Daily Gospel for Wednesday, 17 February 2016

Daily Gospel for Wednesday, 17 February 2016
"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."[John 6:68]
Wednesday of the First week of Lent
Saints of the day: The Seven Holy Founders of the Order of Servites

The Seven Holy Founders
of the Order of Servites

Can you imagine seven prominent men of Boston or London banding together, leaving their homes and professions, and going into solitude for a life directly given to God? That is what happened in the cultured and prosperous city of Florence in the middle of the 13th century. The city was torn with political strife as well as the heresy of the Cathari, who believed that physical reality was inherently evil. Morals were low and religion seemed meaningless.

In 1240 seven noblemen of Florence, born and raised in the city of Florence, drawn together by friendship and devotion to the Blessed Virgin, they gave themselves to common prayer and works of charity. Their desire to serve God eventually led them to leave their homes and their businesses, and to form a community outside the city walls. About the year 1245 they moved to Monte Senario where, for a time, they followed a life of prayerful seclusion. Their initial difficulty was providing for their dependents, since two were still married and two were widowers.

As others came to join them, they laid the foundations for the Servite Order, whose members would be committed to the service of the Lord and others. They promised to follow Christ and witness his gospel; they took the Blessed Virgin as their Lady; and they lived communal life according to the Rule of St. Augustine. In 1244, under the direction of St. Peter of Verona, O.P., this small group adopted a religious habit similar to the Dominican habit, choosing to live under the Rule of St. Augustine and adopting the name of the Servants of Mary. The new Order took a form more like that of the mendicant friars than that of the older monastic Orders. Community members combined monastic life and active ministry. In the monastery, they led a life of prayer, work and silence while in the active apostolate they engaged in parochial work, teaching, preaching and other ministerial activities.

Pope Leo XIII canonized them as the Seven Founders of the Servite Order in 1888.

In this modern world, not much different than that of these seven courageous founders, all of us are faced in a new and urgent way with the challenge to make our lives decisively centered in Christ.[AmericanCatholic.org]

Wednesday of the First week of Lent

Book of Jonah 3:1 The word of Adonai came to Yonah a second time: 2 “Set out for the great city of Ninveh, and proclaim to it the message I will give you.” 3 So Yonah set out and went to Ninveh, as Adonai had said. Now Ninveh was such a large city that it took three days just to cross it. 4 Yonah began his entry into the city and had finished only his first day of proclaiming, ‘In forty days Ninveh will be overthrown,’ 5 when the people of Ninveh believed God. They proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least. 6 When the news reached the king of Ninveh, he got up from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth and sat in ashes. 7 He then had this proclamation made throughout Ninveh: “By decree of the king and his nobles, no person or animal, herd or flock, is to put anything in his mouth; they are neither to eat nor drink water. 8 They must be covered with sackcloth, both people and animals; and they are to cry out to God with all their might — let each of them turn from his evil way and from the violence they practice. 9 Who knows? Maybe God will change his mind, relent and turn from his fierce anger; and then we won’t perish.”

10 When God saw by their deeds that they had turned from their evil way, he relented and did not bring on them the punishment he had threatened.

Psalms 51:3 (1) God, in your grace, have mercy on me;

in your great compassion, blot out my crimes.

4 (2) Wash me completely from my guilt,

and cleanse me from my sin.

12 (10) Create in me a clean heart, God;

renew in me a resolute spirit.

13 (11) Don’t thrust me away from your presence,

don’t take your Ruach Kodesh away from me.

18 (16) For you don’t want sacrifices, or I would give them;

you don’t take pleasure in burnt offerings.

19 (17) My sacrifice to God is a broken spirit;

God, you won’t spurn a broken, chastened heart.

Holy Gospel of Yeshua the Messiah according to Saint Luke 11:29 As the people crowded around him, Yeshua went on to say, “This generation is a wicked generation! It asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it — except the sign of Yonah. 30 For just as Yonah became a sign to the people of Ninveh, so will the Son of Man be for this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will appear at the Judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Shlomo, and what is here now is greater than Shlomo. 32 The people of Ninveh will stand up at the Judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they turned to God from their sins when Yonah preached, and what is here now is greater than Yonah.Wednesday of the First week of Lent
Commentary of the day:
Saint Romanos Melodios (?-c 560), composer of hymns
Hymn 51 (cf. SC 283)
"At the preaching of Jonah the Ninevites repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here."
Open, O Lord, open to me the doors of your mercy before the time of my departing comes (Matthew 25,11). For I am destined to leave, to come to you and render account of everything I speak in words, accomplish in deeds and think in my heart. “Discordant grumblings are no secret” (Wisdom 1,10). David cries out to you in the psalm: “Truly, you have formed my inmost being… in your book all is written” (Psalm 139[138], 13; 16). As you read there the record of my evil deeds, engrave them on your cross, for it is that in which I make my boast (Galatians 6,14) as I cry out to you: “Open to me”…
Our spirits our hardened to such an extent that, even after hearing tell of the disasters to have befallen others, yet nothing is changed within us (Luke 13,1f.). “There is not one who is wise and seeks God; all alike have gone astray; they have become perverse” (Psalm 14[13] 2-3). The Ninevites of former days repented at one call from the prophet. But as for us, we have understood neither call nor threat. By his weeping Hezekiah put the Assyrians to flight by calling down upon them the justice from on high (2 Kings 19). And now, behold, the Assyrians… have carried us off into captivity and we have neither wept nor cried out: “Open to us!”
Highest Lord, judge of all, do not wait for us to alter our behaviour; you have no need of our good deeds for each of us is devoted to deeds of wickedness in thought and will. This being so, my Saviour, rule over our days according to your will, without waiting for our conversion since, perhaps, it may never happen. And even if it happens for a little time it may not last until the end. Like seed fallen on rocky ground, like grass on the housetops, it withers away before it grows up (Mark 4,5; Psalm 129[128],6). Therefore spread out your mercies upon us and on all those who cry out: “Open to us.”

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Daily Gospel for Tuesday, 16 February 2016
"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."[John 6:68]
Tuesday of the First week of Lent
Saints of the day: St. Onesimus, Disciple of St. Paul

SAINT ONESIMUS
Disciple of St. Paul
(1st century)

He was a Phrygian by birth, slave to Philemon, a person of note of the city of Colossæ, converted to the faith by St. Paul. Having robbed his master and being obliged to fly, he providentially met with St. Paul, then a prisoner for the faith at Rome, who there converted and baptized him, and sent him with his canonical letter of recommendation to Philemon, by whom he was pardoned, set at liberty, and sent back to his spiritual father, whom he afterwards faithfully served.
That apostle made him, with Tychicus, the bearer of his Epistle to the Colossians, and afterwards, as St. Jerome and other Fathers witness, a preacher of the Gospel and a bishop. He was crowned with martyrdom under Domitian in the year 95.[Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]]

Bl. John de Britto, martyr (+1693)

BLESSED JOHN DE BRITTO
Martyr
(+ 1693)

Don Pedro II. of Portugal, when a child, had among his little pages a modest boy of rich and princely parents. Much had John de Britto—for so was he called—to bear from his careless-living companions, to whom his holy life was a reproach. A terrible illness made him turn for aid to St. Francis Xavier, a Saint so well loved by the Portuguese; and when, in answer to his prayers, he recovered, his mother vested him for a year in the dress worn in those days by the Jesuit Fathers. From that time John's heart burned to follow the example of the Apostle of the Indies. He gained his wish.

On December 17, 1662, he entered the novitiate of the Society at Lisbon; and eleven years later, in spite of the most determined opposition of his family and of the court, he left all to go to convert the Hindus of Madura. When Blessed John's mother knew that her son was going to the Indies, she used all her influence to prevent him leaving his own country, and persuaded the Papal Nuncio to interfere. "God, Who called me from the world into religious life, now calls me from Portugal to India," was the reply of the future martyr. "Not to answer the vocation as I ought, would be to provoke the justice of God. As long as I live, I shall never cease striving to gain a passage to India."

For fourteen years he toiled, preaching, converting, baptizing multitudes, at the cost of privations, hardships, and persecutions. At last, after being seized, tortured, and nearly massacred by the heathens, he was banished from the country. Forced to return to Portugal, John once more broke through every obstacle, and went back again to his labor of love.

Like St. John the Baptist, he died a victim to the anger of a guilty woman, whom a convert king had put aside, and, like the Precursor, he was beheaded after a painful imprisonment.[Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]]

Tuesday of the First week of Lent
Book of Isaiah 55:10 For just as rain and snow fall from the sky

and do not return there, but water the earth,

causing it to bud and produce,

giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater;

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth —

it will not return to me unfulfilled;

but it will accomplish what I intend,

and cause to succeed what I sent it to do.

Psalms 34:4 (3) Proclaim with me the greatness of Adonai;

let us exalt his name together.

5 (4) I sought Adonai, and he answered me;

he rescued me from everything I feared.

6 (5) They looked to him and grew radiant;

their faces will never blush for shame.

7 (6) This poor man cried; Adonai heard

and saved him from all his troubles.

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.

Holy Gospel of Yeshua the Messiah according to Saint Matthew 6:7 “And when you pray, don’t babble on and on like the pagans, who think God will hear them better if they talk a lot. 8 Don’t be like them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 You, therefore, pray like this:

‘Our Father in heaven!

    May your Name be kept holy.

10 May your Kingdom come,

    your will be done on earth as in heaven.

11 Give us the food we need today.

12 Forgive us what we have done wrong,

    as we too have forgiven those who have wronged us.

13 And do not lead us into hard testing,

    but keep us safe from the Evil One.

[

Matthew 6:13 The latter half of verse 13 is not found in the oldest manuscripts.]For kingship, power and glory are yours forever.

Amen.’

14 For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will not forgive yours.

Tuesday of the First week of Lent

Commentary of the day:
John Tauler (c.1300-1361), Dominican
Sermon 62
"Your Kingdom come"
If one were to look closely, one would be frightened to see how people seek their own self-interest in everything at others’ expense, in word and deed, gifts and services. They always have their personal advantage in view: joy, usefulness, glory, services to receive – always some advantage for themselves. This is what we look for and pursue in creatures and even in the service of God. People see nothing but earthly things, like the crippled woman the gospel speaks about who was completely bent over towards the earth and unable to raise her head (Luke 13:11). Our Lord says that we “cannot serve two masters, God and wealth,” and he continues “seek first” – that is to say, before all and above all – “the Kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:24.33).
Look into your own depths, therefore, and only seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness – that is to say, only seek for God, who is the real kingdom. It is this kingdom we desire and ask for daily in the Our Father. The Our Father is lofty and very powerful prayer; you do not know what you are asking (Mark 10:38). God is his own kingdom, the kingdom of all rational creatures, the end of all their motions and inspirations. God is the kingdom we are asking for, God himself in all his splendour…
When someone stands firm in these dispositions, only seeking out, wanting, and desiring God, then that person becomes God’s kingdom and God reigns in him. Then the eternal king who rules and governs it is magnificently enthroned within his heart; the seat of this kingdom is in the very depths of his heart.

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Daily Gospel for Monday, 15 February 2016

"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."[John 6:68]

Monday of the First week of Lent

Saints of the day: Sts. Faustinus and Jovita, martyrs (+ c. 121)

SAINTS FAUSTINUS and JOVITA
Martyrs
(+ c. 121)

Faustinus and Jovita were brothers, nobly born, and zealous professors of the Christian religion, which they preached without fear in their city of Brescia, while, the bishop of that place lay concealed during the persecution.

Their remarkable zeal excited the fury of the heathens against them, and procured them a glorious death for their faith at Brescia in Lombardy, under the Emperor Adrian. Julian, a heathen lord, apprehended them: and the emperor himself, passing through Brescia, when neither threats nor torments could shake their constancy, commanded them to be beheaded. They seem to have suffered about the year 121.

The city of Brescia honors them as its chief patrons, possesses their relics, and a very ancient church in that city bears their names.[Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]]

Bl. Michał Sopoćko, Priest (1888-1975)

Blessed Michał Sopoćko 
Priest
(1888-1975)

Michał Sopoćko was born on November 1, 1888 in Nowosady (Juszewszczyzna), then under Imperial Russia. The Czarist authority persecuted the Catholic Church as well as both the Polish and Lithuanian people within in its territories. In the Sopoćko family, of noble lineage, the Polish and Catholic traditions were conserved and developed. The young Michael matured in this religious and patriotic atmosphere. Motivated by a desire for unconditional service to God, the Church and humanity, he entered the Major Seminary in Vilnius. On June 15, 1914, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Franciszek Karewicz.

For four years (1914-1918) he worked as a parochial vicar in Taboryszki, where he opened two mission churches at Miedniki and at Onżadòw, as well as various schools.

As informed by someone that the German authorities who checks that zone may arrest him,he left the parish and went to Warsaw. There he became a military chaplain for the Polish army. While dedicated to his ministry as chaplain, he enrolled as a student in the Faculty of Theology at the University of Warsaw and from which he obtained a doctoral degree. At the same time, he graduated from the National Pedagogical Institute. In 1924, he became a coordinator of the regional military chaplaincies, based in Vilnius.

In 1927, Archbishop Romuald Jalbrzykowski entrusted to him the responsibility of being Spiritual Director for the Major Seminary. During this same period he taught for the faculty of Theology at Stefan Batory University, also in Vilnius. He eventually requested the Archbishop to release him from both the military pastoral care and from the seminary duties. His desire was to dedicate himself entirely to theological pursuits. In 1934, he received the title of 'docent' in pastoral theology. While teaching, he never forgot the importance of pastoral service. He was rector of St. Michael Church and also served as confessor for Religious Sisters.

One of the most significant events of Fr. Sopoćko's life occurred in 1933, when he became the Spiritual Director of Sr. (now Saint) Faustina Kowalska of the Congregation of Sisters of Mary Mother of Mercy. He continued to assist the Saint after his transfer to Łagiewniki, and where she died on October 5, 1938. As her confessor, he undertook a thorough evaluation of Sr. Faustina's mystical experiences concerning devotion to the Divine Mercy. Following his advice, she wrote of these in her "Diary." To this day this remains a spiritual classic.

The Divine Mercy devotion became a life-giving inspiration for Fr. Sopoćko. Due to his assistance, and under the direction of Sister Faustina, the artist Eugeniusz Kazimirowski painted the first portrait of Jesus as the Divine Mercy. Fr. Sopoćko wrote extensively on the subject of the Divine Mercy, and, in 1938, he established a committee charged with building the Divine Mercy Church in Vilnius. However, this attempt had to be halted due to the onset of World War II. But despite the war and German occupation, Fr. Sopoćko persisted in his efforts to promote the devotion to the Divine Mercy. Filled with zeal, he constantly helped those who were oppressed and threatened with extermination, for example, numerous Jewish people. Fortunately, he managed to avoid arrest and  imprisonment. In 1942, along with his fellow seminary professors and students, he was forced to go into hiding near Vilnius. He remained concealed for two years. Yet it was during that very time when  

Fr. Sopoćko played a major role in establishing a new Religious Congregation. According to the revelations of Sr. Faustina, this Congregation was to promote love for the Divine Mercy. After the War, he wrote the Congregation's constitution.  And he became actively engaged in the growth and development of what we know as the Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Mercy.

In 1947, Archbishop Jałbrzykowski, since two years at Białystok with his diocesan Curia, sought that Fr. Sopoćko come to the same city. He therefore accepted a position as professor in the Archdiocesan Major Seminary. There he taught pedagogy, catechetics, homiletics, pastoral theology, and spirituality. Additionally, he continued to further the apostolate of the Divine Mercy. He also made serious efforts to obtain official approval for the Divine Mercy devotion from the Church authorities. Fr. Sopoćko worked tirelessly on the biblical, theological, and pastoral bases by which to explain the doctrinal truth concerning the Divine Mercy devotion. His publications were translated into numerous languages including: Latin, English, French, Italian, and Portuguese.

Fr. Michal Sopoćko died on February 15, 1975, in his apartment on Poleska Street. He was popularly acclaimed for his sanctity. He was buried in the parish cemetery in Białystok. Following the inauguration of the process for his Beatification, his body was moved to the Church of the Divine Mercy (November 30, 1988). He was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI on September 28, 2008.[© Copyright - Libreria Editrice Vaticana]

St. Sigfrid of Vaxjo
St. Sigfrid of Sweden, Missionary Bishop

Statue of St. Sigfrid at the Vaxjo Cathedral, Växjö, Sweden

Today, February 15th, the universal Church honors St. Sigfrid of Sweden, a courageous and determined missionary bishop.

The place and date of this saint’s birth are undocumented. Nevertheless, in or about the 11th century, Sigfrid, a priest of York and/or Glastonbury, England, was sent by King Olaf Tryggvason of Norway, to spread the Gospel to all of Norway. Two other bishops, John and Grimkel, accompanied him to Norway and also to Sweden. They worked under the protection of the archbishop of Bremen. Sigfrid chose to make his headquarters at Vaxjo. Olaf, the king of Sweden, was converted to Christianity by Sigfrid who also baptized him at Husaby in a spring, which place was the scene of various miracles. Sigfrid worked many years as a bishop missionary, with his three nephews assisting him in this regard, Unaman, a priest, Sunaman, a deacon, and Vinaman, a subdeacon.

Sigfrid entrusted the care of his diocese to these three nephews, whilst he carried the Gospel to other provinces. While he was gone, a troop which hated Christianity and also desired money, plundered and destroyed the church of Vaxjo and murdered Sigfrid’s three nephews, burying their bodies in a forest and placing their cut off heads in a box which sunk in a pond. The heads were recovered and placed in a shrine. The king desired to execute the evildoers, but Sigfrid, although greatly grieved and heartbroken, advocated to spare their lives. Olaf ordered the murderers to pay a heavy fine, but Sigfrid would not accept their money or goods. This he did in spite of the great hardship and economic difficulties he experienced in rebuilding the church.

Much like the first apostles of Jesus, Sigfrid had that same spirit, preaching the Gospel also in Denmark. It is through saints like St. Sigfrid, that the Gospel lives and thrives. Clearly, we can know Jesus through his apostles and/or disciples.

St. Sigfrid died in 1045 and was most probably canonized by Pope Adrian IV, an Englishman, who also brought the Faith to the North over one hundred years after St. Sigfrid.

This saint was a tough man, much like the persona of St. Peter, who brought the teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ to Norway and Sweden, with zeal and discipline. One can only imagine the difficult circumstances he experienced during his life as a missionary bishop. Even though his nephews were brutally murdered, he kept the love of Jesus for the murderers and went on to build another church for the people. What comes to my mind is what a Jesuit priest said to me many years ago, one of my mentors: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” That is what St. Sigfrid did: Jesus was tough – He was not a wimp, nor were his apostles or disciples. Let us have that same strong determination, that same “toughness,” motivated by pure love of Our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we can accomplish much good for Our Lord and His people.

St. Sigfrid, pray for us!

St. Claude de la Colombiere

Saint Claude de la Colombiere
(2 February 1641 - 15 February 1682)

A jesuit and confesser St. Margaret Mary Alacoque actively promoted the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus with St. Margaret Mary. The emphasis on God’s love for all was an antidote to the rigorous moralism of the Jansenists, who were popular at the time.

In 1674, after 15 years of life as a Jesuit, Colombière did his period of probation known as the Tertianship, which was to prove decisive in his life. As a result of this experience of the Spiritual Exercises, he made a personal vow, as a means of attaining the utmost possible perfection, to observe faithfully the Rule and Constitutions of the Society under penalty of sin. Those who lived with him attested that this vow was kept with great exactitude. Claude showed remarkable preaching skills long before his ordination in 1675. Two months later he was made superior of a small Jesuit residence in Paray-le-Monial. It was there he first encountered Margaret Mary Alacoque. For many years after he served as her spiritual friend and confessor.

In 1676 Colombière was sent to England as preacher to Mary of Modena, then the Duchess of York. He took up residence at the Court of St. James, where he still observed all his religious duties as a member of the Society. He preached by both words and by the example of his holy life, converting a number of Protestants. Although encountering many difficulties, he was able to guide Alacoque by letter.

Colombière's zeal and the English climate soon combined to weaken his health and a pulmonary condition threatened to end his work in that country. In November 1678 he was suddenly arrested and thrown into prison, denounced as being a part of the Popish Plot alleged by Titus Oates against the English throne. Caught up in the anti-Catholic hysteria which resulted from this alleged plot, he was confined in severe conditions where his fragile health took a turn for the worse. He was ultimately banished, and returned to Paray-le-Monial  but by then his health had been ruined.

He died in 1682. Pope John Paul II canonized Claude de la Colombière in 1992.

Monday of the First week of Lent

Book of Leviticus 19:1 Adonai said to Moshe, 2 “Speak to the entire community of Isra’el; tell them, ‘You people are to be holy because I, Adonai your God, am holy.

11 “‘Do not steal from, defraud or lie to each other. 12 Do not swear by my name falsely, which would be profaning the name of your God; I am Adonai. 13 Do not oppress or rob your neighbor; specifically, you are not to keep back the wages of a hired worker all night until morning.

14 “‘Do not speak a curse against a deaf person or place an obstacle in the way of a blind person; rather, fear your God; I am Adonai.

(RY: v, LY: ii) 15 “‘Do not be unjust in judging — show neither partiality to the poor nor deference to the mighty, but with justice judge your neighbor.

16 “‘Do not go around spreading slander among your people, but also don’t stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is at stake; I am Adonai.

17 “‘Do not hate your brother in your heart, but rebuke your neighbor frankly, so that you won’t carry sin because of him. 18 Don’t take vengeance on or bear a grudge against any of your people; rather, love your neighbor as yourself; I am Adonai.

Psalms 19:8 (7) The Torah of Adonai is perfect,

restoring the inner person.

The instruction of Adonai is sure,

making wise the thoughtless.

9 (8) The precepts of Adonai are right,

rejoicing the heart.

The mitzvah of Adonai is pure,

enlightening the eyes.

10 (9) The fear of Adonai is clean,

enduring forever.

The rulings of Adonai are true,

they are righteous altogether,

15 (14) May the words of my mouth

and the thoughts of my heart

be acceptable in your presence,

Adonai, my Rock and Redeemer.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 25:31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, accompanied by all the angels, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. 33 The ‘sheep’ he will place at his right hand and the ‘goats’ at his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take your inheritance, the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you made me your guest, 36 I needed clothes and you provided them, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the people who have done what God wants will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and make you our guest, or needing clothes and provide them? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’ 40 The King will say to them, ‘Yes! I tell you that whenever you did these things for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did them for me!’

41 “Then he will also speak to those on his left, saying, ‘Get away from me, you who are cursed! Go off into the fire prepared for the Adversary and his angels! 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 a stranger and you did not welcome me, needing clothes and you did not give them to me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they too will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, a stranger, needing clothes, sick or in prison, and not take care of you?’ 45 And he will answer them, ‘Yes! I tell you that whenever you refused to do it for the least important of these people, you refused to do it for me!’ 46 They will go off to eternal punishment, but those who have done what God wants will go to eternal life.”

Monday of the First week of Lent

Commentary of the day:

Saint Caesarius of Arles (470-543), monk and Bishop 
Sermon 26,5  “Come. You have my Father’s blessing! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you”

Christ, that is to say, heavenly mercy, comes to the door of your house every day, not only spiritually to the door of your soul, but also materially to the door of your house. For every time a poor person approaches your house, it is without any doubt Christ who is coming, he who said: “As often as you did it for one of these little ones, you did it for me.” So don’t harden you heart; give a little money to Christ, from whom you want to receive the Kingdom. Give a piece of bread to him, from whom you hope to receive life. Welcome him into your home, so that he might welcome you into his paradise. Give him alms, so that in return he might give you eternal life.
What audacity to want to reign in heaven with him to whom you refuse to give alms in this world! If you receive him during this earthly journey, he will welcome you into his heavenly happiness; if you despise him here in your homeland, he will turn his eyes away from you in his glory. A Psalm says: “In your city, Lord, you despise their image.” (Psalm 72:20 Vulgate) If we despise those who are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26) in our city, that is to say, in this life, we must fear being rejected in his eternal city. So be merciful here below… Thanks to your generosity, you will hear that wonderful word said to you: “Come. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you”

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Daily Gospel for Sunday, 14 February 2016

"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."[John 6:68]

First Sunday of Lent - Year C

Saint(s) of the day: Sts. Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Memorial (Feast in Europe) 

Saint. Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop
Co-Patrons of Europe
Memorial 
(Feast in Europe)

St. Cyril and St. Methodius were brothers from Thessalonica (Greece). 
Cyril was born about 826 and died at Rome in 869.
Methodius was born about 815. He was made a bishop and spent many years preaching the gospel in Hungary, despite resistance and hostility. He died in Velehrad (Czech Republic) in 885. 
With papal approval they preached the gospel in Moravia using their own translations of the Scriptures and the liturgy in the local language. These translations into Slavonic were based on an alphabet they invented, now called Cyrillic. 
Cyril and Methodius are honoured as apostles of the Slavic peoples.

First Sunday of Lent - Year C 
Book of Deuteronomy 26:4 The cohen will take the basket from your hand and put it down in front of the altar of Adonai your God.

5 “Then, in the presence of Adonai your God, you are to say, ‘My ancestor was a nomad from Aram. He went down into Egypt few in number and stayed. There he became a great, strong, populous nation. 6 But the Egyptians treated us badly; they oppressed us and imposed harsh slavery on us. 7 So we cried out to Adonai, the God of our ancestors. Adonai heard us and saw our misery, toil and oppression; 8 and Adonai brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and a stretched-out arm, with great terror, and with signs and wonders. 9 Now he has brought us to this place and given us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10 Therefore, as you see, I have now brought the firstfruits of the land which you, Adonai, have given me.’ You are then to put the basket down before Adonai your God, prostrate yourself before Adonai your God,

Psalms 91:1 You who live in the shelter of ‘Elyon,

who spend your nights in the shadow of Shaddai,

2 who say to Adonai, “My refuge! My fortress!

My God, in whom I trust!” —

Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

10 No disaster will happen to you,

no calamity will come near your tent;

11 for he will order his angels to care for you

and guard you wherever you go.

12 They will carry you in their hands,

so that you won’t trip on a stone.

13 You will tread down lions and snakes,

young lions and serpents you will trample underfoot.

14 “Because he loves me, I will rescue him;

because he knows my name, I will protect him.

15 He will call on me, and I will answer him.

I will be with him when he is in trouble.

I will extricate him and bring him honor.

Letter to the Romans 10:8 What, then, does it say?

“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.”[Romans 10:8 Deuteronomy 30:11–14] —

that is, the word about trust which we proclaim, namely, 9 that if you acknowledge publicly with your mouth that Yeshua is Lord and trust in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be delivered. 10 For with the heart one goes on trusting and thus continues toward righteousness, while with the mouth one keeps on making public acknowledgement and thus continues toward deliverance. 11 For the passage quoted says that everyone who rests his trust on him will not be humiliated.[Romans 10:11 Isaiah 28:16] 12 That means that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — Adonai is the same for everyone, rich toward everyone who calls on him, 13 since everyone who calls on the name of Adonai will be delivered.[Romans 10:13 Joel 3:5(2:32)]

Holy Gospel of Yeshua the Messiah according to Saint Luke 4:1

 Then Yeshua, filled with the Ruach HaKodesh, returned from the Yarden and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days of testing by the Adversary. During that time he ate nothing, and afterwards he was hungry. 3 The Adversary said to him, “If you are the Son of God, order this stone to become bread.” 4 Yeshua answered him, “The Tanakh says, ‘Man does not live on bread alone.’”[

Luke 4:4 Deuteronomy 8:3

]

9 Then he took him to Yerushalayim, set him on the highest point of the Temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, jump from here! 10 For the Tanakh says,

‘He will order his angels

to be responsible for you and to protect you.

11 They will support you with their hands,

so that you will not hurt your feet on the stones.’”[Luke 4:11 Psalm 91:11–12]

12 Yeshua answered him, “It also says, ‘Do not put Adonai your God to the test.’”[Luke 4:12 Deuteronomy 6:16] 13 When the Adversary had ended all his testings, he let him alone until an opportune time.

First Sunday of Lent - Year C 

5 The Adversary took him up, showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world, 6 and said to him, “I will give you all this power and glory. It has been handed over to me, and I can give it to whomever I choose. 7 So if you will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Yeshua answered him, “The Tanakh says, ‘Worship Adonai your God and serve him only.’”[Luke 4:8 Deuteronomy 6:13–14]

Commentary of the day:

Saint John Chrysostom (c.345-407), priest at Antioch then Bishop of Constantinople, Doctor of the Church
Homily 13 on Matthew, 1  Strengthened by temptations

"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil."… For since Jesus did and underwent everything with a view to our instruction he likewise consented to be led there and wrestle against the devil in order that every baptized person who, after baptism, has to endure greater temptations may not be troubled as though this outcome were unexpected, but may continue to endure everything nobly as though it were happening in the natural course of things. For indeed, this was the reason you took up arms, not to be idle, but to fight.
For this reason God does not prevent temptations from coming, either. First of all to teach you that you are now much stronger; next, that you may remain humble and not be puffed up by the greatness of your gifts since the temptations have power to repress you; then, in order that that wicked demon, who remains for a while doubtful about your desertion of him, may be well assured by the touchstone of temptation that you have utterly forsaken and fallen from him; fourthly, that you may in this way be made stronger and better tempered than any steel; fifthly, that you may obtain a clear demonstration of the treasures entrusted to you. For the devil would not have assailed you unless he had seen that you had been brought to greater honor.

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