Proper readings for the Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi
Biographical Information about St. Francis Assisi
“St Francis of Assisi Receiving the Stigmata” by Peter Paul Rubens, c. 1635 |
Brothers and sisters:
You heard of my former way of life in Judaism,
how I persecuted the
and tried to destroy it,
and progressed in Judaism
beyond many of my contemporaries among my race,
since I was even more a zealot for my ancestral traditions.
But when he, who from my mother’s womb had set me apart
and called me through his grace,
was pleased to reveal his Son to me,
so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles,
I did not immediately consult flesh and blood,
nor did I go up to
rather, I went into Arabia and then returned to
Then after three years I went up to
and remained with him for fifteen days.
But I did not see any other of the Apostles,
only James the brother of the Lord.
(As to what I am writing to you, behold,
before God, I am not lying.)
Then I went into the regions of
And I was unknown personally to the churches of
they only kept hearing that “the one who once was persecuting us
is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”
So they glorified God because of me.
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Commentary on Gal 1:13-24
St. Paul continues the defense of his authority, challenged by other evangelists who came after him to the churches of Galatia. The Apostle begins this passage with a short history about his own formation in Judaism. He goes further relating how he was once the inquisitor assigned to persecute the Christians on behalf of the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem (recall it was young Saul who authorized the stoning of St. Stephen, see Acts 7:58 – 8:3).
St. Paul importantly mentions: “when he, who from my mother’s womb had set me apart and called me through his grace.” This is a clear reference to his parents presenting him at the temple and dedicating him according to prophetic tradition. He connects God’s action in setting him apart directly to Jesus the Son of God.
St. Paul goes on to describe his early ministry, where he was directed by Jesus in his call, without consultation with the Apostles in Jerusalem, whom he only met briefly after three years. The time frame mentioned here is likely imprecise but it underscores St. Paul’s “Gospel” as being authorized and approved by St. Peter.
CCC: Gal 1:13 752; Gal 1:15-16 442; Gal 1:15 153; Gal 1:16 659; Gal 1:19 500; Gal 1:20 2154
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 14c-15
R. (24b) Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
O Lord, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Truly you have formed my inmost being;
you knit me in my mother’s womb.
I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made;
wonderful are your works.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
My soul also you knew full well;
nor was my frame unknown to you
When I was made in secret,
when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
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Commentary on Ps 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 14c-15
This song/prayer asks for guidance from the Holy Spirit. It recognizes that God’s Spirit is in all his creation and its knowledge is omnipresent. The idea of being called from the womb – set aside for God – is a common theme of the prophetic tradition in both the Old Testament and New Testament. We note that God sets his servants on their course from before their birth (see also Luke 1:15 and St. John the Baptist, Luke 1:31 [Jesus] and Galatians 1:15 [St. Paul the Apostle]).
CCC: Ps 139:15 2270
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Gospel: Luke 10:38-42
Jesus entered a village
where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary
who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
“Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me.”
The Lord said to her in reply,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.”
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Commentary on Lk 10:38-42
The selection emphasizes the importance of listening to the teachings of the Lord. While in some early texts the Lord tells Martha there is “need for only a few things,” or of one, the message is clear: Mary, in assuming the role of disciple (listening at the master’s feet) has chosen the correct or better role. Martha, concerning herself with the requirements of hospitality (old law) has chosen the lesser.
“Mystically (St. Gregory the Great, Moralia 2, 6): the two women signify two dimensions of the spiritual life. Martha signifies the active life as she busily labors to honor Christ through her work. Mary exemplifies the contemplative life as she sits attentively to listen and learn from Christ. While both activities are essential to Christian living, the latter is greater than the former. For in heaven the active life terminates, while the contemplative life reaches its perfection.”[4]
Reflection:
[1] The picture is “St Francis of Assisi Receiving the Stigmata” by Peter Paul Rubens, c. 1635.
[2] S.S. Commemoratio
[3] 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.
[4] Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, © 2010, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, CA. p. 129.
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