Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 6-22-04, Opt, Sts. John Fisher, Thomas More; Paulinus of Nola

USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 06-22-04 | New American Bible

[Salvation]

June 22, 2004
Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm: Tuesday 28 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel

Reading I
2 Kgs 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36

Sennacherib, king of Assyria, sent envoys to Hezekiah
with this message:
"Thus shall you say to Hezekiah, king of Judah:
‘Do not let your God on whom you rely deceive you
by saying that Jerusalem will not be handed over
to the king of Assyria.
You have heard what the kings of Assyria have done
to all other countries: they doomed them!
Will you, then, be saved?'"

Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it;
then he went up to the temple of the LORD,
and spreading it out before him,
he prayed in the LORD's presence:
"O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned upon the cherubim!
You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth.
You have made the heavens and the earth.
Incline your ear, O LORD, and listen!
Open your eyes, O LORD, and see!
Hear the words of Sennacherib which he sent to taunt the living God.
Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations
and their lands, and cast their gods into the fire;
they destroyed them because they were not gods,
but the work of human hands, wood and stone.
Therefore, O LORD, our God, save us from the power of this man,
that all the kingdoms of the earth may know
that you alone, O LORD, are God."

Then Isaiah, son of Amoz, sent this message to Hezekiah:
"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel,
in answer to your prayer for help against Sennacherib, king of Assyria:
I have listened!
This is the word the LORD has spoken concerning him:

"‘She despises you, laughs you to scorn,
the virgin daughter Zion!
Behind you she wags her head,
daughter Jerusalem.

"‘For out of Jerusalem shall come a remnant,
and from Mount Zion, survivors.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.'

"Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria:
‘He shall not reach this city, nor shoot an arrow at it,
nor come before it with a shield,
nor cast up siege-works against it.
He shall return by the same way he came,
without entering the city, says the LORD.
I will shield and save this city for my own sake,
and for the sake of my servant David.'"

That night the angel of the LORD went forth and struck down
one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp.
So Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, broke camp,
and went back home to Nineveh.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 48:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 10-11

R (see 9d) God upholds his city for ever.
Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, fairest of heights,
is the joy of all the earth.
R God upholds his city for ever.
Mount Zion, "the recesses of the North,"
is the city of the great King.
God is with her castles;
renowned is he as a stronghold.
R God upholds his city for ever.
O God, we ponder your mercy
within your temple.
As your name, O God, so also your praise
reaches to the ends of the earth.
Of justice your right hand is full.
R God upholds his city for ever.

Gospel
Mt 7:6, 12-14

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine,
lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.

"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the Law and the Prophets.

"Enter through the narrow gate;
for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,
and those who enter through it are many.
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few."

[Salvation]

For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments, questions, discussion.

[Salvation]

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[Salvation]

From: Matthew 7:6, 12-14


Respect for Holy Things

---

(Jesus said to His disciples,) [6] "Do not give dogs what is holy; and
do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under
foot and turn to attack you.


The Golden Rule

---

[12] "So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for
this is the law and the prophets.


The Narrow Gate

---

[13] "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is
easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
[14] For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life,
and those who find it are few."

---

Commentary:


6. Jesus uses a popular saying to teach prudent discernment in the
preaching of the word of God and distribution of the means of
sanctification. The Church has always heeded this warning,
particularly in the sense of respect with which it administers the
Sacraments--especially the Holy Eucharist. Filial confidence does not
exempt us from the sincere and profound respect which should imbue our
relations with God and with holy things.


12. This "golden rule" gives a guideline to realize our obligations
towards and the love we should have for others. However, if we
interpreted it superficially it would become a selfish rule; it
obviously does not mean "do utdes" ("I give you something so that you
will give me something") but that we should do good to others
unconditionally: we are clever enough not to put limits on how much we
love ourselves. This rule of conduct will be completed by Jesus' "new
commandment" (John 13:34), where He teaches us to love others as He
Himself loved us.


13-14. "Enter": in St. Matthew's Gospel this verb often has as its
object the "Kingdom of Heaven" or equivalent expressions (life, the
marriage feast, the joy of the Lord, etc.). We can interpret "enter"
as an imperious invitation.


The way of sin is momentarily pleasant and calls for no effort, but it
leads to eternal perdition. Following the way of a generous and
sincere Christian life is very demanding--here Jesus speaks of a narrow
gate and a hard way--but it leads to Life, to eternal salvation.


The Christian way involves carrying the cross. "For if a man resolve
to submit himself to carrying this cross--that is to say, if he resolve
to desire in truth to meet trials and to bear them in all things for
God's sake, he will find in them all great relief and sweetness
wherewith he may travel upon this road, detached from all things and
desiring nothing. Yet, if he desires to possess anything--whether it
comes from God or from any other source--with any feeling of
attachment, he has not stripped and denied himself in all things; and
thus he will be unable to walk along this narrow path or climb upward
by it" (St. John of the Cross, "Ascent of Mount Carmel", book 2,
chapter 7, 7).

---

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

[Salvation]

FEAST OF THE DAY

St. Paulinus of Nola was well known during the early centuries of the
Church. Born around the year 354 near the city of Bordeaux, St.
Paulinus was friends with St. Augustine and is mentioned for his
holiness by at least six of his contemporary saints. As a youth,
Paulinus studied law and became a distinguished lawyer. After
holding several public offices in the Empire, Paulinus retired from
public ministry with his wife, Therasia. The two first retired to
Bordeaux, where they were baptized into the Christian faith, and
later to Therasia's estate in Spain.

After the death of their only son, only a few weeks after birth, the two
decided to spend the rest of their lives devoted to God through
austerities and chastity. They gave away most of their estates and
dedicated themselves to increasing their holiness. Due to his
excellent example, Paulinus was unexpectedly ordained to the
priesthood. After this Paulinus and Therasia moved to Nola, gave
away the rest of their property, and dedicated themselves to the
assistance of the underprivileged. After the bishop of Nola died,
Paulinus was chosen by popular demand to take the position.
Paulinus governed the diocese for more than 21 years while living in
his own house like a monk and continuing his aid of the poor.
Paulinus died around the year 431 and his writings contain one of
the earliest examples of a Christian wedding song.


St. John Fisher was born in 1469. He completed his theological
studies at Cambridge in England and was ordained to the
priesthood. St. John was a man of learning and used his knowledge
to teach and correct errors of his time. St. John earned a reputation
for his teaching and served for a while as chancellor of Cambridge
University. At 35, he was appointed bishop of Rochester. As bishop,
one of St. John Fisher's main goals was to raise the standard of
preaching. As an excellent speaker and writer, St. John used his gifts
to combat errors that he encountered.

In 1527 John was asked to study the problem of Henry VIII"s
marriage. He brought upon himself the anger of Henry by defending
the validity of the marriage and by later rejecting Henry's claim to be
head of the Church of England. He spent 14 months in prison,
without trial, before being executed on the charge of high treason. St.
John died on June 22, 1535.


St. Thomas More was born in 1477 and was educated in law at
Oxford. He married and was the father of one son and three
daughters. King Henry VIII respected him for his accomplishments in
literature, law, scholarship, and manners, eventually appointing him
Chancellor. While he was Chancellor in the court, he wrote works on
the governance of the realm and the defense of the Faith. Thomas
was well known among his peers for his honesty and goodness, he
was renowned for his never accepting bribes and for dispensing his
office with justice.

When Henry began his conflict with the Catholic Church Thomas did
not support his divorce from Catherine, nor did he support Henry's
claim to be head of the Church of England. St. Thomas was able to
maintain neutrality in the situation for a while but eventually he was
executed for treason for not supporting Henry's claims. St. Thomas
More was canonized in 1935 and is admired for never compromising
his moral values, he is the patron of lawyers.


QUOTE OF THE DAY

Love God, serve God: everything is in that. St. Clare of Assisi


TODAY IN HISTORY

431 Council of Ephesus opens
431 Death of St. Paulinus of Nola
816 Stephen IV begins his reign as Pope
1535 Execution of Bishop Fisher


TODAY'S TIDBIT

The First Council of Ephesus, the third ecumenical council of the
Church, was convened on 22 June 431; was closed on 17 July 431
and was attended by more than 110 bishops. This council
condemned the Nestorian heresy, which denied the unity of the
divine and human natures in the Person of Christ, defined the term
Theotokos, Bearer of God, as a title of Mary, and condemned the
heresy of Pelagianism, a heresy that believed man could achieve
salvation through his own efforts.


INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Please pray for peace and justice throughout the world.

[Salvation]

Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Saints John Fisher, Bishop, Martyr and Thomas More, Martyr (Memorial)

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

2 Kings 19:9-11, 14-21, 31-36 Psalm 48:2-4, 10-11 Matthew 7:6, 12-14 In the first place, the eyes must be mortified. We must abstain from looking at any object that may give occasion to temptation.  -- St. Alphonsus Liguori

[NYer]

Tuesday June 22, 2004   Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading (2 Kings 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36) 

Gospel (St. Matthew 7:6, 12-14)

In the first reading today, we hear about Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, who over a period of several years had gone from city to city (in that time the cities were their own little kingdoms) and had completely destroyed them, one after the next. He surrounded them, built up siege works against them, and then completely destroyed them, allowing no one to live. And now he had come to Jerusalem and surrounded it. That is what we heard about, and the taunts that he leveled against Jerusalem and against the Lord. But then we see the response of Hezekiah, the king of Israel, and he goes to the Lord and he prays. He acknowledges that all of these others were allowed to be destroyed because they were relying on their little gods who were not, of course, gods at all, but they were wood or gold or silver, the work of human hands. Yet, at the same time, we also see that the Lord allowed Jerusalem to be put to siege at other times. That was because of the infidelity of the people. Hezekiah, out of all the kings of Israel, was one of the three kings in all of Israel’s history who was decent. There was David and Hezekiah and Josiah; those are the three kings that were at all any good of all the kings of Israel. And so, because Hezekiah was trying to be faithful to the Lord, the Lord heard his prayer. And yesterday, we heard that the Lord allowed the people to be put into exile precisely because they did not have faith in God.

The Lord then, in the Gospel reading today, tells us that the way that leads to life is narrow, rough, and there are very few who are on it. But the way that leads to perdition, He tells us, is wide, easy, smooth, and there are many who are walking on it. If you look around in our society today, you are going to see the same thing. There are lots of people who are on the road that is going to lead them to eternal condemnation, and the reason is because it is easy, it is the human way. We even have Christian people who want to believe that this is all that is necessary: “Believe that Jesus is your Lord and Savior, and you’re going straight to heaven.” Nowhere in Scripture does it say that or even suggest it, but that is the easy way. It is a lot more fun than doing it the way the saints have done it, that is, to suffer with the Lord, to take up one’s cross and walk with Him to Calvary, to have to be crucified with Christ in order to rise with Him. That is not very fun, it is not very easy, and people do not like to listen to it. So if we can guarantee salvation by a simple act of generic belief – “Since Jesus died for my sins, I’m going straight to heaven” – well, that is a lot more palatable for most people, and the devil laughs all the way home because these are unfortunate souls, many of whom think that they can continue to commit whatever sins they want and they can go straight to heaven.

There are certainly many good people among those who believe that and are trying to live good lives, and God alone will be the one to judge. But, again, we need to look objectively at the situation to see that this is not the way that is going to lead to eternal salvation. And we have to be able to say, then, if that is the case, while it is true that those people can be saved, they will be judged based on what they know and what it is that they have done. When we know that the road is narrow, when we know that the gate which leads into eternity is very small, we have to enter through that way and that means to take up the cross. It means to have that same kind of faith that we see in Hezekiah, who turned to the Lord and was saved because of his faith in God. We have to have that same kind of faith in Our Lord.

Now the time that Jerusalem was sacked before and the people went into exile, there certainly were many faithful people there; but God allowed the good to suffer with the evil in order to bring about a greater holiness for those people and in order to make reparation for the sins of the others. So when we look around our society today and we see the thousands upon thousands of Christians who have abandoned their faith and have become pagan or nothing at all, we have to realize that God is not going to tolerate this forever. The killing of babies, the contraception, the destruction of marriage, all of the problems that we are dealing with in society and in the Church, the day is coming when the good will suffer with the evil. But those who are going to do what is right will do exactly what Hezekiah did and they will turn to the Lord. They will trust Him no matter what happens. And they will know that the words of the Lord are written in their hearts and on their minds, that they have to take up their cross, that they have to walk on that rough and narrow way; but they will also know that it is precisely through those means that they are walking along the road to salvation provided that they continue to pray and continue to trust, that they do not despair, that they do not give up even when it looks dark and hopeless. In the midst of it all, the Lord is right there. Imagine Hezekiah surrounded by a couple of hundred thousand soldiers who had destroyed every place to which they had gone, and he put his faith in God. We have nothing to fear because we have Christ and we have His promises and we see the way that He Himself has walked. Saint Peter reminds us that He has left us an example to follow in His footsteps.

So we are not going to take the easy way to heaven – because there is no easy way to heaven. If we are going to be able to make it to heaven, it is first and foremost to reject the ways and the lies that Satan is telling us – that we can sin and go to heaven too, that we can indulge ourselves and it is not going to be a problem, that we do not really need to pray, that we can do whatever we want, that we can be worldly and we can still go to heaven. I can assure you, in heaven there will be no TV sets, there will be no boom boxes, there will be no filth that our society is presenting, and if we think we can indulge ourselves in these things now and still go to heaven, we are badly mistaken. The way to heaven is rough and it is narrow and few they are who are on it. The invitation is there for each one of us to take up our cross daily, to follow in the footsteps of Our Lord, to live according to His example, and walk His path that leads to one place – and that is Calvary – and through Calvary to heaven.

[Salvation]

Thanks, NYer; you are always so faithful!

[Salvation]

American Cathlic's Saint of the Day

June 22, 2004

St. Thomas More

(1478-1535)

His belief that no lay ruler has jurisdiction over the Church of Christ cost Thomas More his life.

Beheaded on Tower Hill, London, July 6, 1535, he steadfastly refused to approve Henry VIII’s divorce and remarriage and establishment of the Church of England.

Described as “a man for all seasons,” More was a literary scholar, eminent lawyer, gentleman, father of four children and chancellor of England. An intensely spiritual man, he would not support the king’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon in order to marry Anne Boleyn. Nor would he acknowledge Henry as supreme head of the Church in England, breaking with Rome and denying the pope as head.

More was committed to the Tower of London to await trial for treason: not swearing to the Act of Succession and the Oath of Supremacy. Upon conviction, More declared he had all the councils of Christendom and not just the council of one realm to support him in the decision of his conscience.

Comment:

Four hundred years later, in 1935, Thomas More was canonized a saint of God. Few saints are more relevant to the 20th century. The supreme diplomat and counselor, he did not compromise his own moral values in order to please the king, knowing that true allegiance to authority is not blind acceptance of everything that authority wants. King Henry himself realized this and tried desperately to win his chancellor to his side because he knew More was a man whose approval counted, a man whose personal integrity no one questioned. But when Thomas resigned as chancellor, unable to approve the two matters that meant most to Henry, the king had to get rid of Thomas More.

[Salvation]

JOHN FISHER

Also known as

John of Rochester; John Fisher of Rochester

Memorial

22 June; formerly 13 June and 9 July

Profile

Studied theology at Cambridge University. Priest. Gained a reputation for his teaching abilities. Chancellor of Cambridge. Bishop of Rochester at age 35. He worked to raise the standard of preaching in his see. Excellent speaker and writer. When in 1527 he was asked to study the problem of Henry VIII's marriage, he became the target of Henry's wrath by defending the validity of the marriage and rejecting Henry's claim to be head of the Church in England. Spent 14 months in prison without trial before execution for treason. Martyr.

Born

1469

Died

martyred on 22 June 1535 on Tower Hill, London, England; buried in the churchyard of All Hallows, Barking, without rites or a shroud; head exhibited on London Bridge for two weeks as an example, then thrown into the River Thames

Canonized

1935 by Pope Pius XI

Patronage

diocese of Rochester, New York

Representation

cardinal with an axe nearby; cardinal with his hat at his feet; cardinal with worn, haggard features

Storefront

Commercial Links related to Saint John

Additional Information

Google Directory
Christian Biographies, by James Kiefer
Columbia Encyclopedia
The Saints: A Concise Biographical Dictionary, edited by John Coulson
Catholic Encyclopedia, by G Roger Huddleston
For All The Saints, by Katherine Rabenstein

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Readings

Had you but tasted one drop of the sweetness which inebriates the souls of those religious from their worship of this Sacrament, you would never have written as you have, nor have apostatized from the faith that you formerly professed.

- Saint John Fisher, writing to the bishop of Winchester

---

I reckon in this realm no one man, in wisdom, learning, and long approved virtue together, meet to be matched and compared with him.

- Saint Thomas More

[Salvation]

PAULINUS of Nola

Also known as

Meropius Pontius Anicius Paulinus

Memorial

22 June

Profile

Friend of Saint Augustine of Hippo and Saint Nicetas of Remesiana, and mentioned for his holiness by at least six of his contemporary saints.

Distinguished lawyer. Held several public offices in the Empire, then retired from public ministry with his wife, Therasia, first to Bordeaux, where they were baptized, and then to Therasia's estate in Spain. After the death of their only son at the age of only a few weeks, the couple decided to spend the rest of their lives devoted to God. They gave away most of their estates and dedicated themselves to increasing their holiness.

Priest. Paulinus and Therasia moved to Nola, gave away the rest of their property, and dedicated themselves to helping the poor. Paulinus chosen bishop of Nola by popular demand; governed the diocese for more than 21 years while living in his own home as a monk, and continuing to aid the poor. His writings contain one of the earliest examples of a Christian wedding song.

Born

c.354 at Burdigala, Gaul (Bordeaux, France)

Died

22 June 431 of natural causes

Canonized

Pre-Congregation

[Salvation]

ST. THOMAS MORE, PATRON OF POLITICIANS?

What Politicians Can Learn From (St.) Thomas More.

Pope proclaims Sir Thomas More patron of governors and statesmen (my title)

Saint Thomas More [Patron Saint Of Politicians]

Saints John Fisher and Thomas More [Martyrs]

St. Thomas More and Modern Martyrdom

St Thomas More

Life of Thomas More

Saint Thomas More,Martyr, Chancellor of England 1535

St. Thomas More Bearing Witness Long After His Death

[Salvation]

Saints John Fisher and Thomas More [Martyrs]

St.John Fisher

St John Fisher, 1460-1535 [Bishop and Martyr]

[Salvation]

Saint Paulinus Of Nola, Bishop, Confessor

[fatima]

Salvation,Mass bump.

[annalex]

Mt 7:6,12-14
#	Douay-Rheims	Vulgate
6	Give not that which is holy to dogs; neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turning upon you, they tear you.	nolite dare sanctum canibus neque mittatis margaritas vestras ante porcos ne forte conculcent eas pedibus suis et conversi disrumpant vos
[...]
12	All things therefore whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you also to them. For this is the law and the prophets.	omnia ergo quaecumque vultis ut faciant vobis homines et vos facite eis haec est enim lex et prophetae
13	Enter ye in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in thereat.	intrate per angustam portam quia lata porta et spatiosa via quae ducit ad perditionem et multi sunt qui intrant per eam
14	How narrow is the gate, and strait is the way that leadeth to life: and few there are that find it!	quam angusta porta et arta via quae ducit ad vitam et pauci sunt qui inveniunt eam

[annalex]

multi sunt qui intrant per eam

Morris Bishop in his History of the Middle Ages remarks that the chances of a Christian man to be saved were estimated at 1/30 in those times.

I know many whose Christianity is purely nominal, and I know many who take their Christianity very seriously. But I can't think of anyone even in the latter category who would live gripped by the fear of Hell.

This faith in one's personal salvation is especially remarkable given the fact how selective we all are in following the Church teachings.

[Salvation]

**This faith in one's personal salvation is especially remarkable given the fact how selective we all are in following the Church teachings.**

Exactly, what do you think that ratio in these days of decadence would be? 1 in 50? 1 in 100? Or would it be less? 1 in 10?

[Salvation]

Word Among Us

Tuesday, June 22, 2004

Meditation
Matthew 7:6,12-14



The gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Matthew 7:14)

Let’s face it. Jesus never promised that the Christian life would be easy. He never said we’d have a problem-free existence if we chose to follow him through that narrow gate. And we don’t! Every day we encounter temptations of all kinds: choices to either love or hate our neighbor, to help someone or to pass them by, to obey God’s commands or to ignore them, to be instruments of peace and reconciliation, or to promote division and separation. Some of us even face outright persecution because we have chosen the “narrow way” of Christ.

So what should we do? What should we think about Jesus and the life he has given to us? Is it really worth it? If we were to ask this question of all the generations of Christians who have come before us, they would respond with a loud and grateful “Yes!” And many of them have walked the hard road and persisted through sufferings far greater than our own.

Why so great a response? Because they knew that Jesus was walking with them. This one fact makes all the difference between hopeless frustration and comfort, between defeat and victory.

Do you know that at every step you take, you are walking with Jesus? Can you believe that the Son of God himself has paved the way for you and gives you everything you need to follow him? As you walk the road that God has laid out for you, your life can be filled with meaning and purpose—if only because you are becoming an ever more powerful ambassador of Jesus and vessel of the Holy Spirit! Try living without Jesus and see if you have a greater sense of dignity and value. It just doesn’t work, does it? Jesus has promised that he will never leave you. Never! Even if you mess up terribly, he will stick with you. His mercy will cover you, and his strength will empower you. Today, let’s all decide to trust in Jesus’ power to keep transforming us into powerful servants of the gospel.

“Thank you, Jesus, for promising to be with me to the end of time. Thank you for laying down your life for me. Help me to be faithful to you today, as you are faithful to me.”

[Salvation]

One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

All Issues > Volume 20, Number 4

<< Tuesday, June 22, 2004 >>

St. Paulinus of Nola Sts. John Fisher & Thomas More

2 Kings 19:9-11, 14-21, 31-35, 36

Psalm 48

Matthew 7:6, 12-14

View Readings

“I BELIEVE IN ONE GOD, THE FATHER ALMIGHTY”

“O Lord, God of Israel, enthroned upon the cherubim! You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth.” —2 Kings 19:15

God is all-powerful, and He shows it. He “made the heavens and the earth” (2 Kgs 19:15). He sent an angel to strike “down one hundred and eighty-five thousand men” who were about to destroy the Israelites (2 Kgs 19:35). God also died on the cross in perfect love and took away the sins of all people who have lived or ever will live. In this way, God made it possible for everyone to have a new nature, to become His child and share in His divine nature (2 Pt 1:4). God ultimately displayed His omnipotence by rising from the dead and promising to raise all those who live for Him. God continues to show His infinite power by turning bread and wine into His body and blood, healing the sick, driving out demons, and doing far “more than we ask or imagine” (Eph 3:20). He will finally return in awesome glory, end the world, judge everyone who has ever lived, let those who rejected His love go to hell, and take His disciples to heaven to be happy forever. These are unimaginable displays of power.

The Church teaches: “Nothing is more apt to confirm our faith and hope than holding it fixed in our minds that nothing is impossible with God. Once our reason has grasped the idea of God’s almighty power, it will easily and without any hesitation admit everything that [the Creed] will afterwards propose for us to believe — even if they be great and marvellous things, far above the ordinary laws of nature” (Catechism, 274). Believe in God’s infinite power. Rejoice and be free forever.

Prayer: Father, make me bold and peaceful because of my faith in Your power and love.

Promise: “Treat others the way you would have them treat you: this sums up the law and the prophets.” —Mt 7:12

Praise: St. Thomas was not only faithful to God in matters of state, he also was faithful in leading his own family to the Father.

[annalex]

I don't know. I don't think we are supposed to speculate on it. The 1/30 ratio probably reflects how ordinary people felt at the time, not any kind of deep theology. I also think that belief in Christ's mercy is a good thing, but when it is coupled with a lack of effort to follow His commandments it becomes dangerous.