Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"

Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Saints: Blessed Archangela Girlani (1460-1495); Blessed Villana de'Botti OP (1332-1361)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 7:24-31 Humility

Mass: 2 Sm 12:1-7a, 10-17; Resp Ps 51; Mk 4:35-41

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

MARY, COMFORTER OF THE AFFLICTED,

PRAY FOR US.

In today's Gospel, Jesus asks the disciples two questions. After His followers woke Jesus from sleeping, He calmed the wind and the sea. Then Jesus asked, "Why were you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?" (Mk 4:40). I opened my Bible to the Gospel of Saint Mark to see just how much the disciples had witnessed so far, up to this account in Chapter 4. One might think they would have faith by now. However, we too lack faith. There is no need to be terrified. The Lord is at our side, who or what should we fear? Nothing. Nevertheless, we do have anxiety, fear, worry, and like the disciples, may even feel as if we are perishing. The other day I suggested to a loved one that we pester the Lord to help us. And He is coming through. May we too be filled with great awe (Mk 4:41). I believe, help my unbelief. 

Mary was indeed full of grace

in good measure

pressed down shaken together and running over

for this reason:

that through her

the grace of God might abound in us.

(Baldwin of Forde, 1125-1190)

BLESSED ARCHANGELA GIRLANI,

BLESSED VILLANA DE'BOTTI,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Sweet little white ones, with a hint of lavender, to honor Our Lady.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Third Sunday of Easter

Year of Saint Joseph

Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"

In other years: Saint Laserian or Molaise (-639); Blessed Marie-Anne Blondin (1809-1890); Blessed Mary of the Incarnation (1566-1618)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 63:1-9 Community Rank

Mass: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19; Resp Ps 4; 1 Jn 2:1-5a; Lk 24:35-48

Lord, let your face shine on us.

JESUS, GOD OF PEACE,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

As yesterday, the disciples find themselves startled and terrified in the presence of the Risen Lord. No, Jesus is not a ghost (Lk 24:37). He is the living and true God in our midst. With your worries, anxieties, troubles, and joy, Jesus says to you, Peace be with you (Lk 4:36). On this Third Sunday of Eastertide, take time to sit quietly with Jesus. Talk to Him. Listen to Him. Here is something Jesus said to Sister Mary of the Holy Trinity (1901-1942): "Think only of me, of pleasing me: I will transform you. Let go of all that does not lead you directly to me, so as to be altogether mine. Thoughts, memories, plans, desires, anxieties-whatever they may be. Confide all to me. It is my joy to respond as God to humble confidence." And it never hurts to remind ourselves of Pope Francis's invitation: "I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting Him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day. No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her, since 'no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord'" (The Joy of the Gospel, 3). Alleluia!

Being Christian is not first of all a doctrine or moral idea; it is a living relationship with Him, with the Risen Lord: we look at Him, we touch Him, we are nourished by Him and, transformed by His love, we look at, nourish and touch others as brothers and sisters. 

(Pope Francis, Regina Coeli Address, April 18, 2021)

SAINT LASERIAN,

BLESSED MARIE-ANNE BLONDIN,

BLESSED MARY OF THE INCARNATION,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Catherine in Corvallis with phlox and two tulips. 💗

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Thursday of the Second Week of Lent

Year of Saint Joseph

Other saints: Saint Casimir (1458-1484)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 27 The Abbot's Concern for the Excommunicated

Mass: Jer 17:5-10; Resp Ps 1; Lk 16:19-31

Blessed the one who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on His law day and night.

JESUS, THE TRUE LIGHT,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

We hear the word of Our Lord God through the Prophet Jeremiah: Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is in the Lord (Jer 17:7). Saint Benedict echoes in a tool for good works: "Place your hope in God alone" (RB 4:41). Oh, the one who hopes in the Lord "is like a tree planted beside waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: It fears not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; In the year of the drought it show no distress, but still bears fruit" (Jer 17:8). May we be about bearing the fruit of our trust and hope in the Lord Our God with those we meet this day. 

To experience Lent in hope entails growing in the realization that, in Jesus Christ, we are witnesses of new times, in which "God is making all things new" (Rev 21:1-6). It means receiving the hope of Christ who gave His life on the cross and was raised by God on the third day, and always being "prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls [us] to account for the hope that is in [us]" (1 Pt 3:10).

(Message of the Holy Father Francis for Lent 2021, 2)

SAINT CASIMIR, DEFENDER OF THE POOR,

SAINT JOSEPH, HOPE OF THE SICK,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: This early morning shot was taken around 5am Monday. 

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Thursday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

Catholic Schools Week

International Day of Human Fraternity

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 7:51-54

Mass: Heb 12:18-19, 21-24; Resp Ps 48; Mk 6:7-13

As your name, O God, so also your praise reaches to the ends of the earth.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND; REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL.

(Gospel versicle, Mass)

In today's Gospel, Jesus summons the Twelve and begins to send them out, two by two. Our Lord instructs them to take nothing for the journey except a walking stick. That's it, nothing else. They could, however, wear sandals. Jesus' instructions are simple and take me to a few places in the Holy Rule where Saint Benedict's instructions are simple too. In Chapter 4, "The Tools for Good Works", Saint Benedict writes: "Your way of acting should be different from the world's way; the love of Christ must come before all else" (RB 4:20-21). In Chapter 72 on "Good Zeal", he writes, "let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ" (RB 72:11). Jesus Christ is the Rock on which we stand firm. If we stand firmly on Him, all shall be well. As Julian of Norwich (1342-1416) wrote, "All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well."

The Christian faithful, having different gifts (cf. Rom 12:6), according to each one's opportunity, ability, charisms and ministry (cf. 1 Cor 3:10), must all cooperate in the Gospel. Hence all alike, those who sow and those who reap (cf. Jn 4:37), those who plant and those who irrigate, must be one (cf. 1 Cor 3:8), so that "in free and orderly fashion cooperating toward the same end," they may spend their forces harmoniously for the building up of the Church.

(Ad Gentus Decree on the Mission Activity of the Church, 28)

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Another look at Olympic National Park, here Lake of the Angels.

© Gertrude Feick 2021