Today, June 6
Feast of the Day
No feast of the day
Saint of the Day
Norbert was born near Xanten (Germany) in 1080. As a young man in minor orders, he lived a life devoted to pleasure until a narrow escape from death in 1115 inspired him to reform his life and become a monk. Irked by his extreme asceticism and his attempts to reform them, his fellow monks denounced him. Resigning his position, Norbert gave away all his worldly goods and went to Rome where Pope Gelasius II granted him permission to preach the gospel wherever he wished.
Norbert became an itinerant preacher in the north of France and attracted many followers. The Bishop of Laon gave him land at Prémontré where he founded a community dedicated to strict and uncompromising asceticism (later known as the Premonstratensians or Norbertines). He became Bishop of Magdeburg in 1126 and survived several assassination attempts brought on by his rigorous reforms, particularly in the defence of the rights of the Church against secular powers.
Norbert died on June 6, 1134, worn out from a life of austerity and dedicated service as a monk, a politician and an archbishop.©2011 Living with Christ, Novalis - Bayard Press Canada Inc., http://www.livingwithchrist.ca/. Reprinted with permission.
Readings of the Day
Second Letter to Timothy 4,1-8.
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who willjudge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths. But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance.
Psalms 71(70),8-9.14-15ab.16-17.22.
My mouth shall be filled with your praise, With your glory day by day. Cast me not off in my old age; As my strength fails, forsake me not. But I will always hope And praise you ever more and more. My mouth shall declare your justice, day by day your salvation. I will treat of the mighty works of the Lord; O GOD, I will tell of your singular justice. O God, you have taught me from my youth, and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds. So will I give you thanks with music on the lyre, For your faithfulness, O my God! I will sing your praises with the harp, O Holy One of Israel!
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 12,38-44.
In the course of his teaching Jesus said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation." He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood."
Daily Reflection
Mercy is not worthy of praise merely on account of the abundance of its benefactions but when it proceeds from an upright and merciful mind. There are people who give away and hand out a great deal but who are not considered merciful by God; and there are people who have nothing, who possess nothing, but who feel pity towards all in their hearts. It is these who are considered perfectly merciful before God and, indeed, that is what they are. So don’t say: “I have nothing to give to the poor”; don’t distress yourself by thinking that, because of this, you cannot be merciful. If you have something, give what you have; if you have nothing, give with a truly merciful intention, though it be but a morsel of dry bread, and it will be considered before God as an act of perfect mercy. Our Lord did not praise those who cast a great deal into the chest of offerings; he praised the widow for having put into it two small coins which, with an upright mind, she had taken from her poverty to throw into the treasury of God. It is the man who has pity in his heart for his fellow human beings who is considered merciful before God. An upright intention with no externl effects is worth more than many stunning works made without that upright intention.