January 25 2008 Friday 2nd Week Ordinary Time
About the sources used. The readings on this site are not official for the Mass of Roman Rite of the Catholic Church in the USA, but are from sources free from copyright. They are here to present the comparable readings alongside traditional Catholic commentary as published in the Haydock Bible. Readings vary depending on your local calendar.
Official Readings of the Liturgy at – http://www.usccb.org/nab/012508.shtml – Note. The Official Liturgical readings may not perfectly match the current NAB you may have.
– I got caught up in a few things tonight so the Scripture texts aren’t from the Haydock. All Bible Text today from SacredBible.org. Updated with a personal transcription of the Haydock notes. Essentially the same material. Have begun to include the Catena Aurea.
Acts of the Apostles 22:3-16
Douay-Rheims Challoner
3 And he saith: I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the truth of the law of the fathers, zealous for the law, as also all you are this day: 4 Who persecuted this way unto death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, 5 As the high priest doth bear me witness and all the ancients. From whom also receiving letters to the brethren, I went to Damascus, that I might bring them bound from thence to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 And it came to pass, as I was going and drawing nigh to Damascus, at mid-day, that suddenly from heaven there shone round about me a great light: 7 And falling on the ground, I heard a voice saying to me: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
8 And I answered: Who art thou, Lord? And he said to me: I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. 9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light: but they heard not the voice of him that spoke with me. 10 And I said: What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me: Arise and go to Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things that thou must do.
11 And whereas I did not see for the brightness of that light, being led by the hand by my companions, I came to Damascus, 12 And one Ananias, a man according to the law, having testimony of all the Jews who dwelt there, 13 Coming to me and standing by me, said to me: Brother Saul, look up. And I, the same hour, looked upon him. 14 But he said: The God of our fathers hath preordained thee that thou shouldst know his will and see the Just One and shouldst hear the voice from his mouth. 15 For thou shalt be his witness to all men of those things which thou hast seen and heard. 16 And now why tarriest thou? Rise up and be baptized and wash away thy sins, invoking his name.
Or Acts 9:1-22
Douay-Rheims Challoner
1 And Saul, as yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 And asked of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues: that if he found any men and women of this way, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.3 And as he went on his journey, it came to pass that he drew nigh to Damascus. And suddenly a light from heaven shined round about him. 4 And falling on the ground, he heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 Who said: Who art thou, Lord? And he: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the goad.
6 And he, trembling and astonished, said: Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? 7 And the Lord said to him: Arise and go into the city; and there it shall be told thee what thou must do. Now the men who went in company with him stood amazed, hearing indeed a voice but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the ground: and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. But they, leading him by the hands, brought him to Damascus. 9 And he was there three days without sight: and he did neither eat nor drink.
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision: Ananias, And he said: Behold I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said to him: Arise and go into the street that is called Strait and seek in the house of Judas, one named Saul of Tarsus. For behold he prayeth. 12 (And he saw a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hands upon him, that he might receive his sight.) 13 But Ananias answered: Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that invoke thy name.
15 And the Lord said to him: Go thy way: for this man is to me a vessel of election, to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
17 And Ananias went his way and entered into the house. And laying his hands upon him, he said: Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus hath sent me, he that appeared to thee in the way as thou camest, that thou mayest receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales: and he received his sight. And rising up, he was baptized. 19 And when he had taken meat, he was strengthened. And he was with the disciples that were at Damascus, for some days.
20 And immediately he preached Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the son of God. 21 And all that heard him were astonished and said: Is not this he who persecuted in Jerusalem those that called upon this name and came hither for that intent, that he might carry them bound to the chief priests? 22 But Saul increased much more in strength and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, affirming that this is the Christ.
Responsorial Psalm 116 (Heb 117)
Douay-Rheims Challoner Text Only
1 O Praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
2 For his mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever.
The Gospel According to Saint Mark 16:15-18
Douay-Rheims Challoner
15 And he said to them:
Go ye into the whole world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall he condemned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast out devils. They shall speak with new tongues. 18 They shall take up serpents: and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay their hand upon the sick: and they shall recover.
Haydock Commentary Acts 22:3-16
- Ver. 3. The scholars sat much below their master; and the nearest the master were usch as had made the greatest proficiency. Philo de Essenis.
- Ver. 4. This way. That is, the Christian faith, which now I profess. Wi.
- Ver. 5. As the high priest doth bear me witness. That is, as the letters which he gave me, bear witness. Wi.
- Ver. 9. Heard not the voice. To reconcile this with c. ix. v. 7. where it is said that they heard the voice; it may be answered that they heard a noise, and a voice, but heard it not distinctly, nor so as to understand the words. Wi.—They heard not the voice of him who spoke to the apostle, but they heard the latter speak; (Acts ix. 7) or perhaps they heard a noise, which they could not understand. They perhaps heard the voice of Paul answering, but not that of Christ complaining.
- Ver. 14. Shouldst … see the Just One. Our Saviour appeared to S. Paul, as it is said; (c. ix. 7.) and he is divers times, both in the Prophets and in the Testament, called the Just One. Wi.—To see and hear the Just One; Him, who is just be excellence, that you also may prove a witness of his resurrection from the dead.
- Ver. 16. Wash, &c. The contrition and charity of S. Paul had, no doubt, merited for him the remission of his sins at the moment of his conversion. Still were these effects to be attributed to the desire of the sacrament of baptism, without which the council of Trent defines that the forgiveness of sins, and the punishment due to them, are not obtained. It likewise added a new degree of luster to his innocence and purity. Tirinus.—Calling upon his name. In such manner, says S. Chrys. (hom. xlvii.) as we invoke the only true God; and as we invoke the saints, and pray to them, that they would pray for us. Wi.
Haydock Commentary Acts 9:1-22
- Ver. 4. Why dost thou persecute me? My disciples, my brothers, and my friends. The head speaks for the members, and by a figure of speech, calls them itself. S. Aug. in Ps. xxx.—Here Jesus Christ identifies himself with his Church, as on a former occasion, when he said: he that heareth you, heareth me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth me. Lk x. 16.
- Ver. 5. To kick against the goad. Others translate against the pricks; others, against the sting. The metaphor is taken from oxen kicking, when pricked to go forward. Wi.
- Ver. 7. There is shall be told thee. &c. the Almighty having established a Church, and ministry, the depositories of his doctrines, does not, even on this extraordinary occasion, transgress his own laws; but sends him to the ministers of religion, that instruction may be imparted through them, as though its proper channel. This observation is worthy the notice of the self-inspired of the present day, who pretend to receive their light direct from heaven. Nothing can be more opposite to the spirit of the gospel than such delusion. A.—Hear the great S. Augustin: “Paul, though with the divine and heavenly voice prostrated and instructed, yet was sent to a man to receive the sacraments, and to be joined to the Church.” De Doct. Chris. l. i. in prœm.—Hearing, &c. This may be reconciled with what is said in the 22nd Chap. by supposing they heard only S. Paul speak, or heard only a confused noise, which they could not understand. Calmet.
- Ver. 8. And his eyes being open, either himself, or by others, he saw nothing. See the circumstances related again, c. xxii. and xxvi. Wi.
- Ver. 9. Three days. During this time, he neither eat nor drank, to testify his sorrow for his past conduct. He likewise spent the time in prayer, to prepare himself for the reception of grace. S. Chrys. hom. xix.
- Ver. 12. And he saw a man, &c. This verse, which is by way of a parenthesis, contains the words of the historian, S. Luke, telling us what S. Paul saw in a vision, and what the Spirit at the same time revealed to Ananias. Wi.—This verse is a parenthesis. It contains not the words of Christ to Ananias, but S. Luke here relates what was shewn to Paul, at the time Ananias entered. This vision was shewn to him, that he might know Ananias was sent by God. Menochius.
- Ver. 15. A vessel of election. A chosen elect vessel, and minister of the gospel. Wi.—σκεῦος ἐκλογῆς, an organ, or instrument. Thus Polybius uses the word, speaking of Damocles, δδέ ήυ ύπηρετικόυ σκεΰος, he was an excellent and choice character.
- Ver. 17. Laying his hands on him. This imposition of hands, made use of on different occasions, was to pray that he might receive his sight, as well as the grace of the Holy Ghost, which God sometimes gave to persons not yet baptized, as to Cornelius. Acts. x. 44. Wi.—This imposition of hands, was not the same as that, by which the faithful were confirmed, or ordained minsters, but a ceremony commonly used by the apostles to restore health to the sick. If Saul, in consequence, receives the Holy Ghost, it was an extraordinary miraculous event, which was not an unfrequent circumstance in the infancy of Christianity. The Almighty, who establishes the laws of grace, can dispense with them himself whenever he pleases. Calmet.
Haydock Commentary Mark 16:15-18
- Ver. 16. Let those weep and lament who have not yet seen him, and in a short time they shall receive consolation. Blessed are they that weep, for they shall be comforted, S. Matt. v. S. Jerome.—Perhaps some one will say within himself, I have already believed, I shall be saved: he says true, if his faith be supported by good works; for that is true faith, which does not contradict in works what is believed in words. S. Greg.
Catena Aurea Mark 16:15-18
Greg.: After rebuking the hardness of their hearts, let us hear the words of advice which He speaks. For it goes on: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.” Every man must be understood by “every creature;” for man partakes something of every creatures; he has existence as have stones, life as trees, feeling as animals, understanding as have Angels. For the Gospel is preached to every creature, because He is taught by it, for whose sake all are created, whom all things are in some way like, and from whom therefore they are not alien. By the name of every creature also every nation of the Gentiles may be meant. For it had been said before, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles.” [Matt 10:5] But now it is said, “Preach the Gospel to every creature,” so that the preaching of the Apostles which was thrust aside by Judaea, might be an assistance to us, since Judaea had haughtily rejected it, thus witnessing to her own damnation.
Theophylact: Or else; to every creature, that is, whether believing or unbelieving. It goes on: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” For it is not enough to believe, for he who believeth and is not baptized, but is a catechumen, has not yet attained to perfect salvation.
Greg.: But perhaps some one may say in himself, I have already believed, I shall be saved. He says what is true, if he keeps his faith by works; for that is a true faith, which does not contradict by its deeds what it says in words. There follows: “But he that believeth not shall be damned.”
Bede: What shall we say here about infants, who by reason of their age cannot yet believe; for as to older persons there is no question. In the Church then of our Saviour, children believe by others, as also they drew from others the sins which are remitted to them in baptism. It goes on: “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents.”
Theophylact: That is, they shall scatter before them serpents, whether intellectual or sensible, as it is said, Ye shall tread upon serpents and scorpions, [Luke 10:19] which is understood spiritually. But it may also mean sensible serpents, as when Paul received no hurt from the viper. There follows: “And if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them.” We read of many such cases in history, for many persons have drank poison unhurt, by guarding themselves with the sign of Christ. It goes on: “They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
Greg.: Are we then without faith because we cannot do these signs? Nay, but these things were necessary in the beginning of the Church, for the faith of believers was to be nourished by miracles, that it might increase. Thus we also, when we plant groves, strong in the earth; but when once they have firmly fixed their roots, we leave off irrigating them.
These signs and miracles have other things which we ought to consider more minutely. For Holy Church does every day in spirit what then the Apostles did in body; for when her Priests by the grace of exorcism lay their hands on believers, and forbid the evil spirits to dwell in their minds, what do they, but cast out devils?
And the faithful who have left earthly words, and whose tongues sound forth the Holy Mysteries, speak a new language; they who by their good warnings take away evil from the hearts of others, take up serpents; and when they are hearing words of pestilent persuasion, without being at all drawn aside to evil doing, they drink a deadly thing, but it will never hurt them; whenever they see their neighbours growing weak in good works, and by their good example strengthen their life, they lay their hands on the sick, that they may recover.
And all these miracles are greater in proportion as they are spiritual, and by them souls and not bodies are raised.
Daily Bible Readings January 25 2008 2nd Friday Ordinary Time
Posted by Bob on January 25, 2008
January 25 2008 Friday 2nd Week Ordinary Time
About the sources used. The readings on this site are not official for the Mass of Roman Rite of the Catholic Church in the USA, but are from sources free from copyright. They are here to present the comparable readings alongside traditional Catholic commentary as published in the Haydock Bible. Readings vary depending on your local calendar.
Official Readings of the Liturgy at – http://www.usccb.org/nab/012508.shtml – Note. The Official Liturgical readings may not perfectly match the current NAB you may have.
– I got caught up in a few things tonight so the Scripture texts aren’t from the Haydock. All Bible Text today from SacredBible.org. Updated with a personal transcription of the Haydock notes. Essentially the same material. Have begun to include the Catena Aurea.
Acts of the Apostles 22:3-16
Douay-Rheims Challoner
3 And he saith: I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the truth of the law of the fathers, zealous for the law, as also all you are this day: 4 Who persecuted this way unto death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, 5 As the high priest doth bear me witness and all the ancients. From whom also receiving letters to the brethren, I went to Damascus, that I might bring them bound from thence to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 And it came to pass, as I was going and drawing nigh to Damascus, at mid-day, that suddenly from heaven there shone round about me a great light: 7 And falling on the ground, I heard a voice saying to me: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
8 And I answered: Who art thou, Lord? And he said to me: I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. 9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light: but they heard not the voice of him that spoke with me. 10 And I said: What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me: Arise and go to Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things that thou must do.
11 And whereas I did not see for the brightness of that light, being led by the hand by my companions, I came to Damascus, 12 And one Ananias, a man according to the law, having testimony of all the Jews who dwelt there, 13 Coming to me and standing by me, said to me: Brother Saul, look up. And I, the same hour, looked upon him. 14 But he said: The God of our fathers hath preordained thee that thou shouldst know his will and see the Just One and shouldst hear the voice from his mouth. 15 For thou shalt be his witness to all men of those things which thou hast seen and heard. 16 And now why tarriest thou? Rise up and be baptized and wash away thy sins, invoking his name.
Or Acts 9:1-22
Douay-Rheims Challoner
1 And Saul, as yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 And asked of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues: that if he found any men and women of this way, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.3 And as he went on his journey, it came to pass that he drew nigh to Damascus. And suddenly a light from heaven shined round about him. 4 And falling on the ground, he heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 Who said: Who art thou, Lord? And he: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the goad.
6 And he, trembling and astonished, said: Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? 7 And the Lord said to him: Arise and go into the city; and there it shall be told thee what thou must do. Now the men who went in company with him stood amazed, hearing indeed a voice but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the ground: and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. But they, leading him by the hands, brought him to Damascus. 9 And he was there three days without sight: and he did neither eat nor drink.
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision: Ananias, And he said: Behold I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said to him: Arise and go into the street that is called Strait and seek in the house of Judas, one named Saul of Tarsus. For behold he prayeth. 12 (And he saw a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hands upon him, that he might receive his sight.) 13 But Ananias answered: Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that invoke thy name.
15 And the Lord said to him: Go thy way: for this man is to me a vessel of election, to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
17 And Ananias went his way and entered into the house. And laying his hands upon him, he said: Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus hath sent me, he that appeared to thee in the way as thou camest, that thou mayest receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales: and he received his sight. And rising up, he was baptized. 19 And when he had taken meat, he was strengthened. And he was with the disciples that were at Damascus, for some days.
20 And immediately he preached Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the son of God. 21 And all that heard him were astonished and said: Is not this he who persecuted in Jerusalem those that called upon this name and came hither for that intent, that he might carry them bound to the chief priests? 22 But Saul increased much more in strength and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, affirming that this is the Christ.
Responsorial Psalm 116 (Heb 117)
Douay-Rheims Challoner Text Only
1 O Praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
2 For his mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever.
The Gospel According to Saint Mark 16:15-18
Douay-Rheims Challoner
15 And he said to them:
Go ye into the whole world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall he condemned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast out devils. They shall speak with new tongues. 18 They shall take up serpents: and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay their hand upon the sick: and they shall recover.
Haydock Commentary Acts 22:3-16
Haydock Commentary Acts 9:1-22
Haydock Commentary Mark 16:15-18
Catena Aurea Mark 16:15-18
Greg.: After rebuking the hardness of their hearts, let us hear the words of advice which He speaks. For it goes on: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.” Every man must be understood by “every creature;” for man partakes something of every creatures; he has existence as have stones, life as trees, feeling as animals, understanding as have Angels. For the Gospel is preached to every creature, because He is taught by it, for whose sake all are created, whom all things are in some way like, and from whom therefore they are not alien. By the name of every creature also every nation of the Gentiles may be meant. For it had been said before, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles.” [Matt 10:5] But now it is said, “Preach the Gospel to every creature,” so that the preaching of the Apostles which was thrust aside by Judaea, might be an assistance to us, since Judaea had haughtily rejected it, thus witnessing to her own damnation.
Theophylact: Or else; to every creature, that is, whether believing or unbelieving. It goes on: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” For it is not enough to believe, for he who believeth and is not baptized, but is a catechumen, has not yet attained to perfect salvation.
Greg.: But perhaps some one may say in himself, I have already believed, I shall be saved. He says what is true, if he keeps his faith by works; for that is a true faith, which does not contradict by its deeds what it says in words. There follows: “But he that believeth not shall be damned.”
Bede: What shall we say here about infants, who by reason of their age cannot yet believe; for as to older persons there is no question. In the Church then of our Saviour, children believe by others, as also they drew from others the sins which are remitted to them in baptism. It goes on: “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents.”
Theophylact: That is, they shall scatter before them serpents, whether intellectual or sensible, as it is said, Ye shall tread upon serpents and scorpions, [Luke 10:19] which is understood spiritually. But it may also mean sensible serpents, as when Paul received no hurt from the viper. There follows: “And if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them.” We read of many such cases in history, for many persons have drank poison unhurt, by guarding themselves with the sign of Christ. It goes on: “They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
Greg.: Are we then without faith because we cannot do these signs? Nay, but these things were necessary in the beginning of the Church, for the faith of believers was to be nourished by miracles, that it might increase. Thus we also, when we plant groves, strong in the earth; but when once they have firmly fixed their roots, we leave off irrigating them.
These signs and miracles have other things which we ought to consider more minutely. For Holy Church does every day in spirit what then the Apostles did in body; for when her Priests by the grace of exorcism lay their hands on believers, and forbid the evil spirits to dwell in their minds, what do they, but cast out devils?
And the faithful who have left earthly words, and whose tongues sound forth the Holy Mysteries, speak a new language; they who by their good warnings take away evil from the hearts of others, take up serpents; and when they are hearing words of pestilent persuasion, without being at all drawn aside to evil doing, they drink a deadly thing, but it will never hurt them; whenever they see their neighbours growing weak in good works, and by their good example strengthen their life, they lay their hands on the sick, that they may recover.
And all these miracles are greater in proportion as they are spiritual, and by them souls and not bodies are raised.
Posted in Apostles, Bible Readings, Catholic, Christian, Commentary, Daily Readings, Faith and Works, God, Gospel, Haydock, Heaven, Jesus, Liturgical, Miracles, New Testament, Obedience, Praise, Religion, Repentance, Salvation, Sin, Theology, Wisdom, Worldly Detachment | Comments Off