Beheading of St. John the Baptist

It's kind of strange to celebrate some one's beheading, but that's what we do today. We know the story of John's death, and how Herod embarrassed himself in front of his guests. It pays to not make gestures that you can't carry through.

Here is an interesting item:

Cardinal Ruini: Go to the Holy Land
ROME, AUG. 28, 2007

Benedict XVI's vicar for the Diocese of Rome is encouraging people to make pilgrimages to the Holy Land.Cardinal Camillo Ruini made his appeal Monday from Romes' Fiumicino airport, before leaving for a pilgrimage to Lourdes.In a press conference, the cardinal encouraged pilgrimages to the places mentioned in the Gospels.Pilgrims' trips to the Holy Land, he said, are "a basic condition to favor the peace and serenity of the holy places. We must all work to overcome the fears that stop the faithful who wish to go to the Holy Land.""Maybe they are unfounded fears," Cardinal Ruini added, "but understandable ones. While we go to Lourdes we ask the Lord for peace in the Holy Land."

It is difficult for us to imagine, but the Christians of the Holy Land really depend on the tourist trade to support themselves. When I was returned from there last November, people asked me if I had been afraid anywhere on the pilgrimage. I never was---anywhere. Even when there was one sticky situation, when they saw that we were pilgrims, they made way for us happily. I would urge everyone who can to go to the Holy Land. Just our presence there is a great support for the Christian people there, and the presence of Christians there is a moderating influence between the secular Jews who run the State of Israel, and the Palestinians. Deus lo vult!

Gospel for 23 August

Today's first reading is again from Judges, and narrates the story of Jephthah, who defeated the Ammonites, having made a vow to God that he would sacrifice the first thing that came out of his house. Unfortunately the first person out the door when he returned from battle was his daughter, celebrating her father's victory. The anguished Jephthah realizes the foolish oath that he made and God, as if God would let his people perish anyway! The daughter asked for two months to mourn her virginity (mourning the fact that she would never have children---a sign of shame for any Jewish woman in those days. When the two months were over, she returned to her father, and he treated her as the vow he had uttered bound him. We should learn from this tragedy not to bargain with the Lord, and to be careful what we say.

The gospel parable is about the comparison of the kingdom of heaven with a king's marriage feast for his son, where most of the guests refuse to come (a great insult). After destroying his enemies, he sends out his servants to gather others in to fill the wedding hall, but one guest appears without a wedding garment. Then the king said to the attendants "Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth." For many are called, but few are chosen.

One of the best commentaries for this parable is a poem by Martin Franzmann that I append below:

O KINGLY LOVE (Martin H. Franzmann, 1907-76)

1) O kingly Love, that faithfully
Didst keep thine ancient promises,
Didst bid the bidden come to thee,
The people thou didst choose to bless,

This day we raise Our song of praise,
Adoring thee,
That in the days
When alien sound
Had all but drowned
Thine ancient, true, and constant melody,
Thy mighty hand did make
A trumpet none could silence or mistake;
Thy living breath did blow for all the world to hear,
Living and clear:

The feast is ready.
Come to the feast,
The good and the bad.
Come and be glad!
Greatest and least,
Come to the feast!

2) O lavish Love, that didst prepare
A table bounteous as thy heart,
That men might leave their puny care
And taste and see how good thou art,

This day we raise Our song of praise,
Adoring thee,
That in the days
When alien sound
Had all but drowned
Thine ancient, true, and constant melody,
Thy mighty hand did make
A trumpet none could silence or mistake;
Thy living breath did blow for all the world to hear,
Living and clear:

The feast is ready.
Come to the feast,
The good and the bad.
Come and be glad!
Greatest and least,
Come to the feast!

3) O seeking Love, thy hurrying feet
Go searching still to urge and call
The bad and good on ev’ry street
To fill thy boundless banquet hall.

This day we raise Our song of praise,
Adoring thee,
That in the days
When alien sound
Had all but drowned
Thine ancient, true, and constant melody,
Thy mighty hand did make
A trumpet none could silence or mistake;
Thy living breath did blow for all the world to hear,
Living and clear:

The feast is ready.
Come to the feast,
The good and the bad.
Come and be glad!
Greatest and least,
Come to the feast!

4) O holy Love, thou canst not brook
Man’s cool and careless enmity;
O ruthless Love, thou wilt not look
On man robed in contempt of thee.

Thine echoes die;
Our deeds deny
Thy summoning:
Our darkling cry,
Our meddling sound
Have all but drowned
That song that once made ev’ry echo ring.
Take up again, oh, take
The trumpet none can silence or mistake,
And blow once more for us and all the world to hear,
Living and clear:
The feast is ready.
Come to the feast,
The good and the bad.
Come and be glad!
Greatest and least,
Come to the feast!

The Queenship of Mary, or Our Lady, Queen of Palestine

This feast was created by Pius XII in 1954. Mary participates in the reign of Christ, and honor given to her redounds to the glory of her Son, Christ our Lord. This is a privileged day (OL Queen of Palestine) for members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem.

The first reading of today's Mass is taken from the Christmas midnight Mass: Isaiah 9:1-6: The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow a light has shone. You have made their gladness greater, you have made their joy increase; they rejoice in your presence as men rejoice at harvest time, as men are happy when they are dividing the spoils. For the yoke that was weighing on him, the bar across his shoulders, the rod of his oppressor, these you break as on the day of Midian.

It is interesting that in the weekday lectionary cycle we are now reading of Gideon and the "day of Midian." This refers to the destruction that Gideon and his small number of Hebrew forces won over the Midianites. The light that scattered the darkness, the increase of gladness and joy, are the result of Christ's glorious incarnation. Even at his birth, the yoke of sin was broken, the rod of the oppressor smashed. This recollection of the prophet Isaiah was not originally meant to speak about Jesus. However, the Church has long looked at the Old Testament as a gold mine of prophecy about Christ. Even if the prophets did not know of Jesus, their words can still tell us much of the coming holy redeemer.

Collect: Father, you have given us the mother of your Son to be our queen and mother. with the support of her prayers may we come to share the glory of your children in the kingdom of heaven. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

Christians should call God "Allah?"

I suggest that this might be a fun and insightful read concerning the Dutch RC bishop, Tiny Muskens, who recently suggested that if Christians started calling God "Allah," it would make relations with Muslims sweeter. Absolutely absurd!

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=22025

Human rights for everyone but Christians

08/21/2007 13:17 INDIA Karnataka, Hindu protesters incite the massacre of Christians by Nirmala Carvalho.

A leaflet, distributed in thousands of copies lists the Christians “crimes”: love for their fellow man, education of the youth, refusal of the cast system. The text, signed by Hindu nationalists, threatens death to all those who remain in the state without converting to Hinduism.
Bangalore (AsiaNews) –Christians in the Southern Karnataka state “must immediately abandon Indian territory, or return to the mother religion which is Hinduism”. If they do not “they will be killed by all good Indians, who by doing so will show their virility and their love of the country”.
These threats are contained in leaflets given out yesterday by the thousands in Chitradurga district. Written in the local kanada dialect, the text lists” the “crimes” the Christians commit: Treating everyone with love and showing compassion to the helpless, helping the poor and converting them, educating the orphans and converting them, promoting freedom to marry, organising free medical care and ignoring the cast system”.

The letter is signed by Hindu radical groups, Bajrang Dal and Hindu Jagrutika Samiti of Chitradurga district Karnataka. Sajan K. George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians, told AsiaNews: “These handbills are being widely circulated, but it is only the last in a series of anti Christian acts that have long plagued the State”.
In fact, the activist continues, “Regularly pastors are being beaten up and prayer meetings being disrupted and our scared books are burned. Certainly this most recent act is cause for deeper concern because it incites people to murder us”.
This is why he concludes, “all right-thinking persons, the media and the government must cry a halt to the violent hate-mongering being engaged in the name of religion”.

Copyright © 2003 AsiaNews C.F. 00889190153 All rights reserved. Content on this site is made available for personal, non-commercial use only. Used by permission.

Owen Paul Doyle, Sr. January 14, 1925—August 10, 2007

I want to take a moment and remember our faithful parishioner, Paul Doyle. He died fortified with the sacraments of Holy Church, surrounded by his wife, Mary Lou, and his children.

Owen Paul Doyle, Sr. of El Dorado was born January 14, 1925 to Owen Paul and Laura Mulry Doyle in Sayre, Oklahoma and died August 10, 2007 of cancer at the Life Touch Hospice Facility of El Dorado, Arkansas. Paul is survived by his wife, Mary Lou Barber, and nine children. Paul was a beloved family man, church leader, and active in civic affairs and overnment. Paul retired from Murphy Oil Corporation in 1990 as Senior Vice President of Engineering after 30 years of service. Paul was a graduate of Notre Dame University at Southbend, Indiana in naval science (1946) and chemical engineering (1949). He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was honorably discharged. Paul has lived in El Dorado since 1968 after being promoted from Superintendent of the Murphy Oil Meraux refinery near New Orleans, Louisiana to become corporate vice-president. All nine children graduated from El Dorado High School and area colleges. Paul is remembered mostly for his humble and giving spirit that never knew a stranger and was a pillar of strength and support to family and friends. Paul was a faithful member of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church of El Dorado, Arkansas and served as extraordinary minister of Holy Communion. He was a founding member of the Holy Redeemer Knights of Columbus Council, and the Father Louis Janesko Assembly of the 4th degree Knights of Columbus.

The late Mr. Charles Murphy of Murphy Oil once told me something that the late Fr. Louis Janesko told him, that "The best thing that Murphy Oil ever did for Holy Redeemer Church was to transfer Paul Doyle from New Orleans to El Dorado." I think that it is still true.

Pope St. Pius X

Achille Ratti (1835-1914) was from Venice and a very humble family. As a priest, bishop, and later Patriarch of Venice he was noted for his pastoral zeal. As the Roman Pontiff, Pius X, he defended the Church from the false teachings of many modern heresies. He encouraged the development of Gregorian Chant as the music of the liturgy, and promoted frequent reception of Holy Communion, moving first communion to the age of seven, unfortunately in the process, separating Confirmation from its relationship with Baptism.

Today's readings tell us of Gideon, from the book of Judges. (Jdgs 6:11-24a) “Go with the strength you have. It is I who send you.” Gideon knew that he and his family were weak, so for God’s messenger to tell him that he was going to lead the people to victory over Midian was quite a surprise. Gideon pours out his frustration to the Lord: Forgive me, my lord, but if the Lord is with us, then why is it that all this is happening to us now? And where are all the wonders our ancestors tell us of when they say ‘Did not the Lord bring us out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has deserted us; he has abandoned us to Midian.

Why me? or Why us? can readily spring to our lips when we encounter difficulties in life. We have to understand though, that God has sent us into the world to do his work with the strength that we have. The common gifts that we possess, differently in each person, are the raw materials that God uses to bring about the triumph of his will for us and the world around us. I will be with you, and you shall crush Midian as if it were a single man. How often do we recoil at what God demands of us? We know our weaknesses almost as well as God does, but he will not leave us hung out to dry, but will bring about his will if we follow him faithfully.

Collect: Father to defend the Catholic faith and to make all things new in Christ, you filled St. Pius X with heavenly wisdom and apostolic courage. May his example and teaching lead us to the reward of eternal life. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

I'm back

Traveling all last week wore me out. I'm going to get back to blogging today.

Pope declares only Catholics go to Heaven (and other anti-Catholic smears)

Lots of folks got upset recently on the CDF's 5 questions regarding the use of the word "subsists" in the recent documents (which of course goes back to Vatican II). (See the document and my commentary below.) I was sent several emails that contained commentary by Episcopal monks among others. I just wonder what they would say if I asked them what they thought about Mormons or Jehovah's (nit-)Witnesses? The CDF document speaks of "defects" in the Churches that came from the 16th c. reformation. This translation from the Latin is poorly translated "defects." It simply means something lacking (in this case the Apostolic Succession and a valid Eucharist).
All the main line churches of the Protestant faith would admit that there are truly "defects" in the Mormon and JW "churches." Wonder if they ever thought about it that way?

Sts. Pontian, Pope, Hippolytus, presbyter, martyrs

Today finds us in Nashville, staying with Pat and JoLind Weaver. We're going to visit John Paul II High School, and Hermitage (Plantation of Andrew Jackson) Baby Samuel has been fairly calm, got a little cranky during the long trip last night, but he's perky and happy this morning.

The international convention of the Knights of Columbus was just held here in Nashville. Tarcissio Card. Bertone, Secretary of State of the Holy See was present and preached. It is an obvious example of Rome's desire to affirm the KofC's in their ministry to the Church in the United States and throughout the world. The cause for the Beatification of their founder: Fr. Michael J. McGiveny goes on apace.

College students ministering to college students! (Whaddle they think up next?) A new group called FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) strives to restore or further the faith among Catholic college students. According to Patrick Rivera who has committed 2 years of his life to this ministry, 70% of college freshmen stop practicing their faith by the end of their first year in college. Of course, we've seen this in our own experiences with former students from Subiaco, and among the children of the parish. "Today's culture tells students that Catholicism is dead, but that's a lie. We show them that they can live lives of chastity, sobriety and excellence, and that you can find joy in that," says Rivera in an interview by Kim Bastone in the Tennessee Register, the paper of the Diocese of Nashville. This ministry seems to be working, but Oh! how few there are to do it and how few will benefit for want of ministers.

I believe that the problem for college students is that they are removed from their old communities of families, friends, and faith, and placed in an entirely new environment for which they are not really prepared. Fraternities and Sororities, teams, dorm mates, etc., all of these provide new communities that are seldom faith based (or are based on the wrong faith) and the student is then, in the whirlwind of new experiences and new communities, unable to find or unable to give him/herself to the local faith community of the Catholic Church, whether at the local campus ministry, or a local parish. Cut off from the community of faith, admittedly by their own choice, they come home at Christmas only going through the motions of religion (if at all) to get mom and dad off their backs.

A normal, young, Catholic cannot exist cut off from the community of faith for very long without that faith dying. It is to be hoped that that faith will be fanned into flame again (if there are any coals left); but no one should believe that it will happen automatically, or of its own accord. Vigilance is always necessary for the maintenance of the Catholic Faith.

Collect for day: Lord, may the loyal suffering of your saints, Pontian and Hippolytus, fill us with your love, and make our hearts steadfast in faith. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Travel

I will be travelling to St. Meinrad Aarchabbey with friend and former student and seminarian for the diocese of Little Rock, Jason Sharbaugh, and our organist-choirmaster, Michael Odom and his wife Jennifer and baby, Sam. We will be there for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I'm sure that the monks' schola will be in good form.

We will return on Thursday, and then turn right around and go to Fort Smith (stopping to get rooms at Subiaco) for the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher state section Mass and dinner. The Mass will be celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church, and dinner and meeting will follow at Taliano's Italian Restaurant. Because it will be too long to drive back to El Dorado, we will spend the night at Subiaco and make our way back south Saturday morning---and then it will be Sunday! Is there no rest for the wicked?

Regarding the 5 questions released by the Cong. for the Doctrine of the Faith, 29 June 07

I quoted the document in full down below. The release of this document was trumpeted by the secular press as another example of Catholic bigotry. Some of my parishioners were asked by their Protestant friends why the Pope said they were going to hell.

Our ministers' discussion group that meets on Thursdays finally met again after a hiatus of about 4 weeks because of vacations and travel. I brought the document for us to read through. All were enlightened when they were able to go through it and see what is really said. Here are some points:

• It didn't say anything different that the Vatican Council had said.





• The document Dominus Jesus, issued by the CDF said the same thing. (There was a flap then, too, but it had died down. Did Rome, by posting this new document want to stir the pot again?)





• The Church teaches that there are several integral things that Christ instituted when he established the Church that are absolutely necessary for the Church to be.





• One of these is the Apostolic Succession---given to Peter and then all the Apostles that established a hierarchical government of the Church---it was not of human foundation.





• A second thing is the Eucharist. A valid Eucharist can only be confected by a validly ordained presbyter who was ordained by a validly ordained bishop in the line of succession.





• The Oriental Churches possess these elements, and are therefore true churches, however, they do not accept the primacy of Peter and his successors, therefore, while being churches in a very real sense, they are lacking a fundamental element: acceptance of the Petrine primacy.





• The churches born of the 16th c. Reformation abandoned apostolic succession, and therefore a valid Eucharist, and, obviously, the acceptance of the Petrine ministry. Therefore, they cannot be truly called particular churches since they lack these things that are necessary and constitutive of "Church."





• The recent document, as well as Dominus Jesus, and Unitatis redintegratio of Vatican II made these same distinctions, so this is nothing new, except that it has been published again let anybody get the idea that these ecumenical activity can be played fast and easy by anyone who is a champion of peace at any price. (History has proved the unreality of that!)

From http://agnusdaily.com/

"My mother nags me enough about my behavior at home. If she were a priest at our Church, I think I'd become Buddhist."
- Dan Redding, Santa Barbara, CA

When technology and lack of vocations combine

This is funny, but don't make any more of it than a bagatelle. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgmQM9cDPHk

August 10, St. Lawrence, deacon of Rome, martyr

St. Lawrence lived in the third century and was one of the deacons of St. Sixtus II, whose martyrdom we celebrated a few days ago. This was during the persecution of emperor Valerian. Lawrence was told by the prefect to hand over the treasury of the Church. When told to do so, he pointed to a group of poor people and said: Here are the true treasures of the Church. He died by being roasted on a gridiron.

Today, in the gospel, Jesus speaks the words that describe what the life of his followers has to be: “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.” The followers of Christ have to experience in their lives what he experienced. He puts to us the question: “What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and looses his soul?” Anyone with a sense of what salvation means would answer “Nothing.” We have to understand though, that the shadow of the cross is from the light of the resurrection: “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels.” Only by renouncing self and giving ourselves over to the trials of living the Christian life in the world does a person make himself able to experience the glory of Christ’s kingdom when he comes again.

Collect: Father, you called St. Lawrence to serve you by love and crowned his life with glorious martyrdom. help us to be like him in loving you and doing your work. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Same problems, different age

Go to this site, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQHX-SjgQvQ and see how the monks of old had to deal with things.

Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, OCD, (Edith Stein) virgin & martyr

This is the feast of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, a Jewish woman, philosopher, Catholic convert, Carmelite nun, virgin and martyr who was killed in the Holocaust. "St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross says to us all: Do not accept anything as the truth if it lacks love. And do not accept anything as love which lacks truth! One without the other becomes a destructive lie." (Pope John Paul II from the canonization homily of St. Teresa Benedicta, 11 October 1998)

Today's gospel is the famous Matthew 16, where Jesus asks the apostles to confess who he is. Peter replies that Jesus is the "Christ---the Son of the Living God." Then follows the "Thou art Peter" and then Peter's rebuke from the Lord for inhibiting his exodus in Jerusalem. St. Peter speaks in love to Jesus that he should not go to his crucifixion: Heaven preserve you, Lord, this must not happen to you. It was said in love, but it was contrary to the truth of Jesus' mission, the redemption of the world. He had already explained to the apostles that he must endure this burden. A few days later he would show Peter, James, and John that it would end in glory (the Transfiguration that we celebrated last Monday).

You are an obstacle in my path, because the way you thing is not God's way but man's. Jesus reminds us that love and truth have to be always together. The reality (truth) of our life should be accompanied with the love that springs from the divine life of God.

Collect: God our Father, you give us joy each year in honoring the memory of St. Teresa Benedicta. May her prayers be a source of help for us, and may her example of courage and chastity be our inspiration. Grant this through our Lord Jesus christ, your Son, who lives and reighns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

8 August: St. Dominic, founder of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans)

Mt 15:21-28

At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.
House dogs do a useful service: they clean up the scraps that fall from the table---a lot of sweeping is eliminated if you let your dogie clean the floor. It was common for the Jews of Jesus’ day to refer to gentiles and “dogs,” and the gentiles of the surrounding nations knew this quite well. Jesus seems curiously aloof in this situation while the needy woman begs for his help. (It is curious that this gospel falls today on the feast of St. Dominic, whose followers are called in Latin: Dominicanes which can either be translated as "Dominicans" or "Dogs of the Lord" [Domini-canes])

Where is his usual compassion to the afflicted who approach him in faith? In his role of Messiah of the Jews, his first obligation was to the Jewish people, and not to the whole world: “I am sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.” Here, however, we see a broadening of his ministry, in fact, he is already starting to visit the “region of Tyre and Sidon,” and the ministry that will eventually include us gentiles begins with the faith of this Canaanite woman, who ended up with more than table scraps.

St. Dominic (1170-1221) was born in Calahorra in Spain. He worked to uproot the Albigensian heresy, and was a great promoter of the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He founded the Order of Preachers (Dominicans).

Collect: Lord, let the holiness and preaching of St. Dominic come to the aid of your Church. May he help us now with his prayers as he once inspired people by his preachings. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Gospel for 7 August (St. Sixtus Pope and Martyr and Companions, Martyrs)

Matthew 14: 22-36 Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side of the sea, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,“Truly, you are the Son of God.” After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret. When the men of that place recognized him,they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought to him all those who were sick and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak, and as many as touched it were healed.

In the OT, God is portrayed as being in control of the sea. To control the waves and the wind is one of God’ powers: (Ps 107) “Some went down to the sea in ships, they saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep” or in Job 9:8: “who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea.” Jesus in this episode reveals his almighty power by doing what God does. He even uses the name of God: “Fear not, it is I.” (I am who am.) St Peter’s action seems presumptuous until we realize that he wanted to do what God does, but whereas God “does” by his own nature, we have to “do” the things of God by faith. Peter’s faith was not quite up to this task, but it still allowed him to do something like God, which is an encouragement for us to do the works of God, not walking on water, but bringing the healing works of God into our lives and the life of the Church.

Pope St Sixtus II and his companions ( - 258)
Sixtus was elected Pope in 257. Twelve months later, on 6th August, as he was celebrating Mass in the catacomb of St Calixtus, he was seized by the authorities (it was the time of Valerian’s persecution) and beheaded along with four of his deacons. He was buried in the same catacomb.St Laurence, another deacon, was captured and executed four days later.We know most of the details of this martyrdom from a letter of St Cyprian, who was himself martyred later in the same year.

Collect: Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit you enabled St. Sixtus and his companions to lay down their lives for your word in witness to Jesus. Give us the grace to believe in you and the courage to prefess our faith. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns iwth you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen

Feast of the Transfiguration, today's gospel

Lk 9:28b-36

Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up a mountain to pray.While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here;let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.

And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with them. (St. John Chrysostom:) And this happened for many reason; of which this is the first: because the multitude had been saying He was Elijah or Jeremiah or one of the prophet He here took to himself the chief persons among the prophets, so that from this also they might see what difference lay between the Master and His servants. Another reason is: the Jews continually accused Jesus of being a violator of the Law, and a blasphemer, and of taking to Himself the glory of the Father. That He may be shown guiltless of these accusation He brings before them two persons who had been preeminent in regard to both those things. For Moses had given the Law, and Elijah had been filled with zeal for the glory of the Father.

Another reason was that they might learn that He had power over life and death, and for this He brought Moses before them: who had departed this life by way of death, and Elijah who had not yet suffered death. The Evangelist reveals another reason, namely: to manifest the glory of the Cross, and to comfort Peter and the other Disciples who were fearful of the Passion. for they spoke, of his exodos that he should accomplish in Jerusalem. And so He brings before them these two who had challenged death for the things that were pleasing to God, and on behalf of the people who believed in Him. For both of their own will had faced tyrants; Moses confronting Pharaoh and Elijah Ahab. And lastly He brings them before them so that the Disciples might be Emulous of their special qualities: that they might become gentle, like Moses, and zealous for the glory of God, like Elijah.

This feast became widespread in the West in the 11th century and was introduced into the Roman calendar in 1457 to commemorate the victory over Islam in Belgrade. Before that, the Transfiguration of the Lord was celebrated in the Syrian, Byzantine, and Coptic rites. The Transfiguration foretells the glory of the Lord as God, and His Ascension into heaven. It anticipates the glory of heaven, where we shall see God face to face. Through grace, we already share in the divine promise of eternal life.

Collect: God our Father, in the transfigured glory of Christ your Son, you strengthen our faith by confirming the witness of your prophets, and show us the splendor of your beloved sons and daughters. As we listen to the voice of your Son, help us to become heirs to eternal life with him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.