Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 01-07-05, Optional, St. Raymond of Penafort

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

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From: 1 John 5:5-13

Everyone Who Believes in Jesus Overcomes the World (Continuation)

[5] Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus
is the Son of God?

Testimony Borne to Christ

[6] This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the
water only but with the water and the blood. [7] And the Spirit is the
witness, because the Spirit is the truth. [8] There are three
witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree.
[9] If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is
greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne witness to
his Son. [10] He who believes in the son of God has the testimony in
himself. He who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he
has not believed in the testimony that God has borne to his Son.
[11] And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this
life is in his Son. [12] He who has the Son has life; he who has not
the Son of God has not life.

Epilogue

[13] I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God,
that you may know that you have eternal life.

Commentary:

6. The "water" and the "blood" have been interpreted in different ways,
depending on whether they apply (following the more literal meaning) to
events in the life of Christ, or are regarded as symbols of particular
sacraments. The water, if referred to the life of Christ, would be an
allusion to our Lord's baptism (cf. Mt 3:13-17 and par.), where the
Father and the Holy Spirit bore witness to Christ's divinity; the blood
would refer to the Cross, where Christ, God and true man, shed his
blood to bring Redemption. According to this interpretation, St John is
answering the Gnostics, who said that Jesus of Nazareth became the Son
of God through baptism and ceased to be the Son of God prior to his
passion: therefore, only the man Jesus, devoid of divinity, died on the
Cross; which would be a denial of the redemptive value of Christ's
death.

Understood as symbols of the sacraments, the water would refer to
Baptism (cf. In 3:5), where we receive the Holy Spirit and the life of
grace (cf. Jn 7:37-39); the blood would apply to the Eucharist, where
we partake of the blood of Christ in order to have life in us (cf. Jn
6:53, 55, 56). Jesus came on earth to give his life for men (cf. Jn
10:10); we obtain that life in the first instance by means of the
living water of Baptism (cf. Jn 4:14; 7:37ff); and also by the
application of the blood of Christ, which cleanses us from all sin (cf.
1 Jn 1:7; 2:2; 4:10).

The two interpretations are compatible with one another, given that
sacraments are sensible signs of the supernatural effects of Christ's
redemptive death. Referring to Baptism, Tertullian wrote: "We have also
a second laving, and it too is unique--the baptism with blood. The Lord
spoke of this when he said, 'I have a baptism to be baptized with' (Lk
12:50), having had already been baptized once. So, he did come 'by
water and blood' (1 In 5:6), as John writes, in order to be bathed by
the water and glorified by the blood, in order to make us (who are
called by water) chosen ones through blood. These two baptisms spring
from the wound in his pierced side; so it is that those who believed in
his blood would be washed by the water; those who were washed in the
water would also drink of the blood" ("De Baptismo", XVI).

7-8. The Sistine-Clementine edition of the Vulgate included an addition
which left the text reading as follows: "There are three who give
witness in heaven: the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are
one. And there are three who give witness on earth. the Spirit, the
water, and the blood; and these three agree." The words shown in
italics (known as the Johannine "comma" or addition) were the subject
of heated debate (around the end of the nineteenth century) as to their
authenticity. The Holy Office (as was) left theologians free to
research the matter (cf. "Declaration", 2 June 1927) and in fact it has
been shown that the "comma" was introduced in Spain around the fourth
century AD in a text attributed to Priscillian, and therefore does not
belong to the original inspired text. The "comma" makes express mention
of the Blessed Trinity; however, even without it the text proclaims
that mystery of faith fairly clearly: it makes mention of Jesus Christ,
the Son of God (vv. 5-6), and of the Holy Spirit (v. 7) and of the
Father, both of whom bear witness to the Son (v. 9).

According to the legal prescriptions of the Old Testament, the
testimony of one witness was insufficient at trials (Deut 17:6; cf. Jn
8:17). St John points to three witnesses (the Holy Spirit, water and
blood), thereby refuting the Gnostic teaching; he is saying that the
water and the blood, that is, Christ's baptism and his death on the
Cross, are a manifestation of his divinity. Clearly the word "witness"
is used here in a broad sense: namely, in the sense that at those two
important moments in his life, Christ makes known to us that he is true
God.

The Fathers who interpreted these words as referring to the sacraments
usually comment on the fact that in the sacraments the grace of God is
communicated internally and is signaled externally. St Bede writes
along those lines: "The Holy Spirit makes us adoptive sons of God; the
water of the sacred fount cleanses us; the blood of the Lord redeems
us: the spiritual sacrament gives us a dual witness, one visible, one
invisible" ("In I Epist. S. Ioannis, ad loc.").

9-12. In his characteristic style St John strings together a series of
short phrases (and their opposites, as contrasts) which are full of
meaning. In a very few words, he enunciates three important truths,
which he expects Christians to be very familiar with: 1) God the Father
has borne witness to his Son (v. 9); 2) this witness brings an
obligation with it; if one does not believe one is making God out to be
a liar (v. 10); 3) God has given us life in Christ (vv. 11-12).

Earlier the Apostle pointed out that faith in Jesus can be the object
of reason because it is based on external proofs, and that its fruit is
supernatural life (cf. 1 Jn 1 :1-5). Now he adds that in addition to
the aforementioned witnesses--the Spirit, the water and the blood (vv.
6-8)--God the Father bears witness. Although John does not expressly
say so, it is clear that God bore witness to Jesus throughout his
earthly life: Jesus' words, miracles, passion and death, and his
resurrection are evidence God has supplied of Christ's divinity. The
believer "has the testimony [of God] in him" (v. 10), within him,
insofar as he accepts and makes the Christian message (Revelation) his
own, convinced that it comes from God, who cannot deceive or be
deceived. In his turn, he who believes in Jesus Christ manifests his
faith to others, passing on to them the conviction that Jesus is true
God.

Faith produces the fruit of supernatural life, which is the seed and
first-fruit of eternal life (cf. 11-12); that life can be given us
only by Jesus Christ, our Savior. "To those of us who are still making
our pilgrim way in this life has been given the hope of eternal life,
which we shall only receive in its full form in heaven when we reach
Him" ("In I Epist. S. Ioannis, ad loc.").

13-21. St John's words in v. 13 are evocative of the first epilogue to
his Gospel, where he explains why he wrote that book: "that you may
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing
you may have life in his name" (Jn 20:31). In this verse of the letter,
the Apostle stresses the efficacy of faith, which is already an
anticipation of eternal life (cf. notes on 1 Jn 3:2; 5:9-12).

His final counsels are designed to strengthen our confidence in prayer
and to urge the need for prayer on behalf of sinners (vv. 14-17); they
also stress the conviction and confidence that faith in the Son of God
gives the believer (vv. 18-21).

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.

From: Luke 5:12-16

The Cure of a Leper

[12] While he (Jesus) was in one of the cities, there came a man full
of leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and besought
him, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." [13] And he stretched
out his hand, and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And
immediately the leprosy left him. [14] And he charged him to tell no
one; but "go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for
your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to the people."
[15] But so much the more the report went abroad concerning him; and
great multitudes gathered to hear and to be healed of their
infirmities. [16] But he withdrew to the wilderness and prayed.

Commentary:

12. The words of the leper are a model prayer. First, they show his
faith. "He did not say, 'If you ask God for it...', but 'If you will"'
(Chrysostom, "Hom. on St Matthew", 25). He rounds this off by saying,
"You can"--an open confession of Christ's omnipotence. The psalmist
expressed this same faith: "Whatever the Lord pleases he does, in
heaven and on earth, in the seas and in the deep" (Ps 135:6). Along
with this faith he shows confidence in God's mercy. "God is merciful;
there is no need therefore to ask him; all we have to do is show him
our need" (St Thomas Aquinas, "Commentary on St Matthew", 8, 1). And
St John Chrysostom concludes: "Prayer is perfect when it is joined to
faith and confession; the leper showed his faith and confessed his
need out loud" ("Hom. on St Matthew", 25).

"'Domine!--Lord--"si vis, potes me mundare"--if thou wilt, thou canst
make me clean.' What a beautiful prayer for you to say often, with the
faith of the poor leper, when there happens to you what God and you and
I know! You will not have to wait long to hear the Master's reply:
'"Volo, mundare!" I will: be thou made clean!"' ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way",
142).

13. Jesus listens to the leper's petition and cures him of his disease.
All of us suffer from spiritual ailments and our Lord is waiting for us
to approach him: "He is our physician, and he heals our selfishness if
we let his grace penetrate to the depths of our soul. Jesus has taught
us that the worst sickness is hypocrisy, the pride that leads us to
hide our own sins. We have to be totally sincere with him. We have to
tell the whole truth, and then we have to say, 'Lord, if you will'--and
you are always willing--'you can make me clean' (Mt 8:2). You know my
weaknesses; I feel these symptoms; I suffer these failings. We show him
the wound, with simplicity, and if the wound is festering, we show the
pus too. Lord, you have cured so many souls; help me to recognize you
as the divine physician when I have you in my heart or when I
contemplate your presence in the tabernacle" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is
Passing By", 93).

16. The Third Gospel frequently draws attention to Jesus going off,
alone, to pray (cf. 6:12; 9:18; 11:1). By doing this Jesus teaches us
the need for personal prayer in all the various situations in which we
find ourselves.

"Forgive me if I insist, but it is very important to note carefully
what the Messiah did, because he came to show us the path that leads to
the Father. With our Lord we will discover how to give a supernatural
dimension to all our actions, even those that seem least important. We
will learn to live every moment of our lives with a lively awareness of
eternity, and we will understand more deeply man's need for periods of
intimate conversation with his God, so as to get to know him, to invoke
him, to praise him, to break out into acts of thanksgiving, to listen
to him or, quite simply, to be with him" ([St] J. Escriva, "Friends of God",
239).

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.

FEAST OF THE DAY

St. Raymond was born at the castle Penyafort in Catalonia, Spain in
the year 1175. His noble status allowed him to receive an excellent
education. By the age of twenty, Raymond was teaching philosophy
at Barcelona, and by the age of thirty, he had earned doctorate in
both canon and civil law. His excellent education and teaching
abilities caught the attention of an important bishop who ordained
Raymond and asked him to serve as his aide and assistant.

In 1222, at the age of forty-seven, Raymond discerned that he was
called to be a Dominican, and he joined the order. Raymond devoted
all of his energy into novitiate formation and the pursuit of holiness.
While in the monastery, Raymond gained the reputation as an
excellent confessor and was asked to write a book examining the
application of Church doctrines to situations of sin. In the year 1230,
Raymond was asked to come to Rome and serve as the chaplain
and confessor of the pope. He accepted the position and utilized his
time in Rome to bring together all the decrees and councils of the
previous eighty years into one work. This work became one of the
best collections of Church law until the 1917 codification of canon
law.

At the age of sixty, Raymond was appointed archbishop of
Tarragona, but he only held this position for two years due to
personal dislike of it and illness. At the age of sixty-three, Raymond
was elected by his fellow Dominicans to serve as the second master
general of the Dominican Order. While he held this position, he
visited all the established communities of Dominicans to encourage
their labors and to reorganize their constitutions. As superior of the
Dominican order, Raymond included a provision into the rule that the
master general is allowed to resign. After this provision was
accepted, he promptly gave up his position to retire to preach in
Spain and work for the conversion of the Moors. Raymond continued
his work for thirty-five years after his resignation until his death at the
age of ninety-nine in the year 1275. Before his death, St. Raymond
wrote several major works, including, Decretales Gregorii IX and
Summa de Casibus. St. Raymond is the patron of canonists and
lawyers.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Under the influence of fear, we bear the Cross of Christ with
patience. Under the more inspiring influence of home, we carry the
Cross with a firm and valiant heart. But under the consuming power
of love, we embrace the Cross with ardor. -St. Bernard

TODAY IN HISTORY

1566 Michaele Ghislieri is elected Pope Pius V
1789 1st presidential election in US

TODAY'S TIDBIT

Many men and women find their vocations to religious life or priesthood
later in their lives. They can take as their example St.
Raymond who joined the Dominicans at the age of 47 and was
ordained only a few years earlier.

INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Please pray for all people discerning their vocation.

Reflections for Advent and Christmas, [November 28, 2004 - January 9, 2005]

Friday, January 7, 2005

First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:

1 John 5:5-13
Psalm 147:12-15, 19-20
Luke 5:12-16

Yesterday on approaching the Most Blessed Sacrament, I felt myself burning and I had to withdraw. I am astounded that so many who receive Jesus are not reduced to ashes.

-- St. Gemma Galgani

Because of the Holy Scriptures, we can be sure that we have eternal life.

Adoration Tally Presented to Pope by Vocation.com

Bishop Calls for Perpetual Adoration of Eucharist

What I learned From a Muslim about Eucharistic Adoration

PERPETUAL ADORATION [The Monks of the Adoration]

"The best, the surest , and the most effective way of establishing everlasting peace on the face of the earth is through the great power of perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament." -- Pope John Paul II

"Could you not watch one hour?" -- Mark 14:37

First Friday Ping!

When Jesus says, I will do it... we can stand on that promise!

Lk 5:12-16
#	Douay-Rheims	Vulgate
12	And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy who, seeing Jesus and falling on his face, besought him saying: Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.	et factum est cum esset in una civitatum et ecce vir plenus lepra et videns Iesum et procidens in faciem rogavit eum dicens Domine si vis potes me mundare
13	And stretching forth his hand, he touched him, saying: I will. Be thou cleansed. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.	et extendens manum tetigit illum dicens volo mundare et confestim lepra discessit ab illo
14	And he charged him that he should tell no man, but: Go, shew thyself to the priest and offer for thy cleansing according as Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.	et ipse praecepit illi ut nemini diceret sed vade ostende te sacerdoti et offer pro emundatione tua sicut praecepit Moses in testimonium illis
15	But the fame of him went abroad the more: and great multitudes came together to hear and to be healed by him of their infirmities.	perambulabat autem magis sermo de illo et conveniebant turbae multae ut audirent et curarentur ab infirmitatibus suis
16	And he retired into the desert; and prayed.	ipse autem secedebat in deserto et orabat

that caught my eye too!

Homily of the Day

Homily of the Day

Title:	If You Truly Believe, Your Heart Is Bonded to Him
Author:	Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.
Date:	Friday, January 7, 2005

1 John 5:5-13; Luke 5:12-16

Unless we’ve hit one of those terrible periods in our lives when everything fades into shades of grey and the hours hang heavy upon us, most of our days seem to pass with astonishing speed. And if we ever take the time to recreate one of our days, minute by minute, we’ll be astonished to see how much we’ve crammed into so little space. No wonder that we seem to have so little time to think. No wonder we forget some of the most important things that we know.

In today’s Epistle, St. John reminds us of the most important of all of those things we forget. He says, “You who believe in the name of the Son of God ...[already] possess eternal life.” It’s astonishing but true, and it’s something we’d all like to be a part of.

So what does it mean to “believe in the name”? It involves a good deal more than a mere intellectual affirmation. It means nothing less than entrusting our very lives into the care of God’s Son, and bonding our hearts to His, so that His life flows into us and we are progressively reshaped into His likeness.

That bond is far too important to risk our forgetting it. So, as the hours and days go racing by, be sure to take some time to remember the one to whom your heart is bonded, the one who shares His life with you. Remember and give thanks.

American Cathlic's Saint of the Day

January 7, 2005

St. Raymond of Penyafort

(1175-1275)

Since Raymond lived into his hundredth year, he had a chance to do many things. As a member of the Spanish nobility, he had the resources and the education to get a good start in life.

By the time he was 20, he was teaching philosophy. In his early 30s he earned a doctorate in both canon and civil law. At 41 he became a Dominican. Pope Gregory IX called him to Rome to work for him and to be his confessor. One of the things the pope asked him to do was to gather together all the decrees of popes and councils that had been made in 80 years since a similar collection by Gratian. Raymond compiled five books called the Decretals. They were looked upon as one of the best organized collections of Church law until the 1917 codification of canon law.

Earlier, Raymond had written for confessors a book of cases. It was called Summa de casibus poenitentiae. More than just a list of sins and penances, it discussed pertinent doctrines and laws of the Church that pertained to the problem or case brought to the confessor.

At the age of 60, Raymond was appointed archbishop of Tarragona, the capital of Aragon. He didn’t like the honor at all and ended up getting sick and resigning in two years.

He didn’t get to enjoy his peace long, however, because when he was 63 he was elected by his fellow Dominicans to be the head of the whole Order, the successor of St. Dominic. Raymond worked hard, visited on foot all the Dominicans, reorganized their constitutions and managed to put through a provision that a master general be allowed to resign. When the new constitutions were accepted, Raymond, then 65, resigned.

He still had 35 years to oppose heresy and work for the conversion of the Moors in Spain. He convinced St. Thomas Aquinas to write his work Against the Gentiles.

In his100th year the Lord let Raymond retire.

Comment:

Raymond was a lawyer, a canonist. Legalism is one of the things that the Church tried to rid herself of at Vatican II. It is too great a preoccupation with the letter of the law to the neglect of the spirit and purpose of the law. The law can become an end in itself, so that the value the law was intended to promote is overlooked. But we must guard against going to the opposite extreme and seeing law as useless or something to be lightly regarded. Laws ideally state those things that are for the best interests of everyone and make sure the rights of all are safeguarded. From Raymond, we can learn a respect for law as a means of serving the common good.

Quote:

“He who hates the law is without wisdom,/and is tossed about like a boat in a storm” (Sirach 33:2).

The Word Among Us

Friday, January 07, 2005

Meditation
1 John 5:14-21

Ashamed and covered with sores, the man fell at Jesus’ feet. All he knew was that if there was any possibility of his being healed, Jesus could do it for him. Would he be laughed at? Would the crowd demand that he go away since he was “unclean”? It didn’t matter. He only wanted to get close to the teacher. And without hesitation, Jesus reached through this poor man’s fear, shame, and brokenness. “Of course I will heal you!” In a moment, the man’s life was transformed. Beyond the healing of his body, his hope was restored. He knew that God hadn’t rejected him but loved him still.

The Scriptures are brimming with descriptions of Jesus’ compassion and love. Whenever we read them, we can hear Jesus telling us, “I am willing to heal you. Come to me.” Whenever we pray, we can experience him reaching out to touch us. He knows exactly what needs to be healed in us: in spirit, mind, and body.

What’s even better is that there is no limit to the number of times we can call out to him. For every time we do, we open ourselves more fully to his touch, to his presence, and to his power to restore. He may free our hearts to rejoice in the midst of a struggle. Perhaps he will fill us with compassion for others or strengthen our faith in his unfailing love. Fears will diminish and confidence in Christ will grow. He will deepen our awareness of his Holy Spirit. We may even find ourselves telling others about Jesus’ love and grace that has carried us and healed us.

Jesus hears and answers every prayer we pray. This is true! We may not even realize until later all that he has done in us, but that doesn’t change the fact the he is always with us. Let’s not hesitate to bring our bodies, our memories, and our hearts to him. He is waiting to reveal his endless love. No matter what the circumstance may be, he will teach us, convince us of his plan, and reveal the desires he has for us.

“Jesus, you are always merciful and compassionate. I call out to you because you are trustworthy and faithful. I welcome you into my life to restore me, heal me, and to fill me with hope.”

One Bread, One Body

All Issues > Volume 21, Number 1

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St. Raymond of Penyafort

1 John 5:5-13

Psalm 147

Luke 5:12-16

View Readings

WORLD CHAMPION

“Who, then, is conqueror of the world? The one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” —1 John 5:5

If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, you are a world champion, conqueror of the world. To become world champion, you must defeat a number of opponents. By faith in Jesus, you must beat temptation and sin, the flesh and the devil, self and death.

Even though these opponents are formidable, if God is for you, who can be against? (Rm 8:31) You will win bout after bout, overcoming trial, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger, the sword (Rm 8:35), death, life, angels, principalities, the present, the future, height, depth, and every other creature (Rm 8:38-39). What a string of victories! “Thanks be to God Who has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 15:57).

In fact, the terms “victor,” “conqueror,” and “world champion” don’t do you justice. In all this you are more than a conqueror because of Him Who has loved you (Rm 8:37). You are weak but He is strong. By faith you “draw your strength from the Lord and His mighty power” (Eph 6:10). Little old you beats the big bad devil — all because of Jesus.

“The Lord is with you, O champion!” (Jgs 6:12)

Prayer: Father, how did You ever make me world champion? Thank You, Jesus, for a great Christmas.

Promise: “Jesus stretched out His hand to touch him and said, ‘I do will it. Be cured.’ Immediately the leprosy left him.” —Lk 5:13

Praise: St. Raymond “retired” several times — as a teacher, as an archbishop, as head of the Dominicans. He still serves the Lord to this day as patron saint of attorneys, barristers, canonists, lawyers, and medical record librarians.

St. Raymond of Penafort [Penyafort], priest