(Optional Memorial for the Seven Founders of the Order Of Servites, Religious)
Proper readings for the Memorial for the Seven Founders of the Servites
Additional information about the Seven Founders of the Servites
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| “Christ Carrying the Cross” by El Greco, 1600-05 |
While the people were migrating in the east,
they came upon a valley in the
They said to one another,
"Come, let us mold bricks and harden them with fire."
They used bricks for stone, and bitumen for mortar.
Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city
and a tower with its top in the sky,
and so make a name for ourselves;
otherwise we shall be scattered all over the earth."
that they had built.
Then the LORD said: "If now, while they are one people,
all speaking the same language,
they have started to do this,
nothing will later stop them from doing whatever they presume to do.
Let us then go down and there confuse their language,
so that one will not understand what another says."
Thus the LORD scattered them from there all over the earth,
and they stopped building the city.
That is why it was called
because there the LORD confused the speech of all the world.
It was from that place that he scattered them all over the earth.
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Commentary on Gn 11:1-9
The author uses the story of the Tower of Babel as an explanation of how there came to be multiple languages used around the world. It is coupled with the moral lesson which illustrates how pride in one’s own strength is folly. In the story, which is based upon the temple towers or ziggurats of Babylonia, the author describes the increasing wickedness of the people as they thought they could accomplish anything they wanted without God’s help.
CCC: Gen 11:4-6 57
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33:10-11, 12-13, 14-15
he foils the designs of peoples.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
From heaven the LORD looks down;
he sees all mankind.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
From his fixed throne he beholds
all who dwell on the earth,
He who fashioned the heart of each,
he who knows all their works.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Commentary on Ps 33:10-11, 12-13, 14-15
Psalm 33 is a hymn of praise. In this selection the lesson presented in Genesis 11:1-9 is reinforced. “The Lord brings to naught the plans of nations; he foils the designs of peoples.” Without God there is no creation, progress, or salvation.
Gospel: Mark 8:34--9:1
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake
and that of the Gospel will save it.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
What could one give in exchange for his life?
Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words
in this faithless and sinful generation,
the Son of Man will be ashamed of
when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
"Amen, I say to you,
there are some standing here who will not taste death
until they see that the
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Commentary on Mk 8:34--9:1
In the previous verses, Jesus has chastised St. Peter for encouraging him to avoid the passion and death he is destined to endure. Now, turning to the rest of his followers, Jesus calls all of those who are with him to authentic discipleship. He tells them that answering that call means placing Christian sacrifice first, and if necessary, denying even one’s life for the sake of the truth of the Son of God.
“This utterance of Jesus challenges all believers to authentic discipleship and total commitment to himself through self-renunciation and acceptance of the cross of suffering, even to the sacrifice of life itself. Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it … will save it: an expression of the ambivalence of life and its contrasting destiny. Life seen as mere self-centered earthly existence and lived in denial of Christ ends in destruction, but when lived in loyalty to Christ, despite earthly death, it arrives at fullness of life.” [4]
He challenges those who are wavering by indicating the sort of reception they will receive when they come before him on the last day: “Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” The last verse (9:1) is understood to mean the power of God’s kingdom on earth, the Church. Others clearly believed that the Parousia (second coming) was imminent.
CCC: Mk 8:34 459, 1615; Mk 8:35 2544
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Reflection:
[1] The picture used is “Christ Carrying the Cross” by El Greco, 1600-05.
[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 re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[4] NAB footnote on Mark 8:34ff.
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