Friday after Ash Wednesday, Feb 28th: Reflection & Liturgy

Isaiah 58:1-9 / Matthew 9:14-15 

This is the fast I want: “Share your bread with the hungry.”

Under the listing of “Dog” in the yellow pages of the Evanston, Illinois, telephone directory there is an ad for American Pet Motels. Here are some of the services these kennels provide for their clients’ pets. Deluxe and imperial suites FM music in every room Beauty salon Senior citizens’ care plan Daily cookie breaks When the initial humor of the ad fades, we suddenly realize that we take better care of our pets than we do of the poor.This is the kind of thing God confronts us with, through the prophet Isaiah, in today’s reading.

Lentan Thoughts, Decisions and Activities

To be spectacular is so much our concern that we, who have been specta­tors most of our lives can hardly conceive that to be unknown, unspectac­ular, and hidden can have any value.

How do we overcome this all-pervading temptation? It is important to realize that our hunger for the spectacular - just as our desire to be relevant - has very much to do with our search for self-hood. Being a person and being seen, praised, liked, and accepted have become nearly the same for many. Who am I when nobody pays attention, says thanks, or recognizes my work? The more insecure, doubtful, and lonely we are, the greater our need for popularity and praise.

Lent: Stories and Illustrations

ILLUSTRATIONS: 

From Father Tony Kadavil’s Collection: 

1) Alluring music of the Sirens:

In Greek mythology the sirens are creatures with the heads of beautiful women and the bodies of attractive birds. They lived on an island (Sirenum scopuli; three small rocky islands) and with the irresistible charm of their song they lured mariners to their destruction on the rocks surrounding their island (Virgil V, 846; Ovid XIV, 88). They sang so sweetly that all who sailed near their home in the sea were fascinated and drawn to the shore only to be destroyed. When Odysseus, the hero in the Odyssey, passed that enchanted spot he tied himself to the mast and put wax in the ears of his comrades, so that they might not hear the luring and bewitching strains. But King Tharsius chose a better way. He took the great Greek singer and lyrist Orpheus along with him. Orpheus took out his lyre and sang a song so clear and ringing that it drowned the sound of those lovely, fatal voices of sirens. The best way to break the charm of this world’s alluring voices during Lent is not trying to shut out the music by plugging our ears, but to have our hearts and lives filled with the sweeter music of prayer, penance, word of God, self control, and acts of charity. Then temptations will have no power over us (RH).  

Thursday after Ash Wednesday, Feb 27th: Reflection & Liturgy

Deuteronomy 30:15-20 / Luke 9:22-25

 I set before you life and death: “Choose life!”

Sometimes news reporters embarrass us by the insensitive questions they ask people, especially people who have just suffered a major tragedy. For example, a news reporter asked John Cogan, a 51-year-old victim of terminal cancer, “What are your feelings as you face death?” Cogan stunned the reporter and his audience by saying: “There’s a joy I can’t express deep down inside me. I feel perfectly free. . . .I want to reach out and embrace the whole universe.” Cogan’s terminal illness had set before him the choice of life or death. He chose life—eternal life.

Lent - 1st Sunday A - Temptations of Jesus

 1st Lent A from Jaimelito Gealan

Gospel text : Matthew 4:1-11

Michel DeVerteuil 
General Comments
Like all who see their lives as a grateful response to God’s call, Jesus must make the basic choice to trust God, whatever the circumstances he finds himself in. In this story, under very great pressure, Jesus makes his choice. Who does he remind you of at this moment of decision?

7th Week, Tuesday, Feb 25th - Reflection & Liturgy

James 4:1-10 / Mark 9:30-37 

Be humble! “God resists the proud.”

Charles Colson was a close aide to President Richard Nixon. He was convicted in the Watergate scandal and sent to prison. As a result of the Watergate experience, he underwent a deep religious conversion. One book that influenced him tremendously was C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity. This passage touched him, especially: “I don’t think I have heard anyone who was not a Christian accuse himself of this vice. The more we have it in ourselves, the more we dislike it in others. The vice I am talking about is Pride. . . . Pride leads to every other vice. Pride is a spiritual cancer; it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense.”

7th Week: Feb 24- 29: Reflections

Feb 24 Monday: Mk 9:14-29: 14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd about them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you discussing with them?” 17 And one of the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; 18 and wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him,

Ash Wednesday - Liturgy

AWAY WITH ALL MARKS

Greeting

The peace and reconciliation
of the merciful Father
be always with you. R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant

In many regions of the world people celebrate carnival in the days before Lent with much noise and merrymaking. Often they wear masks for the occasion. But today Lent begins, the time to put off our masks and to turn our face and heart to God and to people. In this holy season we reflect on the true meaning of our lives. Who am I and what am I living for? Am I living for God and the community? We shall be invited to receive ashes on our foreheads with the invitation, "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel." Away, then, with all masks and return to God, to your true self and to one another as God's people.
Note. The penitential rite is omitted, since the rite of the ashes is a rite of penance and conversion.

St. Peter’s Chair: Feb 22nd

1 Peter 5:1-4

Peter talks about service: Watch over those entrusted to your care.

A woman bought a beautiful, old porcelain pitcher. It was cream colored with red and blue flowers painted delicately on its surface. It soon became one of her cherished possessions. One day someone dropped the pitcher, breaking it into many pieces.

6th Week: Feb 17-22: - Reflections

Feb 17 Monday (Seven Founders of the Order of Servites) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/seven-founders-of-the-servite-order/ ): Mk 8:11-13: The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, to test him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.” 13 And he left them and getting into the boat again he departed to the other side. USCCB video reflections: https://youtu.be/lGo0DZDsf1A?list=PLpTzvCOJa7DCtgpPT22G8NClHeoKpWu5Q