& Saint George, Martyr
& Saint Adalbert of Prague, Martyr
Biographical Information about St. George[1]
Biographical Information about St. Adalbert[2]
Readings for Monday of the Third Week of Easter[3]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis
Commentary:
Reading 1 Acts 6:8-15
The first deacon, St. Stephen, through his zeal has angered the Jewish community in Jerusalem (as if the Apostles were not enough) by placing Jesus above Moses in his teaching. The St. Luke draws a parallel in this section with the fate of Jesus in the hands of the Sanhedrin.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Continuing the theme of being opposed for the sake of God, our psalm response praises those who are steadfast in the face of such opposition. Psalm 119 is an individual lament asking for God’s support in times of difficulty.
Gospel Jn 6:22-29
This dialogue with the people begins St. John’s great discourse on the bread of life. In this selection Jesus begins by telling the crowd, who had just been witness to the feeding of the multitude with the barley loaves, that they should focus on spiritual food rather than filling their stomachs. His reference here is that through their belief in him as the Son of God, they are doing God’s will.
Reflection:
There is a theme today, proposed by the Church, that leads us to respond to Jesus by faithfulness in the face of opposition. In addition to the scripture from Acts where St. Luke describes St. Stephen being seized and condemned by the Sanhedrin we are given the lives of two martyred Saints of the Church to reflect upon.
First we have St. George who according to ancient tradition was a proponent of chivalry and courage as an outward sign of his faith in Christ. We are told that for his efforts and fidelity, he was tortured and beheaded. Next we are given St. Adelbert; Apostle of Bohemia, who worked determinedly to bring the faith to then pagan Prussia. For his troubles he was, again according to tradition, pierced by three lances and then beheaded.
The message to us is clear. The Lord, through St. John’s Gospel, asks us to seek the spiritual food that will lead us to His table in heaven. He tells us that the beginning of this journey is belief in the one who was sent by God (Himself). If we profess this faith, it will be quite apparent to all we meet. We will be different. We will not take part in ridiculing others, we will not hold up as virtuous those actions that demean others, we will not, in short, be popular. The Saints remind us that the depth to which that “unpopularity” can run may cost us our lives. Before we get worried about that, however, let’s just try to be faithful in our prayers, our words and our actions.
Pax
[1] The first image is “St. George Victorious over the Dragon” by Mattia Preti, 1678
[2] The second image is of St. Adalbert from an antique Holy Card, Artist UNKNOWN.
[3] After Link Expiration
& Saint Adalbert of Prague, Martyr
Biographical Information about St. George[1]
Biographical Information about St. Adalbert[2]
Readings for Monday of the Third Week of Easter[3]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis
Commentary:
Reading 1 Acts 6:8-15
The first deacon, St. Stephen, through his zeal has angered the Jewish community in Jerusalem (as if the Apostles were not enough) by placing Jesus above Moses in his teaching. The St. Luke draws a parallel in this section with the fate of Jesus in the hands of the Sanhedrin.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Continuing the theme of being opposed for the sake of God, our psalm response praises those who are steadfast in the face of such opposition. Psalm 119 is an individual lament asking for God’s support in times of difficulty.
Gospel Jn 6:22-29
This dialogue with the people begins St. John’s great discourse on the bread of life. In this selection Jesus begins by telling the crowd, who had just been witness to the feeding of the multitude with the barley loaves, that they should focus on spiritual food rather than filling their stomachs. His reference here is that through their belief in him as the Son of God, they are doing God’s will.
Reflection:
There is a theme today, proposed by the Church, that leads us to respond to Jesus by faithfulness in the face of opposition. In addition to the scripture from Acts where St. Luke describes St. Stephen being seized and condemned by the Sanhedrin we are given the lives of two martyred Saints of the Church to reflect upon.
First we have St. George who according to ancient tradition was a proponent of chivalry and courage as an outward sign of his faith in Christ. We are told that for his efforts and fidelity, he was tortured and beheaded. Next we are given St. Adelbert; Apostle of Bohemia, who worked determinedly to bring the faith to then pagan Prussia. For his troubles he was, again according to tradition, pierced by three lances and then beheaded.
The message to us is clear. The Lord, through St. John’s Gospel, asks us to seek the spiritual food that will lead us to His table in heaven. He tells us that the beginning of this journey is belief in the one who was sent by God (Himself). If we profess this faith, it will be quite apparent to all we meet. We will be different. We will not take part in ridiculing others, we will not hold up as virtuous those actions that demean others, we will not, in short, be popular. The Saints remind us that the depth to which that “unpopularity” can run may cost us our lives. Before we get worried about that, however, let’s just try to be faithful in our prayers, our words and our actions.
Pax
[1] The first image is “St. George Victorious over the Dragon” by Mattia Preti, 1678
[2] The second image is of St. Adalbert from an antique Holy Card, Artist UNKNOWN.
[3] After Link Expiration
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