Thursday of the Second Week of Lent

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 34 Distribution of Goods According to Need
Mass: Jer 17:5-10; Resp Ps 1; Lk 16:19-31

Blessed the one who delights in the law of the Lord.

REDEEM ME, O LORD, AND HAVE MERCY ON ME. MY FOOT STANDS ON LEVEL GROUND; I WILL BLESS THE LORD IN THE ASSEMBLY.

[Ps 26 (25):11-12]

A fitting response to whatever comes our way these days, whether at work, home, in community, or on the streets, comes from Pope Francis in his homily this morning: We ask the Lord today for the grace of not falling into indifference, the grace that all the information we have about human suffering might penetrate our hearts and move us to do something for others. We trust, we hope, for "blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord" (Jer 17:7).

O Mary, you shine continuously along our journey as a sign of salvation and hope. We entrust ourselves to you, health of the sick, who at the Cross were near to the pain of Jesus, keeping your faith firm. You, salvation of the Roman people, know what we need, and we trust that you will provide for those needs so that, as at Cana at Galilee, joy and celebration may return after this moment of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the will of the Father and to do what Jesus tells us. He who took our sufferings upon himself, and took up our sorrows to bring us, through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.

We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God.

Do not despise our pleas-we who are put to the test-and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.

(Pope Francis, prayer to Our Lady, Health of the Sick, March 11, 2020)

© Gertrude Feick 2020