Mark
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Mark 9
38.	9:37 John answered him, saying: Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, who followeth not us, and we forbade him.	9:37 Respondit illi Joannes, dicens : Magister, vidimus quemdam in nomine tuo ejicientem dæmonia, qui non sequitur nos, et prohibuimus eum.	απεκριθη δε αυτω [ο] ιωαννης λεγων διδασκαλε ειδομεν τινα τω ονοματι σου εκβαλλοντα δαιμονια ος ουκ ακολουθει ημιν και εκωλυσαμεν αυτον οτι ουκ ακολουθει ημιν
39.	9:38 But Jesus said: Do not forbid him. For there is no man that doth a miracle in my name, and can soon speak ill of me.	9:38 Jesus autem ait : Nolite prohibere eum : nemo est enim qui faciat virtutem in nomine meo, et possit cito male loqui de me :	ο δε ιησους ειπεν μη κωλυετε αυτον ουδεις γαρ εστιν ος ποιησει δυναμιν επι τω ονοματι μου και δυνησεται ταχυ κακολογησαι με
40.	9:39 For he that is not against you, is for you.	9:39 qui enim non est adversum vos, pro vobis est.	ος γαρ ουκ εστιν καθ υμων υπερ υμων εστιν

38. And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in your name, and he follows not us: and we forbade him, because be follows not us.
39. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
40. For he that is not against us is on our part.

BEDE; John, loving the Lord with eminent devotion, thought that He who performed an office to which He had no right was to be excluded from the benefit of it. Wherefore it is said, And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in your name, and he follows not us: and we forbade him, because he follows not us.

PSEUDO-CHRYS. For many believers received gifts, and yet were not with Christ, such was this man who cast out devils; for there were many of them deficient in some way; some were pure in life, but were not so perfect in faith; others again, contrariwise.

THEOPHYL. Or again, some unbelievers, seeing that the name of Jesus was full of virtue, themselves used it, and performed signs, though they were unworthy of Divine grace; for the Lord wished to extend His name even by those unworthy.

PSEUDO-CHRYS. It was not from jealousy or envy, however, that John wished to forbid him who cast out devils, but because he wished that all, who called on the name of the Lord, should follow Christ, and be one body with His disciples. But the Lord, however unworthy they who perform the miracles may be, incites others by their means to believe in Him, and induces themselves by this unspeakable grace to become better. Wherefore there follows: But Jesus said, Forbid him not.

BEDE; By which He shows that no one is fled to be driven away from that partial goodness which he possesses already, but rather to be stirred up to that which he has not as yet obtained

PSEUDO-CHRYS. In conformity to this, He shows that he is not to be forbidden, adding immediately after, For there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. He says lightly, to meet the case of those who fell into heresy, such as were Simon and Menander, and Cerinthus; not that they did miracles in the name of Christ, but by their deceptions had the appearance of doing them. But these others, though they do not follow us, cannot however set themselves to say any thing against us, because they honor My name by working miracles.

THEOPHYL. For how can he speak evil of Me, who draws glory from My name, and works miracles by the invocation of this very name. There follows, For he that is not against you is on your part.

AUG. We must take care that this saying of the Lord appear not to be contrary to that, where He says, He who is not with me is against me. Or will any one say that the difference lies in that here He says to His disciples, For he that is not against you is on your part, but in the other He speaks of Himself, He who is not with me is against me? As if indeed it were possible that he who is joined to Christ's disciples, who ate as His members, should not be with Him. How if it were so, could it be true that he that receives you receives me? Or how is he not against Him, who is against His disciples? Where then will be that saying, He who despises you, despises me? But surely what is implied is, that a man is not with Him in as far as he is against Him, and is not against Him as far as he is with Him. For instance, he who worked miracles in the name of Christ, and yet did not join himself to the body of His disciples, in as far as he worked the miracles in His name, was with them, and was not against them: again, in that he did not join their society, he was not with them, and was against them. But because they forbade his doing that in which he was with them, the Lord said to them, Forbid him not; for they ought to have forbidden his being without their society, and thus to have persuaded him of the unity of the Church, but they should not have forbidden that in which he was with them, that is, his commendation of the name of their Lord and Master by the expulsion of devils. Thus the Church Catholic does not disapprove in heretics the sacraments, which are common, but she blames their division, or some opinion of theirs adverse to peace and to truth; for in this they are against us.

PSEUDO-CHRYS. Or else, this is said of those who believe on Him, but nevertheless do not follow Him from the looseness of their lives. Again, it is said of devils, who try to separate all from God, and to disperse His congregation. There follows, For whoever shall give you a cup of cold water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, verily I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.

Catena Aurea Mark 9

Christ and saints

817-824
Santa Prassede, Rome

Information: St. John I

Feast Day: May 18

Born: Populonia, Tuscany, Italy

Died: 18 May 526 in Ravenna, Italy

Holy Spirit Interactive Kids: A Saint a Day

St. John I

Feast Day: May 18
Died: 526

John I was a priest of Rome who became the fifty-third pope. At that time, Italy's ruler, Theodoric the Goth, was an Arian. (The Arians did not believe that Jesus is God.)

When Theodoric became Emperor, he let the Catholics live in peace at the start of his reign. But later, he changed and became rude and suspicious of everyone. He imagined that everyone was plotting against him.

After a while, he believed the whole world was out to get his throne and his power. The one person who most certainly did not want either was Pope John I.

Theodoric then got Pope John involved in his political problems. The Emperor Theodoric was having trouble with Emperor Justin I of Constantinople. He heard that Justin was being too hard on the Arians in the east. Theodoric sent a group of people to make peace with Justin.

The party was headed by Pope John I. Emperor Justin was very happy to meet the pope and received him and his companions with rejoicing. Justin willingly agreed to change his harsh policy. Pope John's mission was successful.

But Emperor Theodoric was not pleased. He now imagined that Pope John and Justin I were against him. When the pope was returning to Rome, he got as far as Ravenna, Theodoric's capital. There Pope John was kidnapped and thrown into prison by Theodoric's soldiers. He was left to die of thirst and starvation in 526.

Reflection: Let us ask always the Holy Spirit for light and guidance so that we may see the goodness in people.

Saint Pope John I, Pope and Martyr

Saint Pope John I, Pope & Martyr
Optional Memorial
May 18th

St. John I was elected Pope in 523. The Arian King Theodoric sent him as his ambassor to Emperor Justin in Constantinople. On his return, he was captured by the king, who was displeased at the outcome of the embassy. He was cast into prison at Ravenna, where he died of ill treatment a few days later.
Source: Daily Roman Missal, Edited by Rev. James Socías, Midwest Theological Forum, Chicago, Illinois ©2003

Collect:
O God, who reward faithful souls
and who have consecrated this day
by the martyrdom of Pope Saint John the First,
graciously hear the prayers of your people
and grant that we, who venerate his merits,
may imitate his constancy in the faith.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. +Amen
First Reading: Revelation 3:14b, 20-22
The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me. He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with Me on My throne, as I Myself conquered and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
Gospel Reading: Luke 22:24-30
A dispute also arose among the twelve, which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For which is the greater, one who sits at table, or one who serves? Is it not the one who sits at table? But I am among you as one who serves.
"You are those who have continued with Me in My trials; and I assign to you, as My Father assigned to Me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

ST. JOHN I 523 - 526 AD

Wednesday

May 18, 2016

Instruments of God’s Blessing

Every person around us is a blessing through which the Lord brings in blessings. The world might condemn them for their faults and mistakes but for the Lord they are all very precious ‘instruments’. Instruments He uses to touch our lives.

In the Gospel of St. John Chapter 4 we read about the incident between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. The woman did not live a very good life. She was condemned by those around her. That is why she is forced to come by to the well at noon to carry water - an indication that she was not accepted by the people in the town. As she spoke to Jesus, she got closer to the Lord and understood Him as the Messiah. The word tells us what she does after that. In verse 28 we read, “Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?” They left the city and were on their way to him.”

She was a woman who was condemned as a good for nothing and an embarrassment to that community. But she is the one who becomes an instrument in the hands of the Lord to touch the lives of those people in that town. They condemned her but the Lord used her. This does happen to us as well. The very same people we condemn end up being the ones used by the Lord to bring in blessings into our life. We might think that they are not worthy enough but for Jesus they are precious instruments.

An excerpt from an article entitled “God’s Instruments of Blessing” by Fr. Michael Payyapilly, VC of the Divine Retreat Centre Muringoor, India. Click here to read the whole wonderful article. It can be read in its entirety at
http://www.drcm.org/divine-call-archive/296-gods-instruments-of-blessings

Year of Mercy Calendar for Today: “In order to become an instrument of God’s hands we must be of no account in our own eyes.” ~ St. Angerla Merici

CATHOLIC ALMANAC

Wednesday, May 18

Liturgical Color: White

St. Felix of Cantalice died on this
day in 1587. Although uneducated,
theologians consulted him on
matters of spirituality because of his
holiness. His simple manner made
him a favorite with children to
whom he taught the faith.

Catholic Culture

Ordinary Time: May 18th

Optional Memorial of St. John I, pope and martyr

MASS READINGS

May 18, 2016 (Readings on USCCB website)

COLLECT PRAYER

O God, who reward faithful souls and who have consecrated this day by the martyrdom of Pope Saint John the First, graciously hear the prayers of your people and grant that we, who venerate his merits, may imitate his constancy in the faith. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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Lamb And Feta Lasagna

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Prayers (2)

Regina Coeli (Queen of Heaven)
Novena to St. Rita
Old Calendar: St. Venantius, martyr
John I was elected Pope in 523. The Arian King Theodoric sent him as his ambassador to Emperor Justin in Constantinople. On John I's return, he was captured by the king, who was displeased at the outcome of the embassy, and cast him into prison at Ravenna where he died a few days later. As pope he was responsible for introducing the Alexandrian computation of the date of Easter; it came to be accepted throughout the West.
According to the 1962 Missal of St. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today is the feast of St. Venantius, who was born at Camerino in Umbria, and was led at the age of fifteen before Antiochus, governor of the town under the Emperor Decius. He was made to suffer cruel torments, but angels came and assisted him. His tormentors were touched with repentance by his constancy and many were converted. He was beheaded around the year 250. His body lies at Camerino in the church dedicated to him. St. John I's feast in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite is celebrated on May 27.

St. John I
This Tuscan was destined to be glorified not only during his lifetime but after his death as well. Although peace with the East had been restored, a suspicious Theodoric grumbled in his castle at Ravenna. An Arian, the king saw the new friendliness between East and West as a serious threat to his reign. To further alarm him, Emperor Justin had reinstated the laws against heretics, Arians included, and had embarked on a campaign of confiscating churches and excluding heretics from public office, causing many Arians to abandon their faith. Infuriated, Theodoric summoned John to Ravenna and ordered him to head a delegation to the orthodox emperor to ask that the persecution stop and allow forced converts to return to Arianism. At first John refused, then fearing that the king's wrath would be taken out on Western Catholics, he agreed to do Theodoric's bidding on every count save one. He boldly told the king that he would not ask the emperor to allow converts to return to heresy.
The pope arrived in Constantinople shortly before Easter in 526, and since he was the first pope to leave Italy, his reception was more than he could have dreamed. He had been met by the entire city at the twelfth milestone, where the clergy led the procession carrying candles and crosses, and even the emperor prostrated himself before the Holy Father. The day of Easter, John was seated in a throne higher than the one occupied by the patriarch, in the church of Sancta Sophia, where he celebrated Mass in the Latin tradition. John was accorded the highest honor when he placed the customary Easter crown on the head of Emperor Justin.
After meeting with Justin on Theodoric's behalf, the pope made the exhausting trip back to Ravenna. The king's fury raged. Jealous of the pope's grand reception in the East, Theodoric accused the pope of failing his mission by not securing all of the demands put to Justin. The king then ordered John to remain in Ravenna at his disposal. The aged pope was spent; the prospects before him were dismal. Already ailing, Pope John died and was hastily buried outside the castle walls. Pope John's body was exhumed and on May 27, 526, was returned to Rome and placed in the nave of St. Peter's.
— Excerpted from The Popes: A Papal History, J.V. Bartlett
Things to Do:
- The Church has had a long, unbroken line of popes. Have your children answer the following questions: How many popes has the Church had? How many popes are honored with the title of saint, blessed or venerable? Which pope reigned longest? Which three names have been chosen most frequently by popes? You can check this page to help get the answers.
- Pray especially for the Holy Father today. Make sure your children know the Morning Offering in which we pray for the Holy Father's intentions.
- Read more about Pope St. John I at Catholic News Agency.
St. Venantius
St. Venantius was born at Camerino in Italy, and at the age of fifteen was seized as a Christian and carried before a judge. As it was found impossible to shake his constancy either by threats or promises, he was condemned to be scourged, but was miraculously saved by an angel. He was then burnt with torches and hung over a low fire that he might be suffocated by the smoke. The judge's secretary, admiring the steadfastness of the Saint, and seeing an angel robed in white, who trampled out the fire and again set free the youthful martyr, proclaimed his faith in Christ, was baptized with his whole family, and shortly after won the martyr's crown himself.
Venantius was then carried before the governor, who, unable to make him renounce his faith, cast him into prison with an apostate, who vainly strove to tempt him. The governor then ordered his teeth and jaws to be broken, and had him thrown into a furnace, from which the angel once more delivered him. The Saint was again led before the judge, who at sight of him fell headlong from his seat and expired, crying, "The God of Venantius is the true God; let us destroy our idols." This circumstance being told to the governor, he ordered Venantius to be thrown to the lions; but these brutes, forgetting their natural ferocity, crouched at the feet of the Saint. Then, by order of the tyrant, the young martyr was dragged through a heap of brambles and thorns, but again God manifested the glory of His servant; the soldiers suffering from thirst, the Saint knelt on a rock and signed it with a cross, when immediately a jet of clear, cool water spurted up from the spot.
This miracle converted many of those who beheld it, whereupon the governor had Venantius and his converts beheaded together in the year 250. The bodies of these martyrs are kept in the church at Camerino which bears the Saint's name.
Excerpted from Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]
Patron: Camerino, Italy.
Symbols: Roman armour; banner; plan of Camerino; fountain.
Often portrayed as: Young man crucified upside-down with smoke coming from his head; young man holding the citadel of Camerino; young man holding the city of Camerino, a palm, and a book; young man with a banner holding a city wall.
Things to do:
- Today, let us renew our commitment to reading Scripture and take some time to meditate on a passage of the Gospel.

The Word Among Us

Meditation: James 4:13-17

Saint John I, Pope and Martyr (Optional Memorial)

If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that. (James 4:15)

Three churchgoers heard this passage from James 4 read at Mass. The first thought, “Well, if I’m only supposed to do God’s will, I suppose I should pray more so that I can discover what he wants of me.” So he stayed kneeling at the end of Mass until he felt God might be happy for him to stand up and walk out. Then, outside the church, he prayed until he felt it was okay to drive home, and so on for the rest of the day.

The second spent the rest of her day worried that God would suddenly decide that her time was up, that she would no longer “live to do this or that.”

The third fared no better. He spent the day lounging in his armchair instead of going on that lunch date with his wife and attending the parish council meeting he had planned for that day. “I guess that’s what it looks like to trust all those things to God, right?” he thought.

It’s easy to laugh at these extreme examples of misunderstanding James’ words. We assume that he is addressing an attitude of presumptuousness—some of his readers seemed to be making plans “doing this or that” without paying attention to the spiritual ramifications of their actions. We know that God doesn’t want us to be super spiritual or fearful or apathetic—but how should we react to this passage?

Perhaps it’s helpful to look at the sentence in reverse: we live to do this or that because the Lord wills it. This should reframe the outcome. Thinking this way reminds you that every moment of your life is a gift, held in place by God, and the right response is to be thankful. The remedy for presumptuousness is not the fear that you’ll unwittingly disappoint the Lord. It’s humility and gratitude.

Let gratitude take root in your heart today. Give thanks for the challenges that God has allowed you to go through. They have helped make you who you are. Give thanks too for the present moment, which is also filled with God’s presence. And give thanks for a future you can be hopeful about, because your heavenly Father holds your whole life—including your future—in his hands!

“Lord, thank you for the generosity of your will.”

Psalm 49:2-3, 6-11
Mark 9:38-40

Marriage = One Man and One Woman Until Death Do Us Part

Daily Marriage Tip for May 18, 2016:

Weed out your garden and weed out your bad habits. Work through these and pray about them with your spouse.

Regnum Christi

The Zeal of Charity

U. S. A. | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

May 18, 2016 - Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Father Edward Hopkins, LC

Mark 9:38-40

John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.”

Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, I believe in you and in all the expressions of your goodness and love in my life. I believe in your Eucharist, where you have made yourself my bread and a prisoner of love to teach me goodness of heart. I trust that you can train my heart to react more as you do, with forgiveness and blessing. I love you, Lord; I wish to love you with my prayer and increased charity. Mary, teach me to love with the heart of your son.

Petition: Make my heart more like yours, Lord.

A Son of Thunder: The young apostle says with uncontrolled fervor, “We tried to prevent him.” They obviously acted first and consulted Jesus only afterwards. What moved them? What so often moves us––a sense of righteous zeal! We know or think we know what is right. “Let no one step out of line, or we will let him know!” Moreover, this person “does not follow us,” so he should not be able to act in your name! What is this “Son of Thunder” missing? Is not the mightiest deed an act of charity? How often do I make rash judgments without really knowing the full picture and without consulting Jesus first?
Judgments of Gospel Charity: Jesus does not hesitate to offer a positive judgment. Mighty deeds in his name can be found only in one speaking well of him. Moreover, beyond logic, Jesus possesses a deeper insight. He reads all actions with a heart of charity. His judgments will always be colored by his looking to find the very best in each person. His every action will be interpreted by love. In such manner he interprets well the actions of the woman who wipes his feet with her tears and hair, of the paralytic lowered from the roof, of the tax collector who climbed a tree to see him. Do I judge others with a heart filled with gospel charity, or am I very quick to spot faults? Are my impulses modified by my experience of Christ’s love for me?
For or Against Him? Jesus presents a simple principle for judging. Unless a person shows himself to be against us, consider him for us. We should fight to help others be “for us.” “Believe all the good you hear and only believe the evil you see.” This supposition of goodness runs contrary to our tendency to judge and speak evil of others with a minimum of evidence while demanding disproportionate proofs to credit them for good. Is it my job to find deformities in a member of the Body of Christ? A good person sees with eyes of goodness. Why can I not find excuses for the weakness and failings I see in others? Why is it so easy to speak poorly of others, to point out their defects and to fall into slander or gossip? Would the answer be found in the narrow or stingy dimensions of my own heart?

Conversation with Christ: Dear Lord, grant me a heart overflowing with your love. Make charity my first reaction, my constant hope and my irresistible tendency. Open my eyes in faith to see you working in people of all backgrounds and faiths. Help me to dismiss all personal, unnecessary judgments with an assumption of charity. May I win souls with my goodness and never be without charity in my fight for your Kingdom.

Resolution: I will counter every thought against charity with two thoughts of charity. I will counter every word against charity with two words of sincere charity for the one maligned.

Homily of the Day

May 18, 2016

In the First Reading, James gives us a rich counsel on Christian life starting with disunity among Christians, revealing to us the root of disunity which is actually coming from within one’s self. Our desire to get what we want manifests itself externally and can cause the turmoil that destroys communion. James warns us on worldly desires that oppose the spiritual life, describing those with these desires as adulterous wives for they are unfaithful to the Lord. If you find yourself choosing the world instead of God, let us accept the invitation of James to weep for this wretched situation. The Lord is pleased with the tears coming from a sorrowful heart that is mourning for his own sins. Yet the reality is that we rarely weep for our sins. Why is that? It is because, first of all, we do not recognize our sinfulness. We do not realize that we are enemies of God. To weep for one’s sins is a gift we can ask for. God is always pleased with a humble and contrite heart; and to the humble one, he gives generously; first and foremost, he endows grace.

James also warns us against slander among Christians for the only one who can judge is the Lord. For us, it is difficult not to judge because everyone thinks of himself as better than the other. We think we are always right and cannot look at something from someone else’s point of view. Little do we know that if we were in the place of the other, with the same history and circumstances, we would have done the same or even worse. James also cautions us from being too confident. A Christian knows that nothing is ever sure. The only sure thing in life is death, which visits every individual sooner or later. Everything else is up to the Lord. We do not even know if we will get up the next morning, so how can we be confident in our plans, in our projections. Only if God wills it, will one’s plans come to fruition.

One Bread, One Body

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All Issues > Volume 32, Issue 3

<< Wednesday, May 18, 2016 >>

Pope St. John I

James 4:13-17
View Readings

Psalm 49:2-3, 6-11

Mark 9:38-40
Similar Reflections

SINS OF OMISSION

"When a man knows the right thing to do and does not do it, he sins." —James 4:17

Sins are not just what we commit but also what we omit. We will be judged not only for what we say (Mt 12:36) but also for what we don't say (see Ez 3:18; 33:6). We will be judged not only for lending our presence to things that do not glorify God (see 1 Cor 10:31) but also for our absences from the assembly of God's people (Heb 10:25) and from other works of the Lord.

Before we were created, the Lord prepared a life of good deeds for each of us to do (Eph 2:10). He holds us accountable to do all of these deeds. For example, Jesus warned the church of Sardis: "Wake up, and strengthen what remains before it dies. I find that the sum of your deeds is less than complete" (Rv 3:2).

If you are sinning by omission, repent and cry out for the Lord's mercy. "He is an Offering for our sins" (1 Jn 2:2). The Lord will forgive. By His grace, we will do the impossible. We will do all that He asks of us. Live your life for Jesus to the full (see Jn 10:10).

Prayer: Father, I put my life in Your hands.

Promise: "Yet in no way can a man redeem himself, or pay his own ransom to God; too high is the price to redeem one's life; he would never have enough to remain alive always and not see destruction." —Ps 49:8-10

Praise: Pope St. John I celebrated Easter in Constantinople and died in prison soon afterward.