glory, with the holy angels.”

9:1 He said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste death until they see God’s Kingdom come with power.”

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 8:27 Jesus went out, with his disciples, into the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?”

28 They told him, “John the Baptizer, and others say Elijah, but others: one of the prophets.”

29 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”

30 He commanded them that they should tell no one about him. 31 He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke to them openly. Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. 33 But he, turning around, and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you have in mind not the things of God, but the things of men.”

Thursday of the 6th Week of Ordinary Time

Friday of the Sixth week in Ordinary Time

Commentary of the Day:

Saint Raphael Arnaiz Baron (1911-1938), a Spanish Trappist monk 

Spiritual writings, 07/04/1938 (trans. Mairin Mitchell)

"He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly"

Blessed Jesus, what have men taught me, that you don't teach me from your cross? Yesterday I saw clearly that only in turning to you does one learn that you alone give strength in trials and temptations, and that only at the foot of your cross, seeing you nailed to that, does one learn forgiveness, humility, charity and meekness. Don't forget me, Lord, look on me prostrate at your feet and grant me what I ask of you. Then let slights come, let humiliations come... what does it matter to me? With you at my side I can do all things. The wonderful, infallible lesson that you teach me from your cross gives me strength for everything.
They spat upon you, insulted you, scourged you, nailed you to the beam, and, being God, you forgave them, humbly kept silence, and even offered yourself. What shall I say of your Passion! Better that I say nothing, and that within my heart I meditate on those things of which man can never attain understanding; let me content myself with loving profoundly the mystery of your Passion...
How sweet the cross of Jesus! How sweet to suffer when forgiving!... How is it that I don't lose my reason? He shows me his heart, open to men and scorned. Who has seen, who has ever dreamed of suffering such as this? What joy to live in the cross of Christ!

Commentary of the day:

Saint Raphael Arnaiz Baron (1911-1938), a Spanish Trappist monk 

Spiritual writings 07/04/1938 (trans. Mairin Mitchell)

"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me"

What joy to live in the Cross of Christ! Who could complain of suffering? Only the insensate man who does not adore the Passion of Christ, the Cross of Christ, the Heart of Christ, can in his own griefs, give way to despair... How good it is to live united with the Cross of Christ.
Christ Jesus... teach me that truth which consists in rejoicing in scorn, injury, degradation; teach me to suffer with that humble, silent joy of the saints; teach me to be gentle towards those who don't love me or who despise me; teach me that truth which from the mound of Calvary you reveal to the whole world.
But I know: a very gentle voice within me explains it all; I feel something in me which comes from you and which I don't know how to put into words; so much mystery is revealed that man cannot apprehend it. I, Lord, in my way, do understand it. It is love. In that is everything. I know it, Lord, nothing more is needed, nothing more, it is love! Who shall describe the love of Christ? Let men, creatures, and all things, keep silent, so that we may hear in the stillness the whisperings of love, meek, patient, immense, infinite, which from the Cross Jesus offers us with his arms open. The world, mad, doesn't listen.

~~~~~~~