DAILY LITURGY

Click Here to go
GOSPEL and Reflections for the days below

Thursday July 29:
Feast of Saint Martha, Disciple of the Lord

White vestments

First Reading: Exodus 40: 16-21, 34-38
Psalms: Psalm 84: 2-6, 8, 11
Gospel Reading: John 11: 19-27 or Luke 10: 38-42

      Though there has been much confusion, Saint Martha was the sister of Mary of Bethany and not to be confused with Mary Magdalene, whose feast we recently celebrated. While Mary of Bethany is said to have been a "dreamer" sitting by Our Lord for hours at a time just drinking everything in, Martha was the "doer" and at times resented it such as the account in Luke 10: 38-42 in which Jesus lovingly rebuked her "Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about many things; and yet only one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the best part and it will not be taken away from her." Sacred Scripture records that Martha and Mary's brother was Lazarus and in John 11: 40, Jesus again tests Martha's faith just before resurrecting Lazarus when He says, "Have I not told thee that if thou believe thou shalt behold the glory of God?" Yet through it all Martha rolled with the punches, so to speak, and was always there to cook for Our Lord and clean for she truly believed. Martha, like Mary Magdalene, was there at the foot of the Cross with the Blessed Mother and Saint John and was privileged to see Jesus after His Resurrection. Some accounts have Martha traveling to Gaul (France) after Pentecost with Lazarus and Mary of Bethany to preach the Gospel though this is not substantiated.

Friday July 30:
Seventeenth Friday in Ordinary Time and
Feast of Saint Peter Chrysologos, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Green or white vestments

First Reading: Leviticus 23: 1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34-37
Psalms: Psalm 81: 2-6, 10-11
Gospel Reading: Matthew 13: 54-58

      Born in 380, Saint Peter Chrysologus was Bishop of Ravenna, Italy during the Council of Ephesus in which he defended the Blessed Mother's title of Theotokos - Mother of God. He was also influential with the empress Gallia Placidia who had built his church of St. John the Evangelist through the influence of the Emperor Constantine. However Peter frequently rebuked her for the annual carnival, admonishing "They who delight in the devil cannot rejoice in Christ." Through his edification and preaching many abandoned their libidious ways and turned their attention to the Gospel which Peter preached relentlessly and how the Incarnate Word related with their current situations. Peter, who was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XIII in 1729, said of the role of Bishop: "He obeys the king, he collaborates with those in power, he respects the elderly, he is kind to youth, he loves his companions, he is affectionate toward children, he imitates Christ in his generous service to all." Ever the promoter of orthodox teaching and total loyalty to Holy Mother Church, Peter passed on peacefully to his Heavenly reward in 451 at the age of 71.