Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Year of Saint Joseph

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 36 The Sick

Mass: Is 65:17-21; Resp Ps 30; Jn 4:43-54

I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

JESUS, PATIENT AND FULL OF MERCY,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

In today's Gospel we have the royal official whose son was ill. After hearing that Jesus was in town, the official goes to Jesus, the Divine Physician, and asks Him to heal his son, who was near death (Jn 4:46-47). In today's passage from the Holy Rule, we have Saint Benedict's Chapter 36, on care of the sick. There, we read this: "Care of the sick must rank above and before all else, so that they may truly be served as Christ, for He said: I was sick and you visited me, and, What you did for one of these least brothers you did for me (RB 36:1-3). However, "let the sick on their part bear in mind that they are served out of honor for God, and let them not by their excessive demands distress their brothers who serve them. Still, sick brothers must be patiently born with, because serving them leads to a greater reward. Consequently, the abbot should be extremely careful that they suffer no neglect" (RB 36:4-6). Our Lord is patient with us. We extend patience towards those we serve. United in faith and prayer, we go before the Lord and those who care for us with humility. 

AS FOR ME, I TRUST IN THE LORD. LET ME BE GLAD AND REJOICE IN YOUR MERCY, FOR YOU HAVE SEEN MY AFFLICTION.

(Entrance Antiphon, Mass)

To experience Lent with love means caring for those who suffer or feel abandoned or fearful because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

(Pope Francis, Twitter, March 15, 2021)

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Beautiful and fragrant Daphne. Thank you, MS. 

© Gertrude Feick 2021