Daily Gospel for Wednesday, 26 February 2014
"Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You
have the words of eternal life." John 6:68
Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Saint(s) of the day:
ST PORPHYRY
Bishop
(+ 420)
At the age of twenty-five, Porphyry, a rich citizen of
Thessalonica, left the world for one of the great religious houses in the
desert of Sceté. Here he remained five years, and then, finding himself drawn
to a more solitary life, passed into Palestine, where he spent a similar period
in the severest penance, till ill health obliged him to moderate his
austerities. He then made his home in Jerusalem, and in spite of his ailments visited
the Holy Places every day; thinking, says his biographer, so little of his
sickness that he seemed to be afflicted in another body, and not his own. About
this time God put it into his heart to sell all he had and give to the poor,
and then in reward of the sacrifice restored him by a miracle to perfect
health.
In 393 he was ordained priest and intrusted with the care of the
relics of the true cross; three years later, in spite of all the resistance his
humility could make, he was consecrated Bishop of Gaza. That city was a hotbed
of paganism, and Porphyry found in it an ample scope for his apostolic zeal.
His labors and the miracles which attended them effected the conversion of
many; and an imperial edict for the destruction of the pagan temples, obtained
through the influence of St. John Chrysostom, greatly strengthened his hands.
When St. Porphyry first went to Gaza, he found there one temple
more splendid than the rest, in honor of the chief god. When the edict went
forth to destroy all traces of heathen worship, St. Porphyry determined to put
Satan to special shame where he had received special honor. A Christian church
was built upon the site, and its approach was paved with the marbles of the
heathen temple. Thus every worshipper of Jesus Christ trod the relics of
idolatry and superstition underfoot each time he went to assist at the holy
Mass.
He lived to see his diocese for the most part clear of idolatry,
and died in 420.
Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]
Saint Alexander of Alexandria
Feastday: February 26
Died: 328
Bishop and defender of the faith. He was born circa (c.) 250,
probably in Alexandria, Egypt, becoming the bishop of the see in 313. The
heresy of Arianism was sweeping the region, as Arius was preaching the doctrine
there. Alexander excommunicated Arius in 321, a decision upheld by a council.
Alexander is also credited with drawing up the acts of the First General
Council of Nicaea in 325. He was described by contemporaries as "a lover
of God . . .just . . . eloquent." His successor, St. Athanasius, was the
choice of Alexander on his deathbed.
Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Letter of James 4: 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or
tomorrow let’s go into this city, and spend a year there, trade, and make a
profit.” 14 Whereas you don’t know what your life will be like tomorrow. For
what is your life? For you are a vapor, that appears for a little time, and
then vanishes away. 15 For you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will both
live, and do this or that.” 16 But now you glory in your boasting. All such
boasting is evil. 17 To him therefore who knows to do good, and doesn’t do it,
to him it is sin.
Psalms 49: 2 both
low and high,
rich and poor
together.
3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom.
My heart shall utter
understanding.
6 Those who trust in their wealth,
and boast in the
multitude of their riches—
7 none of them can by
any means redeem his brother,
nor give God a ransom
for him.
8 For the redemption of their life is costly,
no payment is ever
enough,
9 That he should live
on forever,
that he should not see
corruption.
10 For he sees that wise men die;
likewise the fool and
the senseless perish,
and leave their wealth
to others.
11 Their inward thought is that their houses will endure
forever,
and their dwelling
places to all generations.
They name their lands
after themselves.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 9: 38 John said
to him, “Teacher, we saw someone who doesn’t follow us casting out demons in
your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow us.”
39 But Jesus said, “Don’t forbid him, for there is no one who
will do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me. 40
For whoever is not against us is on our side.
Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Commentary of the Day:
Pope Francis
General Audience of 12/06/2013 (trans. © copyright Libreria
Editrice Vaticana)
Will he go with us?
Today I would like to reflect on another term by which the
Second Vatican Council defined the Church: “People of God”... What does “People
of God” mean? First of all it means that God does not belong in a special way
to any one people; for it is He who calls us, convokes us, invites us to be
part of his people, and this invitation is addressed to all, without
distinction, for the mercy of God “desires all men to be saved” (1 Tim 2,4).
Jesus does not tell the Apostles or us to form an exclusive
group, a group of the elite. Jesus says: go out and make disciples of all
people (Mt 28,19). St Paul says that in the People of God, in the Church,
“there is neither Jew nor Greek... for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal
3,28). I would also like to say to anyone who feels far away from God and the
Church, to anyone who is timid or indifferent, to those who think they can no
longer change: the Lord calls you too to become part in his people and he does
this with great respect and love! He invites us to be part of this people, the
People of God!
How does one become a member of this people? It is not through
physical birth, but through a new birth. In the Gospel, Jesus tells Nicodemus
that he needs to be born from on high, from water and from the Spirit in order
to enter the Kingdom of God (Jn 3,3-5). It is through Baptism that we are
introduced into this people, through faith in Christ, a gift from God that must
be nourished and cultivated throughout our life. Let us ask ourselves: how do I
make this faith that I received in my Baptism grow? How do I make this faith
that I received and that belongs to the People of God grow?
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