Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings 5-February-2024

Universalis/Jerusalem Bible ^

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5 February 2024

Saint Agatha, Virgin, Martyr
on Monday of week 5 in Ordinary Time



Saint Agatha Roman Catholic Church, Saint Louis, MO

Readings at Mass

Liturgical Colour: Red. Year: B(II).

Readings for the feria

Readings for the memorial

These are the readings for the feria

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First reading

1 Kings 8:1-7,9-13 ©

The Ark of the Covenant is brought into the Temple

Solomon called the elders of Israel together in Jerusalem to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord up from the Citadel of David, which is Zion. All the men of Israel assembled round King Solomon in the month of Ethanim, at the time of the feast (that is, the seventh month), and the priests took up the ark and the Tent of Meeting with all the sacred vessels that were in it. In the presence of the ark, King Solomon and all Israel sacrificed sheep and oxen, countless, innumerable. The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, in the Debir of the Temple, that is, in the Holy of Holies, under the cherubs’ wings. For there where the ark was placed the cherubs spread out their wings and sheltered the ark and its shafts. There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets Moses had placed in it at Horeb, the tablets of the covenant which the Lord had made with the Israelites when they came out of the land of Egypt; they are still there today.

  Now when the priests came out of the sanctuary, the cloud filled the Temple of the Lord, and because of the cloud the priests could no longer perform their duties: the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s Temple.

  Then Solomon said:

‘The Lord has chosen to dwell in the thick cloud.

Yes, I have built you a dwelling,

a place for you to live in for ever.’

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Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 131(132):6-10 ©

Go up, Lord, to the place of your rest!

At Ephrata we heard of the ark;

  we found it in the plains of Yearim.

‘Let us go to the place of his dwelling;

  let us go to kneel at his footstool.’

Go up, Lord, to the place of your rest!

Go up, Lord, to the place of your rest,

  you and the ark of your strength.

Your priests shall be clothed with holiness;

  your faithful shall ring out their joy.

For the sake of David your servant

  do not reject your anointed.

Go up, Lord, to the place of your rest!

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Gospel Acclamation	Jn8:12

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;

anyone who follows me will have the light of life.

Alleluia!

Or:	cf.Mt4:23

Alleluia, alleluia!

Jesus proclaimed the Good News of the kingdom

and cured all kinds of sickness among the people.

Alleluia!

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Gospel	Mark 6:53-56 ©

All those who touched him were cured

Having made the crossing, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up. No sooner had they stepped out of the boat than people recognised him, and started hurrying all through the countryside and brought the sick on stretchers to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, to village, or town, or farm, they laid down the sick in the open spaces, begging him to let them touch even the fringe of his cloak. And all those who touched him were cured.

Continue

These are the readings for the memorial

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First reading

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 ©

God chose what is foolish by human reckoning, to shame the wise

Take yourselves for instance, brothers, at the time when you were called: how many of you were wise in the ordinary sense of the word, how many were influential people, or came from noble families? No, it was to shame the wise that God chose what is foolish by human reckoning, and to shame what is strong that he chose what is weak by human reckoning; those whom the world thinks common and contemptible are the ones that God has chosen – those who are nothing at all to show up those who are everything. The human race has nothing to boast about to God, but you, God has made members of Christ Jesus and by God’s doing he has become our wisdom, and our virtue, and our holiness, and our freedom. As scripture says: if anyone wants to boast, let him boast about the Lord.

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Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 30(31):3-6,8,16-17 ©

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

Be a rock of refuge for me,

  a mighty stronghold to save me,

for you are my rock, my stronghold.

  For your name’s sake, lead me and guide me.

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

Into your hands I commend my spirit.

  It is you who will redeem me, Lord.

As for me, I trust in the Lord:

  let me be glad and rejoice in your love.

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

My life is in your hands, deliver me

  from the hands of those who hate me.

Let your face shine on your servant.

  Save me in your love.

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

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Gospel Acclamation	1P4:14

Alleluia, alleluia!

It is a blessing for you

when they insult you for bearing the name of Christ,

for the Spirit of God rests on you.

Alleluia!

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Gospel	Luke 9:23-26 ©

The Son of Man is destined to suffer grievously

Jesus said:

  ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, that man will save it. What gain, then, is it for a man to have won the whole world and to have lost or ruined his very self? For if anyone is ashamed of me and of my words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his own glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.’

Continue

 

Christian Art

Each day, The Christian Art website gives a picture and reflection on the Gospel of the day. <

The readings on this page are from the Jerusalem Bible, which is used at Mass in most of the English-speaking world. The New American Bible readings, which are used at Mass in the United States, are available in the Universalis apps, programs and downloads.

You can also view this page with the Gospel in Greek and English.

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

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KEYWORDS: catholic; lk9; mk6; ordinarytime; prayer;

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My dad is back in the hospital. [JimRob update at 242]
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Mark
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Mark 6
53.	And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Genezareth, and set to the shore.	Et cum transfretassent, venerunt in terram Genesareth, et applicuerunt.	και διαπερασαντες ηλθον επι την γην γεννησαρετ και προσωρμισθησαν
54.	And when they were gone out of the ship, immediately they knew him:	Cumque egressi essent de navi, continuo cognoverunt eum :	και εξελθοντων αυτων εκ του πλοιου ευθεως επιγνοντες αυτον
55.	And running through that whole country, they began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.	et percurrentes universam regionem illam, cœperunt in grabatis eos, qui se male habebant, circumferre, ubi audiebant eum esse.	περιδραμοντες ολην την περιχωρον εκεινην ηρξαντο επι τοις κραββατοις τους κακως εχοντας περιφερειν οπου ηκουον οτι εκει εστιν
56.	And whithersoever he entered, into towns or into villages or cities, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch but the hem of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.	Et quocumque introibat, in vicos, vel in villas aut civitates, in plateis ponebant infirmos, et deprecabantur eum, ut vel fimbriam vestimenti ejus tangerent, et quotquot tangebant eum, salvi fiebant.	και οπου αν εισεπορευετο εις κωμας η πολεις η αγρους εν ταις αγοραις ετιθουν τους ασθενουντας και παρεκαλουν αυτον ινα καν του κρασπεδου του ιματιου αυτου αψωνται και οσοι αν ηπτοντο αυτου εσωζοντο

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6:53–56

53. And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.

54. And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,

55. And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.

56. And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

GLOSS. (non occ.) The Evangelist, having shewn the danger which the disciples had sustained in their passage, and their deliverance from it, now shews the place to which they sailed, saying, And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.

THEOPHYLACT. The Lord remained at the above-mentioned place for some time. Therefore the Evangelist subjoins, And when they had come out of the ship, straightway they knew him, that is, the inhabitants of the country.

BEDE. (ubi sup.) But they knew Him by report, not by His features; or through the greatness of His miracles, even His person was known to some. See too how great was the faith of the men of the land of Gennesaret, so that they were not content with the healing of those who were present, but sent to other towns round about, that all might hasten to the Physician; wherefore there follows, And ran through the whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.

THEOPHYLACT. For they did not call Him to their houses that He might heal them, but rather the sick themselves were brought to Him. Wherefore it also follows, And whithersoever he entered into villages, or cities, or country, &c. For the miracle which had been wrought on the woman with an issue of blood, had reached the ears of many, and caused in them that great faith, by which they were healed. It goes on, And as many as touched him were made whole.

BEDE. (ubi sup.) Again, in a mystical sense, do thou understand by the hem of His garment the slightest of His commandments, for whosoever shall transgress it shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven, (Matt. 5:19) or else His assumption of our flesh, by which we have come to the Word of God, and afterwards, shall have the enjoyment of His majesty.

PSEUDO-JEROME. Furthermore that which is said, And as many as touched him were made whole, shall be fulfilled, when grief and mourning shall fly away.

Catena Aurea Mark 6

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Attribution unknown

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Saint of the Day for February 5

(c. 230 – 251)

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Saint Agatha’s Story

As in the case of Agnes, another virgin-martyr of the early Church, almost nothing is historically certain about this saint except that she was martyred in Sicily during the persecution of Emperor Decius in 251.

Legend has it that Agatha, like Agnes, was arrested as a Christian, tortured, and sent to a house of prostitution to be mistreated. She was preserved from being violated, and was later put to death.

She is claimed as the patroness of both Palermo and Catania. The year after her death, the stilling of an eruption of Mt. Etna was attributed to her intercession. As a result, apparently, people continued to ask her prayers for protection against fire.

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Reflection

The scientific modern mind winces at the thought of a volcano’s might being contained by God because of the prayers of a Sicilian girl. Still less welcome, probably, is the notion of that saint being the patroness of such varied professions as those of foundry workers, nurses, miners and Alpine guides. Yet, in our historical precision, have we lost an essential human quality of wonder and poetry, and even our belief that we come to God by helping each other, both in action and prayer?

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Saint Agatha is the Patron Saint of:

Healing from Diseases of the Breast
Nurses

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franciscanmedia.org

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Saint Agatha

Francisco de Zurbarán (1598–1664)
Fabre museum

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NAVARRE BIBLE COMMENTARY (RSV)

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (To the Greater Glory of God)

First Reading:

From: 1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13

Transfer of the Ark of the Covenant
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[1] Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ houses of the people of Israel, before King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. [2] And all the men of Israel assembled to King Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month [3] And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. [4] And they brought up the ark of the LORD, the tent of meeting and all the holy vessels that were in the tent the priests and the Levites brought them up. [5] And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel who had assembled before him were with him before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. [6] Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the most holy place, underneath the wings of the cherubim. [7] For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim made a covering above the ark and its pales. [9] There was nothing in the ark except the two tables of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. [10] And when the priests came out of the holy place, a cloud filled the house of the LORD, [11] so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.

[12] Then Solomon said, “The LORD has set the sun in the heavens, but has said that he would dwell in thick darkness. [13] I have built thee an exalted house, a place for thee to dwell in for ever.”

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Commentary:

8:1-9:9. Once the temple was built and furnished, the key thing remained to be fulfilled--that God should accept it as his dwelling-place. This section brings us to the most important passage in the books of the Kings. This temple dedicated by Solomon now becomes the place of the presence of God--the same presence as Moses and the people enjoyed in the wilderness (Ex 25:8-9). Jesus himself recognizes the temple of Jerusalem as the house of God (cf. Mt 21:13 and par.; Jn 2:16) and in fact it is there that he will manifest himself to men. So, it is not surprising that the early Christian writers should see Solomon as a figure of Christ: “The temple that Solomon built for the Lord was a type and figure of the future Church, the body of the Lord as it is described in the Gospel: "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up". In the same way as Solomon built that temple, the true Solomon, our Lord Jesus Christ, the true peacemaker, built a temple. The name Solomon means ‘Peacemaker’ and Jesus Christ is the true peacemaker, of whom the Apostle said: "He is our peace. He has formed the two peoples into one body". He is the true peacemaker who unites in his person, being himself the cornerstone, the two walls which run from opposite sides--the believers from among the circumcised people and the believers from among the uncircumcised Gentiles. From these two peoples, he, the cornerstone, has raised up one Church, and thus he is the true peacemaker. Christ is the true Solomon, and the other Solomon, the son of David, born of Bethsabee, and a king of Israel, was a figure of the King Peacemaker (to come)” (St Augustine, "Enarrationes In Psalmos", 126, 2).

8:1-13. The sacred writer wants to stress the solemnity and reverence that marked the transfer of the ark to the temple. Once the ark was positioned in the inner sanctuary, the poles (which according to Exodus 25:15 had to remain in the rings) could be seen from outside that sanctuary, to confirm that the ark was indeed inside. The statement that the ark contained only the tables of the Law is designed to show that this is in line with what Moses did according to Exodus 25:21 and to emphasize the Law given to Israel; there are other traditions recorded in the Letter to the Hebrews (cf. Heb 9:4) which say that the ark also contained a small piece of manna (cf. Ex 16:33) and the rod of Aaron (cf. Num 17:25).

The Septuagint Greek places the words of Solomon in v. 12b (along with v. 13) in v. 53, and gives the source as “the Book of Song”. According to v. 12 (RSV) Solomon is acknowledging God to be both in the light of the sun and in the shadow of the cloud. See the RSV note z. “These two images occur together in the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. In the theophanies of the Old Testament, the cloud, now obscure, now luminous, reveals the living and saving God, while veiling the transcendence of his glory--with Moses on Mount Sinai (cf. Ex 24:15-18), at the tent of meeting (cf. Ex 33:9-10) and during the wandering in the desert (cf. Ex 40:36-38; 1 Cor 10:1-2) and with Solomon at the dedication of the Temple (cf. 1 King 8:10-12). In the Holy Spirit, Christ fulfills these figures. The Spirit comes upon the Virgin Mary and ‘overshadows’ her, so that she might conceive and give birth to Jesus (Lk 1:35). On the mountain of Transfiguration, the Spirit in the ‘cloud came and overshadowed’ Jesus, Moses and Elijah, Peter, James and John, and ‘a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” (Lk 9:34-35). Finally, the cloud took Jesus out of the sight of the disciples on the day of his Ascension, and will reveal him as Son of Man in glory on the day of his final coming (cf. Lk 21:27)” ("Catechism of the Catholic Church", 697).

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Gospel Reading:

From: Mark 6:53-56

Cures at Gennesaret
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[53] And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored to the shore. [54] And when they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him (Jesus), [55] and ran about the whole neighborhood and began to bring sick people on their pallets to any place where they heard He was. [56] And wherever He came in, in villages, cities, or country, they laid the sick in the market places, and besought Him that they might touch even the fringe of His garment; and as many as touched it were made well.

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Commentary:

None.

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Click here to go to the My Catholic Life! Devotional thread for today’s Gospel Reading

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February is the month of devotion to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph: