DAILY GOSPEL: 08/06/2010
«Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68
Tuesday of the Tenth week in Ordinary Time
1st book of Kings 17:7-16.
After some time, however, the brook ran dry, because no rain had fallen in the land.
So the LORD said to him:
"Move on to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have designated a widow there to provide for you."
He left and went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the entrance of the city, a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her, "Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink."
She left to get it, and he called out after her, "Please bring along a bit of bread."
"As the LORD, your God, lives," she answered, "I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug. Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die."
"Do not be afraid," Elijah said to her. "Go and do as you propose. But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son.
For the LORD, the God of Israel, says, 'The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'"
She left and did as Elijah had said. She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well;
The jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.
Psalms 4:2-3.4-5.7-8.
Answer when I call, my saving God. In my troubles, you cleared a way; show me favor; hear my prayer.
How long will you people mock my honor, love what is worthless, chase after lies? Selah
Know that the LORD works wonders for the faithful; the LORD hears when I call out.
Tremble and do not sin; upon your beds ponder in silence.
Many say, "May we see better times! LORD, show us the light of your face!" Selah
But you have given my heart more joy than they have when grain and wine abound.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 5:13-16.
You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
After some time, however, the brook ran dry, because no rain had fallen in the land.
So the LORD said to him:
"Move on to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have designated a widow there to provide for you."
He left and went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the entrance of the city, a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her, "Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink."
She left to get it, and he called out after her, "Please bring along a bit of bread."
"As the LORD, your God, lives," she answered, "I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug. Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die."
"Do not be afraid," Elijah said to her. "Go and do as you propose. But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son.
For the LORD, the God of Israel, says, 'The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'"
She left and did as Elijah had said. She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well;
The jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.
Psalms 4:2-3.4-5.7-8.
Answer when I call, my saving God. In my troubles, you cleared a way; show me favor; hear my prayer.
How long will you people mock my honor, love what is worthless, chase after lies? Selah
Know that the LORD works wonders for the faithful; the LORD hears when I call out.
Tremble and do not sin; upon your beds ponder in silence.
Many say, "May we see better times! LORD, show us the light of your face!" Selah
But you have given my heart more joy than they have when grain and wine abound.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 5:13-16.
You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
Mt 5,13-16
Saint Augustine (354-430), Bishop of Hippo (North Africa) and Doctor of the Church
Sermon 289, 6 ; PL 38, 1311-1312
The light of Christ on its lampstand
Brethren, the apostles are lamps enabling us to wait for the coming of Christ's day. Our Lord tells them: «You are the light of the world.» And since they cannot believe themselves to be a light like that of which it is said: «He was the true light who enlightens everyone» (Jn 1,9), he at once teaches them what that true light is. Having declared to them: «You are the light of the world», he continues: «No one lights a lamp to put it under a bushel basket.» I have called you lights, he says, but I must clarify: you are only lamps. So don't give in to the stirrings of pride if you don't want to see this wick burning out. I'm not putting you under the bushel basket but on the lampstand to cast light over everything with your rays.
What sort of candlestick is this that bears such a light? I will teach you. Be lamps yourselves and you will have a place on this lampstand. Christ's cross is one great lampstand. Whoever wants to shine out should not be ashamed of this wooden candlestick. Listen to me and you will get the point: the candlestick is the cross of Christ...
«So will your light shines before others so that they may see your good works and glorify» Glorify whom? Not yourself since to seek your own glory is to want to be extinguished! «Glorify your heavenly Father.» Yes, that they may glorify him, your heavenly Father when they see your good works... Listen to the apostle Paul: «May I never glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world» (Gal 6,14).
What sort of candlestick is this that bears such a light? I will teach you. Be lamps yourselves and you will have a place on this lampstand. Christ's cross is one great lampstand. Whoever wants to shine out should not be ashamed of this wooden candlestick. Listen to me and you will get the point: the candlestick is the cross of Christ...
«So will your light shines before others so that they may see your good works and glorify» Glorify whom? Not yourself since to seek your own glory is to want to be extinguished! «Glorify your heavenly Father.» Yes, that they may glorify him, your heavenly Father when they see your good works... Listen to the apostle Paul: «May I never glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world» (Gal 6,14).
St. Medard, Bishop (c.457_545)
ST. MEDARD
Bishop
(c.457-545)
Bishop
(c.457-545)
Saint Medard, one of the most illustrious prelates of the Church of France in the sixth century, was born of a pious and noble family, at Salency, about the year 457. From his childhood he evinced the most tender compassion for the poor. On one occasion he gave his coat to a destitute blind man, and when asked why he had done so, he answered that the misery of a fellow-member in Christ so affected him that he could not help giving him part of his own clothes.
Being promoted to the priesthood in the thirty-third year of his age, he became a bright ornament of that sacred order. He preached the word of God with an unction which touched the hearts of the most hardened; and the influence of his example, by which he enforced the precepts which he delivered from the pulpit, seemed irresistible.
In 530, Alomer, the thirteenth bishop of that country, dying, St. Medard was unanimously chosen to fill the see, and was consecrated by St. Remigius, who had baptized King Clovis in 496, and was then exceeding old. Our Saint's new dignity did not make him abate anything of his austerities, and, though at that time seventy-two years old, he thought himself obliged to redouble his labors. Though his diocese was very wide, it seemed not to suffice for his zeal, which could not be confined; wherever he saw the opportunity of advancing the honor of God, and of abolishing the remains of idolatry, he overcame all obstacles, and by his zealous labors and miracles the rays of the Gospel dispelled the mists of idolatry throughout the whole extent of his diocese. What rendered this task more difficult and perilous was the savage and fierce disposition of the ancient inhabitants of Flanders, who were the most barbarous of all the nations of the Gauls and Franks.
Our Saint, having completed this great work in Flanders, returned to Noyon, where he shortly after fell sick, and soon rested from his labors at an advanced age, in 545. The whole kingdom lamented his death as the loss of their common father and protector. His body was buried in his own cathedral, but the many miracles wrought at his tomb so moved King Clotaire that he translated the precious remains to Soissons.
