(Optional Memorial for Saint Norbert, Bishop) or
(Optional Memorial for the Blessed Virgin Mary)
On Saturdays in Ordinary Time when there is no obligatory memorial, an optional memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary is allowed.[1] Mass texts may be taken from the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, from a Votive Mass, or from the special collection of Masses for the Blessed Virgin Mary. (USCCB recommends: #39. Holy Mary, Queen and Mother of Mercy)
Biographical information about St. Norbert
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| “The Widow’s Mite” by Gustave Doré, 1865 |
Readings and Commentary:[4]
Reading 1: 2 Timothy 4:1-8
Beloved:
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,
who will judge the living and the dead,
and by his appearing and his kingly power:
proclaim the word;
be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient;
convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.
For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine
but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity,
will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth
and will be diverted to myths.
But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances;
put up with hardship;
perform the work of an evangelist;
fulfill your ministry.
For I am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well;
I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me,
but to all who have longed for his appearance.
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Commentary on 2 Tm 4:1-8
The Apostle begins this chapter with a solemn injunction to St. Timothy: “perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry.“ St. Paul warns that the task will be difficult, and that false teachers will arise with competing doctrines and “self-serving myths.”
He concludes this passage with a clear view that he will soon be martyred, and feels he has done what the Lord has asked (“I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith”). Confident in God’s mercy he awaits his own judgment and resurrection.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 71:8-9, 14-15ab, 16-17, 22
R. (see 15ab) I will sing of your salvation.
My mouth shall be filled with your praise,
with your glory day by day.
Cast me not off in my old age;
as my strength fails, forsake me not.
R. I will sing of your salvation.
But I will always hope
and praise you ever more and more.
My mouth shall declare your justice,
day by day your salvation.
R. I will sing of your salvation.
I will treat of the mighty works of the Lord;
O God, I will tell of your singular justice.
O God, you have taught me from my youth,
and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
R. I will sing of your salvation.
So will I give you thanks with music on the lyre,
for your faithfulness, O my God!
I will sing your praises with the harp,
O Holy One of Israel!
R. I will sing of your salvation.
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Commentary on Ps 71:8-9, 14-15ab, 16-17, 22
Psalm 71 is an individual lament (of an old person: “Cast me not off in my old age”). These strophes begin the second part of the psalm in which the singer proclaims the hope of the faithful, and trust in God’s mercy.
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Gospel: Mark 12:38-44
In the course of his teaching Jesus said,
“Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes
and accept greetings in the marketplaces,
seats of honor in synagogues,
and places of honor at banquets.
They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext,
recite lengthy prayers.
They will receive a very severe condemnation.”
He sat down opposite the treasury
and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.
Many rich people put in large sums.
A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,
“Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,
her whole livelihood.”
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Commentary on Mk 12:38-44
In this passage from Mark, Jesus warns against scribes (holy men) who wear their faith on the outside and accept homage for their religious acts. Their acts of charity are missing. In contrast to those who flaunt their faith and their wealth the Lord praises the poor widow who gives alms from her need, not from her excess as the wealthy did. “The widow is another example of the poor ones in this gospel whose detachment from material possessions and dependence on God leads to their blessedness (Luke 6:20). Her simple offering provides a striking contrast to the pride and pretentiousness of the scribes denounced in the preceding section.” [5]
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Reflection:
Heavenly Father, we humbly pray that those suffering from the coronavirus be returned quickly to full health by the power of your Son’s healing presence, and those in fear be calmed through the Holy Spirit.
In Christ’s name we pray. – Amen.
We are challenged today, to look at what we do in response to God’s call and ask ourselves “Am I doing these things because it looks good to others, or because it’s convenient?” St. Paul starts us down the road to that question as he gives St. Timothy a sharp kick to the backside with “perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry. “ It’s sort of like that old military quote often used on complaining soldiers “Shut up and soldier, soldier!”
St. Paul warns his pupil that it will not be easy, this call to take Christ’s Gospel to the world. It is a hard path and others who claim teaching authority will offer easier roads to follow. We think of modern-day Scientology the kind of thing he speaks of as “following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths.” (We enjoyed L. Ron Hubbard’s science fiction writing and are amazed that supposedly intelligent people cannot see how his creative genius created a philosophy that now passes itself off as a “religion.” But then not too long ago we saw how some three hundred thousand people in the UK identified “Jedi” as their faith tradition.)
The unvarnished point St. Paul makes is that “time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine” and when that happens those who proclaim the truth will be persecuted for it. With that our thoughts are immediately drawn to Jesus’ situation in the Gospel story. He is sitting with his disciples in the temple area watching as the religious and the rich make themselves known either through their apparel or through their pompous behavior as they present their gifts to the temple treasury. Jesus’ teaching must have incensed the rich and powerful members of that Jewish community. They must have hated that this teacher from Galilee sat with his friends and made them out as hypocrites in front of the very people they are trying to impress.
Out of both the mouth of St. Paul (poured out like a libation for Jesus) and the Savior himself, we are challenged to do the right thing, without fanfare, even when it is difficult or inconvenient. We pray today that we are given the strength of character to challenge the status quo of our own society. We especially pray today for the young people – teenagers and young adults who face intense peer pressure to follow the path of “acceptability,” not realizing that the easy path is usually the wrong path. May they be given the strength of their convictions in Christ and feel the promise of the Savior.
In this strange year where many of us will not be able to receive the Blessed Sacrament or celebrate as a community in our houses of worship, we must be prepared to receive spiritual communion in prayer:
My Jesus,
I believe that You
are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.
Pax
[1] General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar Miscellaneous Notes no. 5: “Outside Advent, Christmas Time, Lent, and Easter Time, on Saturdays which have no commemoration having the rank of Obligatory Memorial or higher, a Mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary may be celebrated. This is indicated in the calendar by “BVM.” The readings and prayers may be selected from the Collection of Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”
[2] The picture is “The Widow’s Mite” by Gustave Doré, 1865.
[4] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[5] NAB footnote on Luke 21:1ff.
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