Friday of the Second Week of Lent

Year of Saint Joseph

First Friday of the Month

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 28 Those Who Refuse to Amend After Frequent Reproofs

Mass: Gn 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a; Resp Ps 105; Mt 21:33-43, 45-46

Remember the marvels the Lord has done.

HEART OF JESUS, FULL OF GOODNESS AND LOVE,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

Welcome to the First Friday of the Month. Our prayers are with Pope Francis and the Iraqi people during the Holy Father's Apostolic Visit to Iraq, March 5-8. One of my favorite customs of popes as they travel for an Apostolic Visit is to send messages of peace and blessing to heads of state of countries the papal plane flies over. On his way to Iraq, Pope Francis sent messages to Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Palestine, Israel, and Jordan! 😊 For reflection then, how might you extend messages of peace and blessing to others today? And considering our readings at Mass, it seems a good day for such a gestures. 

We think of Joseph in the first reading from the Book of Genesis. I am reminded that as a child, one of may favorite books was Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors. I can see Joseph on the cover with a beautiful coat of vibrant colors. Joseph's brothers, so filled with jealousy and envy of their father's love for Joseph, wanted to kill Joseph and throw him into a cistern. Then there is the son of the landowner in the Gospel. He was seized and killed by tenants so filled with jealousy and envy. As we extend a message of peace and blessing to those we encounter today, especially to those with whom we have difficulties, may we remember Saint Benedict's tools for good works: Harbor neither hatred or jealousy of anyone, and do nothing out of envy (RB 4:65-67).

FOR JESUS KNEW THAT IT WAS OUT OF ENVY THAT THEY HANDED HIM OVER.

(Mt 27:18)

THE STONE THAT THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CORNERSTONE; BY THE LORD HAS THIS BEEN DONE, AND IT IS WONDERFUL IN OUR EYES.

(Mt 21:42/Ps 118:22-23)

Today's photo: A garden shot taken yesterday afternoon.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Monday of the First Week of Lent

Readings of the day: RB 16 The Hours of the Word of God During the Day

Mass: Lv 19:1-2, 11-18; Resp. Ps 19; Mt 25:31-46

 

A surprise snow fall at Redwoods today

THREE QUOTATIONS FOR REFLECTION:

Brethren and friends, let us never allow ourselves to misuse what has been given to us by God’s gift…Let us not labour to heap up and hoard riches while others remain in need…Let us put into practice the supreme and primary law of God. He sends down rain on the just and sinful alike, and causes the sun to rise on all without distinction. To all earth’s creatures he has given the broad earth, the springs, the rivers and the forests. He has given the air to the birds, and the waters to those who live in the water. He has given to all the basic needs of life, not as a private possession, not restricted by law, not divided by boundaries, but as common to all, amply and in rich measure. His gifts are not deficient in any way, because he wanted to give equality of blessing to equality of worth, and to show the abundance of his generosity.

(St Gregory Nazianzen)

Time is made for dying in a thousand ways,

so why be afraid of dying when a kind of dying could come all the time?

Live every day like you’re terminal.

Live every day like your soul’s eternal.

Because it is.

1. Voskamp, The Broken Way: A Daring Path into the Abundant Life)

Just as you did it to one of the least of these

brothers or sisters of mine, you did it to me.

(Mt 25:40)