10 June 2018

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time

1st: Genesis 3:9-15
Ps: 129
2nd: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1
Gospel:  Mark 3:20-35

A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand
Jesus went home with his disciples, and such a crowd collected that they could not even have a meal. When his relatives heard of this, they set out to take charge of him, convinced he was out of his mind.

  The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, ‘Beelzebul is in him’ and, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts devils out.’ So he called them to him and spoke to them in parables, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot last. And if a household is divided against itself, that household can never stand. Now if Satan has rebelled against himself and is divided, he cannot stand either – it is the end of him. But no one can make his way into a strong man’s house and burgle his property unless he has tied up the strong man first. Only then can he burgle his house.

  ‘I tell you solemnly, all men’s sins will be forgiven, and all their blasphemies; but let anyone blaspheme against the Holy Spirit and he will never have forgiveness: he is guilty of an eternal sin.’ This was because they were saying, ‘An unclean spirit is in him.’

  His mother and brothers now arrived and, standing outside, sent in a message asking for him. A crowd was sitting round him at the time the message was passed to him, ‘Your mother and brothers and sisters are outside asking for you.’ He replied, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking round at those sitting in a circle about him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of God, that person is my brother and sister and mother.’

He has tied up the strong man

The Lord has also bound the strong man, that is, the devil: which means, He has restrained him from seducing the elect, and entering into his house, the world, He has spoiled his house, and his goods, that is men, because He has snatched them from the snares of the devil, and has united them to His Church. Or, He has spoiled his house, because every part of the world, over which the old enemy had sway, He has distributed to the Apostles and their successors, that they may convert the people to the way of life. But the Lord shows that they committed a great sin in saying that what they knew to be of God, was of the devil, when He subjoins, “Verily, I say unto you, All sins are forgiven …” All sins and blasphemies are not indeed remitted to all men, but to those who have gone through a repentance in this life sufficient for their sins. 
St. Bede the Venerable, (Catena Aurea)

THIS WEEK’S FEASTS
Mon 11 St. Barnabas, Apostle 
Wed 13 St. Antony of Padua, Priest, Doctor 
Thur 14 Holy Prophet Elisha (in our diocese)
Sat 16 Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary  

Psalter week II

Readings for the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time:
1st: Ezekiel 17:22-24
Ps: 91:2-3, 13-16
2nd: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10
Gospel: Mark 4:26-34

Elisha, Chariot of Israel

Elisha was chosen by God to succeed the prophet Elijah. The divine will was manifested by Elijah casting his mantle over the shoulders of Elisha while he was ploughing the field; after this he “followed Elijah and ministered to him” (1 Kings 19:19-21). Elisha inherited the wonder-working powers of his master and even our Lord makes reference to him when He said: “There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet: and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian” (Luke 4:27; 2 Kings 5:1-19). Elisha was bold before kings, kind towards the lowly and always executed faithfully the command of God (2 Kings 9:11-10:30). While Elisha was on his deathbed, king Joash came mourning and called him “Chariot of Israel”, after the prophet died and was buried, the very touch of his corpse served to resuscitate a dead man (2 Kings 13). We read in Ecclesiasticus about Elisha: “During his lifetime he feared no one, nor was any man able to intimidate his will. Nothing was beyond his power; beneath him flesh was brought back to life. In life he performed wonders, and after death, marvelous deeds. Despite all this the people did not repent, nor did they give up their sins, Until they were rooted out of their land and scattered all over the earth. (Sirach 48:12-15).

We Keep Praying for Peace in the Holy Land: Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa has asked for prayers, especially for Jerusalem and Gaza.

Hospice 3rd Anniversary Dinner Wed 20 June 7pm, Giorgio’s Restaurant. Great menu. Joe Mc providing entertaining. Call Fr. Jim 9979 3169,  Savvas 9942 7966,  Joe Mc 9904 3329.

CARITAS Paphos Assisting the vulnerable in the Paphos area. If you can lend a helping hand, call Wendy 9904 0294. Prayers help too!

Mass Times HERE