Churches of the Day

Saturday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2

Saint of the Day: July 11. Saint Benedict, abbot
C/f short history of today’s saints can be found below today’s Readings and Reflection

FIRST READING


A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah       6:1-8
I am a man of unclean lips, and my eyes have looked at the King, the Lord of hosts.

In the year of King Uzziah's death I saw the Lord seated on a high throne; his train filled the sanctuary;
above him stood seraphs, each one with six wings: two to cover its face, two to cover its feet and two for flying.

And they cried out one to another in this way,
'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. His glory fills the whole earth.'

The foundations of the threshold shook with the voice of the one who cried out and the Temple was filled with smoke. I said:
'What a wretched state I am in! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have looked at the King, the Lord of hosts.'

Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding in his hand a live coal which he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. With this he touched my mouth and said:
'See now, this has touched your lips, your sin is taken away, your iniquity is purged'.
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying:
'Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?'
I answered, 'Here I am, send me.'

The Word of the Lord      Thanks be to God..

Responsorial Psalm         Ps 92: 1-2. 5.  R/v 1
Response                         The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed.

1. The Lord is king; with majesty enrobed; the Lord has robed himself with might,
he has girded himself with power.              Response

2. The world you made firm, not to be moved; your throne has stood firm from of old.
From all eternity, O Lord, you are.             Response

3. Truly your decrees are to be trusted. Holiness is fitting to your house,
O Lord, until the end of time.                      Response

Gospel  Acclamation                                1 Jn 2: 5
Alleluia, alleluia!
When anyone obeys what Christ has said God's love comes to perfection in him.
Alleluia!

Or                                                                 1 Pt 4: 14
Alleluia, alleluia!
It is a blessing for you, when they insult you for bearing the name of Jesus,
for the Spirit of God rests on you.
Alleluia

GOSPEL


The Lord be with you.                                And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew    10:24-33          Glory to you, O Lord
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body.

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows:
'The disciple is not superior to his teacher, nor the slave to his master.  It is enough for the disciple that he should grow to be like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, what will they not say of his household?

'Do not be afraid of them therefore. For everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops.

'Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Can you not buy two sparrows for a penny? And yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. So there is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.

'So if anyone declares himself for me in the presence of men, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father in heaven. But the one who disowns me in the presence of men, I will disown in the presence of my Father in heaven.'

The Gospel of the Lord.            Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

********************

Gospel Reflection         Saturday          Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time           Matthew 10:24-34

The account of the call of Isaiah in today’s gospel reading conveys a sense of the otherness and majesty of God. Isaiah saw the Lord seated on a high throne, with his train filling the sanctuary. The prophet had a profound sense of his own unworthiness to be in the presence of the all-holy one. In contrast, Jesus speaks of a God who is intimately involved with the details of his creation. Not one sparrow falls to the ground without God the Father knowing. The very hairs on the head of the disciples have been counted by God. If the humble sparrow, two of which can be bought for a penny in the market place, is precious in God’s sight, Jesus’ disciples are much more precious, ‘You are worth more than hundreds of sparrows’.

There is no conflict between the God of Isaiah and the God of Jesus. God is both infinitely beyond us and deeply involved in the details of our lives. It is because God the Father of Jesus cares so deeply about believers that we can be fearless in our witness to Jesus, declaring ourselves for him in the presence of others. The disciples are likely to suffer the same rejection as their master, but as God was faithful to his Son, bringing him through death to new life, so he will be faithful to his disciples, who are immensely precious to him. It is because of how much we mean to God that we are enabled to declare to others how much Jesus means to us. With Isaiah in the first reading we can say, ‘Here I am, send me’, knowing that the one who sends us journeys with us every step of the way. In the words of Saint Paul, ‘The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this’ (1 Thess 5:24)

________________________________

The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd. and used with the permission of the publishers.  http://dltbooks.com/
The Scripture Reflection is made available with our thanks from his book Reflections on the Weekday Readings : The Word is near to you, on your lips and in your heart by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications  c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/

________________

Saint of the Day: July 11, St Benedict, abbot, Patron of Europe

Summary, St Benedict: Born at Nursia (Umbria, Italy) about 480; died at Monte Cassino about 547. After studies in Rome he became a hermit at Subiaco, where many sought his counsel, and later founded the monastery at Monte Cassino. Noted for his widely influential monastic rule, combining work and prayer, and for his charity and moderation.


St Benedict,  founder of Western monasticism and author of the Rule which gave monasticism its constitution, exercised a fundamental influence on the development of European civilisation and culture. Because of this, in 1964, Pope Paul VI named him patron saint of Europe.

Patrick Duffy tells his story.

Early Life
St. Benedict was born, a twin with St Scholastica, into a wealthy family at Nursia in east-central Umbria around the year 480. He went to school in Rome but, disturbed by the moral laxity of other students in Rome, he left before completing his studies. Seeking peace and quiet he withdrew to Subiaco situated in the mountains about forty miles from Rome. Here he met a monk called Romanus who helped him in his first steps as a hermit.

Overcoming Temptations
At Subiaco Benedict spent three years in a cave where he "underwent the three fundamental temptations that all human beings face: self-affirmation and the desire to place oneself at the centre, ... sensuality, ... anger/ revenge" (Pope St Benedict XVI). Only by overcoming these temptations would he be able find the right words to give others in their situations of need.

First Monastery at Subiaco
Soon disciples joined him and he became the leader of a monastic community at Subiaco. Some monks there were unhappy with Benedict's strict discipline and put poison in his wine. When they brought it to Benedict to drink, he blessed it and the glass miraculously broke. "God forgive you," he exclaimed, and he went off again to the wilderness.

Ss Maur and Placidus
More monks came to Subiaco and Benedict had twelve small monasteries with twelve in each one in that area. Some Roman senators came and left their sons with Benedict for education. Some of these turned out to be his most faithful disciples, St Maur and St Placid. The story of Maur rescuing Placid from drowning in the lake of Subiaco is told in Gregory, Dialogues II,7 and in artworks and mosaics. Placid was for some centuries regarded as the patron of Benedictine novices. Others, including a local priest, became envious and spread slander about Benedict.

Second Foundation at Monte Cassino

Around 529 Benedict left Subiaco for Monte Cassino, where he built a great abbey and lived till his death in 547. Scholars, like Mabillon and Muratori, have argued from ancient pictures and inscriptions that Benedict was a deacon, but not a priest. From St Gregory's account of his life in the Dialogues, it is clear that he preached in the neighbouring areas and that he was generous to the needy.

Significance of Monte Cassino
Pope Benedict XVI recently described the decision of his namesake St Benedict to locate his monastery on Monte Cassino as symbolic. Monte Cassino is, he said, "a height that dominates the surrounding plains and is visible from a distance". "Monastic life," the Pope continued, "has its raison d'etre in withdrawal and concealment, but a monastery also has a public role in the life of the Church and of society".

Benedictine Monasteries in Ireland
Glenstal Abbey in Co Limerick (www.glenstal.org/) and Holy Cross Monastery, Rostrevor, Co. Down (www.benedictinemonks.co.uk), are two Benedictine monasteries in Ireland which strive to fulfil this ideal.

Benedict's Twin Sister
Scholastica became the first Benedictine nun and set up a nunnery at Plombaria, about five miles from Monte Cassino. Brother and sister used to meet once a year at a house some distance from his monastery. On his last visit Scholastica, sensing perhaps that the end was near for both of them, asked him to stay longer 'to discuss the joys of heaven'. When he declined, she prayed God would come to her help. Almost immediately a storm blew up. Benedict and his fellow monks could not leave. Benedict said, "God forgive you, sister. What have you done?" She replied, "I asked a favour of you and you refused. I asked God and he has granted it." They spent the night as she had wished. Three days later she died. Benedict himself seems to have died quite soon after that.

The Rule of St Benedict
The Rule of St Benedict is a book of 73 chapters describing the organisation of the life of monks living in community and striving by means of the common life, ascetic practice, prayer and work to experience a life of  fellowship with God. Its tone and tenor can be summed up in the motto of the Benedictine Confederation PAX ("peace") and the traditional adage ORA ET LABORA ("pray and work").  Benedict had a deep personal love of Jesus and his rule is Rule is wise, humane, tolerant and moderate. It stresses humility before God and each other. Its richness is that it fosters an understanding of the relational nature of human beings on their individual journeys to God. It provides for a spiritual father to support individual ascetic effort and spiritual growth.

Prayer and Love
Benedict seems to have lived his life immersed in an atmosphere of prayer and it was this prayer that made him alive to the concrete needs of his neighbours.

____________________________

******************************

Memorable Sayings for Today

Listen with the ear of your heart

~ St Benedict ~

"The devil is afraid of us when we pray and make sacrifices.
He is also afraid when we are humble and good.
He is especially afraid when we love Jesus very much.
He runs away when we make the Sign of the Cross

~ St Anthony, Abbot of the Desert~

******************************

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time,  Year A

FIRST READING

A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah           55:10-11
The rain makes the earth give growth.

Thus says the Lord:
As the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return without watering the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for the eating, so the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do.

The Word of the Lord.            Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm          Ps 64: 10-14 R/v Luke 8:8
Response                               Some seed fell into rich soil and produced its crop.

1. You care for the earth, give it water, you fill it with riches.
Your river in heaven brims over to provide its grain.                                             Response

2. And thus you provide for the earth; you drench its furrows,
you level it, soften it with showers, you bless its growth.                                       Response

3. You crown the year with your goodness. Abundance flows in your steps,
in the pastures of the wilderness it flows.                                                                 Response

4. The hills are girded with joy, the meadows covered with flocks,
the valleys are decked with wheat. They shout for joy, yes, they sing.               Response

SECOND READING       

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Romans             8:18-23
The whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his sons.

I think that what we suffer in this life can never be compared to the glory, as yet unrevealed, which is waiting for us. The whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his sons. It was not for any fault on the part of creation that it was made unable to attain its purpose, it was made so by God; but creation still retains the hope of being freed, like us, from its slavery to decadence, to enjoy the same freedom and glory as the children of God.

From the beginning till now the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth; and not only creation, but all of us who possess the first-fruits of the Spirit, we too groan inwardly as we wait for our bodies to be set free.

The Word of the Lord.                 Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation              1 Sam 3: 9, 
Alleluia, alleluia!
Speak, Lord, your servant is listening: you have the message of eternal life.
Alleluia!

or                                                 Mt 11: 25

Alleluia, alleluia!
The seed is the word of God, Christ the sower;
whoever finds this seed will remain for ever.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL                         

A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew         13:1-23
A sower went out to sow.

Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the beach, and he told them many things in parables.

He said,
'Imagine a sower going out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up straight away, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Listen, anyone who has ears!'

Then the disciples went up to him and asked, |
'Why do you talk to them in parables?'
'Because' he replied 'the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are revealed to you, but they are not revealed to them. For anyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. The reason I talk to them in parables is that they look without seeing and listen without hearing or understanding. So in their case this prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled:
You will listen and listen again, but not understand, see and see again, but not perceive.
For the heart of this nation has grown coarse, their ears are dull of hearing, and they have shut their eyes,
for fear they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and be converted and
be healed by me.

'But happy are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear! I tell you solemnly, many prophets and holy men longed to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.

'You, therefore, are to hear the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom without understanding, the evil one comes and carries off what was sown in his heart: this is the man who received the seed on the edge of the path. The one who received it on patches of rock is the man who hears the word and welcomes it at once with joy. But he has no root in him, he does not last; let some trial come, or some persecution on account of the word, and he falls away at once. The one who received the seed in thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this world and the lure of riches choke the word and so he produces nothing. And the one who received the seed in rich soil is the man who hears the word and understands it; he is the one who yields a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty.'

The Gospel of the Lord.         Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here:  https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/

_______________________________

Shorter form
GOSPEL                    

A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew               13:1-9
A sower went out to sow.

Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the beach, and he told them many things in parables.

He said,
'Imagine a sower going out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up straight away, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Listen, anyone who has ears!'

The Gospel of the Lord.        Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.




Taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966, by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House Inc, and used by permission of the publishers.