Daily Readings August 21, 2012

Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope


Lectionary: 420

Pope St. Pius X,

Perhaps nowhere in the history of the Church is there a better example of a man possessed of so many of the saintly virtues—piety, charity, deep humility, pastoral zeal, and simplicity—than in one of the newest of God's elect, St. Pius X. Yet the parish priest of Tombolo, who remained a country priest at heart throughout his life, faced the problems and evils of a strife-torn world with the spiritual fervor of a crusader. The inscription on his tomb in the crypt of the basilica of St. Peter's gives the most eloquent testimony to a life spent in the service of God:

"Born poor and humble of heart,
Undaunted champion of the Catholic faith,
Zealous to restore all things in Christ,
Crowned a holy life with a holy death."....

Reading 1
Ez 28:1-10

The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre:  Thus says the Lord GOD:

God called Ezekiel to speak to the Prince of Tyre.

Because you are haughty of heart,you say, "A god am I!  I occupy a godly thronein the heart of the sea!"--And yet you are a man, and not a god, however you may think yourself like a god.

Because you are prideful, considering yourself a god amongst men

Oh yes, you are wiser than Daniel, there is no secret that is beyond you.  By your wisdom and your intelligence you have made riches for yourself;

It is true that you are even wiser than Daniel and you have profited from your wisdom.

You have put gold and silver into your treasuries. By your great wisdom applied to your trading you have heaped up your riches; your heart has grown haughty from your riches?

You have made yourself wealthy in material treasures and this has made you proud.

therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have thought yourself to have the mind of a god,

Therefore, because you have considered yourself a god amongst men

Therefore I will bring against you foreigners,  the most barbarous of nations.

I shall bring barbaric strangers from faraway lands to fight against you.

They shall draw their swordsagainst your beauteous wisdom,

They will pit their brawn against your brain.

they shall run them through your splendid apparel.

They will pierce your clothes through with their swords.

They shall thrust you down to the pit, there to die a bloodied corpse, in the heart of the sea.

They will toss you into a hole to die.

Will you then say, "I am a god!"when you face your murderers?

Will you then say, "I am equal to a god!"?

No, you are man, not a god,

No, you are a mere man.

handed over to those who will slay you.  You shall die the death of the uncircumcisedat the hands of foreigners,for I have spoken, says the Lord GOD.

And you will die the death of those who oppose God.

This is a prophecy which we must fear.  The United States has been great power by God.  But in this day, I fear, too many of us have forgotten that all good things are from God.  I pray that a time does not come when God must prove to the United States that our prosperity is due to Him and not to our own wisdom.

Responsorial Psalm
Dt 32:26-27Ab, 27Cd-28, 30, 35Cd-36Ab

Response. (39c) It is I who deal death and give life.

"I would have said, 'I will make an end of them
and blot out their name from men's memories,'
Had I not feared the insolence of their enemies,
feared that these foes would mistakenly boast."

R. It is I who deal death and give life.

"'Our own hand won the victory;
the LORD had nothing to do with it.'"
For they are a people devoid of reason,
having no understanding.

R. It is I who deal death and give life.

"How could one man rout a thousand,
or two men put ten thousand to flight,
Unless it was because their Rock sold them
and the LORD delivered them up?"

R. It is I who deal death and give life.

Close at hand is the day of their disaster,
and their doom is rushing upon them!
Surely, the LORD shall do justice for his people;
on his servants he shall have pity.

R. It is I who deal death and give life.

This is a recurring message.  The Psalm reiterates that it is God who is the source of all power.  And He has given us a choice:

Deuteronomy 30:19

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁹ I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.  Let us all begin to be wise and obey the voice of the Lord our God.

Gospel
Mt 19:23-30

Jesus said to his disciples:"Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is richto enter the Kingdom of heaven.

Yesterday, remember, Jesus spoke to the Rich Young Man and he left sad faced when Jesus told him to sell all his goods and give to the poor and thus store riches in heaven.  And then to come and follow Him.  Now Jesus turns to His disciples and explains that it will be very difficult for a rich man to enter Heaven.

Again I say to you,it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needlethan for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God."

A little trivia.  The word "camel' is a double entendre in Aramaic.  It means both the beast of burden of which we are all familiar and it also means "rope".  Therefore, Jesus is saying that a fat rope will not go through the eye of a little needle through which only a slender thread may go.

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,"Who then can be saved?"

The disciples could hardly believe this.  Remember that the Jews thought that material prosperity was a reward from God for well doing here on earth.

Jesus looked at them and said,"For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible."

Jesus said, "For men it is impossible, but for God all things are possible."

Ok, let's back up.  Because I believe this is a teaching about Purgatory.  Let's compare to 1 Cor 3:10-15:

1 Corinthians 3:10-15

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁰ According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
¹¹ For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
¹² Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
¹³ Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
¹⁴ If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
¹⁵ If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Notice the last line.  Those rich men who die clinging to their possessions will not, if they have built their faith upon the foundation of Jesus Christ, will not be lost, but will be saved in the fires of Purgatory.  There, they will be purged of their undue love of material wealth.

Then Peter said to him in reply,"We have given up everything and followed you.  What will there be for us?"

What of those of us who have given everything to follow you?

Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to youthat you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Jesus said to them, you will sit on thrones in heaven.  This is confirmed in (Rev 20:4).

And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sistersor father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,and will inherit eternal life.

This is also confirmed by the teaching of St. Paul:

1 Corinthians 2:9

King James Version (KJV)

⁹ But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."

Jesus said this in another place also:

Matthew 20:16

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁶ So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

This is the end of the parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard.  The Last were paid the same wage as the First.  I think this is a reference to us, Christians.  Because we walk upon Mt. Sion after receiving the Sacraments.  In this life.  Whereas, all others must await the Judgement before they will enter heaven.

Sincerely,

De Maria