13 August 2017

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

1 Kings 19:1, 11-13
Psalm 84:9-14
Romans 9:1-5
The Gospel of Matthew 14:22-33

Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he would send the crowds away. After sending the crowds   away he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea, for there was a head-wind. In the fourth watch of the night he went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified. ‘It is a ghost’ they said, and cried out in fear. But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, ‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.’ It was Peter who answered. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink. ‘Lord! Save me!’ he cried. Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. ‘Man of little faith,’ he said ‘why did you doubt?’ And as they got into the boat the wind dropped. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.’

Peter’s Faith

Peter did not say “Pray and entreat for me,” but “Bid me;” he believes not only that Christ can Himself walk on the sea, but that He can lead others also thereon; also he wishes to come to Him speedily, and this, so great a thing, he asks not from ostentation, but from love. For he said not, “Bid me walk upon the waters,” but, “Bid me come unto thee.” And it seems that having shewn in the first miracle that He has power over the sea, He now leads them to a more powerful sign; “‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus…”

Peter overcame that which was greater, namely, the waves of the sea, but is troubled by the lesser, the blowing wind, for it follows, “but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink,” Such is human nature, in great trials often holding itself aright, and in lesser falling into fault. Jesus bade not the winds to cease, but stretched forth His hand and caught him, because his faith was required. For when our own means fail, then those which are of God stand. Then to shew that not the strength of the tempest, but the smallness of his faith worked the danger, “Man of little faith,’ he said ‘why did you doubt?” which shows that not even the wind would have been able to hurt him, if his faith had been firm.
St. John Chrysostom, Catena Aurea

Saints of the week
Mon 14 St. Maximilian Kolbe, Priest, Martyr 
Tue 15 Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Day of obligation) 
Wed 16 Saint Stephen of Hungary  
Sat 19 Saint John Eudes, Priest  or Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Psalter Week III

Next Sunday’s Readings
Isaiah 56: 1, 6-7
Psalm 66: 2-3, 5-6, 8
Romans 11: 13-15, 29-32
Matthew 15: 21-28

St. Maximilian Kolbe

Raymund Kolbe was born in Poland in 1894. When he was 12, he had a vision of the Immaculate Virgin holding two crowns, one white, for purity, the other red for martyrdom, and when she asked him which one would he accept, the future saint replied, “I would accept them both.” Just a year later, Raymund and his elder brother joined the Franciscans, and he took the name Maximilian. He organized the Army of the Immaculate whose purpose was to work for the conversion of sinners and enemies of the Church. At 23 he was ordained a priest, always promoting Marian devotion and publishing catholic literature. When WWII broke out, Fr. Maximilian remained in the monastery refusing to take up German citizenship, helping those in need and providing shelter for refugees, especially Jews fleeing from the Nazis. In February 1941, the monastery was shut down; Kolbe was arrested by the Gestapo and three months later, he was transferred to Auschwitz. One day, as men were being chosen to die by starvation to warn escapees, Kolbe volunteered to take the place of one of them, a man with a family. After two weeks, he was the last survivor of the group and the guards decided to give him a lethal injection. St. Maximilian Kolbe died on August 14 and his remains were cremated on August 15, the Assumption of our Lady.

St. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us.

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, Tue 15 Aug. Holy Day of Obligation, Mass will be at 12pm in Agia Kyriaki. The Holy Rosary will be prayed before Mass in honour of Our Lady at 11:35

CARITAS PAPHOS currently needs:

• Nοn-perishable food to support approximately 40 households a week in the Paphos area.
• Computer whiz to manage crowdfunding appeals.
• Teachers for basic Greek.
• Transportation of students (lifts).

Prayers and donations always help. Contact Wendy Burdon 99 040294.

Archangel Michael Hospice: Volunteers needed in the areas of reception, nursing assistants and cafeteria. Contact Mona (99 494 140).

Mass Times HERE