Rich
2020-05-24 06:47:02 UTC
Love shows us what we have to do
Love shows us what we have to do. It takes us out of ourselves, makes
us emulate the virtues of our Lord, and withdraws us from this world
into Him. The reason why so many Christians get no farther than the
threshold of virtue is that they will not break the chains that hold
them back and will not give themselves up confidently to our Lord's
guidance. They feel that if they go to Communion they will be unable
to resist the love of Jesus and will be forced to give themselves in
return. So they content themselves with books, with words, and do not
dare turn to the Master Himself.
Oh, my brothers, I pray you to take Jesus Christ Himself for your Teacher!
Receive Him within you and let Him direct all your actions.
--St. Peter Eymard
<<>><<>><<>>
May 24: Saint Joanna the Myrrhbearer
Today we celebrate the feast day of Saint Joanna the Myrrhbearer (also
known as Johanna, Junia, and Jessica). Saint Joanna is remembered as
one of the female disciples of Jesus, and is one of the women recorded
as accompanying Jesus and the twelve disciples in the Gospel of Luke:
“2...Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3
Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna;
and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their
own means" (Luke 8:2-3).
Joanna is also recognized as one of the women who went to prepare
Jesus’ body after His crucifixion (thus, the title “myrrhbearer”),
only to find the tomb empty, and later recount the words of the “men
in clothes that gleamed like lightning” to Peter and the disciples.
1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women
took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found
the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did
not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about
this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood
beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces
to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the
living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he
told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 'The Son of Man
must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on
the third day be raised again.' " 8 Then they remembered his words.
9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the
Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary
the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the
apostles (Luke 24:1-10).
Saint Paul, in his epistle to the Romans, further references Saint
Joanna (under the name Junia), suggesting that Paul recognized the
importance of women leaders in the Church, offering encouragement and
support of her mission, and emphasizing that her faith preceded his
own:
7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives who have been in prison
with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in
Christ before I was. (Romans 16:7)
Saint Chrysostom said of Joanna, "Think what an encomium it was to be
considered notable among the apostles. They were distinguished by
their works and achievements. Bless me, how great the philosophy of
this woman to be counted worthy to be addressed also as one of the
apostles! But the praise did not stand still here, but again he
praises them, saying, ‘They have been in Christ before me’!”
Given her position as wife of the manager of Herod’s household, Easter
holy tradition suggests that Saint Joanna rescued the head of Saint
John the Baptist, following his martyrdom, preserving his relics and
giving them a proper, pious burial.
The life and service of Saint Joanna reminds us that all are equal in
the eyes of the Lord--men and women alike-- and all have their gifts
of service to provide. Joanna, a wealthy member of the court of Herod,
gave up her position to live with and follow Christ, ministering to
him with her own money, and living with Him in poverty. Her leadership
in the Church, as an early apostle of Christ, and the respect given to
her by Saint Paul in his letter to the Romans, tells us of her great
faith and holiness. We look to Saint Joanna to remind us of our own
call to service, sacrifice, and faith, each in our own way!
by Jacob
Reflection:
Endeavor so to act as you would wish to have acted when you stand
before the Judge of your eternity. This is the rule of the Saints, and
the only safe rule for all.
Saint Quote:
"Jesus, crucified for me, with the nails of Your love fasten my whole
self to You."
--Berardino of Siena.
<><><><>
This is what the wedding garment is.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, says the apostle, but
have not love, I am nothing but a booming gong or a clashing cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy, if I have all knowledge and understand
all mysteries, if I have faith strong enough to move mountains, but
have not love, I am nothing. In other words, even with all these gifts
I am nothing without Christ. Does that mean that prophecy has no value
and that knowledge of mysteries is worthless? No, they are not
worthless but I am, if I possess them but have not love. But can the
lack of one good thing rob so many others of their value? Yes, without
love my confession of the name of Christ even by shedding my blood or
offering my body to be burnt will avail me nothing, for I may do this
out of a desire for glory. That such things can be endured for the
sake of empty show without any real love for God the apostle also
declares. Listen to him: If I give away all I have to the poor, if I
hand over my body to be burnt, but have not love, it will avail me
nothing. So this is what the wedding garment is. Examine yourselves to
see whether you possess it. If you do, your place at the Lord's table
is secure.
--Augustine of Hippo
Love shows us what we have to do. It takes us out of ourselves, makes
us emulate the virtues of our Lord, and withdraws us from this world
into Him. The reason why so many Christians get no farther than the
threshold of virtue is that they will not break the chains that hold
them back and will not give themselves up confidently to our Lord's
guidance. They feel that if they go to Communion they will be unable
to resist the love of Jesus and will be forced to give themselves in
return. So they content themselves with books, with words, and do not
dare turn to the Master Himself.
Oh, my brothers, I pray you to take Jesus Christ Himself for your Teacher!
Receive Him within you and let Him direct all your actions.
--St. Peter Eymard
<<>><<>><<>>
May 24: Saint Joanna the Myrrhbearer
Today we celebrate the feast day of Saint Joanna the Myrrhbearer (also
known as Johanna, Junia, and Jessica). Saint Joanna is remembered as
one of the female disciples of Jesus, and is one of the women recorded
as accompanying Jesus and the twelve disciples in the Gospel of Luke:
“2...Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3
Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna;
and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their
own means" (Luke 8:2-3).
Joanna is also recognized as one of the women who went to prepare
Jesus’ body after His crucifixion (thus, the title “myrrhbearer”),
only to find the tomb empty, and later recount the words of the “men
in clothes that gleamed like lightning” to Peter and the disciples.
1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women
took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found
the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did
not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about
this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood
beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces
to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the
living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he
told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 'The Son of Man
must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on
the third day be raised again.' " 8 Then they remembered his words.
9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the
Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary
the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the
apostles (Luke 24:1-10).
Saint Paul, in his epistle to the Romans, further references Saint
Joanna (under the name Junia), suggesting that Paul recognized the
importance of women leaders in the Church, offering encouragement and
support of her mission, and emphasizing that her faith preceded his
own:
7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives who have been in prison
with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in
Christ before I was. (Romans 16:7)
Saint Chrysostom said of Joanna, "Think what an encomium it was to be
considered notable among the apostles. They were distinguished by
their works and achievements. Bless me, how great the philosophy of
this woman to be counted worthy to be addressed also as one of the
apostles! But the praise did not stand still here, but again he
praises them, saying, ‘They have been in Christ before me’!”
Given her position as wife of the manager of Herod’s household, Easter
holy tradition suggests that Saint Joanna rescued the head of Saint
John the Baptist, following his martyrdom, preserving his relics and
giving them a proper, pious burial.
The life and service of Saint Joanna reminds us that all are equal in
the eyes of the Lord--men and women alike-- and all have their gifts
of service to provide. Joanna, a wealthy member of the court of Herod,
gave up her position to live with and follow Christ, ministering to
him with her own money, and living with Him in poverty. Her leadership
in the Church, as an early apostle of Christ, and the respect given to
her by Saint Paul in his letter to the Romans, tells us of her great
faith and holiness. We look to Saint Joanna to remind us of our own
call to service, sacrifice, and faith, each in our own way!
by Jacob
Reflection:
Endeavor so to act as you would wish to have acted when you stand
before the Judge of your eternity. This is the rule of the Saints, and
the only safe rule for all.
Saint Quote:
"Jesus, crucified for me, with the nails of Your love fasten my whole
self to You."
--Berardino of Siena.
<><><><>
This is what the wedding garment is.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, says the apostle, but
have not love, I am nothing but a booming gong or a clashing cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy, if I have all knowledge and understand
all mysteries, if I have faith strong enough to move mountains, but
have not love, I am nothing. In other words, even with all these gifts
I am nothing without Christ. Does that mean that prophecy has no value
and that knowledge of mysteries is worthless? No, they are not
worthless but I am, if I possess them but have not love. But can the
lack of one good thing rob so many others of their value? Yes, without
love my confession of the name of Christ even by shedding my blood or
offering my body to be burnt will avail me nothing, for I may do this
out of a desire for glory. That such things can be endured for the
sake of empty show without any real love for God the apostle also
declares. Listen to him: If I give away all I have to the poor, if I
hand over my body to be burnt, but have not love, it will avail me
nothing. So this is what the wedding garment is. Examine yourselves to
see whether you possess it. If you do, your place at the Lord's table
is secure.
--Augustine of Hippo