Daily Bible Readings Thursday April 30 2009 Third Week of Easter

April 30 2009 Thursday Third Week of Easter
Saint of the Day – St. Pius V

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 for your own personal study. Readings vary depending on your local calendar.

Official Readings of the Liturgy at – http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/043009.shtml

Acts 8:26-40
Haydock New Testament

Now an Angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying:

Arise, and go towards the south to the way that goeth down from Jerusalem to Gaza; this is desert.

And rising up, he went. And behold a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch, of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge over all her treasures, had come to Jerusalem to adore: And he was returning, sitting in his chariot, and reading Isaias, the prophet. And the Spirit said to Philip:

Go near, and join thyself to that chariot.

And Philip running thither, heard him reading the prophet, Isaias, and he said:

Thinkest thou that thou understandest what thou readest?

He said:

How can I, unless some one shew me?

And he desired Philip to come up, and sit with him. And the place of the Scripture, which he was reading, was this: As a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb without a voice before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth. In humility his judgment was taken away. Who shall declare his generation, for his life shall be taken away from the earth? And the eunuch answering Philip, said:

I beseech thee, of whom doth the prophet speak this? of himself, or of some other?

Then Philip, opening his mouth, and beginning at that Scripture, preached to him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water: and the eunuch saith;

See, here is water, what hindereth me from being baptized?

And Philip said:

If thou believest with thy whole heart, thou mayest.

And he answering, said:

I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, Philip, and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took away Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more. And he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found in Azotus, and passing through, he preached the gospel to all the cities, till he came to Cæsarea.

Responsorial Psalm 65:8-9, 16-17, 20 (Ps 66 NAB)
DR Challoner Text Only

O bless our God, ye Gentiles: and make the voice of his praise to be heard.
Who hath set my soul to live: and hath not suffered my feet to be moved:
Come and hear, all ye that fear God,
and I will tell you what great things he hath done for my soul.
I cried to him with my mouth: and I extolled him with my tongue.
Blessed be God, who hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ According to Saint John 6:44-51
Haydock New Testament

Jesus said:

No man can come to me, except the Father, who hath sent me, draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets: And they shall all be taught of God.

Every one that hath heard of the Father, and hath learned, cometh to me. Not that nay man hath seen the Father, but he, who is of God, he hath seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say unto you: He that believeth in me, hath everlasting life.

I am the bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the desert, and they died. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven: that if any one eat of it, he may not die. I am the living bread, which came down from heaven.

Haydock Commentary 8:26-40
Notes Copied From Haydock Commentary Site

• Ver. 26. This is desert. In construction, whether we regard the Latin or Greek, to be desert, may either agree to the way leading to Gaza, or the city itself, which formerly had been almost destroyed. Wi. — To the site of old Gaza, which was then a desert; above which was built the new Gaza, nearer the sea. V. — Beza frequently makes very free with S. Luke, and in his annotations, an. 1556, says the text is wrong; it cannot be so.
• Ver. 27. An eunuch. It is likely a proselyte converted to the Jewish religion. He shews his zeal and devotion, says S. Chrys. not only by coming to Jerusalem, but by reading the prophets in his chariot. Wi.
• Ver. 31. How can I, unless some one shew me,[3] or be a guide to me, as in the Greek. Let every one, and especially the unlearned, take good notice of these words, not to wrest the Scriptures to his own perdition. To follow his own private judgment, or his private spirit, is to make choice of a blind and incompetent guide, as to the sense of the Scriptures, and the mysteries of faith. See the preface to the gospel of S. John. Wi. — It appears this eunuch was not one of those, who are now so commonly seen, who think the Scripture is every where plain, and the sense open to every body. Such would do much better to acknowledge, that they stand in need of a guide. Grotius, hic. — S. Jerom, in his letter to Paulinus, printed at the head of the Latin Bibles, shews the necessity of an interpreter. The apostles themselves could not understand the Scriptures till Christ gave them the knowledge; tunc aperuit illis sensum ut intelligerent scripturas. Lu. xxiv. 45.
• Ver. 32-33. As a sheep, or a lamb, &c. The eunuch, by divine Providence, was now reading the 53d chap. of Isaias, which is of Christ, and his sufferings. — In humility his judgment was taken away. The sense seems to be, that Christ having humbled himself, so as to undergo an unjust judgment, or condemnation to die on the cross, hath been again raised from the dead, and delivered from that judgment by his glorious resurrection and ascension. Wi.
• Ver. 36. Here is water. This shews, that baptism is to be given with water. Wi.
• Ver. 37. If thou believest, &c. The Scripture many times mentions one disposition, when others no less necessary are supposed, as here a sorrow for sins, a firm hope, love of God, &c. Wi. — Faith is thus seen to be a necessary predisposition in the adult, for the reception of baptism. They must answer for themselves; but infants are baptized in the faith of the Church. Their sponsors, who receive them from the font, answer for them. D. Diony. Carthus. — And as the defilement was not personal, but that of others, so are they purified by the faith of others.
• Ver. 38. We are not to suppose that in the administration of the sacraments in the primitive Church, nothing more was done than what we read, totidem litteris, in the Scripture. S. Augustin answers this, when he says: “insomuch that he saith, Philip baptized him, he would have it understood, that all things were done, which though in the Scripture, for brevity sake, they are not mentioned, yet by order of tradition we know were to be done.”

Haydock Commentary John 6:44-51

• Ver. 44. Draw him. Not by compulsion, nor by laying the free-will under any necessity, but by the strong and sweet motions of his heavenly grace. Ch. — We are drawn to the Father by some secret pleasure, delight, or love, which brings us to the Father. “Believe and you come to the Father,” says S. Austin, “Love, and you are drawn. The Jews could not believe, because they would not.” God, by his power, could have overcome their hardness of heart; but he was not bound to do it; neither had they any right to expect this favour, after the many miracles which they had seen. Calmet.
• Ver. 45. Every one, therefore, that hath heard of the Father, and hath learned of him who I am, cometh to me by faith and obedience. As to others, when the Scripture says they are taught by God, this is to be understood of an interior spiritual instruction, which takes place in the soul, and does not fall under the senses; but not less real on that account, because it is the heart, which hears the voice of this invisible teacher.
• Ver. 47. Thus Jesus Christ concludes the first part of his discourse: “Amen, amen, he that believeth in me, hath everlasting life;” which shews that faith is a necessary predisposition to the heavenly bread.
• Ver. 48. Because the multitude still insisted in begging for their corporal nourishment and remembering the food that was given to their fathers, Christ, to shew that all were figures of the present spiritual food, answered, that he was the bread of life. Theophylact. — Here Jesus Christ proceeds to the second part of his discourse, in which he fully explains what that bread of life is, which he is about to bestow upon mankind in the mystery of the holy Eucharist. He declares then, in the first place, that he is the bread of eternal life, and mentions its several properties; and secondly, he applies to his own person, and to his own flesh, the idea of this bread, such as he has defined it.
• Ver. 51. Christ now no longer calls the belief in him, or the preaching of the gospel, the bread that he will give them; but he declares that it is his own flesh, and that flesh which shall be given for the life of the world. Calmet. — This bread Christ then gave, when he gave the mystery of his body and blood to his disciples. Ven. Bede.

Daily Bible Readings Wednesday April 29 2009 Memorial of St Catherine of Sienna Virgin and Doctor of the Church

April 29 2009 Wednesday Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena,
virgin and doctor of the Church
Saint of the Day – St. Catherine of Siena

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 for your own personal study. Readings vary depending on your local calendar.

Official Readings of the Liturgy at – http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/042909.shtml

The Acts of the Apostles 8:1b-8 (In DR/Haydock 1-9)
Haydock NT

AND at that time there was raised a great persecution against the church, which was at Jerusalem, and they were all dispersed through the countries of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men took care of Stephen’s funeral, and made great mourning over him. But Saul ravaged the church, entering into the houses, and dragging away men and women, committed them to prison.

They, therefore, who were dispersed, went out about preaching the word of God. And Philip going down to the city of Samaria, preached Christ to them. And the people were attentive to those things which were said by Philip, with one accord hearing, and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, went out of many who were possessed. And many taken with the palsy, and that were lame, were healed. There was therefore great joy in that city.

Responsorial Psalm 65:1-3a, 4-7a (Ps 66 NAB)
DR Challoner Text Only

Shout with joy to God, all the earth,
Sing ye a psalm to his name;
give glory to his praise.
Say unto God, How terrible are thy works, O Lord!
Let all the earth adore thee, and sing to thee:
let it sing a psalm to thy name.
Come and see the works of God;
who is terrible in his counsels over the sons of men.
Who turneth the sea into dry land,
in the river they shall pass on foot:
there shall we rejoice in him.
Who by his power ruleth for ever:

The Gospel According to John 6:35-40
Haydock NT

And Jesus said to them:

I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me, shall not hunger: and he that believeth in me, shall never thirst. But I said to you, that you also have seen me, and you believe not. All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me: and him that cometh to me, I will not cast out: Because I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me.

Now this is the will of the Father, that sent me: that of all that he hath given me, I should not lose thereof, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of my Father, who sent me: that every one who seeth the Son, and believeth in him, may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

Haydock Commentary Acts 8:1b-8 (In DR/Haydock 1-9)
Notes Copied From Haydock Commentary Site

• Ver. 1. Were dispersed. During this great persecution of the Church, those who could not conceal themselves, were dispersed into different countries. Thus did the Almighty make use of the malice of his enemies, to the greater exaltation and glory of his own name. For those who fled, carried with them the light of the gospel, wherever they went. Tirinus. — They were burning torches, which communicated of their holy fire to every place, in which they were scattered. S. Aug. Serm. cxvi. — Thus was the gospel disseminated from Jerusalem into all Judea and Samaria. — And Samaria. Though our Saviour in his life time had forbid them to preach to the Samaritans, (Matt. x. 5.) they now knew that the time of that precept was past. Wi.
• Ver. 2. Took care. In an ancient work, which give the history of the finding of S. Stephen’s body, generally considered authentic, and printed at the end of the 7th vol. of S. Augustin’s works, we find the following account. “Stephen having been stoned without the northern gate, lay there without burial one day and a night, according to the order of the Jewish rulers, that his body might become a prey to birds and beasts, but God did not suffer either to touch it.” — “Then I, Gamaliel, compassionating these servants of Jesus Christ, and desiring to have some share in the faith and religion of this holy man, sent among the Jews some Christians who feared God, dwelling at Jerusalem, to take away privately the body, and bring it in my chariot to my country house, where it was deposited in my tomb towards the east, and we mourned over it for forty days,” &c. It is an injury to pray for a martyr, who ought to assist us by his prayers. S. Aug. Serm. xvii. — We see great devotion used in burying his body, and four centuries afterwards, at the finding and translating thereof. Very many miracles were performed on that occasion, as S. Augustin witnesses in his work de Civitate Dei. l. xxii. c. 8, and Serm. de S. Steph. T. viii.

Haydock Commentary John 6:35-40

• Ver. 36. You demand this bread; behold it is before you, and yet you eat it not. I am the bread; to believe in me is to eat me. You see me, but you believe not in me. S. Austin. — It is to this place that those words of S. Austin are to be referred: “Why do you prepare your teeth and belly? believe in me, and you have eaten me.” Words which do not destroy the real presence, of which he is not speaking in this verse. Maldon. 35. — Jesus Christ leads them gradually to this great mystery, which he knows will prove a stumbling block to many. The chapter begins with the miraculous multiplication of the loaves; then Christ walking on the sea; next he blames the Jews for following him not through faith in his miracles, but for the loaves and fishes, and tells them to labour for that nourishment which perishes not, by believing in Him, whom the Father had sent; and then promises, that what their fathers had received in figure only, the manna, the faithful shall receive in reality; his own body and blood.
• Ver. 38. Christ does not say this as if he did not whatever he wished; but he recommends to us his humility. He who comes to me shall not be cast forth, but shall be incorporated with me, because he shall not do his own will, but that of my Father. And therefore he shall not be cast forth; because when he was proud, he did his own will, and was rejected. None but the humble can come to me. S. Hilary and S. Austin. — An humble and sincere faith is essentially necessary to believe the great mysteries of the Catholic faith, by means of which we come to God and believe in God. A.

Daily Bible Readings Tuesday April 28 2009 Third Week of Easter

April 28 2009 Tuesday Third Week of Easter
Saint of the Day – St. Peter Chanel

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 for your own personal study. Readings vary depending on your local calendar.

Official Readings of the Liturgy at – http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/042809.shtml

Acts 7:51 – 8:1a
Haydock New Testament

Stephen said:

Stoning of St Stephen - Pietro da Cortona 1660

Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do you also. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them who foretold of the coming of the Just One: of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of Angels, and have not kept it.

Now hearing these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed with their teeth at him. But he being full of the Holy Ghost, looking up steadfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said:

Behold I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.

And they crying out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and with one accord rushed violently upon him. And casting him out of the city, they stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, invoking and saying;

Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

And falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, saying;

Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.

And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord. And Saul was consenting to his death. AND at that time there was raised a great persecution against the church, which was at Jerusalem, and they were all dispersed through the countries of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Responsorial Psalm 30:3cd-4, 6 and 7b and 8a, 17 and 21ab
DR Challoner Text Only

Be thou unto me a God, a protector,
and a house of refuge, to save me.
For thou art my strength and my refuge;
and for thy name’s sake thou wilt lead me, and nourish me.
Into thy hands I commend my spirit:
thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth.
But I have hoped in the Lord:
I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy.
Make thy face to shine upon thy servant;
save me in thy mercy.
Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy face,
from the disturbance of men.

The Gospel According to Saint John 6:30-35
Haydock NT

They said, therefore, to him:

What sign then dost thou shew that we may see, and may believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

Then Jesus said to them:

Amen, amen, I say unto you: Moses gave you not bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world.

Then they said to him:

Lord, give us always this bread.

And Jesus said to them:

I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me, shall not hunger: and he that believeth in me, shall never thirst.

Haydock Commentary Acts 7:51—8:1a (matches the readings)
Copied from the Haydock Commentary Site

• Ver. 51. Ye stiff-necked, and uncircumcised in heart. S. Stephen, inspired by the Holy Ghost, knowing he should die a martyr, boldly reproaches them for persecuting the prophets, for putting to death the just one, that is, the Messias, foretold by the prophets. Wi. — Observe the holy indignation of S. Stephen at the obduracy of the incredulous Jews!
• Ver. 54. They were cut to the heart: exasperated even to rage and madness. See c. v, v. 33. Gnashing their teeth with indignation. Wi.
• Ver. 55. This is the comfort of all martyrs. B. — This the support of every Christian under the severest trials of either mind or body: this the sweetener of every burthen and cross.
• Ver. 56. Stopped their ears, crying out, blasphemy: and they stoned him to death. He praying for them, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit, in imitation of his Lord and Master, our Saviour Christ. And[5] reposed in the Lord. Lit. slept. In most Greek copies, are now wanting, in the Lord; but it is no doubt the sense. Wi. — Rushed in violently upon him. This proceeding, without any sentence, or form of law, was altogether irregular; and never used in the better times of the Jewish government. This was called, judgment of zeal, and only allowed in one instance, viz. when any one came to draw the people to idolatry. Afterwards, this kind of proceeding was extended to other crimes. See Deut. xiii. 6. Num. xxiv. 1 Mac. Xi. 24, &c.
• Ver. 58. Invoking. See with what arms S. Stephen defended himself against the fury of his enemies. He puts on charity for a breast-place, and by that came off victorious. By his love of God, he resisted the enraged Jews; by the love he bore his neighbour, he prayed for those that stoned him. Through charity, he admonished them of their errors, in order to their amendment; through charity, he besought the divine goodness not to punish their crimes against him. Leaning on charity, he overcame the cruelty of Saul, and merited to have him a companion in heaven, who had been his chief persecutor on earth. S. Falgentius, Serm. de S. Steph. — We here again see the powerful intercession of the saints; “for,” says S. Augustin, “if Stephen had not thus prayed, the Church would not have to glory in a S. Paul. Si Stephanus non sic orasset, Ecclesia Paulum non haberet.” Serm. i. de S. Steph.

Haydock Commentary John 6:30-35

• Ver. 30. What sign then dost thou shew? And foreseeing that he might, with great propriety, allege the recent miracle, they contrast it with what Moses performed in the desert. It is true, they say, you once fed 5,000 persons with five loaves; but our fathers, to the number of 600,000 did eat, not for once, but during forty years, manna in the desert; a species of food infinitely superior to barley bread. V. See Numbers i. 46.
• Ver. 31. Christ having declared that he was greater than Moses, (since Moses could not promise them bread which should never perish) the Jews wished for some sign by which they might believe in him; therefore they say, Our fathers did eat manna in the desert, but you have only given us bread; where then is the food that perishes not? Christ therefore answers them, that the food which Moses gave them, was not the true manna from heaven, but that it was only a figure of himself, who came down from heaven to give life to the world. S. Aug. — S. Chrysostom observes, that the Jews here acknowledge Christ to be God, since they entreat Christ not merely to ask his Father to give it them; but, do thou thyself give it us.
• Ver. 32. Moses gave you not bread from heaven; i.e. the manna was not given to your forefathers by Moses, but by God’s goodness. 2dly, neither came it from heaven, but from the clouds, or from the region of the air only. 3dly, It did not make them that eat it live for ever; but they that spiritually eat me, the living bread; that is, believe in me, and keep my commandments, shall live for ever. — V. 37, 44, and 66. No one can come to me, unless the Father draw him.[1] These verses are commonly expounded of God’s elect; who are not only called, but saved, by a particular mercy and providence of God. God is said to draw them to himself by special and effectual graces, yet without any force or necessity, without prejudice to the liberty of their free-will. A man, says S. Aug. is said to be drawn by his pleasures, and by what he loves. Wi.
• Ver. 33. A life of immortality and eternal happiness to all who worthily receive it.
• Ver. 34. S. Aug. with all the Fathers, believed that the Jews did not understand this in its proper sense; but only understood a material bread, of superior excellence to the manna, which would preserve their health and life for ever (S. Aug.); or at least, a far more delicious bread, which they were to enjoy during the whole course of their lives.

Daily Bible Readings Monday April 27 2009 Third Week of Easter

April 27 2009 Monday Third Week of Easter
Saint of the Day – St. Louis Mary de Montfort

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 for your own personal study. Readings vary depending on your local calendar.

Official Readings of the Liturgy at – http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/042709.shtml

Acts 6:8-15
Haydock New Testament

Now Stephen, full of grace and fortitude, did great wonders and miracles among the people. But some of the synagogue, that is called of the Libertines, and of the Cyreneans, and of the Alexandrians, and of those that were of Cilicia, and Asia, rose up disputing with Stephen: And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit which spoke.

Then they suborned men to say, that they had heard him speaking words of blasphemy against Moses and against God. They stirred up therefore the people, and the ancients, and the Scribes: and running together they took him, and brought him to the council. And they set up false witnesses, who said:

This man ceaseth not to speak words against the holy place, and the law. For we have heard him say, that this Jesus, of Nazareth, shall destroy this place, and shall change the traditions, which Moses delivered to us.

And all that sat in the council looking intently upon him, saw his face as the face of an Angel.

Responsorial Psalm 118:23-24, 26-27, 29-30 (Ps 119 NAB)
DR Challoner Text Only

For princes sat, and spoke against me:
but thy servant was employed in thy justifications.
For thy testimonies are my meditation:
and thy justifications my counsel.
I have declared my ways, and thou hast heard me:
teach me thy justifications.
Make me to understand the way of thy justifications:
and I shall be exercised in thy wondrous works.
Remove from me the way of iniquity:
and out of thy law have mercy on me.
I have chosen the way of truth:
thy judgments I have not forgotten.

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ According to Saint John 6:22-29
Haydock New Testament

The next day the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other ship there but one, and that Jesus had not entered into the ship with his disciples, but that his disciples were gone away alone: But other ships came in from Tiberias, near to the place where they had eaten the bread, the Lord giving thanks.

When the people, therefore, saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they took shipping, and came to Capharnaum, seeking for Jesus. And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him:

Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

Jesus answered them, and said:

Amen, amen, I say to you: you seek me, not because you have seen miracles, but because you did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man will give you. For him hath God the Father sealed.

They said, therefore, to him:

What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?

Jesus answered, and said to them:

This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he hath sent.

Haydock Commentary Acts 6:8-15
Notes Copied From Haydock Commentary Site

• Ver. 9. Called of the Libertines.[2] That is, of the synagogue of those, whose fathers had been made slaves under Pompey, and the Romans, but who had again been restored to their liberty, and had been made free. There were other synagogues for the Jews of Cyrene, of Alexandria, &c. No doubt but S. Stephen had converted many of them; and the chiefs of the synagogues, not being able to dispute with him, or to answer the spirit of wisdom, which directed him, they suborned witnesses. Wi.
• Ver. 11. Who should say, that they heard him speaking words of blasphemy against Moses, and against God, against the law and the temple: that Jesus would destroy the temple. These accusations were forged; for the apostles themselves still frequented the temple, and Jesus came to fulfil the law, as to its moral precepts. Wi.
• Ver. 13. It was true that Jesus would destroy the place, and change their traditions, yet they were false witnesses, because they deposed, that Stephen had made these assertions, which he had not, purposely to excite the Jews to rise up against him, and put him to death. Besides, had Stephen spoken what was advanced against him, they still would have been false witnesses, for the words were in fact words of truth, which these suborned men called, words of blasphemy. See v. 11.
• Ver. 15. Saw his face, as it were the face of an angel. All in the council, or sanhedrim, saw an extraordinary and charming brightness in the countenance of Stephen, which struck them with admiration and fear. Wi. — Angel. His face shone with a wonderful brightness, an emblem of his interior perfection. In this he was like Moses, whose countenance was so bright, that he Jews could not steadfastly behold it. By this the beholders had an opportunity of being converted, had they so wished, or were rendered inexcusable for their neglect. It is also a testimony of the great sanctity of the deacon. This same miracle is not recorded to have happened to any other but Moses, and our Lord at his transfiguration. D. Dion. Carthus. — Although this appearance, in an inferior degree, has been not unfrequently observed in the constant and cheerful countenance of the martyrs before their persecutors, and of privileged saints, whilst they were happily employed in their intimate communications with heaven.

Haydock Commentary John 6:22-29

• Ver. 26. Christ did not return an express answer to their words, but he replied to their thoughts. For they seem to have put this question to him, that by flattering him, they might induce him to work another miracle, similar to the former; but Christ answers them not to seek for their temporal prosperity, but for their eternal welfare. The Church is daily filled, says S. Austin, with those who come to petition for temporal advantages, that they may escape this calamity, obtain that advantage in their temporal concerns: but there is scarce one to be found who seeks for Christ, and pays him his adoration, through the pure love he bears him. Maldon.
• Ver. 27. For him hath God the Father sealed. The sense seems to be, that Christ having wrought so many miracles in his Father’s name, the Father himself hath thereby given testimony in his favour, and witnessed, as it were, under his seal, that Jesus is his true Son, whom he sent into the world. Wi.

Sunday Bible Readings April 26 2009 Third Sunday of Easter

April 26 2009 Third Sunday of Easter

About the sources used. The readings on this site are from the Haydock Bible according to the daily Lectionary readings for the American Roman Catholic Church. The Haydock Bible contains traditional Catholic commentary and is free from copyright. Due to verse numbering differences and pastoral deletions in the actual Lectionary, these readings may at times vary from the actual readings.

Official Readings of the Liturgy at – http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/042609.shtml

Acts 3:13-15, 17-19
Haydock New Testament

Peter spoke:

The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son, Jesus, whom you indeed delivered up and denied before the face of Pilate, when he judged he should be released. But you denied the Holy and the Just one, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you. But the author of life you killed, whom God hath raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.

And now, brethren, I know that you did it through ignorance, as also your rulers. But those things, which God had foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out:

Responsorial Psalm 4:2, 4, 7-9
DR Challoner Text Only

When I called upon him, the God of my justice heard me:
when I was in distress, thou hast enlarged me.
Have mercy on me: and hear my prayer.
Know ye also that the Lord hath made his holy one wonderful:
the Lord will hear me when I shall cry unto him.
The light of thy countenance, O Lord, is signed upon us:
thou hast given gladness in my heart.
By the fruit of their corn, their wine, and oil, they are multiplied:
In peace in the self same I will sleep, and I will rest:3.

1 John 2:1-5a
Haydock New Testament

My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin. But if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Just: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. And in this we know that we have known him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith he knoweth him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But he that keepeth his word, in him the charity of God is truly perfect: and by this we know that we are in him.

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ According to Saint Luke 24:35-48
Haydock New Testament

And they told what things were done in the way: and how they knew him in the breaking of bread. Now whilst they were speaking these things, Jesus stood in the midst of them, and said to them:

Peace be to you; it is I, fear not.

But they being troubled and affrighted, supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them:

Why are you troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? See my hands and feet, that it is I myself: feel, and see: for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as you see me to have.

And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and his feet. But while they yet believed not, and wondered for joy, he said:

Have you here any thing to eat?

And they offered him a piece of a broiled fish, and a honeycomb. And when he had eaten before them, taking the remains, he gave to them. And he said to them:

These are the words which I spoke to you while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms concerning me.

Then he opened their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures. And he said to them:

Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead the third day: And that penance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.

Haydock Commentary Acts 3:13-15, 17-19
Notes Copied From Haydock Commentary Site

• Ver. 13. Who does not admire, in this second discourse of S. Peter, as well as in his first, the prudence and discretion, with which he blames the Jews? He reproaches them, but with such mildness, as not to offend them, and dispenses to them truths in proportion to their capacity to bear them; after the example of his master and Saviour, he sweetens the bitterness of the truth, by furnishing them with an excuse. They sinned through ignorance. Calmet.
• Ver. 14-15. The just one, and the holy one, even the author of life you killed: he that is the just one promised, the Messias, the Son of God, and true God. Wi.
• Ver. 17. You did it through ignorance, but such as could not excuse the chief of you. Wi.

Haydock Commentary 1 John 2:1-5a

• Ver. 1. That you may not sin, or lose the grace of God by any considerable sin. — But if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of the Father, who being made man to redeem us from sin, is our great Advocate, our chief Mediator, and only Redeemer, by whose merits and grace we have been reconciled, after we had lost and forfeited the grace and favour of God by our offences. He is the only propitiation for the sins of the whole world; for, as S. Paul says, (Hebr. x. 14.) Christ, for one oblation on the cross, hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. All remission of sins, all sanctification, is derived from the merits and satisfaction of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ; not but that the Angels and saints in heaven, and virtuous persons upon earth, when they pray to God for us, may be called advocates, mediators, and intercessors (though not redeemers) in a different sense, and in an inferior manner, without any injury, but on the contrary with an honour done to Christ; because what they pray and ask for us, is only begged and hoped for through Christ, and by his merits. S. Aug.[1] in his commentary on this epistle, on these very words, we have an advocate, &c. prevents and answers this very objection of the late pretended reformers: (tom. iii, part 2. p. 831 Nov. Edit.) “Some one will say: therefore the saints do not ask for us, therefore the bishops and governors of the Church do not ask for the people.” He denies that this follows, the saints being advocates in a different sense. Though God be our protector and defender from dangers, this does not hinder us from owning the Angels to be our defenders in an inferior manner under God, as the Church of England acknowledges in the common prayer book on the feast of S. Michael, and all Angels, which runs thus: “mercifully grant, that as thy holy Angels always do thee service in heaven, so by thy appointment they may succour and defend us on earth through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.” Wi. — The calling and office of an advocate is many things proper to Christ, and in every condition more singularly and excellently applying to him than to any Angel, saint, or living creature, though these also may be truly so called without any derogation from Christ. To him solely it belongs to procure us mercy before God, by the general ransom of his blood for our delivery; hence he is our only advocate of redemption, though others may be and are advocates of intercession. Hence S. Irenæus (l. iii. c. 33. and l. v. post med.) says: “the obedient Virgin Mary is made the advocate of the disobedient Eve.” Our Saviour declares that Angels are deputed for the protection of infants; (Mat. xviii.) and frequently are the examples we find in the old Scripture, such as Gen. xlviii. 16. Tob v. 27. and xii. 12. Dan. x. See also the common prayer book, in the collect of Michaelmas day.
• Ver. 3. We have known him, if we keep his commandments. He speaks of that practical knowledge by love and affection, which can be only proved by our keeping his commandments; and without which we cannot be said to know God, as we should. Ch.
• Ver. 4. He that says he knoweth him, &c. To know, in this and many other places, is not taken for a speculative knowledge alone, but is joined with a love of God, and an earnest desire of serving him and keeping his commandments. Wi.
• Ver. 5. The charity of God is truly perfect.[2] Notwithstanding his lesser failings, he retains the habit of charity and grace, by which he remains united to God. — And by this we know that we are in him; i.e. we are morally, though not absolutely, certain that we are in the state of grace. Wi.

Haydock Commentary Luke 24:35-48

• Ver. 37. The apostles thought they saw a Spirit, either good or bad, that had taken the form of Jesus, and was come to deceive them. For that they did not doubt spirits appeared, we have abundant proofs throughout the whole New Testament: and our Saviour, instead of combating this opinion, seems rather to have confirmed it on more than one occasion. Indeed S. Aug. thinks it cannot, without temerity, be denied, that there are occasional apparitions of angels, of demons, and the souls of the dead. Calmet. — This, however, will not justify the credulity of many ignorant and weak people, who think that nobody can die, but their spirit is sure to appear; much less will it justify the superstitious observations of unusual occurrences, which are so commonly reported to happen, as significant of a departed soul. These occurrences are rare; nor should we suppose that the Almighty would be willing to suspend or change the established laws of nature without a sufficient cause, viz. some known good either to the departed soul, or surviving friends. A.
• Ver. 39. A spirit hath not flesh and bones, as you see me to have. This was one argument of a true and real body. We may take notice, that Christ brought such proofs, as he knew were sufficient to convince them of his resurrection, though they were not of themselves demonstrations. For when they imagined they saw or touched a body, and that he eat with them, these things might apparently be done by a spirit. See Gen. xviii. v. 9. and Gen. xix. v. 3. and v. 16. where we read that angels, in the shape of men, eat, and took Lot and his wife, and his daughters, by the hand, and led them away from Sodom. Our senses, therefore, may sometimes be deceived, as may be shewn by divers other instances. But the arguments which Christ made us of at this time, to induce the apostles to believe his resurrection, are to be taken with all the circumstances: as 1st, with the corroborating testimonies of the Holy Scriptures, in which his resurrection was foretold; 2ndly, they called to their minds what he himself had told them so often, that he would rise again the third day; 3rdly, concurred also the testimonies already given by the angels, that he was risen; 4thly, the miracles at his death and resurrection; 5thly, Christ himself at the same time opened their understanding, to know and believe this truth, that he was truly risen. Wi.
• Ver. 43. Christ eat, not because he stood in need of food to sustain himself after his resurrection, as we sustain our bodies and lives by corporal refreshment; but he did it, to shew his disciples that his body was really risen from the dead. Ven. Bede.
• Ver. 45. If, after all the extraordinary opportunities of instruction, which the apostles had had from the mouth of our divine Saviour, it was still necessary that he should instil into them a new light, by opening their minds to understand the Scriptures; what are we to think of the presumptuous attempts of the numerous tribe of modern self-inspired interpreters, who are always ready to descant on the word of the Lord; though so perfectly ignorant that their authority, so far from being admitted, would be laughed to scorn, were they to attempt to explain the slightest difficulty, on the most indifferent subject of profane literature? To such a degree has the spirit of seduction spread itself at the present day! A.
• Ver. 47. Beginning at Jerusalem. The sense is, that they were first to preach to the Jews, and afterwards to all nations. Wi.