Tuesday, June 2 : Saint Irenaeus of Lyons

After our Lord had been raised from the dead and the apostles had been endowed with power from on high by the coming of the Holy Spirit (Lk 24:49), they were filled with certainty about everything and they had perfect knowledge. Then they, who all possessed equally and each one in particular the Gospel of God, went to the ends of the earth (Ps 19:4), proclaiming the good news which comes to us from God, and announcing to people the peace of heaven. Thus, Matthew published a written version of the Gospel among the Hebrews in their own language, while Peter and Paul evangelized Rome and founded the Church there. After their death, Mark, Peter’s disciple and his interpreter (1 Pet 5:13) also passed on to us in writing Peter’s preaching. Luke for his part, who was Paul’s companion, recorded the Gospel he preached in a book. Finally, John, the Lord’s disciple and the same one who had rested on his bosom, also published the Gospel while he was living in Ephesus. Mark, Peter’s interpreter and companion, began his edition of the Gospel in the following way: «The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets: ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way.»… As we see, Mark uses the words of the holy prophets as the beginning of the Gospel, and he places the One whom the prophets proclaimed as God and Lord at the very beginning, as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ … At the end of his Gospel, Mark says: «After he had spoken to them, the Lord Jesus was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.» That confirms the prophet’s word: «The Lord says to my lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.» (Ps 110:1)

maronite readings – rosary,team