DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE LEGAL PROTECTION OF UNBORN CHILDREN/ Saturday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

Title

Out of His Mind

Outline

Anthony of the Desert is reported to have said that there will come a time when all men will be out of their mind and if anyone does speak truth or sense they will say, “You are out of your mind.”

He lived in such days, and we also live in such days

I glance at Twitter: “the Pope is out of his mind” (say some of the more polite) ignoring that he is accurately reflecting everyone from St John Chrysostom to Pope Gregory the Great to Pope after Pope from the last 200 years - he is “out of his mind,” out of the modern secular mind

St Francis has a radical conversion - townspeople and his family said, “He is out of his mind.” “O, no,” he might have said, “I may be out of my mind but I am in the mind of Christ.”

Of course, St Francis and St Anthony are not the only examples, but to them we could add St Clare and how many other women religious - or the female martyrs who wanted to be women religious and so refused marriage.

They and many others were out of their mind, in a sense, for they saw things that the world around them, Christian or secular, could not see, they saw unseen realities and had an unseen spouse. But that was because thy were in their minds, in their minds as God had created us for fellowship with him.

David, then, was out of his mind

He was not a nonviolent man. He had killed 200 Philistines as a dowry for his first wife. He would later slaughter enemy captives in cold blood.

So when the bringer of news that Saul was dead arrived, he though David would be joyful or at least show relief.

Instead David mourns and weeps and composes a dirge in honor of Saul and Jonathan. Saul had been his enemy and would have killed him on sight, but David had the mind of God and left “touching the Lord’s anointed” to God and, surely with God, mourned when Saul died. David apparently desired conversion rather than death.

He also, of course, killed the bringer of the bad news.

Jesus was called out of his mind

He was identified with the Baptist movement, and John the Baptist had been executed. But that did not make Jesus keep a low profile.

Instead, he preached the message of the Baptist, but with the twist that he did not look for anyone beyond himself.

He demonstrated the power of the kingdom with healings and exorcisms (if you can call them that) and the like, gathering the tribes of Israel as people thronged to be near him.

If John had been a threat to Herod, Jesus was more powerful, more outspoken, more of a threat.

And Jesus was so popular that people crowded around him, not even allowing him a meal.

Even his relatives said, “He is out of his mind,” or “He is demonized.” “He has no caution.” “He is not doing appropriate self-care.” Out of love they came to take him into protective custody.

And he was “out of” any merely human “mind” for he listened to a “voice,” the voice of God, with whom he met at night.

So, Sisters, you mind find folk calling you “out of your mind” and trying to “restrain” you in some way.

You care about the protection of pre-born children and adults who are nearing death. You are “out of your mind” and oppressing others because of it.

You take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. You are clearly “out of your mind,” tossing your lives away in such a strange way rather than seeking your own self-interest.

And, of course, so are all those you join in such activities.

But let us be of good cheer. The same was said about the saints down the ages, a selection of whom we celebrate here each year. You, we, are in good company, the company of those who have forsaken certain benefits of this world for the company of saints and angels and especially the “well-done” from the great king Jesus in whose mind you live and move and have your being.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 1-22-2022: Saturday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

2 Samuel 1:1–4, 11–12, 19, 23–27

1 After the death of Saul, David returned from his victory over the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. 2 On the third day a man came from the field of battle, one of Saul’s people, with his garments torn and his head covered with dirt. Going to David, he fell to the ground in homage. 3 David asked him, “Where have you come from?” He replied, “From the Israelite camp: I have escaped.” 4 “What happened?” David said. “Tell me.” He answered that the soldiers had fled the battle and many of them had fallen and were dead; and that Saul and his son Jonathan were dead.

11 David seized his garments and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. 12 They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

19 Alas! the glory of Israel,

slain upon your heights!

How can the warriors have fallen!

23 Saul and Jonathan, beloved and dear,

separated neither in life nor death,

swifter than eagles, stronger than lions!

24 Women of Israel, weep over Saul,

who clothed you in scarlet and in finery,

covered your clothing with ornaments of gold.

25 How can the warriors have fallen

in the thick of battle!

Jonathan—slain upon your heights!

26 I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother!

Most dear have you been to me;

More wondrous your love to me

than the love of women.

27 How can the warriors have fallen,

the weapons of war have perished!

Catholic Daily Readings 1-22-2022: Saturday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 80:4b

4 O God, restore us;

light up your face and we shall be saved.

PSALM

Psalm 80:2–3, 5–7

2 O Shepherd of Israel, lend an ear,

you who guide Joseph like a flock!

Seated upon the cherubim, shine forth

3 upon Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh.

Stir up your power, and come to save us.

5 LORD of hosts,

how long will you smolder in anger

while your people pray?

6 You have fed them the bread of tears,

made them drink tears in great measure.

7 You have left us to be fought over by our neighbors;

our enemies deride us.

Catholic Daily Readings 1-22-2022: Saturday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Acts 16:14b

14 One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying.

GOSPEL

Mark 3:20–21

20 He came home. Again [the] crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. 21 When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 1-22-2022: Saturday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

ON THE SAME DATE

DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE LEGAL PROTECTION OF UNBORN CHILDREN

In the Dioceses of the United States

YEARS 1 & 2 | ROMAN MISSAL

On the same date: Saturday of the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time; Saint Vincent, Deacon and Martyr

White or Violet

Catholic Daily Readings 1-22-2022: Saturday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

From Saturday of the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time

First Reading 2 Samuel 1:1–4, 11–12, 19, 23–27

Response Psalm 80:4b

Psalm Psalm 80:2–3, 5–7

Gospel Acclamation Acts 16:14b

Gospel Mark 3:20–21