Saturday, June 15, 2019
ELDER ABUSE DAY
Matthew,
Chapter 6, Verse 30
If
God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the
oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith*?
Jesus's preaching this
chapter warns about almsgivings, prayer, and fasting for show. Jesus says, when
giving alms, "do not let your left hand know what your right hand is
doing" (6:3). That means being super discreet so no one can tell what
you're doing. About prayer, he says a similar thing. Jesus preaches against
making a show of prayer for everyone to see and then teaches the s The Lord's
Prayer (You know the one: "Our Father…"). Things are no different for
fasting. Basically, Jesus is not a fan of making a big spectacle about
religious practice. He goes on to speak against hoarding and says that the only
treasures worth storing are the ones in heaven. Then Jesus starts talking about
eyes and lamps and light and darkness. Basically, he's telling people to stay
surrounded by good stuff because it'll influence you. But watch out, because
bad stuff will do the same. Just in the wrong direction. Jesus also teaches
that a man cannot serve two masters. So, make your choice: God or wealth? Finally,
Jesus teaches his followers to not worry about the trivial things of
life. And the chapter concludes with one of the soundest pieces of advice:
"Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.
Today's trouble is enough for today" (6:34).[1]
EPISTLE, Romans v. 1-5.
BRETHREN: Being justified therefore by faith, let us
have peace with God, through Our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom also we have access
through faith into this grace, wherein we stand, and glory in the hope of the
glory of the sons of God. And not only so; but we glory also in tribulations,
knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience trial; and trial hope,
and hope confoundeth not: because the charity of God is poured forth in our
hearts, by the Holy Ghost Who is given to us.
GOSPEL. Luke iv. 38-44.
At that time: Jesus rising up out of the synagogue, went into Simon’s
house. And Simon s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever, and they
besought Him for her. And standing over her, He commanded the fever, and it
left her. And immediately rising, she ministered to them. And when the sun was
down, all they that had any sick with divers’ diseases, brought them to Him.
But He laying His hands on every one of them, healed them. And devils went out
from many, crying out and saying: Thou art the Son of God. And rebuking them,
He suffered them not to speak, for they knew that He was Christ. And when it
was day, going out He went into a desert place, and the multitudes sought Him,
and came unto Him: and they detained Him that He should not depart from them.
To whom He said: To other cities also I must preach the kingdom of God: for
therefor am I sent. And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.
Today is the
end of Paschaltide (after the office of None).
And when evening was now
come (because it was the Parasceve, that is, the day before the Sabbath),
Joseph of Arimathea, a noble counsellor, who was also himself looking for the
kingdom of God, came and went in boldly to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
But Pilate wondered that He should be already dead. And sending for the
centurion, he asked him if He were already dead. And when he had understood it
by the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. And Joseph buying fine linen and
taking Him down, wrapped Him up in the fine linen, and laid Him in a sepulchre
which was hewed out of a rock. And he rolled a stone to the door of the
sepulchre.
Liturgy of the Cloth: How the Early Church
Incorporated the Shroud and Sudarium in the Mass[4]
New research suggests that the burial cloths of Jesus
have been central to the Roman liturgy for more than a millennium, and possibly
from the earliest days of the Church.
A German theologian and friend of Benedict XVI,
drawing on the writings of a ninth-century bishop, appears to have made a
historic and fascinating discovery, revealing how the Shroud of Turin and the
sudarium (the Veil of Veronica) were central to the Roman liturgy from as far
back as the Carolingian times, most probably before. The two relics and their
inclusion in those early liturgies also point to the Real Presence. The
discovery has only now come to light, after debate over the burial cloths has
intensified over the past 10 years and interest has developed regarding their
authenticity. The Register spoke recently with German journalist Paul Badde, who has been
following the discovery closely and is an authority on the Holy Face of Manoppello,
which many believe to be the true sudarium.
The discovery was made by
Klaus Berger of Heidelberg, a German theologian, an old friend of Joseph
Ratzinger and New Testament scholar, who is carrying out detailed research on
the Apocalypse of St. John. During his studies, he came across one of the great
commentators on the Apocalypse, Amalarius (775-850), a liturgical expert from
the Carolingian times. Amalarius, who used to be bishop of Metz in France and
archbishop of Trier in Germany, was a great liturgist of the Carolingian age,
whom Pope Sergius II made a cardinal. Even in those times, he said the cloth of
the altar resembled the shroud and the sudarium, found and discovered first by
the apostles Peter and John in the empty holy sepulcher the first Easter
morning. But we have an enormous gap in documented records from the first
Easter morning in Jerusalem and the moment when they first appeared in public.
We know that the sudarium appeared in 1208 in Rome in public, when Pope
Innocent III put it on public view, and the shroud appeared in 1355 for the
first time in the West in Lirey in the Champagne area of France. But we can be
sure that the two cloths have always been part of the “memory of the liturgy,” even though
their presence arrived later. Amalarius may have witnessed seeing them there
[in Constantinople], and it’s
important to note that their presence in the liturgy didn’t begin in Carolingian times, but
[they] were probably used from the very beginning. …
Where were the cloths kept before that time?
What is the significance of altar linen — does it date back to these two priceless relics?
How is the altar significant in this?
Could you explain more about how this points to the
Real Presence?
What does this mean for Holy Face of Manoppello?
The abuse of the elderly is a serious
issue and something that this day aims to raise much-needed awareness of. The
elderly should be given support and protection all year round, and today
ensures their plight is not ignored. Financial, emotional, or physical abuse
and neglect can be a real everyday issue for some elders in the world – in
fact, it is estimated that around 500,000 elders in the UK alone are being
subjected to abuse today. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day encourages us to make
steps towards a world where elder abuse is no longer an issue, by raising
awareness and providing resources and information to help the battle against
it.
The History of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
The United Nations General Assembly
designated June 15th as World Elder Abuse Awareness day in its 66/127
resolution. It is meant to be a day in which the entire world voices its
opposition to any form of abuse of the older generation. The amount of older
people in the world is growing, and will continue to do so – in fact, pretty
much all countries in the world are expecting considerable growth in the number
of elderly residents between 2015 and 2030. Despite it being an accepted
issue across the world and the subject of much opposition, elder abuse is one
of the least investigated types of violence and it does not get addressed in
national action plans as frequently as many other key social issues. Those of
advanced age have a full right to being treated with dignity and respect, and
to live a life free of any abuse, exploitation or neglect. Today seeks to
ensure that as few elderly people as possible are subjected to homelessness,
bad health, hunger, and poverty.
How to Observe World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
There are a number of ways you can help
fundraise for the cause of this day if you so wish. You can also donate to
charities which support the elderly and their well-being. Perhaps today you
could play your part by volunteering somewhere which ensures the happiness of
the elderly, such as in a retirement home. You could also visit an elderly
relative and spend some time chatting or having a cup of tea. Be sure to spread
the word by posting about the day on your social media accounts.
Daily Devotions
* A person with fear of
the Lord is filled with peace, faith, hope and love.
[1]
https://www.shmoop.com/matthew-gospel/chapter-6-summary.html
[2]
Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896
[3]
Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896
[4]http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/liturgy-of-the-cloth-how-the-early-church-incorporated-the-shroud-and-sudar
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