Daily Bible Readings Thursday May 14 2009 Feast of St Matthias Apostle

May 14 2009 Thursday Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle
Saint of the Day –Saint Matthias

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/051409.shtml

The Acts of the Apostles 1:15-17, 20-26
Haydock New Testament

In those days Peter, rising up in the midst of the brethren, said: (now the number of persons together, was about a

St Matthias

hundred and twenty.)

Men, brethren, the Scripture must be fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost foretold by the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who was the leader of them that apprehended Jesus: Who was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. For it is written in the book of Psalms:

Let their habitation become desolate, and let there be none to dwell therein:
and
let another take his bishoprick.

Wherefore of these men who have companied with us, all the time that the Lord Jesus came in and went out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, until the day wherein he was taken up from us, one of these must be made a witness with us of his resurrection.

And they appointed two, Joseph, called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And praying, they said;

Thou, O Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, shew which of these two thou hast chosen. To take the place of this ministry, and apostleship, from which Judas hath by transgression fallen, that he might go to his own place.

And they gave them lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Responsorial Psalm 112:1-8 (Ps 113 NAB/Hebrew)
DR Challoner Text Only

Praise the Lord, ye children:
praise ye the name of the Lord.
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
from henceforth now and for ever.
From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same,
the name of the Lord is worthy of praise.
The Lord is high above all nations;
and his glory above the heavens.
Who is as the Lord our God,
who dwelleth on high:
and looketh down on the low things
in heaven and in earth?
Raising up the needy from the earth,
and lifting up the poor out of the dunghill:
That he may place him with princes,
with the princes of his people.

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ According to Saint John 15:9-17
Haydock NT

Jesus said:

As the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, as I also have kept my Father’s commandments, and do remain in his love. These things I have spoken to you: that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be filled.

This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do the things that I command you.

I will not now call you servants: for the servant knoweth not what his lord doth. But I have called you friends: because all things whatsoever I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you. You have not chosen me: but I have chosen you, and have appointed you, that you should go, and should bring forth fruit, and your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father is my name, he may give it to you.

These things I command you, that you love one another.

Haydock Commentary Acts 1:15-17, 20-26
Notes copied from Haydock Commentary Site

• Ver. 15. Peter, rising up, &c.  Peter, says S. Chrys.[2] on this place, who was prince, or chief of the apostolical college, who had authority over them all, who by his place and dignity, might, without them, have chosen, and appointed a new apostle to succeed Judas, (Christ having said to him, confirm thy brethren,) &c. yet he consults them.  Wi. — Here Peter acts and ordains in virtue of his supremacy, and the other apostles agree to his appointment.
• Ver. 20. His bishoprick. The words were prophetically spoken in the Psalms, of the traitor Judas.  Wi. — Let their habitation. In some MS. copies, in both Greek and Syriac, we read his. In the Psalms, the text was written against the Jews, the persecutors of Christ in general; but in this place, Peter applies it to Judas in particular.  Estius in dif. loca.
• Ver. 21. Came in, and went out among us. That is, conversed with us. Wi.
• Ver. 25. To his own place of perdition, which he brought himself to.  Wi.
• Ver. 26. And he gave them lots, which they might lawfully do, when they knew that both of them were fit, and every way qualified for the office.  Wi. — Lots. This method of deciding the election of ministers by lots, is one of those extraordinary methods which was inspired by God; but can seldom or ever be imitated.  Where both candidates appeared equally worthy, as in the present case, and human judgment cannot determine which is to be preferred, it cannot be said that it was wrong to decide it by lots.  Thus were avoided any of the evil consequences which might have happened by one party being preferred before the other.  S. Augustin observes, that in a doubtful case, where neither part is bad, to decide by lots is not in itself wrong.  Sors enim non aliquid mali est, sed res est in dubitatione humana divinam indicans voluntatem.  In Psalm xxx.  A.

Haydock Commentary John 15:9-17

• Ver. 10. As I also have kept my Father’s commandments. He still speaks of himself, as man.  Wi. — This frequent admonition, of keeping the commandments, proveth, that a Christian’s life consists not in faith only, but in good works.  B.
• Ver. 14. You are my friends. A wonderful condescension, says S. Aug. in our blessed Redeemer, who was God as well as man, to call such poor and sinful creatures, his friends; who, when we have done all we can, and ought, are still but unprofitable servants.  I have called you my friends, because I have made known to you, &c.  We can only understand these words, as S. Chrys. takes notice, of all things which they were capable of understanding, or which it was proper to communicate to them; for, as Christ tells them in the next chap. (v. 12.) I have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. Wi.
• Ver. 16. O ineffable grace!  For what were we, before Christ chose us, but wretched and abandoned creatures?  Such we were; but now we are chosen, in order that we may become good by the grace of Him that hath chosen us.  S. Aug. tract. 86. in Joan.