Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent

SOLEMNITY OF SAINT JOSEPH, SPOUSE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Readings of the day: RB 19 The Proper Amount of Drink to be Provided

Mass: 2 S 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16; Resp Ps 89; Rm 4:13, 16-18, 22; Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a or Lk 2:41-51a

When Joseph awoke,

he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took his wife into his home.

While reflecting on today’s feast, I was struck by the words of St Bernardine of Siena from the Office of Readings:

There is a general rule concerning all special graces granted to any human being. Whenever the divine favor chooses someone to receive a special grace, or to accept a lofty vocation, God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfill the task at hand.

Inspired, I turned to the Catechism where I read this about the gifts of the Holy Spirit: First, ‘They complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them.’ Second, ‘They make the faithful docile in readily obeying divine inspirations’ (1831). I’ve been thinking about the virtues of Joseph. These come to mind: gentleness, patience, humility, strength of character, discretion, and prudence. What are others? What gifts of the Holy Spirit did Joseph need to fulfill his task at hand? It seems to me dear Joseph needed all seven—wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. 

Let us ask St Joseph to intercede for us so that we accept our given vocations and be docile to the Holy Spirit. May we be adorned with all the gifts we need to fulfill the task at hand. 

Dear fathers, happy Feast of St Joseph!

Follow his example when caring for your children as they grow up in wisdom and grace.

(Pope Francis, Twitter, March 19, 2018)

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Readings of the day: RB 39 The Amount of Food to be Available

Mass: Jr 31:31-34; Resp Ps 51; Heb 5:7-9; Jn 12:20-33

For Year A: Ezk 37:12-14; Resp Ps 130; Rm 8:8-11; Jn 11:1-45

Whoever serves me must follow me, says the Lord;

and where I am, there also will my servant be.

(Verse before the Gospel, Mass)

I was writing to someone recently that this season of Lent was offering surprises in my life, something that seems to happen every year around this time. My experience is I am faced with ‘situations’ calling for conversion of heart. These things can’t be planned, nor are they things I can set out to do or accomplish as written on my Bona Opera sheet. Unexpected situations or encounters present themselves when I am not ready. Have you had similar experiences?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says: ‘Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat.’ Jesus calls us to not just remain a grain of wheat, or, in other words, be stuck in our ways of thinking and doing. ‘But if the grain dies’, Jesus continues, ‘it produces much fruit.’ To follow Jesus, we must die to self—die to those things that keep us in stuck patterns of behavior that diminish us as children of God. At the same time, we are called to be open to surprises that come our way—surprises as calls for change of heart. We might find ourselves out of sorts yet maybe that is what we need to undergo change. Possibly we are ‘troubled’ and anxious about things and/or people. Let us remind ourselves: Jesus was troubled too. Did he ask His Father to save Him? No. This is the purpose for which Jesus came. Jesus paved the way for us and took our troubles with His to the Cross; Jesus lifts us up with Him. Jesus calls us to serve Him and follow Him to the Cross as we carry our crosses of Lenten surprises, troubles, fears, and anxieties. The Father will honor whoever serves His Son in this way. In fact, we will not die, we will be set free to live, love, and produce much fruit. A most fitting acclamation comes to mind:

SAVE US, SAVIOR OF THE WORLD,

FOR BY YOUR CROSS AND RESURRECTION YOU HAVE SET US FREE.

Jesus made himself like the grain of wheat that falls to the ground and dies to give life.

Our hope springs from that love-filled life.

(Pope Francis, Twitter, March 18, 2018)

Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Saint Patrick (5^th century)

Readings of the day: RB 38 The Weekly Reader

Mass: Jr 11:18-20; Resp Ps 7; Jn 7:40-53

Never before has anyone spoken like this man.

Loving God, you search our minds and hearts.

Help us to listen to you and proclaim,

‘This is the Christ.’

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart

and yield a harvest through perseverance.

(Verse before the Gospel, Mass)

In what one way will you be more generous today?

SAINT PATRICK, PRAY FOR US.

Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Readings of the day: RB 37 Care for the Elderly and the Young

Mass: Ws 2:1a, 12-22; Resp Ps 34; Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

THEY WERE TRYING TO KILL HIM

The wicked said among themselves

Let us beset the just one

he is obnoxious

he is the censure of our thoughts

to see him is a hardship

his life is not like others

different are his ways

with revilement and torture

let us put him to the test

let us condemn him to a shameful death

These were their thoughts; they erred

their wickedness blinded them

SO THEY TRIED TO ARREST HIM

NO ONE LAID A HAND ON HIM

HIS HOUR HAD NOT YET COME

In what ways are you blinded from recognizing Jesus in your midst?

You know me and also know where I am from.

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Readings of the day: RB 36 The Care of the Sick in the Monastery

Mass: Ex 32:7-14; Resp Ps 106; Jn 5:31-47

This is how you will know that you are my disciples, if you have love one another.

(Jn 13:35)

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God; he who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

(1 Jn 4:7-8)

Thinking about the reading from the Book of Exodus and being ‘stiff-necked’, I reflect on St Leo the Great’s comments on the passages from the Evangelist:

The faithful should therefore enter into themselves and make a true judgment on their attitudes of mind and heart. If they find some store of love’s fruit in their hearts, they must not doubt God’s presence within them. If they would increase their capacity to receive so great a guest, they should practice greater generosity in doing good, with persevering charity.

If God is love, charity should know no limit, for God cannot be confined.

HOW GOES YOUR ATTITUDE OF MIND AND HEART THIS DAY?

THE LOVE OF GOD KNOWS NO BOUNDS.

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Readings of the day: RB 35:12-18

Mass: Is 49:8-15; Resp Ps 145; Jn 5:17-30

I pray to you, O Lord, for a time of favor.

In your great mercy, answer me, O God, with your salvation that never fails.

(Entrance Antiphon, Mass)

Like all days, today is a day to call upon the Lord in times of difficulty and frustration as well as in times of joy and gladness. Why not ‘Sing out, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth, break forth into song, you mountains. The Lord comforts his people and shows mercy to the afflicted’ (Is 49:13):

THE LORD IS GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL

SLOW TO ANGER AND OF GREAT KINDNESS.

THE LORD IS GOOD TO ALL

AND COMPASSIONATE TOWARD ALL HIS WORKS.

THE LORD IS FAITHFUL IN ALL HIS WORDS

AND HOLY IN ALL HIS WORKS.

THE LORD LIFTS UP ALL WHO ARE FALLING

AND RAISES UP ALL WHO ARE BOWED DOWN.

THE LORD IS JUST IN ALL HIS WAYS

AND HOLY IN ALL HIS WORKS.

THE LORD IS NEAR TO ALL WHO CALL UPON HIM,

TO ALL WHO CALL UPON HIM IN TRUTH.

(Resp Ps 145)

If we encounter Jesus and our brothers and sisters every day, our hearts will not dwell in the past or the future. They will live in God's present moment, in peace with everyone.

(Pope Francis, Twitter, March 14, 2018)

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

AUGURI, PAPA FRANCESCO!

CONGRATULATIONS, POPE FRANCIS!

WE REJOICE WITH YOU IN CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS OF YOUR PAPACY

THANK YOU FOR WITNESSING TO THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL

Readings of the day: RB 35:1-11 Weekly Servers at Table and in the Kitchen

Mass: Ezk 47:1-9, 12; Resp Ps 46; Jn 5:1-16

Do you want to be well?

Jesus’ question is fitting wherever you find yourself today. In whatever physical, emotional, or spiritual state you are experiencing, Jesus is there with you. Listen to HIM: 

‘Rise, take up your mat, and walk.’

Living the encounter with Jesus means allowing yourself

to be turned inside out by Grace every day.

(Pope Francis, Twitter, March 13, 2018)