Thursday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

“Wonderful Catch of Fish”
by Anton Losenko, 1762

Readings for Thursday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Readings and Commentary:[3]

Reading 1: Colossians 1:9-14

Brothers and sisters:

From the day we heard about you, we do not cease praying for you

and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will

through all spiritual wisdom and understanding

to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,

so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit

and growing in the knowledge of God,

strengthened with every power, in accord with his glorious might,

for all endurance and patience,

with joy giving thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share

in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.

He delivered us from the power of darkness

and transferred us to the Kingdom of his beloved Son,

in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

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Commentary on Col 1:9-14

St. Paul continues his introductory remarks to the Colossians.  In these verses he shares his prayer for them and acknowledges their shared adoption in Christ which has a reference to their baptism (e.g. “…delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of his beloved Son”).

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6

R. (2) The Lord has made known his salvation.

The LORD has made his salvation known:

in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.

He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness

toward the house of Israel.

R. The Lord has made known his salvation.

All the ends of the earth have seen

the salvation by our God.

Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;

break into song; sing praise.

R. The Lord has made known his salvation.

Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,

with the harp and melodious song.

With trumpets and the sound of the horn

sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.

R. The Lord has made known his salvation.

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Commentary on Ps 98:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6

The psalm rejoices in God’s salvation.  The Lord has revealed his compassion toward the people and they sing his praises in response.

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Gospel: Luke 5:1-11

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God,

he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.

He saw two boats there alongside the lake;

the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.

Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,

he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.

Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.

After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,

“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”

Simon said in reply,

“Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,

but at your command I will lower the nets.”

When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish

and their nets were tearing.

They signaled to their partners in the other boat

to come to help them.

They came and filled both boats

so that the boats were in danger of sinking.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,

“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”

For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him

and all those with him,

and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,

who were partners of Simon.

Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid;

from now on you will be catching men.”

When they brought their boats to the shore,

they left everything and followed him.

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Commentary on Lk 5:1-11

St. Luke’s Gospel story continues with the call of St. Peter, St. James and St. John to discipleship.  The Lord has demonstrated his authority through his teaching and then through the miraculous catch of fish.  We note the similarity of this incident with the post-resurrection incident recounted in St. John’s Gospel (John 21:1-11)..  At Jesus summons, Simon and the two sons of Zebedee leave all they have and follow Jesus.

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Reflection:

We reflect today on the call of Christ and our response.  In St. Luke’s Gospel we hear how the Lord attracts his first disciples.  After he has journeyed through Galilee, curing the sick and teaching he comes to Capernaum and meets Simon.  He cures Simon’s mother-in-law and then continues to preach to the people about the Kingdom of God.  The people are so taken by his words and person that they crowd in upon him to a point were he must get into a boat in order to be heard by more than just a few of those closest to him.

Was it coincidental that it was Simon’s boat?  We are told he had been fishing all night with his partners, Zebedee’s two sons, James and John.  They were on the beach, cleaning up.  Perhaps the Lord recognized Simon from the day before and asked him to take him out from the shore and Simon, probably tired and ready for some sleep, did not hesitate.  When the Lord had concluded his discourse (we wonder what those words were) he told Simon to lower the nets (the ones he had just finished washing and mending).  Is it any wonder he resisted the idea?  They had fished all night and had caught nothing.  It was silly to put out the nets at this time of day.  Simon did the Lord’s bidding again, for a second time.

To everyone’s amazement, especially Simon’s the nets caught so many fish he could not get them in alone.  They were in danger of breaking.  He asked his partners to come and share his labor and his reward.  James and John responded.  Between them they brought the improbable catch to shore.  It must have amazed everyone there. 

We see in this event the epiphany of Simon.  He falls to the ground at the Lord’s knees and said “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”  (Lord I am not worthy, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.)

The Lord, seeing all their faults and trepidation, called Simon a third time “Do not be afraid, from now on you will be catching men.”  The response was immediate.  Simon, James and John, without another word, left all they had known and followed the Lord.  They became the first to hear the call to discipleship and the first to sacrifice their lives for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As we reflect upon this call to discipleship, we recall all those other stories of call and response throughout the history of the faith especially that of St. Gregory the Great whose feast we celebrate.  All of the great saints heard that call.  Some had to be dragged against their wills to the faith, like St. Augustine.  Others seemed born to it. like Our Blessed Mother, Mary.  Call and response, what does God ask of us?  That is the question we ask each day, because each day the call is renewed and each day we must respond.  Our prayer today is that we hear the call of the Lord clearly and respond as St. Peter did, with unconditional love that does not hold back the smallest part of our hearts.

Pax

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[1] ALTRE

[2] The picture used is “Wonderful Catch of Fish” by Anton Losenko, 1762

[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.

Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

“Jesus Heals Peter's Mother-In-Law”
by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, c. 1645

Readings for Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Readings and Commentary:[3]

Reading 1: Colossians 1:1-8

Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

and Timothy our brother,

to the holy ones and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae:

grace to you and peace from God our Father.

We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

when we pray for you,

for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus

and the love that you have for all the holy ones

because of the hope reserved for you in heaven.

Of this you have already heard

through the word of truth, the Gospel, that has come to you.

Just as in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing,

so also among you,

from the day you heard it and came to know the grace of God in truth,

as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow slave,

who is a trustworthy minister of Christ on your behalf

and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

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Commentary on Col 1:1-8

This selection begins St. Paul’s Letter to the Church at Colossae, it is a Church the apostle did not found nor apparently had never visited.  In these verses he begins by commending them on their faith in Christ Jesus and congratulates them on living the Gospel values.  He assures them that knowledge and faith in Christ is growing in the world and they are among those faithful having genuine teaching about the Lord. (Later in this letter he clarifies some articles of faith that are causing anxiety)

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 52:10, 11

R. (10) I trust in the mercy of God for ever.

I, like a green olive tree

in the house of God,

Trust in the mercy of God

forever and ever.

R. I trust in the mercy of God for ever.

I will thank you always for what you have done,

and proclaim the goodness of your name

before your faithful ones.

R. I trust in the mercy of God for ever.

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Commentary on Ps 52:10, 11

The latter strophes of Psalm 52 (an individual lament against evil) used here give thanks to God and proclaim the singer’s faithfulness.  Contrasting the faithful with the wicked the author will flourish like a tree (see also Jeremiah 11:16). The individual resolves to praise the Lord always and spread the news of God’s goodness.

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Gospel: Luke 4:38-44

After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon.

Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever,

and they interceded with him about her.

He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her.

She got up immediately and waited on them.

At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him.

He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.

And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.”

But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak

because they knew that he was the Christ.

At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.

The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him,

they tried to prevent him from leaving them.

But he said to them, “To the other towns also

I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God,

because for this purpose I have been sent.”

And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

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Commentary on Lk 4:38-44

This Gospel passage continues the healing mission of Christ in Capernaum.  He first heals Simon’s mother-in-law (at this point in St. Luke’s Gospel Simon has not yet been called).  He then proceeds to heal all who are brought to him.  The demons he cast out were aware of Jesus’ identity as the Son of God (as was the demon in Luke 4:31-37).

When Jesus tries to leave the people try to keep him with them.  Contrast this response with the people of Nazareth, his home town, earlier.  The Lord then proceeds to teach throughout the region, proclaiming the Kingdom of God.

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Reflection:

We pause to consider this question; the Gospel the Lord proclaims is “the good news of the kingdom of God”, what exactly does that mean, “The Kingdom of God”?  The Catechism of Catholic Church says this:

“The Kingdom of God lies ahead of us. It is brought near in the Word incarnate, it is proclaimed throughout the whole Gospel, and it has come in Christ's death and Resurrection. The Kingdom of God has been coming since the Last Supper and, in the Eucharist, it is in our midst. The kingdom will come in glory when Christ hands it over to his Father:”[4]

While this works for us because we have heard the entire story, we know what happened in the upper room, we rejoice in the Eucharist; clearly Jesus presumed the Good News of the Kingdom of God would be understood by the people with whom he communicated.  What must they have thought?  Was the Lord speaking of the end time – the final judgment when all will come before him?  Certainly those people of his time would not have found comfort in that news.  With a few exceptions, they could not know that Jesus was the gate of salvation for all mankind.

What Jesus was saying that was very good news, was God’s Heavenly Kingdom (the Lord’s Kingdom in Heaven) was being opened.  The gates that had been barred by sin since Adam fell were flung wide by the Son of God who alone had the keys to that Kingdom. To use an analogy, it was as like the recent re-opening of the crown in the Statue of Liberty, closed since the tragedy of September 11.  People thronged to be able to ascend once more to the head of that national shrine.  Of course the Good News of the Kingdom of God causes that analogy to pale in comparison.

We come at last to the answer to our question; what was the good news of the Kingdom of God that Jesus proclaimed?  It was, as he quoted from Isaiah when he was in Nazareth (Luke 4:18)  “he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.” While we could go through each of these groups and identify our selves with them, the point becomes clear.  The good news is our great hope, that the Lord has freed us from death and offers us eternal life in the Holy Spirit with God the Father.

Pax

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[1] ALTRE

[2] The picture used today is “Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-In-Law” by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, c. 1645

[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.

[4] Catechism of the Catholic Church #2816

Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

“Jesus Healing The Man Possessed With a Devil”
by Gustave Dore, 1865

Readings for Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Readings and Commentary:[3]

Reading 1: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11

Concerning times and seasons, brothers and sisters,

you have no need for anything to be written to you.

For you yourselves know very well

that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night.

When people are saying, “Peace and security,”

then sudden disaster comes upon them,

like labor pains upon a pregnant woman,

and they will not escape.

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness,

for that day to overtake you like a thief.

For all of you are children of the light

and children of the day.

We are not of the night or of darkness.

Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do,

but let us stay alert and sober.

For God did not destine us for wrath,

but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep

we may live together with him.

Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up,

as indeed you do.

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Commentary on 1 Thes 5:1-6, 9-11

St. Paul takes up the theme of vigilance and preparedness with the Thessalonians in this selection.  The language used (“Concerning times and seasons…“) has a clear reference to the end time – the Eschaton (see also Daniel 2:21 and Daniel 7:12), He reminds them that the hour and the day of the Lord’s coming is not known (“like a thief “similar to the metaphor in Matthew 24:43 and 2 Peter 3:10) and that, unlike those who live in darkness (the pagans) they are children of the light.  His tone makes it clear that his expectation is that the Parousia is immanent.

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14

R. (13) I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;

whom should I fear?

The LORD is my life’s refuge;

of whom should I be afraid?

R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

One thing I ask of the LORD;

this I seek:

To dwell in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,

That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD

and contemplate his temple.

R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD

in the land of the living.

Wait for the LORD with courage;

be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.

R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

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Commentary on Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14

Psalm 27 is an individual lament.  The them of trust in God is consistently expressed as is the psalmist’s expectation of coming before the Lord in the final judgment.  The selection is one of thanksgiving; its expectation is the salvation that comes from God for the faithful.

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Gospel: Luke 4:31-37

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee.

He taught them on the sabbath,

and they were astonished at his teaching

because he spoke with authority.

In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon,

and he cried out in a loud voice,

“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?

Have you come to destroy us?

I know who you are–the Holy One of God!”

Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!”

Then the demon threw the man down in front of them

and came out of him without doing him any harm.

They were all amazed and said to one another,

“What is there about his word?

For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits,

and they come out.”

And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

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Commentary on Lk 4:31-37

This passage from St. Luke’s Gospel begins a series of events around Capernaum that expand his public image from prophet to teacher, exorcist, healer and one who proclaims God’s kingdom.  Here he commands an evil spirit which asks him if he has come to destroy evil. “How does your concern affect me?: literally, ‘What is this to me and to you?’--a Hebrew expression of either hostility (Judges 11:12; 2 Chron 35:21; 1 Kings 17:18) or denial of common interest (Hosea 14:9; 2 Kings 3:13). Cf Mark 1:24; 5:7 used by demons to Jesus.”[4]   It is interesting that the Spirit uses the Lords full name, perhaps in an attempt to control him.  Instead the Lord commands the evil spirit and it leaves, amazing the crowd and spreading his fame in the region.

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Reflection:

Both the Mass and Liturgy of the Hours [Morning Prayer] emphasize St. Paul’s exhortation that we (by way of his instructions to the Thessalonians) be “children of the light”.  It is Holy Scripture’s way of asking “What would your mother say…?”  As Christians, we are called to a very high standard of behavior.  It is fundamentally based upon the idea so frequently emphasized that we are called to love God and each other.  By inference, the love of God and others must extend to ourselves as well.

Being Children of the Light (making our mother proud of us) means we treat each day as a gift from God, basking in the light of his Son.  When we rise from our nightly rest, we give thanks to God for the new day.  Throughout the activities of that day we are constantly mindful that all we meet are also God’s children, our adoptive brothers and sisters and we treat them with the love and respect they deserve as a consequence of that status.  All we accomplish during our day’s effort is likewise offered up to the Lord for it is only with his aid we accomplish any good works.  Throughout all of this we treat God’s great gift of life, given to us through the miracle of birth, with the love and respect it is due.  That means that we take care to nourish ourselves and avoid harmful things.  And when our day is done and we go once more to our beds, we thank God again for what he has given us and ask that he grant us restful night and a peaceful death.

In a perfect world, this is the course of our days.  In a holy life, all the light that is Christ would shine out of us during such a day.  Indeed, if we are blessed with a day that flows as this prefect day described above, we should bless God abundantly because days like this are rare.

In our all too real lives we constantly must fight off the clouds that threaten to block the Son.  Clouds of anger and feelings of bitterness at life’s setbacks tend to push us into the darkness of sin.  Our frustration at being thwarted in our noble efforts will become a shadow if we are not determined to stay the course and move into the light.  It is our call to struggle constantly to avoid the pits and snares the enemy has laid for us. 

Ah, St. Paul gave us good advice.  He called us to be Children of the Light and as such we would be in serene peace, basking in the glow of the Holy Spirit.  He also knew how difficult it would be; recalling the lure of sin and pride that could make us children of night instead of day.  Today our prayer is that we are constantly mindful of our call to be in the light of Christ and do all we can to avoid the darkness of sin.

Pax

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[1] ALTRE

[2] The picture is “Jesus Healing The Man Possessed With a Devil” by Gustave Dore, 1865

[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.

[4] See NAB footnote on John 2:4

Memorial of the Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist

“The Beheading of John the Baptist”
by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, 1732-33

(Monday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time)

Alternate Proper for the Memorial of the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist

Readings for Monday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Readings and Commentary:[3]

Note: on this feast day the Gospel from the Proper is Proper.

Reading 1: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters,

about those who have fallen asleep,

so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose,

so too will God, through Jesus,

bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord,

that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,

will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep.

For the Lord himself, with a word of command,

with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God,

will come down from heaven,

and the dead in Christ will rise first.

Then we who are alive, who are left,

will be caught up together with them in the clouds

to meet the Lord in the air.

Thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Therefore, console one another with these words.

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Commentary on 1 Thes 4:13-18

This passage from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians reassures the Church at Thessalonica that those who have already passed from this life to the next will not be forgotten in the resurrection that will take place at the second coming of Christ.  Rather they will be raised with him – first.  Then those faithful followers still alive will be taken up to heaven.

It is important to understand, when reading this passage that it is clear St. Paul expected the Parousia – the second coming, to occur during his own lifetime.  This passage would emphasize the need for preparedness and vigilance, a common theme in the Gospels published later.

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96:1 and 3, 4-5, 11-12, 13

R. (13b) The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Sing to the LORD a new song;

sing to the LORD, all you lands.

Tell his glory among the nations;

among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.

R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.

For great is the LORD and highly to be praised;

awesome is he, beyond all gods.

For all the gods of the nations are things of nought,

but the LORD made the heavens.

R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;

let the sea and what fills it resound;

let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!

Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.

R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Before the LORD, for he comes;

for he comes to rule the earth.

He shall rule the world with justice

and the peoples with his constancy.

R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.

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Commentary on Ps 96:1 and 3, 4-5, 11-12, 13

This song of praise exhorts the people to praise the Lord for his wondrous works of creation.  The reason for this exhortation is that God will come to rule the earth with his justice.  In this passage we see the forerunner of the understanding of the New Jerusalem – the Heavenly Kingdom.

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Gospel: Mark 6:17-29

Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison

on account of Herodias,

the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.

John had said to Herod,

“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

Herodias harbored a grudge against him

and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.

Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,

and kept him in custody.

When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,

yet he liked to listen to him.

She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,

gave a banquet for his courtiers,

his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee.

Herodias’ own daughter came in

and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests.

The king said to the girl,

“Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.”

He even swore many things to her,

“I will grant you whatever you ask of me,

even to half of my kingdom.”

She went out and said to her mother,

“What shall I ask for?”

She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”

The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request,

“I want you to give me at once

on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”

The king was deeply distressed,

but because of his oaths and the guests

he did not wish to break his word to her.

So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders

to bring back his head.

He went off and beheaded him in the prison.

He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl.

The girl in turn gave it to her mother.

When his disciples heard about it,

they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

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Commentary on Mk 6:17-29

The story of St. John the Baptist life from St. Mark’s Gospel gives a concise picture of St. John’s end. Especially here we note the similarities between the passing of St. John and the passion of Jesus in Mark 15:1-47 . The rationale in both cases was the anger and guilt felt at the truth proclaimed; in the case of John the guilt of Herodias, in the case of Jesus, the Jewish leaders.

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Reflection:

What a crushing blow the death of St. John the Baptist was to Jesus as well as his own disciples.  The Voice as he is frequently called, having completed all that God had asked from him preceded Jesus in death as he had preceded him in all things except holiness.

The Baptist came into the world, a promise from God, predicted by the prophets – the voice crying out in the wilderness; calling God’s creation to prepare for the coming of his great gift, the Messiah. He cried out as did the prophets out of whose mold he was created, fearlessly and unceasingly decrying the sinful nature of humankind.  Also like the prophets he pointed at the sins of the powerful and for speaking the truth, he gained the hatred of Herodias who ultimately found a means to engineer his execution.

How cruel that blow was to Jesus.  We are told in St. Matthew’s Gospel * When Jesus heard of it, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.” (Matthew 14:13).  He testified on several occasions what a great man he was and we know of his familial relationship.  Yet St. John himself recognized his role in God’s great plan and in his famous profession (John 3 25-36) said “The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease.”

St. John’s martyrdom reminds us of his great love for God and for our Lord, Jesus.  His steadfast faith, fearlessly crying out to those on a path to death calls to us as well.  He reminds us that social justice is not God’s justice and social morals are not our morals.  What is acceptable under secular law is not necessarily acceptable under the higher calling to which we are called.  With all of the voices of the saints whispering in our ears, St. John the Baptist, the Voice, calls loudest; “‘prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.”(Luke 3:4)

Pax

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[1] ALTRE

[2] The picture is “The Beheading of John the Baptist” by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, 1732-33

[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.