FEAST OF ST APOLLINARIUS, BISHOP AND MARTYR.
THE GOSPEL: "Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus,
“Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”
He said to them in reply, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.
Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.
At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah;
and there is something greater than Jonah here.
At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon;
and there is something greater than Solomon here.” (Matthew 12: 38 - 42).
Monday, July 20th of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Apollinarius, Bishop and Martyr.
Saint Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr, is honored on July 20 as one of the earliest shepherds of the Church of Ravenna. According to ancient tradition, he was a disciple of Saint Peter, who sent him from the apostolic circle to preach the Gospel in Ravenna as its first bishop.
His ministry was marked by courageous preaching, signs and wonders, and patient endurance in the face of hostility from pagan opponents.
Apollinaris is remembered not only for his episcopal leadership but also for his fidelity under persecution.
Tradition says that he suffered repeated beatings, exile, and eventual martyrdom after years of evangelizing both in Ravenna and beyond, and that he remained steadfast until the end.
Because of his witness, the Church has long venerated him as a model of apostolic zeal, pastoral courage, and love for Christ.
I like the clear and authoritative words of Jesus to the Scribes and Pharisees in the Gospel of today.
This is a paraphrase of the message:
You are looking for a big sign from Me before you believe that I AM the Messiah.
Let Me tell you:
God is looking for genuine faith like He saw in Abraham and David, Mary, Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood.
The people of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah.
They recognized the word of God when they heard it.
They did not ask for a sign as a condition for repentance.
If you cannot be led to repentance when your pastor preach the word of God, you are not serious.
The Church is the authentic sign of the existence and presence of God in the world today.
During the consistory of November 24, 2007, Pope Benedict said that the gathering of Bishops and people from every part of the world is a sign of the unity and universality of the Catholic Church.
It is also a sign that God is with the Church. Such a gathering is not possible by human means.
Stop the spirit of Unbelief. Repent and believe the Good News.
The Church honors the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July.
Consider the Unshakeable Gaze from the Cross.
"In times of anxiety and structural trouble, look straight to the Cross where the Precious Blood drops for you.
His gaze is steady, and His Blood governs the destiny of the cosmos.
When structural disorder, age, or temporal troubles create anxiety, the enemy's strategy is to make you look to the right or to the left—focusing on human solutions, political chaos, or physical limits.
Your posture: look straight into the eyes of the Crucified Christ.
His gaze is steady, peaceful, and filled with infinite authority.
The very same Blood that drops from His hands at this moment is the love that actively governs the entire cosmos.
If the Ruler of the universe is looking at you with infinite affection, what room is left for fear?
Prayer:
Precious Blood of Jesus, fix my wandering eyes straight upon Your sovereign, loving gaze from the Cross.
Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ purify and heal us.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions for the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ click the link below:
