LUKE 5:1-11
(Colossians 1:9-14; Psalm 98)
KEY VERSE: "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching
men" (v 10).
READING: As Jesus preached on the shore of the Lake of Gennesaret (the Sea of Galilee), the
crowds pressed in on him in such numbers that he was forced to get into a boat
that belonged to Simon Peter. Jesus told Simon to put out into the deep waters and
prepare for a great catch. Simon protested that they had fished all night
and caught nothing, but on the authority of Jesus' word he obeyed. Upon seeing the miraculous drought of fish,
Simon
was overcome and he confessed his sinfulness. When
the fishermen brought their boats ashore, they left everything behind and followed
Jesus. This
miraculous draught of fish signified the future mission of the
Church. The disciples' efforts to
bring souls to Christ would be successful if they obeyed him
and remained true to his words.
REFLECTING: Have I brought
anyone to Christ?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, give me the courage to obey your word
and trust you when I am in "deep water."
MARK 6:53-56
(1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13; Psalm 132)
KEY VERSE: "They laid their sick in the marketplaces and begged him
that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak" (v 56).
READING: Jesus' fame had spread throughout the land, so that wherever he
went, people flocked to him for healing. Picture the excitement when Jesus
entered a town or village. Whether at the crossroads or in the marketplace, the
people scurried about bringing their sick to him. When Jesus and his disciples
arrived by boat at Gennesaret
(located on the right bank of the Lake of Galilee between Magdala and Capernaum),
the crowds gathered again,
bringing their sick from far and wide. Their faith was so great that they were healed just by
touching the tassel on his cloak (the tassels represented the 613 Laws of the
Jewish Torah). Though the disciples had seen Jesus' mighty deeds in the wilderness
(vs 34-44), at sea (vs 45-51), and now in the villages, they still did not understand the full
meaning of these events.
REFLECTING: Do I have more interest in seeing miracles than I
have in knowing Jesus?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to have faith in your works.
Optional Memorial of Jerome Emiliani, priest
After a dissolute youth, Jerome Emiliani became a soldier in
Venice in 1506. Captured by Venetian forces in 1511, he was
chained in a dungeon. He prayed to Our Lady for help, and
was miraculously freed by an apparition, and
he hung his chains on a church
wall as an offering. Jerome was ordained in the
spotted-fever plague year of 1518. He cared for the sick and
housed orphans in his own home. At night he roamed the
streets, burying those who had died unattended. He
contracted the fever himself, but survived. Jerome founded
six orphanages, a shelter for penitent prostitutes, and a
hospital. In 1532
he founded the Order of Somaschi (Company of Servants
of the Poor, or Somascan Fathers, or Regular Clergy of
Somasca), which was named after
the town of Somasca where the order
started. They continue their work
today in a dozen countries. It is believed Jerome developed
the question-and-answer catechism technique for teaching
children religion. He was declared the patron of orphans and
abandoned children in 1928 by Pope Pius XI.
Optional
Memorial of Josephine Bakhita, virgin
Josephine Bakhita was born to a wealthy Sudanese family, and
given the name Bakhita, which means “fortunate.”
She was kidnapped by slave-traders
at age 9 and was purchased in 1883
by an Italian consul who planned to free her. She
accompanied him to Italy and worked for the family as a
nanny. As an adult convert she joined the Church in 1890,
and took the name of Josephine as a symbol of her new life.
She entered the Institute of Canossian Daughters of Charity
in Venice, Italy in 1893, serving as a Canossian Sister for
the next fifty years. Her gentle presence, her warm, amiable
voice, and her willingness to help with any menial task were
a comfort to the poor and suffering people who came to the
door of the Institute. After her
biography was published in 1930, she became a noted and
sought after speaker, raising funds to support missions.
MARK 7:1-13
(1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30; Psalm 84)
KEY VERSE: "How well you have set aside the commandment of God in
order to uphold your tradition!" (v 9).
READING: The self-righteous religious leaders developed elaborate rituals to set
themselves apart from "unclean" Gentiles. When Jesus and his disciples
were criticized
for failing to perform the customary purification customs, he berated
the leaders for their hypocrisy.
In their slavish obedience to these doctrines, they neglected the heart and purpose of God's
Law which
was
charity and justice (Is 29:13). Practices of external cleansing were useless if one's heart
was
impure. Dedicating one's property to God (Hebrew, qorban) to avoid supporting needy parents
violated God's
command. Jesus said that the people nullified God's Law in favor of interpretations
that suited
their own selfish concerns.
REFLECTING: Do I give scandal by my hypocritical
behavior?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to examine my motives for all my religious
practices.
MARK 7:14-23
(1 Kings 10:1-10; Psalm 37)
KEY VERSE: "Do you realize that everything that goes into a person
from outside cannot defile" (v 18).
READING: The concept of "clean" and "unclean" had to
do with one's worthiness before God. Most of the regulations were related to the mysteries of life and death, areas
that were considered to be under God's domain. Since food was necessary to sustain life, one's diet
and hygiene were also regulated. Jesus criticized the scrupulous observance of these rites
without authentic faith. External objects in themselves
did not defile a person; it was the impurity of
one's intentions. Moral defilement was the only thing that makes one "unclean." By
setting aside this Law, Jesus opened the door of unity with "unclean" Gentiles,
a challenge
that the early
Church later faced (Acts 11:17-18).
REFLECTING: Is there anyone whom I consider
"unclean" because of their race, religion, culture or lifestyle?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, make my heart pure so I can serve you
and my neighbor.
Memorial of Scholastica, virgin
Scholastica, the
twin sister of St.
Benedict, had been consecrated to God from her earliest
years. She was accustomed to visiting her brother once a
year, not far outside the monastery gate. One day she and
her saintly brother spent the whole day praising God and
talking of sacred things. As the hour grew late. she said to
her brother, "Please do not leave me tonight; let us go on
until morning talking about the delights of the spiritual
life." When her brother refused her request, Scholastica
began to pray. There was such a heavy downpour of rain that
Benedict could not leave. Sadly, he began to complain.
"Well, she answered, "I asked you and you would not listen;
so I asked my God and he did listen." So they stayed awake
the whole night, engrossed in their conversation about the
spiritual life. Three days later, Benedict was in his cell.
Looking up to the sky, he saw his sister's soul leave her
body in the form of a dove, and fly up to the secret places
of heaven. He sent his brethren to bring her body to the
monastery and lay it in the tomb he had prepared for
himself.
MARK 7:24-30
(1 Kings 11:4-13; Psalm 106)
KEY VERSE: "For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out
of your daughter" (v 29).
READING: Jesus moved on to the Gentile city of Tyre in Phoenicia.
There a pagan woman from the province of Syria approached Jesus and
begged him to cure her daughter.
Thus far, Jesus' ministry had only been to the Jews. He
said it was not right to give away
the "food" that was meant
for God's "children" ("dogs" was a contemptuous term for
Gentiles). The woman said that
she was willing
to accept whatever the children had thrown away (a reference to the Gentile's
acceptance of Jesus after his own
people had rejected him). Because of the woman's faith, Jesus
healed her daughter. After Jesus' resurrection,
he would commission his apostles to preach the good
news to all people (Mk 16:15).
REFLECTING: Am I willing to serve whomever the Lord sends to
me?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to love all your people despite any
differences that seem to separate us.
Optional Memorial to Our Lady of Lourdes
In in 1858,
Our
Lady appeared 18 times to Bernadette Soubirous, a poor,
young sick girl in the grotto of Masabielle, close to
Lourdes in France. Our Lady asked for a chapel to be
built on the site of the
apparitions and when Bernadette asked who she was,
she replied: "I am the
Immaculate Conception." Our Lady asked Bernadette to wash
her face at the fountain but there was no fountain there, so
Bernadette dug a hole in the ground, and washed her face
with muddy water. People
ridiculed her, but there sprung
the famous fountain of water that has healing attributes.
Many sick people have bathed themselves in that water and
there have been at least 64 reported miraculous healings.
Millions of people from all over the world go to Lourdes
yearly in the hope of obtaining help from the generous
Mother of God. Bernadette became a nun. She died when she
was 35 and her body is still incorrupt.
MARK 7:31-37
(Genesis 3:1-8; Psalm 32)
KEY VERSE: "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened" (v 34b).
READING: After leaving Phoenicia, Jesus
went to the Gentile area of the Decapolis, a league of ten
cities in eastern Palestine. There a deaf man with a speech impediment
was brought to him for healing. The physical signs that Jesus
used to heal the
man, touch and spittle, were commonly used by faith healers in Jesus' day. They
were thought to be effective in and of themselves. With Jesus, the efficacy of
his healing power flowed directly from his relationship with his Father. The
deaf mute was healed so that he could hear and proclaim the message of
redemption. Jesus imposed silence upon the crowd so that his power would not be
misinterpreted as mere "wonder-working," but the awestruck people
could not restrain their praises of him. The
miracle performed for the Gentile
deaf mute
was another sign that Jesus came to bring salvation to
all peoples. (Note: The Ephphatha prayer is used in the
rite of Baptism for the opening of the senses).
REFLECTING: In what ways am I deaf and mute to God's message?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to be open to your healing power in the
Sacraments of the Church.
MARK 8:1-10
(1 Kings 12:26-32, 13:33-34; Psalm
106)
KEY VERSE: "Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them,
and gave them to his disciples to distribute" (v 6).
READING: This is the second account of the multiplication of the loaves in
Mark's Gospel. The first took place in Galilee
with the Jews (Mk 6:34-44). The second event
occurred in Gentile
territory. When Jesus saw the hungry crowd, he
took pity on them, while his disciples wondered how they
could
possibly feed them. Jesus took the seven loaves offered to him,
gave thanks to God, broke them,
and gave them to his disciples to distribute. When everyone
had eaten their fill, the
fragments were gathered in seven baskets (twelve baskets in the first miracle), a number representing the seven ministers
in the Gentile Christian Church (Acts 6:1-6). In this feeding
of the Gentile people, Jesus
demonstrated that all people had equal
right to the Eucharist.
REFLECTING: Am I able to explain the Eucharist to those not of our
faith?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, gather all of your people to give thanks and praise
at your table.
LUKE 6:17, 20-26
SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
(Jeremiah 17:5-8; Psalm 1; 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20)
KEY VERSE: "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the
prophets" (v 23).
READING: Luke's gospel portrayed Jesus' concern for the poor and lowly,
the "anawim," who had nothing in the way of worldly possessions and
depended totally upon God's mercy. Luke's "Sermon on the Plain,"
was a
counterpart of Matthew's beatitudes in the "Sermon on the Mount" (Mt
5:1-12). Whereas Matthew emphasized the spiritual values of the kingdom of God,
in Luke, Jesus spoke to the real economic hardships of his day: poverty, hunger,
suffering and persecution. Jesus' disciples were "blessed," or
"favored," because they found their fulfillment in God, and not in the
things the world had to offer. In a series of "woes," or lamentations,
Jesus' disciples were warned of God's displeasure if they
sought their reward in
material wealth. Though they felt satisfied for the time being, they
would suffer
in the age to come.
REFLECTING: In what ways can I bring consolation to those who suffer?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to see my blessings in the midst of
difficulties of the world.
ST. VALENTINE'S
DAY
Legend says that Valentine's Day originated from Valentine, a Roman who was
martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D.,
the same day that had been devoted to Roman love lotteries. Legend also says
that Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become
his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine." In 496 A.D. Pope
Gelasius set aside February 14 to honor Valentine who became the patron saint of
lovers. Because of lack of historical evidence, St. Valentine's Day was removed
from the calendar of Catholic feasts in 1969. February 14 has became the date
for celebrating love.
It is only with the heart that one can see rightly;
what is essential is invisible to the eye.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little
Prince
MARK 8:11-13
(James 1:1-11; Psalm
119)
KEY VERSE: "Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this
generation" (v 12).
READING: After miraculously feeding 4,000 people in the Gentile territory,
Jesus went on to
the district of Dalmanutha (v 10,
near Magdala on the west of the Sea of Galilee). Some Pharisees demanded
that Jesus
display some mighty work of God as a sign that God's reign
had arrived. Yet, at the same time, they refused to
accept the miracles that Jesus had accomplished.
They missed the significance of these works as a
manifestation of God's presence. Similarly, God told Moses in the wilderness that the people
refused to believe or heed God's voice "despite all the signs" that were performed in their midst
(Nm 14:11,22). Jesus left this faithless place, telling the hypocritical leaders that because of their
blind lack of faith, no such sign would be given
to them.
REFLECTING: Am I a sign of God's presence to
others?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, open my eyes to the signs of your presence in my
everyday life.
PRESIDENTS' DAY,
USA
George Washington's Birthday was originally implemented by the federal
government in 1880 in the District of Columbia and expanded in 1885 to
include all federal offices. As the first federal holiday to honor an
American citizen, the holiday was celebrated on Washington's actual
birthday, February 22. Then along came Abraham Lincoln, another revered
president, who was born on the 12th of February. The first formal
observance of his birthday took place in 1865, the year after his
assassination, when both houses of Congress gathered for a memorial
address. While Lincoln's Birthday did not become a federal holiday like
George Washington's, it did become a legal holiday in several states.
In 1968, legislation shifted Washington's Birthday to the third Monday in
February whether or not it fell on the 22nd. This act, which took effect
in 1971, was designed to simplify the yearly calendar of holidays and give
federal employees some standard three-day weekends.
While the holiday in February is still officially known as Washington's
Birthday it has become known as "Presidents' Day." This has made the third
Monday in February a day for honoring both Washington and Lincoln, as well
as all the other men who have served as president of the United States of
America.
MARK 8:14-21
(James 1:12-18; Psalm 94)
KEY VERSE: "Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the
leaven of Herod" (v 15).
READING: Leaving the district of Dalmanutha,
near Magdala on the west of the Sea of Galilee,
Jesus and his disciples journeyed by boat to
the other side of the lake. On
the way, the disciples realized
that they had forgotten to bring enough provisions. Jesus used this as
an opportunity to warn them about the corrupting influence of Herod and the Pharisees. Since
yeast, or leaven, induced fermentation in bread dough, it
was an apt symbol of the insidious
effect of
those who opposed Jesus. The disciples failed to
understand him, and Jesus reprimanded them for
being blind and deaf to his words and deeds. Did they not just witness the extraordinary
multiplication of loaves? (Mk 6:34-44; 8:1-9). Those in power had missed the meaning of the miracle.
Did his disciples miss it too?
REFLECTING: Do my words and deeds I influence others for good or
evil?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to understand your words and deeds.
MARDI GRAS -- The
Feast before the Fast
"Mardi Gras" means "Fat Tuesday."
For Christians, Mardi Gras is the last day to indulge before Ash Wednesday, which starts the sober weeks of fasting that come with Lent.
Mardi Gras was formally known as
Shrove Tuesday. The word "shrove" comes from "shrive," meaning "the
confessions of sins" -- something done in preparation for Lent.
Mardi Gras is a traditional
holiday celebrated in many of the southern states of the USA, the most
famous which takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mardi Gras came to New
Orleans in 1699 when early explorers celebrated this French Holiday on the
banks of the Mississippi River. Today people celebrate with parades and
masquerade balls where they dress up in costumes. The official colors for
Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold. In 1872 Rex, the King of Carnival,
chose these colors to stand for the following: Purple stands for justice,
green for faith, and gold for
power. The word "carnival" comes from the Latin words
meaning "farewell to meat."
MATTHEW 6:1-6,
16-18
ASH WEDNESDAY
(Joel 2:12-18; Psalm 51; 2 Corinthians 5:20 ― 6:2)
KEY VERSE: "When you fast you are not to look glum like the
hypocrites do" (v 16).
READING: In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus asked his disciples to examine their motives when
performing virtuous deeds. He gave three examples characteristic of Jewish
piety at the time - almsgiving (vs 1-4), prayer (vs 5-15), and fasting (vs
16-18). Jesus contrasted the hypocritical behavior of the religious leaders with
the sincere conduct he expected of his disciples. Prayer should express their
relationship with God. Almsgiving
should convey their solidarity with the poor. Fasting
should represent their sorrow for sin. In the Hebrew scriptures, fasting was
a gesture of mourning that was accompanied by the wearing
of sackcloth
and placing ashes on one's head (Jdt 9:1). The prophets warned against outward
signs without interior conversion: "Rend your hearts, not your garments, and
return to the Lord" (Jl 2:13a). Fasting had no value if only done to win
the approval of others. Isaiah said that an acceptable fast should include acts of
justice toward the prisoner, poor, hungry, oppressed and homeless (Is 58:5-7).
Today, our motives in fasting should be self mortification;
to reevaluate our
calling as Christians; to listen to the voice of
Christ in the gospel; and to heed the commandments. The placing of ashes on the forehead is a confession
of our sinfulness, but also a sign of hope and trust in a merciful God
who is
"slow to anger, rich in kindness and relenting in punishment" (Jl
2:13b).
REFLECTING: In what ways will I pray, fast and give alms this Lent?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus help me to do everything for the love of God and
neighbor.
Ashes
Traditionally, the ashes used for Ash Wednesday come from
burning the palm fronds from the previous year’s Palm Sunday, the
Sunday before Easter. They are then blessed by a priest. Ashes are a
biblical symbol of mourning and penance used since the time of Moses
("sackcloth and ashes," Nm 19:9-10, 17-18). They also symbolize
death to remind us
of our mortality. Thus when the priest uses his thumb to
sign the faithful with ashes, he says, "Remember!
You are dust and to dust you shall return." It is also a
reminder of the joy of eternal life: "Repent, and believe
the good news!" Ashes remind us of the day of judgment when
we stand before God. To prepare well for
that day, we must die now to sin
so that we can rise to new life in Christ. Being
marked with ashes at the beginning of Lent indicates our
need for deeper conversion of our lives during this season
of renewal.
Fast and Abstinence Lenten
Regulations
All Catholics 14 years of age or
older are asked to abstain from
meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent. Catholics
between the ages of 14 and 59 are also to fast on Ash
Wednesday and Good Friday unless one's work or health make
it inadvisable.
One full
meatless meal is allowed on the days of fast. Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, are allowed. Together the two meals should not exceed the full meal. Drinking of ordinary liquids does not break the fast.
"Like Moses, who fasted before receiving the tablets of the
Law, and Elijah's fast before meeting the Lord on Mount
Horeb, Jesus, too, through prayer and fasting, prepared
Himself for the mission that lay before Him, marked by a serious battle with the tempter. . . Such was the
case with Ezra who, in preparation for the journey from
exile back to the Promised Land, calls upon the assembled
people to fast so that 'we might humble ourselves before our
God.'” (Pope Benedict XVI)
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Lent is a forty-day
period before Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday. We skip Sundays when we
count the forty days, because Sundays commemorate the Resurrection. In the
Roman Catholic Church, Lent officially ends at sundown on Holy Thursday
with the beginning of the mass of the Lord’s Supper. Lent originated in
the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter when
converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism, and the
faithful
deepened
their commitment to Christ.
By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates
Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days.
Older Catholics, who remember Lent in the 1930s, 40s or 50s may first
think of this season as a time of penance. Lent was when you gave up
something—like food or going to the movies— in order to do penance for
sin. Since the Church has restored the rite of initiating adults into the
Christian faith, Lent has taken on a different meaning—one that goes back
to the fourth and fifth centuries. At that time, the 40 days before Easter
were the final stage of preparation for those about to be baptized. The
rest of the Church prayed and fasted in solidarity with them.
Today, with the presence in most Catholic parishes of a group of adults
visibly making ready to receive the sacraments of initiation at the Easter
Vigil, Lent has regained that "baptismal" emphasis. We still can decide on
a Lenten observance—fasting, prayer, almsgiving—but we do it with the
purpose of recalling our Baptism, and we do it
in solidarity with those preparing to be baptized or received into the
Church.
Preparation
for Baptism and for renewing baptismal commitment lies at the heart of the
season of Lent.
Since Vatican II Council, the Church has reemphasized the baptismal
character of Lent, especially through the restoration of the Catechumenate
and its Lenten rituals.
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LUKE 9:22-25
(Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 1)
KEY VERSE: "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his
cross daily and follow me" (v 23).
READING: This is Jesus' first prediction of the passion in Luke's Gospel. Peter
had just
made his confession of faith in Jesus as the "Messiah of God" (v 20).
Then Jesus
helped his disciples understand what it meant to be God's anointed one. Jesus' way
was not
through political power or world domination. His way was the way of the cross. All who wished
to follow him must imitate his example. Jesus set down three conditions for discipleship:
to regard oneself with humility, to accept the trials of life with faith, and to proclaim
the Gospel despite rejection. A disciple who wished to share eternal life with
Jesus must
be willing to let go of everything for the sake of the Gospel.
REFLECTING: What self-denial will I
practice this Lent?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, give me the strength to carry my daily cross for your sake.
MATTHEW 9:14-15
(Isaiah 58:1-9a; Psalm 51)
KEY VERSE: "People do not put new wine into old wine skins"
(v 17).
READING: The followers of John the Baptist were curious to know why the disciples of
Jesus did not fast as they and the Pharisees did. Jesus compared his presence among the people to a bridegroom at a marriage feast, a sign that
anticipated the Messianic banquet in which he would be united with his bride,
the Church (Rv 19:7).
A wedding banquet was a time
for rejoicing, so fasting and mourning were
inappropriate. When the bridegroom was "taken away"
(through his death on the cross), then the
people would fast. Jesus said that the old ways were incompatible with the new.
Just as a worn out garment
could not be
patched and must be discarded, an
old wine skin (symbolizing the old religion)
was not
flexible enough to contain the new and fermenting wine and
would burst. Likewise, the new ideas that Jesus came
to offer required fresh and elastic minds.
REFLECTING: How can I help others thirst for Jesus'
new wine?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to grow in my
understanding of you this Lent.
LUKE 5:27-32
(Isaiah 58:9b-14; Psalm 86)
KEY VERSE: "I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but
sinners" (v 32).
READING: Tax collectors were regarded as sinners because
they were suspected of exacting more than their due from their own people. They were also viewed as traitors because they worked for the
occupying Roman
government. Jesus accepted people as they were, and he invited a tax
collector named Levi
("Matthew" in Mt 9:9) to leave his post and follow him as a disciple. In gratitude, Levi
gave a banquet
in Jesus' honor and invited a large number of other people
that were considered public
sinners. When the religious
leaders criticized Jesus because of his table fellowship with so
called
"sinners," he told them that he had not come for those who
self-righteously believed they had no need for repentance, but for those who recognized their need to change
their lives.
REFLECTING: Where do I need conversion in my life?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to see all people through your eyes.
LUKE 4:1-13
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
(Deuteronomy 26:4-10; Psalm 91; Romans 10:8-13)
KEY VERSE: "You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him
alone shall you serve" (v.8).
READING: After Jesus' Baptism (Lk 3:22),
he was led by the Spirit into the desert
where he fasted and prayed for forty days.
There Jesus was tempted by the Evil One just as the
people of Israel were tested for forty years (Dt 8:3). The first temptation
echoed Israel's failure to trust God in the desert when they were hungry. Jesus
knew real hunger during his fasting, but he refused to turn stones into bread.
Instead he put his trust in God. The second temptation was the desire to attain
earthly power and glory. Again Jesus resisted this enticement;
he came, not as a regent, but as God's suffering
servant. The third test was for Jesus to display his power by throwing himself
over the Temple parapet. Jesus' real power was his ministry to the poor, the
sick and suffering. In each trial, Jesus showed that he was the faithful Son who refused to
succumb to the attraction of power, prestige and position. Satan
was defeated and
retreated until the final test when Jesus conquered evil on the cross.
REFLECTING: As I begin this Lenten Season, am I striving to overcome sin in my life?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to turn to you in all of my temptations.
Rite of Election
During the rite of election the
Church formally announces the names of those who will soon celebrate the
sacraments of initiation. Usually the rite of election takes place at the
cathedral with the bishop on the First Sunday of Lent, and those who are named
will celebrate baptism, confirmation, and first communion at their parishes
during the following Easter Vigil. These individuals enter the cathedral as
"catechumens" and leave as "elect." The ceremony may also be
called "enrollment of names." "Election" refers to the idea
of "the chosen people." In Israel’s early history, God chose a
people and established a covenant with them. Christians believe that God
continues to choose people, now through the covenant of baptism. The rite of
election thus establishes the names of those who will enter the new covenant
through the sacraments of initiation. The key moments of the rite are the
affirmation by the godparents and the act of admission or election. In the
affirmation, the godparents testify that the catechumens are worthy to be
initiated. Their testimony reveals the Church’s positive judgment about the
catechumens’ desire and behavior. The entire assembly may also join the
affirmation. Next the bishop invites the catechumens to sign the book of the
elect. In some dioceses, this action has already taken place in parishes during
the rite of sending, and the books are presented at this point. Finally, during
the act of admission or election, the bishop declares that the catechumens are
members of the elect, to be initiated at the next Easter Vigil. Although many
people refer to the ceremony as the time when catechumens "go to meet the
bishop," its meaning is very different. It is not about meeting a
celebrity. It is about being named among God’s chosen people.
Rite of Sending
The rite of sending is a parish celebration that sends catechumens to the rite
of election. At the rite of election, usually on or about the First Sunday of
Lent, the Church names the catechumens to be baptized at Easter. Generally, the
rite of election takes place at the cathedral with the bishop. Because of the
cathedral’s limited space and sometimes remote location, parish communities
celebrate the rite of sending. Sending may take place at a Sunday Mass. After
the homily, a catechist may present the catechumens to the priest, who calls
them forward with their godparents and asks if the catechumens are ready. Have
they taken their formation seriously? Have they given evidence of their
conversion? Do the godparents judge them ready for the rite of election? The
Church must verify the readiness of the catechumens. We do not baptize based
only on their desire. "There should be a deliberation prior to [the rite of
election] to decide on the catechumen’s suitableness." This is carried
out by those who help form the catechumens, by godparents, and members of the
community (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults 122). The questions have real
significance. In some places, the catechumens sign the book of the elect at the
parish during the rite of sending. In others, they sign it at the cathedral
during the rite of election. The ritual concludes with prayers for the
catechumens. The rite of sending is optional, but it allows the parish to affirm
the readiness of its catechumens. There is another optional rite of sending for
those previously baptized in other ecclesial communities who are preparing for
the rite of reception into the full communion of the Catholic Church.
This article by Paul Turner originally appeared in MINISTRY &
LITURGY magazine, a pastoral planning resource used by the worship leaders in parishes
as an aid for better liturgy, Copyright by Resource Publications.
MATTHEW 16:13-19
THE CHAIR OF PETER, APOSTLE
(1 Peter 5:1-4; Psalm 23)
KEY VERSE: "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of
heaven" (v 19).
READING: Peter confessed his faith in Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, the "Son of the living God" (v 16). Jesus
declared that Peter was the foundation, the "rock" (v
18) upon which he would build his Church. Using the symbol of the "key," Jesus conferred supreme
authority upon Peter. The "key of the House of David" was a symbol of
power for Israel (Is 22:22). Jesus was the "Son of David" who
possessed
the authority to open the door to the new Jerusalem, the kingdom of heaven (Rev
3:7-8). These powers to "bind" and "loose," that is, to grant or forbid
according to the Law, were given to the Church.
Whenever the Church chooses to bind up
the wounds of the world, God is binding those wounds.
When the Church loosens the
chains of sin’s power, God frees the human heart to forgive and to love.
The powers of evil cannot prevail over Christ's power
in the Church. The Catholic Church regards Peter as the chief apostle and first leader of the
Church whose successor is the Holy
Father in Rome. It was the rock of Peter's
faith that enabled him to follow Jesus
until he himself died as a martyr.
REFLECTING: Do I hand on the faith
that I received, just as the apostles did in their
time?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, thank you for sharing your power with your
human representatives on earth.
FEAST OF THE CHAIR OF PETER, APOSTLE
The Pope continues today as the Apostolic successor of Peter. As the visible
head of the Church, when the Pope speaks from the chair (cathedra) of
authority, he speaks with papal infallibility (ex cathedra), which Vatican I
defined as the will of the redeemer to preserve the Church from error in
matters of faith and morals. "In essentials, unity, in doubtful matters, liberty; in all things charity."
(popularly
attributed to St. Augustine)
MATTHEW 6:7-15
(Isaiah 55:10-11; Psalm
34)
KEY VERSE: "This is how you are to pray..." (v 9).
READING: Unlike the pagans who sought their god's approval by lengthy repetition
in their prayers,
Jesus taught his followers a simple prayer. He told his disciples that they
could approach
God as "Father," a loving parent who was intimately present and already
knew their
needs. At the same time, they were to reverence God's
name and to obey the divine will
of "heaven"
so that God's reign would be established "on earth." Just as Israel had to depend upon God's
providence during their wilderness journey (Ex 16:4,15), Jesus' disciples
were to put their trust in God on their spiritual
journey to their eternal home. Because God was so merciful to them, Jesus' disciples must offer
forgiveness to others. They should pray that they would not fail God in the
final test.
REFLECTING: In what ways do I need to obey God's will today?
PRAYING: Abba Father, help me to trust you each day as I journey to your kingdom.
Optional Memorial of Polycarp, bishop and martyr
Polycarp was a bishop of Smyrna (now İzmir in Turkey) in the
second century (ca. 69 ̶ ca.
155) . He is recognized as a saint
in both the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. It
is recorded that "He had been a disciple of John," the
author of the Fourth Gospel. Polycarp was a companion of
Papias another "hearer of John" and a correspondent of
Ignatius of Antioch. Ignatius addressed a letter to him, and
mentions him in the letters to the Ephesians and to the
Magnesians. Polycarp's famous pupil was Irenaeus. Polycarp
fought the heresy of
Gnosticism. The Asia Minor churches recognized Polycarp's
leadership and chose him as a
representative to Pope Anicetus on the question
of the date of the Easter
celebration. Only one of the many letters written by
Polycarp has survived, the one he wrote to the Church of
Philippi in Macedonia. At 86
years of age, Polycarp was to be burned alive in a
stadium in Smyrna. The flames did
not harm him and he was finally killed by a dagger, and his
body burned. The "Acts" of Polycarp's martyrdom are the
earliest preserved reliable account of a Christian martyr's
death. When arrested, the police captain asked, "What harm
is it to say, 'Caesar is Lord,' and to offer sacrifice and
to be saved?" Polycarp answered:
"Eighty-six years have I served him and he has done me no
wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me? You
threaten me with the fire that burns for a time, and is
quickly quenched, for you do not know the fire which awaits
the wicked in the judgment to come and in everlasting
punishment."
From
Pharaoh to the Father: A
Journey Toward Freedom Through The Lord's Prayer
Unpack
the Lord's Prayer and experience the Exodus. It's true. If you meditate
on the Lord's Prayer - beginning with the last phrase and going
backwards to the first phrase - you move from the world of evil to the
world of the Father. You recreate, in effect, the journey of the
Israelites out of Egypt. Kay Murdy builds her provocative book on this
insight, moving in eight steps from an all-too real world to intimacy
with the Holy One. Along the way, she builds powerful connections
between Scripture and Tradition and the Old and New Testaments.
Discussion questions make this a useful tool for introducing catechumens
to the Lord's Prayer.
You can order Kay's book from Resource Publications
http://www.rpinet.com/products/fpf.html
LUKE 11:29-32
(Jonah 3:1-10; Psalm 51)
KEY VERSE:
"This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will
be given it, except the sign of Jonah" (v 29).
READING:
The people demanded a sign from Jesus as proof that his miracles were genuine.
Jesus accused them of lacking faith.
He declared that the only sign he would give
them would be the sign of Jonah,
his "death and resurrection" from the belly of the fish
(Jonah 2). When Jonah was sent to preach to Nineveh in Assyria, Israel's ancient enemy,
the prophet was
astonished when these pagan people repented and turned toward God (Jon 3:1-10). Jesus
was a
prophet greater than Jonah, yet the Gentiles were more
receptive to his message than his own
people were. Jesus noted that the Queen of Sheba had come from afar to learn the wisdom of
Solomon (1 Kgs 10:1-10), whereas Jesus,
the wisdom of God, was spurned and rejected
even though he came from God to offer them the gift of God's
eternal reign.
REFLECTING:
Am I like Jonah, reluctant to speak God's words to
unbelievers?
PRAYING:
Lord Jesus, help me to heed your words of truth.
MATTHEW 7:7-12
(Esther C:* 12, 14-16, 23-25; Psalm 138)
KEY VERSE: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find, knock and
the door will be opened to you" (v 7).
READING: In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught his disciples to pray with simplicity (Mt
6:5-13), but he also
taught them to persevere in their prayer. Those who persisted in asking, seeking, and knocking on
the door of the Father's loving heart would be heard and answered. Jesus
asked his disciples if they
would give something harmful to their children. Of course they would not. If
human parents, with all their failings,
gave good
gifts to their children, how much more would their Heavenly Father give what
was best for them? Jesus cautioned his disciples that they must do more than avoid evil. They must do the good things for
others that they would want for themselves. From the 18th Century, this maxim has been called
the "Golden Rule."
REFLECTING: What kindness can I do for someone today?
PRAYING: Loving Father, thank you for hearing my prayers.
* NOTE: The Book of Esther contains verses in
Greek (A-F) that were not in the original Hebrew text.
These were excluded from the Jewish (and Protestant) Canon, but are accepted as
inspired by the Catholic Church.
MATTHEW 5:20-26
(Ezekiel 18:21-28; Psalm 130)
KEY VERSE: "Leave your gift at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your
brother, and then
come and offer your gift" (v 24).
READING: Jesus told his disciples that their holiness must surpass that of the
religious leaders
who outwardly observed the minute details of the Law but inwardly were not submitted to
God's
will. As their teacher, Jesus' authority was greater than that of Moses. Jesus
deepened the literal
meaning of the Law. He condemned the act of murder, but also the anger
that brought about the deed.
He said that anger was a serious transgression when it bore malice toward another.
It also was an offense against God. Anyone who offended another person must first go and be reconciled with that individual before coming
to
worship God. Without this willingness to change one's heart, punishment, rather than
salvation, would be the reward.
REFLECTING: Have my words and actions offended others?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to seek forgiveness from those I have offended.
MATTHEW 5:43-48
(Deuteronomy 26:16-19; Psalm 119)
KEY VERSE: "But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who
persecute you" (v 44).
READING: Israel believed that their enemies
were also the enemies of God (Ps 139:21),
yet God did
not
command Israel to hate their enemies. Neither was Israel allowed to mistreat a
"neighbor," that is, anyone who dwelled in the land (Lv 19:17-18,
34).
But Jesus took the Law further. He said that it was no virtue to love only those
who loved you; nonbelievers
could do as much. Jesus asked his disciples to imitate the perfect love of God
who gave gifts of sun and rain to the just and unjust alike. Loving our
enemies doesn't mean that we don't have any enemies. Yet the Christian must never seek
retaliation for any insult no matter how hostile. Injured
parties may have to
force themselves to love their enemies,
but the Lord will show them the way. On the other hand, those who plan
evil against their enemies do not have love; consequently
they do not know God. Jesus' followers must strive to love even those who
persecute them (Mt 5:11). On the cross, Jesus gave us the supreme example of
enemy love when he asked God to forgive those who were putting him to death (Lk
23:34).
REFLECTING: Do we as individuals or as a nation measure up to Jesus'
command to love and pray for our enemies?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me
to forgive those who have
injured me and to pray for their welfare.
PURIM BEGINS AT SUNSET
Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar. Purim
is celebrated on the 14th day of Adar (This Year
February 28, 2010,
Jewish Year 5770). The
word "Purim" means "lots" and refers to the lottery that Haman
used to choose the date for the massacre of the Jewish people living in Persia. The story of Purim is told in the Book of Esther
who was taken to the house of Ahasuerus, King of Persia, to become part of his
harem. King Ahasuerus loved Esther and made her
queen, but he did not know that she was a Jew. The villain of the story is Haman,
an arrogant adviser to the king.
When Esther's cousin Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman, Haman
plotted to destroy the Jewish people in revenge.
Mordecai persuaded Esther to speak to the king on behalf of the Jewish people.
Esther fasted for three days, then went to the king and told him of Haman's plot against her people. The Jewish
people were saved, and Haman was hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for
Mordecai.
The primary commandment related to Purim is to hear
the reading of the Book of Esther, known as the Megillah, which means scroll.
Although five books of Jewish scripture are referred to as megillahs (Esther,
Ruth, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Lamentations), this is the one people
call “the Megillah.” It is customary to boo and rattle groggers (noisemakers)
whenever the name of Haman is mentioned in the service. The purpose of this
custom is to "blot out the name of Haman."
On Purim, Jews are also commanded to send out gifts of food or drink and to give
charity. Purim is not subject to the Sabbath-like
restrictions that apply to many other holiday, but some sources indicate
that ordinary business should not be conducted out of respect for the
holiday.
LUKE 9:28b-36
SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
(Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18; Psalm 27; Philippians 3:17--
4:1).
KEY VERSE: Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!"
(v 35).
READING: As Jesus set out to Jerusalem and to the cross, he took three of
his closest companions up the mountain to pray with him. The mountain was a
place where Jesus regularly went to pray (Lk 6:12; 22:39-41). In the Old
Testament, it was on a mountain where God's revelation came to Moses the
law-giver (Ex 19:3), and to Elijah the prophet (1 Kgs 19:8). Like Moses, Jesus'
face became radiant with his encounter with God (Ex 34:29). Moses and Elijah
appeared alongside Jesus, and together they
spoke of Jesus' "exodus,"
his saving death whereby he would liberate people from sin. Peter's desire to
remain on the mountain in "tents" was a reminder of the wilderness
journey to the promised land when the people dwelt in branched huts. The Feast
of Tabernacles, or "Booths" (Sukkot), commemorates this event.
At the end of the book of Exodus there is an account of the completion of the
tabernacle and the words: "Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the
Lord filled the tabernacle" (Ex 40:34). Jesus
was the tabernacle of God's presence, and
God's glory
was manifested in
a cloud that overshadowed him. Jesus
was God's
chosen one, God's beloved Son. He was a prophet like Moses to whom the people
must listen (Dt 18:15).
REFLECTING: Will I try to
listen to
what Jesus is telling me during Lent?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus help me to desire your presence.
READING:
What is Ordinary Time?
Henriette Delille, Foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Family
