http://www.dailycatholic.org/issue/12May/sunafasc.htm#haydock


"They have not known the Father, nor Me"

Sunday after the Ascension

    In all things Christ must be honored and defended even if it means being persecuted for believing in Him. Our Lord conveys these final words to His disciples, foretelling of a time when the Jєωs and unbelievers would greatly harass and even kill them. Every apostle except for St. John suffered martyrdom. When Jesus speaks of His followers "being put out of the ѕуηαgσgυєs" what do you think they'd have to say about BeneRatz' latest schmoozing and giving credence to Caiaphas and all the faithless Jєωs since who persist in their error? What does he do? Not only participates, thus publicly giving scandal through his persistent heresy, but proclaims that the Jєωs do not need to be converted. But then what's new? In fact, he's done it so much that few recognize the apostasy in their midst. We need only read what our Lord says about it in today's Gospel. Do you think Fr. Joseph Ratzinger has read that passage? Do you really think he cares? Ah, there's the rub. All hail man! Yes, Lord, we remember that You did tell us this too would come. Perhaps we never realized how bad it would be with so many duped into actually believing Ratzinger represents You. St. Paul says today "in all things God may be honored through Jesus Christ", not man.

Comprehensive Catholic Commentary
by
Fr. George Leo Haydock
provided by
John Gregory


Epistle: 1 St. Peter 4: 7-11

7 But the end of all is at hand. Be prudent therefore, and watch in prayers.

8 But before all things have a constant mutual charity among yourselves: for charity covereth a multitude of sins.

    Commentary on Verse 8 Charity covereth a multitude of sins. It is a great means to atone for them; or it may signify, that a charitable mind excuses many sins in others. Wi.

9 Using hospitality one towards another, without murmuring,

10 As every man hath received grace, ministering the same one to another: as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

    Commentary on Verse 10 As good stewards of the manifold grace of God. An admonition to the ministers of the gospel, to employ well their talents and the graces received to the honor and glory of God. Wi.

11 If any man speak, let him speak, as the words of God. If any man minister, let him do it, as of the power, which God administereth: that in all things God may be honored through Jesus Christ: to Whom is glory and empire for ever and ever. Amen.

12 Dearly beloved, think not strange the burning heat which is to try you, as if some new thing happened to you;

    Commentary on Verse 12Think not strange, & c. Be not surprised, nor discouraged that a hot and sharp persecution is come upon you at this time, as if it were a new and an extraordinary thing. It is what you must expect and be ready to receive with patience, and even with joy, when you suffer as Christ did before you, and for His sake: this is the way to eternal happiness in Heaven. Wi.


Gospel: St. John 15: 26-27; 16: 1-4

26 But when the Paraclete cometh, Whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, Who proceedeth from the Father, He shall give testimony of Me.

    Commentary on Verse 26Whom I will send. The Holy Ghost is sent by the Son: therefore He proceedeth from Him also, as from the Father; though the schismatical Greeks think differently; (B.) otherwise, as Dr. Challoner says, He could not be sent by the Son.

27 And you shall give testimony, because you are with Me from the beginning.

    Commentary on Verse 27 You shall give. He vouchsafes to join together the testimony of the Holy Ghost, and of the apostles; that we may see the testimony of truth, jointly to consist in the Holy Ghost, and in the prelates of the Catholic Church. See Acts, xv. 28.

1 These things have I spoken to you, that you may not be scandalized.

    Commentary on Verse 1Which the persecutions you will have to suffer, on the part of man, may possibly occasion, particularly with the weak.

2 They will put you out of the ѕуηαgσgυєs: yea, the hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you, will think that he doth a service to God.

3 And these things will they do to you; because they have not known the Father, nor Me.

4 But these things I have told you, that when the hour shall come, you may remember that I told you of them.

    Commentary on Verse 4That when the hour of them shall come, you may remember that I told you. This is both the sense and the construction, by the Greek text, which here determines the construction of the Latin. Wi.

    http://www.newadvent.org/summa/1114.htm#article5

Article 5. Whether a demon who is overcome by man, is for this reason hindered from making further assaults?

Objection 1. It would seem that a demon who is overcome by a man, is not for that reason hindered from any further assault. For Christ overcame the tempter most effectively. Yet afterwards the demon assailed Him by instigating the Jєωs to kill Him. Therefore it is not true that the devil when conquered ceases his assaults.

Objection 2. Further, to inflict punishment on one who has been worsted in a fight, is to incite him to a sharper attack. But this is not befitting God's mercy. Therefore the conquered demons are not prevented from further assaults.

On the contrary, It is written (Matthew 4:11): "Then the devil left Him," i.e. Christ Who overcame.

I answer that, Some say that when once a demon has been overcome he can no more tempt any man at all, neither to the same nor to any other sin. And others say that he can tempt others, but not the same man. This seems more probable as long as we understand it to be so for a certain definite time: wherefore (Luke 4:13) it is written: "All temptation being ended, the devil departed from Him for a time." There are two reasons for this. One is on the part of God's clemency; for as Chrysostom says (Super Matt. Hom. v) [In the Opus Imperfectum, among his supposititious works], "the devil does not tempt man for just as long as he likes, but for as long as God allows; for although He allows him to tempt for a short time, He orders him off on account of our weakness." The other reason is taken from the astuteness of the devil. As to this, Ambrose says on Luke 4:13: "The devil is afraid of persisting, because he shrinks from frequent defeat." That the devil does nevertheless sometimes return to the assault, is apparent from Matthew 12:44: "I will return into my house from whence I came out."

From what has been said, the objections can easily be solved.