SERVUS CHRISTI

EGO SUM QUI SUM

Aristotle’s Book 8 of Physics and Book 12 of Metaphysics talks of God as an Immortal, unchanging being, ultimately responsible for all wholeness and orderliness in the sensible world. This unmoved mover moves other things but is not itself moved by any prior action. God is “I am” because He transcends time and space. He dies not exist in time and never changes. He is the only one who could ever legitimately make such a claim.
In the gospel, Christ says “Come to Me”…Christ alone knows the Father; therefore Christ alone can reveal the Father. In these gracious words Christ extended to the multitude an invitation to become His disciples. The invitation to discipleship includes taking the yoke of Jesus, especially those who labour in soul and mind, which causes one to be burdened with care. This invitation would come with special force to the listening multitude, for religion of Israel had degenerated into a meaningless round of labour in an attempt to find salvation by works. Those who are heavy laden are invited: all mankind bear many heavy burdens, but in addition to the usual burdens borne in common by all humanity, the scribes and Pharisees had bound many other heavy burdens on the backs of the Jewish people, burdens grievous to be borne. The people were heavy laden with so many rabbinical requirements that an entire lifetime was ordinarily too short to learn them all. Instead of giving rest of soul to those who already bore a heavy burden of sin, these rabbinical requirements served only to crush out of the people any spark of life and hope that might remain. The people who sought to be conscientious groaned beneath the burden while many, the publicans and sinners gave up hope completely. The latter were outside the pale of religious respectability and no longer made a profession of religion. These unfortunate and discouraging results were the very ills Jesus came to alleviate, and was polemical with the adherents. Jesus promises to give his followers rest/respite/intermission (anapausis). Those who come to Christ do not cease to work but instead of laboring for the meat which perishes and becoming utterly weary in the attempt, they labour for that meat which endures unto everlasting life (John 6:27). He urges his listeners to “take His yoke’…to submit to the discipline and training of His way of life. The purpose of a yoke was not to make the burdens of draft animals heavier, but lighter,not harder ,but easier to bear. By ‘my yoke’ Christ meant His way of life, the divine will as summed up in the law of God and magnified in the Sermon on the Mount (Isa 42:21, Mat. 5:17,22). Jesus hearers were familier with the imagery for the rabbis also referred to the Torah as a yoke (Deut 31:9), not in the sense of its being a burden ,but rather a discipline, a way of life to which men were to submit. Jesus is the meek one: One who is meek intends nothing but good toward others. He is Lowly/ humble: A person humble in his own estimation assigns himself a low position in comparison with others; he esteems others better than himself. Christ is a sympathetic teacher and those who learn of Him will also be gentle and humble. So-called Christians who have not learned to be gentle and humble have not learned in the school of Christ (Phil 2:2,8). You will find rest: those who find the rest of which Jesus speaks will walk in the old paths and conform their lives to the good way of God’s own choosing. (Jer 6:16). My burden is light: He who truly loves Christ will delight to do His will (Psal 40:8) Those who take the yoke of submission to the Master who come to learn in His school will find the rest of soul He has promised. The heavy burden of legal righteousness, of trying to gain salvation by means of merit supposedly earned by one’s own works rather than secured through the merit of Christ, and the still heavier burden of sin itself, will all be rolled away.

CATHOLIC MISSAL

JULY 11TH,2021

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

First Reading: Amos 7: 12-15

12 And Amasias said to Amos: Thou seer, go, flee away into the land of Juda: and eat bread there, and prophesy there.

13 But prophesy not again any more in Bethel: because it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is the house of the kingdom.

14 And Amos answered and said to Amasias: I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet: but I am a herdsman plucking wild figs.

15 And the Lord took me when I followed the flock, and the Lord said to me: Go, prophesy to my people Israel.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 85: 9-10, 11-12, 13-14 (8)

9 I will hear what the Lord God will speak in me: for he will speak peace unto his people: And unto his saints: and unto them that are converted to the heart.

10 Surely his salvation is near to them that fear him: that glory may dwell in our land.

11 Mercy and truth have met each other: justice and peace have kissed.

12 Truth is sprung out of the earth: and justice hath looked down from heaven.

13 For the Lord will give goodness: and our earth shall yield her fruit.

14 Justice shall walk before him: and shall set his steps in the way.

(8 shew us, O Lord, thy mercy; and grant us thy salvation.)

Second Reading: Ephesians 1: 3-14

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with spiritual blessings in heavenly places, in Christ:

4 As he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and unspotted in his sight in charity.

5 Who hath predestinated us unto the adoption of children through Jesus Christ unto himself: according to the purpose of his will:

6 Unto the praise of the glory of his grace, in which he hath graced us in his beloved son.

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the remission of sins, according to the riches of his grace,

8 Which hath superabounded in us in all wisdom and prudence,

9 That he might make known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed in him,

10 In the dispensation of the fulness of times, to re-establish all things in Christ, that are in heaven and on earth, in him.

11 In whom we also are called by lot, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things according to the counsel of his will.

12 That we may be unto the praise of his glory, we who before hoped Christ:

13 In whom you also, after you had heard the word of truth, (the gospel of your salvation;) in whom also believing, you were signed with the holy Spirit of promise,

14 Who is the pledge of our inheritance, unto the redemption of acquisition, unto the praise of his glory.

Gospel: Mark 6: 7-13

7 And he called the twelve; and began to send them two and two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.

8 And he commanded them that they should take nothing for the way, but a staff only: no scrip, no bread, nor money in their purse,

9 But to be shod with sandals, and that they should not put on two coats.

10 And he said to them: Wheresoever you shall enter into an house, there abide till you depart from that place.

11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you; going forth from thence, shake off the dust from your feet for a testimony to them.

12 And going forth they preached that men should do penance:

13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

RECOLLECTION

Amos 7:(10-11)12-15

Prophet Amos’ straight message, striking at the evil conditions among the people of Israel, naturally aroused resentful opposition. The priest at Bethel accused Amos before the king. Amaziah craftily endeavoured to make Amos prediction against the royal house appear to be treason. Thus he hoped to silence the messages addressed to Israel by the prophet Amos. In their hatred of the children of God,the wicked have often accused the righteous of subverting the government. The prophet had foretold a sword against the house of Jeroboam, which would not necessarily mean that the monarch himself would perish by the sword. However, rightly understood, this punishment was indeed that which must come upon king and nation if they remained impenitent.

V12. Go, flee thee away,seer.The apostate priest (Amaziah) without sanctions from Jeroboam II resorted to his own authority, such as if in his attempt to intimidate Amos and make him leave the country. Perhaps Amos would be received favourably in Judah because he came from there.(Eat bread), Amaziah insinuates that Amos was paid to prophesy and so made gain from his godliness. Amaziah may have attributed to Amos the worldly motives that influenced himself. V.13 under divine direction the courageous prophet was willing to carry God’s message into the very centre of apostate worship (the king’s chapel/sanctuary of the king/the kings court/house of the kingdom/a royal sanctuary. V14.Unafraid, Amos declines Amaziah’s insinuation (v12) and declares that he is not a prophet by profession or to gain livelihood, but simply because of God’s call. A prophet’s son: students reared in the schools of the prophets were called sons of prophets. Amos was not trained in any human institution. It is a common mistake to suppose that those who have not been educated according to generally accepted standards have not been educated at all. The Lord taught Amos in the solitude of the fields, of the valleys and of the hills of Judaeh as he tended the sheep and as he gathered the fruit of sycamore-fig tree. V15. As I followed the flock-God’s commission was imperative and Amos could not but obey it. Now was no time for the prophet to turn back just because Amaziah the priest of Bethel opposed him.

First Reading; Ezekiel 2:2-5
Son of man(benDOadam describes man in a generic sense). Ezekiel, addressed as son of man (benDOadam),is reminded of the fact that he is a member of the human race. It was through human channels that God purposed to convey His message of salvation to perishing souls. He could have employed other means ,but He desired to make man a sharer in the joys of unselfish ministry to others, and so He committed unto him the word of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:19). This task no man may shirk. Thus, to be addressed as a son of man is a call to personal or public ministry in ardent passion for creatures. Ezekiel is told to stand upon his feet. The vision of the glory of God had prostrated him. In the call to divine service the prophet is led first to feel his own weakness. Then divine power came and activated him,restoring him to physical strength and enabling him to receive the heavenly communication. The spirit entered into Ezekiel. Prophecy is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The call to prophetic office is not by personal choice but by divine appointment. Ezekiel’s message was to the exiles of Judah but also embraced the ten tribes of Israel. Israel is a rebellious nation.So low had Israel sunk in her willful departure from God that she who was to have been the royal nation ,the kingdom of priests is now addressed by the derogatory title heathen and that with the additional epithet rebellious. They are impudent (hard of face, obstinate, stubborn). The Lord was painting a grim picture of Israel’s depravity. The picture was not overdrawn as the prophet was soon to discover. Thus says the Lord: The charge to Ezekiel is the divine commission to every teacher of the word ,to every Expositor of truth. Gods word is not to be intermixed with human opinions. Private theories are fallible. Concerning divine matters, only those things that God has revealed can be definitely known as facts. All else is human opinion. With every wind of doctrine blowing and every species of interpretation abroad, men need the reassurance of a message backed by a Thus says the Lord God. Such a declaration is the voice of authority. Ezekiel needed such a warrant Judah’s doom was impending. His message came bearing the credentials from the highest authority. If they neglect to hear, they will acknowledge the justice of God and the adequacy of the grace offered them. The prophet bears divine credentials. The rebellious might openly mock the divine messenger but beneath the sneer of scorn would be deep-seated fear that the voice they were spurning was indeed the voice of God.

Second Reading

In the second reading, God saw fit to protect Paul against himself (lest I should be exalted). He has been given a bodily infirmity. The affliction was of Satan but permitted by God (Job). Satan’s purpose was to frustrate Paul’s work. Christ’s purpose in permitting the affliction was to protect Paul from pride. Paul had pleaded with God to remove this distressing affliction but the answer was clear he accepted the will of God for him. Compare the three times Christ prayed for the removal of the cup He was to drink and then accepted it as the will of God. He Said: the form of the Greek denotes the finality of God’s answer. God’s grace is sufficient (Gr. Chasis). God never promised to alter circumstances or release men from trouble. To Him,bodily infirmities and untoward circumstances are matters of secondary concern. Inward strength to endure is a far higher manifestation of the divine grace than mastery of the outward difficulties of life. Outwardly, a man may be torn,worn,wearied and almost broken, yet inwardly it is his privilege in Christ to enjoy perfect peace. Paul says he glories in his infirmities (boasts in his weaknesses). It is the mark of triumph to accept one’s limitations without resentment. To rejoice over that which one hates and desires to be rid of is the ultimate of surrender. Christ also shrank from the indignity, shame and ridicule. He was called upon to endure at His trial. Such resignation to the will of God means complete renunciation of self. That the power of Christ may dwell in me: Paul here speaks of the power of Christ descending upon him,working within him and giving him help and strength. I take pleasure: It pleased the Lord therefore it would please Paul also. God knew best and Paul was content that it should be so. For when I am weak then I am strong: the Christian paradox: distrust of self,surrender to the will of God. A man strong in his own strength tends to be self-reliant instead of relying on God,and often does not realize his need of divine grace. Only those whose weakness and insecurity have been completely submerged in the blessed will of God know what it is to possess true power.

The Gospel

Gospel
Jesus,the Prophet, a source of scandal! After leaving Nazareth to take up His ministry, Jesus did not revisit it until He began His Galilean ministry. Jewish leaders and the townspeople of Nazareth are troubled by the infinitely superior intelligence, understanding and wisdom of Jesus in the synagogue. Had Jesus been to a rabbinic school? He speaks exousia (out of authority), not Philosophy or human rationalisation. He is the incarnate Word of God. Jesus did no mighty work among the Nazarenes because of lack of belief not by any lack of power on His part.His daily contacts with them testified to His perfection of character and this they had resented because it placed them in an unfavourable light. He is a ‘son of man’ (Ezekiel)…Mary,Joseph.

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THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

First Reading: Wisdom 1: 13-15; 2: 23-24

13 For God made not death, neither hath he pleasure in the destruction of the living.

14 For he created all things that they might be: and he made the nations of the earth for health: and there is no poison of destruction in them, nor kingdom of hell upon the earth.

15 For justice is perpetual and immortal.

2:23 For God created man incorruptible, and to the image of his own likeness he made him.

24 But by the envy of the devil, death came into the world: And they follow him that are of his side.

Commentary

Creation begins not with death but with life. God created man incorruptible out of love in order to share in His own manner of being: perfect and immortal, but this does not obliterate the existence of the lurer ,the devil who brings sin and therefore death. We cannot rule out the existence of sin,death and hell because God is love but man is free and can choose not to follow God.

I

Second Reading: Second Corinthians 8: 7, 9, 13-15

7 That as in all things you abound in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all carefulness; moreover also in your charity towards us, so in this grace also you may abound.

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that being rich he became poor, for your sakes; that through his poverty you might be rich.

13 For I mean not that others should be eased, and you burthened, but by an equality.

14 In this present time let your abundance supply their want, that their abundance also may supply your want, that there may be an equality,

15 As it is written: He that had much, had nothing over; and he that had little, had no want.

Commentary:
St. Paul is giving directions concerning the collection in Corinth. He nuances the fact that a symmetrical Christian experience is a harmonious development of life and service, of inward graces and an outward expression of them. Corinthians excelled in many ways and it would be inconsistent to neglect the grace of charity (collection). This collection is to be completed by their own free will,not because Paul requires it of them because only freewill offerings are acceptable to God. Out of their comparative poverty, the Macedonian believers are ready to respond to the plea to assist the needy at Jerusalem. Their noble example becomes a divinely appointed test for the Corinthians. Paul did not appeal to pride,vanity, selfish feeling or a spirit of rivalry and competition in order to urge the Corinthians to do something that more worthy motives would not lead them to do. The emulation of noble lives is never an appeal to rivalry but it does test the depth and genuineness of ones love and devotion. This elevated principle of comparison provides a valuable means of spiritual discipline. The collection would provide an ideal opportunity to demonstrate genuineness of their love. The Lord is gracious and the grace of Christ must control the heart and will. It is never effective so long as it remains an intellectual concept only. No divine truth is known merely by an intellectual understanding of it. The supreme acts of Christ, His Incarnation and Crucifixion, are attributed to grace only. These acts constituted the supreme manifestations of divine love and condescension. Paul compares the supreme sacrifice of Christ with man’s incomparably infinitesimal acts of charity. Jesus was rich (an allusion to Christ’s preincarnate existence), but His earthly life was ever one of extreme poverty. His riches consisted of the nature and attributes of deity,of countless millions of worlds, of adoration and loyalty of multitudes of angels. This Jesus became poor: He completely emptied Himself that He retained nothing of the riches that were once His. He took upon Himself human nature and became subject to the limitations of humanity, so that we might be rich: with sin man lost his home,his domain his character and even life itself, spending his life seeking false riches. Christ came to deliver man from His poverty which results from seeking false riches. In and through Christ, men are able to discern the true value of things and receive the privilege of becoming rich in Christ Jesus. Paul says ‘this is expedient’ : a vow made to God cannot be repudiated without involving a mans Christian integrity. One opens himself to criticism. The will must be embodied in deeds if our best desires and energies are to give solidity and strength to the character. It is good to cherish the ideal of charity, but the ideal must find practical expression. Faith and Love,as ideals ,never feed the hungry or clothe the naked. Readiness then is a spontaneous disposition and attitude of mind to serve God and ones fellow men. It has no need of being urged or driven forward by the importunity of others. It is the sincere willingness of the mind that determines the acceptableness of the gift of God. The Catholic Social Teaching and the Scriptures recognize the right to private property and the right that all contributions shall be voluntary, but it also condemns the selfish and heartless neglect of the poor and the needy.

We participate organically in Christ as members of His mystical body, the church

CATHOLIC MISSAL

JUNE 6TH,2021

THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST Solemnity

First Reading: Exodus 24: 3-8

3 So Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice: We will do all the words of the Lord, which he hath spoken.

4 And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord: and rising in the morning he built an altar at the foot of the mount, and twelve titles according to the twelve tribes of Israel.

5 And he sent young men of the children of Israel, and they offered holocausts, and sacrificed pacific victims of calves to the Lord.

6 Then Moses took half of the blood, and put it into bowls: and the rest he poured upon the altar.

7 And taking the book of the covenant, he read it in the hearing of the people: and they said: All things that the Lord hath spoken we will do, we will be obedient.

8 And he took the blood and sprinkled it upon the people, and he said: This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 116: 12-13, 15-16, 17-18 (13)

12 What shall I render to the Lord, for all the things he hath rendered unto me?

13 I will take the chalice of salvation; and I will call upon the name of the Lord.

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

16 O Lord, for I am thy servant: I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid. Thou hast broken my bonds:

17 I will sacrifice to thee the sacrifice of praise, and I will call upon the name of the Lord.

18 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the sight of all his people:

(13 I will take the chalice of salvation; and I will call upon the name of the Lord.)

Second Reading: Hebrews 9: 11-15

11 But Christ, being come an high priest of the good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hand, that is, not of this creation:

12 Neither by the blood of goats, or of calves, but by his own blood, entered once into the holies, having obtained eternal redemption.

13 For if the blood of goats and of oxen, and the ashes of an heifer being sprinkled, sanctify such as are defiled, to the cleansing of the flesh:

14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who by the Holy Ghost offered himself unspotted unto God, cleanse our conscience from dead works, to serve the living God?

15 And therefore he is the mediator of the new testament: that by means of his death, for the redemption of those transgressions, which were under the former testament, they that are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Gospel: Mark 14: 12-16, 22-26

12 Now on the first day of the unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the pasch, the disciples say to him: Whither wilt thou that we go, and prepare for thee to eat the pasch?

13 And he sendeth two of his disciples, and saith to them: Go ye into the city; and there shall meet you a man carrying a pitcher of water, follow him;

14 And whithersoever he shall go in, say to the master of the house, The master saith, Where is my refectory, where I may eat the pasch with my disciples?

15 And he will shew you a large dining room furnished; and there prepare ye for us.

16 And his disciples went their way, and came into the city; and they found as he had told them, and they prepared the pasch.

22 And whilst they were eating, Jesus took bread; and blessing, broke, and gave to them, and said: Take ye. This is my body.

23 And having taken the chalice, giving thanks, he gave it to them. And they all drank of it.

24 And he said to them: This is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many.

25 Amen I say to you, that I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I shall drink it new in the kingdom of God.

26 And when they had said an hymn, they went forth to the mount of Olives.

CATHOLIC MISSAL

JUNE 3RD,2021

Charles Lwanga & Companions, Martyrs Obligatory Memorial

First Reading: Tobit 6: 10-11; 7: 1bcde, 9-17; 8: 4-9a

10 And Tobias said to him: Where wilt thou that we lodge?

11 And the angel answering, said: Here is one whose name is Raguel, a near kinsman of thy tribe, and he hath a daughter named Sara, but he hath no son nor any other daughter beside her.

7:1 And they went in to Raguel, and Raguel received them with joy.

9 And after they had spoken, Raguel commanded a sheep to be killed, and a feast to be prepared. And when he desired them to sit down to dinner, Tobias said: I will not eat nor drink here this day, unless thou first grant me my petition, and promise to give me Sara thy daughter.

10 Now when Raguel heard this he was afraid, knowing what had happened to those seven husbands, that went in unto her: and he began to fear lest it might happen to him also in like manner: and as he was in suspense, and gave no answer to his petition, The angel said to him: Be not afraid to give her to this man, for to him who feareth God is thy daughter due to be his wife: therefore another could not have her.

11 Then Raguel said: I doubt not but God hath regarded my prayers and tears in his sight.And I believe he hath therefore made you come to me, that this maid might be married to one of her own kindred, according to the law of Moses: and now doubt not but I will give her to thee.

12 And taking the right hand of his daughter, he gave it into the right hand of Tobias, saying: The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob be with you, and may he join you together, and fulfill his blessing in you.

13 And taking paper they made a writing of the marriage.

14 And afterwards they made merry, blessing God.

15 And Raguel called to him Anna his wife, and bade her prepare another chamber.

16 And she brought Sara her daughter in thither, and she wept.

17 And she said to her: Be of good cheer, my daughter: the Lord of heaven give thee joy for the trouble thou hast undergone.

8:4 Then Tobias exhorted the virgin, and said to her: Sara, arise, and let us pray to God today, and tomorrow, and the next day: because for these three nights we are joined to God: and when the third night is over, we will be in our own wedlock. For we are the children of saints, and we must not be joined together like heathens that know not God.

5 So they both arose, and prayed earnestly both together that health might be given them, And Tobias said: Lord God of our father, may the heavens and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains, and the rivers, and all thy creatures that are in them, bless thee.

6 Thou madest Adam of the slime of the earth, and gavest him Eve for a helper.

7 And now, Lord, thou knowest, that not for fleshly lust do I take my sister to wife, but only for the love of posterity, in which thy name may be blessed for ever and ever.

8 Sara also said: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, and let us grow old both together in health.

9 And it came to pass about the cockcrowing, Raguel ordered his servants to be called for, and they went with him together to dig a grave.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 128: 1-2, 3, 4-5

1 Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: that walk in his ways.

2 For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands: blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee.

3 Thy wife as a fruitful vine, on the sides of thy house.

4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.

5 May the Lord bless thee out of Sion: and mayest thou see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

Gospel: Mark 12: 28-34

28 And there came one of the scribes that had heard them reasoning together, and seeing that he had answered them well, asked him which was the first commandment of all.

29 And Jesus answered him: The first commandment of all is, Hear, O Israel: the Lord thy God is one God.

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind, and with thy whole strength. This is the first commandment.

31 And the second is like to it: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is no other commandment greater than these.

32 And the scribe said to him: Well, Master, thou hast said in truth, that there is one God, and there is no other besides him.

33 And that he should be loved with the whole heart, and with the whole understanding, and with the whole soul, and with the whole strength; and to love one’s neighbour as one’s self, is a greater thing than all holocausts and sacrifices.

34 And Jesus seeing that he had answered wisely, said to him: Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

ST. ISIDORE THE FARMER

Isidore has become the patron of farmers and rural communities. In particular, he is the patron of Madrid, Spain, and of the United States National Rural Life Conference.

When he was barely old enough to wield a hoe, Isidore entered the service of John de Vergas, a wealthy landowner from Madrid, and worked faithfully on his estate outside the city for the rest of his life. He married a young woman as simple and upright as himself who also became a saint—Maria de la Cabeza. They had one son, who died as a child.

Isidore had deep religious instincts. He rose early in the morning to go to church and spent many a holiday devoutly visiting the churches of Madrid and surrounding areas. All day long, as he walked behind the plow, he communed with God. His devotion, one might say, became a problem, for his fellow workers sometimes complained that he often showed up late because of lingering in church too long.

He was known for his love of the poor, and there are accounts of Isidore’s supplying them miraculously with food. He had a great concern for the proper treatment of animals.

He died May 15, 1130, and was declared a saint in 1622, with Saints Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Teresa of Avila, and Philip Neri. Together, the group is known in Spain as “the five saints.”

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Reflection

Many implications can be found in a simple laborer achieving sainthood: Physical labor has dignity; sainthood does not stem from status; contemplation does not depend on learning; the simple life is conducive to holiness and happiness. Legends about angel helpers and mysterious oxen indicate that his work was not neglected and his duties did not go unfulfilled. Perhaps the truth which emerges is this: If you have your spiritual self in order, your earthly commitments will fall into order also. “[S]eek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness,” said the carpenter from Nazareth, “and all these things will be given you besides” (Matthew 6:33).

JOHN 14:1–6

The disciples are troubled because Jesus had announced that He would soon leave them(chapter 13:33). His absence ,He says,would be temporary and for their benefit. Jesus’ returning to His Father ensures that His disciples would be permitted to join Him there. In His Father’s house are many mansions, monai(Gr.) The abode of Christ and the Father with the Christian is no temporary affair, it is permanent. He will come again: this futuristic presence (futuristic eschatology) makes the event to be thought of as being certain as to be already taking place: realistic presence(realistic eschatology). The idea is ‘where’ Christ is you may also be there: Jesus longs for the manifestation of Himself in the church. When His image shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come. It is our privilege to hasten the day of glorious homecoming (2 Pet 3:12). Jesus is the Way,the Truth and the Life. By His humanity, He touches this earth, and by His divinity, He touches heaven. He is ipso facto the ladder connecting earth and heaven. There is no other means of salvation (Acts 4:12, 1Tim 2:5). Jesus Himself says “nemo venit ad Patrem nisi per me”. No one comes to the Father except through me.

In the first reading Acts 13:26-33, Paul, without wounding Jewish sensibilities, addresses them as ‘stock of Abraham'(genos Abraam: Abrahamic descent), classing himself with them but telling them that salvation rests upon the work of Jesus Christ and is gained by union with Him.

Reflection by Paul Nzioki Mbatha SC

(Servus Christi)

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus pointedly calls us to humble behavior. “Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.”

St. Catherine of Siena once heard the Lord say to her, “Remember that I AM and you are not.” And St. Paul said, “What do you possess that you have not received? But if you have received it, why are you boasting?”

To believe in God is to know these truths. To live them out is to live in the attitude of humility. Thomas Aquinas said that humility is truth. It is living out the deepest truth of things: God is God, and we are not.

Now, all of this sounds very clear when it’s stated in this abstract manner, but we know how hard it is to live out! In our fallen world, we forget so readily that we are creatures, that we have been made from nothing. Then our egos begin to inflate: “I am. I want. I expect. I demand.” The ego becomes a massive monkey on our backs, and it has to be fed and pampered constantly.

That’s why today’s Gospel is so important. We are only messengers, not greater than the Master

First Reading: Acts 13: 13-25

 

Gospel: John 13: 16-20

16 Amen, amen I say to you: The servant is not greater than his lord; neither is the apostle greater than he that sent him.

17 If you know these things, you shall be blessed if you do them.

18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen. But that the scripture may be fulfilled: He that eateth bread with me, shall lift up his heel against me.

19 At present I tell you, before it come to pass: that when it shall come to pass, you may believe that I am he.

20 Amen, amen I say to you, he that receiveth whomsoever I send, receiveth me; and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me.