And Saints Marcellinus and Peter, Martyrs
Biographical Information about Saints Marcellinus and Peter[1]
Readings for Saturday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Sir 51:12 cd-20
Paraphrasing the son of Sirach’s prayer, he first praises God and blesses His name. He then recounts that since his earliest time he sought wisdom through the Law. This wisdom guided him and matured in him. It gave him peace and made his road smooth. It is for this reason he lifts his prayer of praise, because after diligent effort he discovered the peace and wisdom he sought.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
Supporting the prayer of Sirach above, Psalm 19 here rejoices in the Law of Moses. The passage reflects the idea that following God’s statutes leads to peace and prosperity.
Gospel Mk 11:27-33
The chief priest attempt to spring a trap on Jesus so they could arrest him but the Lord turns the tables on them by using John the Baptist, a popular figure and thought to be a prophet, to turn them away.
Reflection:
There were once two brothers, Peter and Alex, who had very different views on life. Peter thought that God owed him happiness and the other, Alex, felt he owed God his service. Peter went out to beat the system. He took what ever he could and played fast and hard with the rules. Because he was smart and cunning he became wealthy in worldly goods. However, he was never at rest, he was always expecting that one of his schemes would catch up with him or someone he had dealt falsely with would come looking for him. By secular standards he was viewed as a success.
His younger brother, Alex, always showed compassion and gave freely to those who needed his help. He had many friends who, in turn, came to him in his need. He always seemed happy even though he did not have much in the way of material wealth.
One afternoon, the two brothers happened to be together. This rarely happened because Peter was always busy with his next scheme. He was bragging to Alex about his huge summer house and the new yacht he had just purchased and why didn’t Alex come to work for him because there was lots of money to be made and the unsuspecting were every where.
Peter was surprised when Alex looked at him with a slow, sad, smile and told him he was happy with his life. Peter could not understand. Sure there was a lot of pressure doing what he did. The hours were long and he had to be careful when he went out, but he had it all. Stupid kid, he never was very bright.
Two years later Peter was killed in a traffic accident. He had started drinking. The pressure, you see, and he had run off the road while drunk, in a very expensive car, hitting a very old tree and was killed instantly. Alex mourned him at the funeral service performed at the funeral home. Actually the size of the crowd startled the funeral director. Peter did not have many friends yet a large number of his brothers friends came in support of Alex. Alex, in his short eulogy said it was a shame his brother never found happiness and never understood he was looking for it in the wrong places. You see, Alex knew that what the heart desires most, peace and happiness comes only from the freedom of service to God and in the peace following His Son.
Pax
Biographical Information about Saints Marcellinus and Peter[1]
Readings for Saturday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Sir 51:12 cd-20
Paraphrasing the son of Sirach’s prayer, he first praises God and blesses His name. He then recounts that since his earliest time he sought wisdom through the Law. This wisdom guided him and matured in him. It gave him peace and made his road smooth. It is for this reason he lifts his prayer of praise, because after diligent effort he discovered the peace and wisdom he sought.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
Supporting the prayer of Sirach above, Psalm 19 here rejoices in the Law of Moses. The passage reflects the idea that following God’s statutes leads to peace and prosperity.
Gospel Mk 11:27-33
The chief priest attempt to spring a trap on Jesus so they could arrest him but the Lord turns the tables on them by using John the Baptist, a popular figure and thought to be a prophet, to turn them away.
Reflection:
There were once two brothers, Peter and Alex, who had very different views on life. Peter thought that God owed him happiness and the other, Alex, felt he owed God his service. Peter went out to beat the system. He took what ever he could and played fast and hard with the rules. Because he was smart and cunning he became wealthy in worldly goods. However, he was never at rest, he was always expecting that one of his schemes would catch up with him or someone he had dealt falsely with would come looking for him. By secular standards he was viewed as a success.
His younger brother, Alex, always showed compassion and gave freely to those who needed his help. He had many friends who, in turn, came to him in his need. He always seemed happy even though he did not have much in the way of material wealth.
One afternoon, the two brothers happened to be together. This rarely happened because Peter was always busy with his next scheme. He was bragging to Alex about his huge summer house and the new yacht he had just purchased and why didn’t Alex come to work for him because there was lots of money to be made and the unsuspecting were every where.
Peter was surprised when Alex looked at him with a slow, sad, smile and told him he was happy with his life. Peter could not understand. Sure there was a lot of pressure doing what he did. The hours were long and he had to be careful when he went out, but he had it all. Stupid kid, he never was very bright.
Two years later Peter was killed in a traffic accident. He had started drinking. The pressure, you see, and he had run off the road while drunk, in a very expensive car, hitting a very old tree and was killed instantly. Alex mourned him at the funeral service performed at the funeral home. Actually the size of the crowd startled the funeral director. Peter did not have many friends yet a large number of his brothers friends came in support of Alex. Alex, in his short eulogy said it was a shame his brother never found happiness and never understood he was looking for it in the wrong places. You see, Alex knew that what the heart desires most, peace and happiness comes only from the freedom of service to God and in the peace following His Son.
Pax
[1] The pictures used today, the first of St. Marcellinus and the second of St. Peter are contemporary images found at http://www.catholicculture.org/lit/calendar/day.cfm?date=2007-06-02. There is supposedly a picture by Gervasio Gatti over the altar of their church at Cremona, Italy but no representation could be found. If anyone happens to be touring the churches of Italy and has the opportunity, please see if you can get a digital picture and we will include it.
[2] After Links Expire
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