The Daily Gospel for Tuesday, 10 November 2015

The Daily Gospel for Tuesday, 10 November 2015
"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."[John 6:68]
Tuesday of the Thirty-second week in Ordinary Time
Saints of the day:

St. Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church († 461) - Memorial

SAINT LEO THE GREAT
Pope and Doctor of the Church
(†461)

Leo was born at Rome. He embraced the sacred ministry, was made archdeacon of the Roman Church by St. Celestine, and under him and Sixtus III. had a large share in governing the Church. On the death of Sixtus, Leo was chosen Pope, and consecrated on St. Michael's day, 440, amid great joy.
It was a time of terrible trial. Vandals and Huns were wasting the provinces of the empire, and Nestorians, Pelagians, and other heretics wrought more grievous havoc among souls. Whilst Leo's zeal made head against these perils, there arose the new heresy of Eutyches, who confounded the two natures of Christ. At once the vigilant pastor proclaimed the true doctrine of the Incarnation in his famous "tome;" but fostered by the Byzantine court, the heresy gained a strong hold amongst the Eastern monks and bishops. After three years of unceasing toil, Leo brought about its solemn condemnation by the Council of Chalcedon, the Fathers all signing his tome, and exclaiming, "Peter hath spoken by Leo."
Soon after, Attila with his Huns broke into Italy, and marched through its burning cities upon Rome. Leo went out boldly to meet him, and prevailed on him to turn back. Astonished to see the terrible Attila, the "Scourge of God," fresh from the sack of Aquileia, Milan, Pavia, with the rich prize of Rome within his grasp, turn his great host back to the Danube at the Saint's word, his chiefs asked him why he had acted so strangely. He answered that he saw two venerable personages, supposed to be Sts. Peter and Paul, standing behind Leo, and impressed by this vision he withdrew. If the perils of the Church are as great now as in St. Leo's day, St. Peter's solicitude is not less. Two years later the city fell a prey to the Vandals; but even then Leo saved it from destruction.
He died A. D. 461, having ruled the Church twenty years.
Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]

St. Andrew Avellino, Priest (1561-1608)

SAINT ANDREW AVELLINO
Priest 
(1521-1608) 

After a holy youth, Lancelot Avellino was ordained priest at Naples. At the age of thirty-six he entered the Theatine Order, and took the name of Andrew, to show his love for the cross. For fifty years he was afflicted with a most painful rupture; yet he would never use a carriage. Once when he was carrying the Viaticum, and a storm had extinguished the lamps, a heavenly light encircled him, guided his steps, and sheltered him from the rain. But as a rule, his sufferings were unrelieved by God or man.
On the last day of his life, St. Andrew rose to say Mass. He was in his eighty-ninth year, and so weak that he could scarcely reach the altar. He began the "Judica," and fell forward in a fit of apoplexy. Laid on a straw mattress, his whole frame was convulsed in agony, while the fiend in visible form advanced to seize his soul. Then, as his brethren prayed and wept, the voice of Mary was heard, bidding the Saint's guardian angel send the tempter back to hell. A calm and holy smile settled on the features of the dying Saint, as, with a grateful salutation to the image of Mary, he breathed forth his soul to God.
His death happened on the 10th of November, 1608.
Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]
Tuesday of the Thirty-second week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Wisdom 2:23 God created humans to live forever. He made them as a perfect representation of his own unique identity. 24 Death entered the universe only through the devil’s envy. Those who belong to the devil’s party experience death.[Wisdom 2:24 Or continue to test people]

Reward and punishment after death

3:1 The souls of those who do what is right are in God’s hand. They won’t feel the pain of torment. 2 To those who don’t know any better, it seems as if they have died. Their departure from this life was considered their misfortune. 3 Their leaving us seemed to be their destruction, but in reality they are at peace. 4 It may look to others as if they have been punished, but they have the hope of living forever. 5 They were disciplined a little, but they will be rewarded with abundant good things, because God tested them and found that they deserve to be with him. 6 He tested them like gold in the furnace; he accepted them like an entirely burned offering. 7 Then, when the time comes for judgment, the godly will burst forth and run about like fiery sparks among dry straw. 8 The godly will judge nations and hold power over peoples, even as the Lord will rule over them forever. 9 Those who trust in the Lord will know the truth. Those who are faithful will always be with him in love. Favor and mercy belong to the holy ones. God watches over God’s chosen ones.

Psalm 34:

2 (1) I will bless Adonai at all times;

his praise will always be in my mouth.

3 (2) When I boast, it will be about Adonai;

the humble will hear of it and be glad.

16 (15) The eyes of Adonai watch over the righteous,

and his ears are open to their cry.

17 (16) But the face of Adonai opposes those who do evil,

to cut off all memory of them from the earth.

18 (17) [The righteous] cried out, and Adonai heard,

and he saved them from all their troubles.

19 (18) Adonai is near those with broken hearts;

he saves those whose spirit is crushed.

The Holy Gospel of Yeshua the Messiah according to Saint Luke 17:7 If one of you has a slave tending the sheep or plowing, when he comes back from the field, will you say to him, ‘Come along now, sit down and eat’? 8 No, you’ll say, ‘Get my supper ready, dress for work, and serve me until I have finished eating and drinking; after that, you may eat and drink.’ 9 Does he thank the slave because he did what he was told to do? No! 10 It’s the same with you — when you have done everything you were told to do, you should be saying, ‘We’re just ordinary slaves, we have only done our duty.’”

Tuesday of the Thirty-second week in Ordinary Time

Commentary of the day:
Saint Ambrose (c.340-397), Bishop of Milan and Doctor of the Church 
On Saint Luke’s Gospel 8, 31-32 (cf SC 52, p. 113)  "We are unprofitable servants"

Let no one boast of what they have done since we owe our service to the Lord in simple justice… We should keep on working for our Lord as long as we live. Recognize, then, that you are a servant employed in a great number of duties. Don’t puff yourself up at being called “child of God” (1Jn 3,1): let us recognize the grace but not forget our nature. Don’t make much of it if you have done your duties well since you have done what you ought to do. The sun fulfils its role, the moon obeys, the angels carry out their duties. Saint Paul, “chosen instrument of the Lord for the gentiles” (cf. Acts 9,15), writes: “I am not fit to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God” (1Cor 15,9). And if elsewhere he demonstrates that he is not aware of any blame, he afterwards adds: “But I do not thereby stand acquitted” (1Cor 4,4). Neither should we either; let us not claim praise for ourselves, do not let us anticipate the judgement of God.

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