Thursday after Ash Wednesday
Lectionary: 220
Lectionary: 220
Moses said to the people:
“Today I have set before you
life and prosperity, death and doom.
If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God,
which I enjoin on you today,
loving him, and walking in his ways,
and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees,
you will live and grow numerous,
and the LORD, your God,
will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy.
If, however, you turn away your hearts and will not listen,
but are led astray and adore and serve other gods,
I tell you now that you will certainly perish;
you will not have a long life
on the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and occupy.
I call heaven and earth today to witness against you:
I have set before you life and death,
the blessing and the curse.
Choose life, then,
that you and your descendants may live, by loving the LORD, your God,
heeding his voice, and holding fast to him.
For that will mean life for you,
a long life for you to live on the land that the LORD swore
he would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”
“Today I have set before you
life and prosperity, death and doom.
If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God,
which I enjoin on you today,
loving him, and walking in his ways,
and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees,
you will live and grow numerous,
and the LORD, your God,
will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy.
If, however, you turn away your hearts and will not listen,
but are led astray and adore and serve other gods,
I tell you now that you will certainly perish;
you will not have a long life
on the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and occupy.
I call heaven and earth today to witness against you:
I have set before you life and death,
the blessing and the curse.
Choose life, then,
that you and your descendants may live, by loving the LORD, your God,
heeding his voice, and holding fast to him.
For that will mean life for you,
a long life for you to live on the land that the LORD swore
he would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”
Responsorial PsalmPS
1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6
R. (40:5a) Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Verse Before The GospelMT 4:17
Repent, says the Lord;
the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.
the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.
GospelLK 9:22-25
Jesus said to his disciples:
“The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected
by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
Then he said to all,
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
yet lose or forfeit himself?”
“The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected
by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
Then he said to all,
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
yet lose or forfeit himself?”
Meditation: Take up your cross daily and
follow Christ
Do you know the healing, transforming power of the cross? When
Jesus predicted his passion his disciples were dismayed. Rejection and
crucifixion meant defeat and condemnation, not victory and freedom. How could
Jesus' self-denial, suffering and death lead to victory and life? Through his
obedience to his Father's will, Jesus reversed the curse of Adam's
disobedience. His death on the cross won pardon for the guilty, freedom for the
oppressed, healing for the afflicted, and new life for those condemned to
death. His death makes possible our freedom to live as sons and daughters of
God. There's a certain paradox in God's economy. We lose what we gain, and we
gain what we lose. When we try run our life our own way, we end up losing it to
futility. Only God can free us from our ignorance and sinful ways. When we
surrender our lives to God, he gives us new life in his Spirit and the pledge
of eternal life. God wants us to be spiritually fit to serve him at all times.
When the body is very weak or ill, we make every effort to nurse it back to
health. How much more effort and attention should we give to the spiritual
health of our hearts and minds!
What will you give to God in exchange for freedom and eternal
life? Are you ready to part with anything that might keep you from following
him and his perfect plan for your life? Jesus poses these questions to challenge
our assumptions about what is most profitable and worthwhile in life. In every
decision of life we are making ourselves a certain kind of person. It is
possible that some can gain all the things they set their heart on, only to
wake up suddenly and discover that they missed the most important things of
all. A true disciple is ready to give up all that he or she has in exchange for
happiness and life with God. The life which God offers is abundant, everlasting
life. And the joy which God places in our hearts no sadness or loss can
diminish.
The cross of Jesus Christ leads to freedom and victory over sin
and death. What is the cross which Christ commands me to take up each day as
his disciple? When my will crosses with his will,
then his will must be done. The way of the cross involves sacrifice, the
sacrifice of laying down my life each and every day for Jesus' sake. What
makes such sacrifice possible and "sweet" is the love of God poured
out for us in the blood of Jesus Christ. Paul the Apostle reminds us that "God's
love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit" (Romans
5:5). We can never outgive God. He always gives us more than we can
expect or imagine. Are you ready to lose all for Christ in order to gain all
with Christ?
"Lord Jesus, I give you my hands to do your work. I give
you my feet to go your way. I give you my eyes to see as you do. I give you my
tongue to speak your words. I give you my mind that you may think in me.
I give you my spirit that you may pray in me. Above all, I give you my
heart that you may love in me, your Father, and all mankind. I give you my
whole self that you may grow in me, so that it is you, Lord Jesus, who live and
work and pray in me." (Prayer from The Grail)
 Suffering: A Highway to God |
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February 19, 2015. Thursday after Ash
Wednesday
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By Father Paul Hubert, LC Luke 9:22-25
Jesus said to his disciples, "The Son of Man must suffer
greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised." Then he said to all,
"If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his
cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for
one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?
Introductory Prayer: Lord
Jesus, you did not flee before suffering, but did what your love for us told
you to do. I trust in you. Lord Jesus, you went towards Jerusalem in the hope
that we would return to the Father’s home. I hope in you, for you did not put
a limit on your love. Even when you were rejected and put to death by your
enemies, you prayed for them. Lord, I love you.
Petition: Lord, help me to
see the redeeming power of the cross you have laid on my shoulders and
embrace it.
1. Suffering is an Opportunity: Suffering
is present at every turn of life. Our tendency is to flee from it, to avoid
it. This holds true from the small scratch we get when we first fall off our
bicycle to the profound sorrow we feel when a friend betrays us. When we feel
pain, we take every means in our power to get rid of it. In today’s society,
there is a medicine to alleviate any pain or suffering we might feel. Yet, in
every suffering there is a lesson, and we remember the lesson better when we
have suffered to learn it. Christ foresaw his rejection, suffering, and
death, yet did not flee them. He embraced them as a way of showing his most
profound love: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for
one’s friends” (John 15:13). It is what parents do when they give their children
their time and attention. It is what real friends do when they serve without
counting the cost. It is what we do when we help someone in need.
2. Love the Fight Not the Fall: Sometimes
we may feel overwhelmed. Slowly but surely, we may tire of our defects and
their effects. The constant, on-going battle to follow Christ may slowly wear
us down. The path to perfection in the virtues is surely full of rewards, but
it has its share of wear-and-tear. But it does not matter if we fall a
thousand times, as long as we love the fight and not the fall. It therefore
makes no sense to despair, especially when we fight with Christ on our side.
The effort of a prolonged battle can please Christ more than an easy and
comfortable victory. Christ reminds us: He will suffer greatly, be rejected
and killed, and everyone who wants to be his disciple must take up his cross
and follow him.
3. When I Am Weak, Then I Am Strong: With the
coming of Christ on the earth, suffering took on a new meaning. He gave us
the possibility to give to suffering, illness and pain—the consequences of
sin—the redemptive and salvific meaning of love. When the apostles asked our
Lord who was responsible for the misfortune of a man blind from birth, Christ
answered: “Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God
might be made visible through him” (John 9:3). Misfortune and weaknesses made
St. Paul exclaim: “Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults,
hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I
am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). It is through denial of
self, through the recognition of our weakness, through willfully embracing
our trials and sufferings, that we can show the strength of God and the
wonders of God in our life.
Conversation with Christ: Lord,
help me to see all that happens to me, even pain, suffering and illness, as
an opportunity to love, grow in love and offer you my love.
Resolution: Before
doing something today I will pause to examine the motives for which I do it:
is it for me or for God? If it is only for me, I will rectify my intentions
or leave the deed aside, especially if I have the opportunity to do something
else for God or to serve God in my neighbor.
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THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY, LUKE 9:22-25
(Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 1)
(Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 1)
KEY VERSE: "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (v 23).
TO KNOW: This is Jesus' first prediction of the passion in Luke's Gospel. Peter had just made his confession of faith in Jesus, declaring him to be the "Messiah of God" (v 20). Jesus then helped his disciples to understand what it meant to be God's anointed one. The title "Messiah" had grown in popularity, and certain groups believed that the Messiah would be a descendant of the royal family of David who would come to restore the kingdom of Israel (Acts 1:6). Jesus told his followers not to reveal his true identity as many would expect a political leader who would set Israel free from foreign oppression. Jesus' way was not through world domination. His was the way of the cross. All who wished to follow him must imitate his example. Jesus set down three conditions for discipleship: to regard oneself with humility, to accept the trials of life with faith, and to proclaim the Gospel despite rejection. A disciple who wished to share eternal life with Jesus must be willing to let go of everything for the sake of the Gospel.
TO LOVE: Lord Jesus, give me the strength to carry my daily cross throughout this Lenten journey.
TO SERVE: What act of self-denial will I practice this Lent?
Thursday 19 February 2015
Deuteronomy 30:15-20. Happy
are they who hope in the Lord—Ps 1:1-4, 6. Luke 9:22-25.
‘What gain is there in
winning the whole world yet losing your very self?’
At the point reached in
today’s gospel, the disciples are trying to understand what kind of Messiah
Jesus is.
Peter, speaking for all,
said, ‘You are the Christ.’ But, what kind of Messiah? Jesus tells them, but it
would take them a long time to understand—until after the Resurrection. Then,
they would see that Jesus trod the ordinary human path of suffering and death
just as his followers need to do.
We are invited to take up
our cross daily. In our lives we experience many ‘dyings’ in order to journey
with Jesus. Let us bring our lives to Jesus in our prayer—all our joys, all our
sufferings. He sustains us.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
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Preaching By Example
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Dear God, let us preach You without preaching, not by words but by
example, by the catching force, the sympathetic influence of what we do, the
evident fullness of the love our hearts bear for You. Amen.
February
19
St. Conrad of Piacenza
(1290-1350)
St. Conrad of Piacenza
(1290-1350)
Born of a noble family in northern Italy, Conrad as a young man
married Euphrosyne, daughter of a nobleman.
One day
while hunting he ordered attendants to set fire to some brush in order to flush
out the game. The fire spread to nearby fields and to a large forest. Conrad
fled. An innocent peasant was imprisoned, tortured to confess and condemned to
death. Conrad confessed his guilt, saved the man’s life and paid for the
damaged property.
Soon
after this event, Conrad and his wife agreed to separate: she to a Poor Clare
monastery and he to a group of hermits following the Third Order Rule. His
reputation for holiness, however, spread quickly. Since his many visitors
destroyed his solitude, Conrad went to a more remote spot in Sicily where he
lived 36 years as a hermit, praying for himself and for the rest of the world.
Prayer
and penance were his answer to the temptations that beset him. Conrad died
kneeling before a crucifix. He was canonized in 1625.
Comment:
Francis of Assisi was drawn both to contemplation and to a life of preaching; periods of intense prayer nourished his preaching. Some of his early followers, however, felt called to a life of greater contemplation, and he accepted that. Though Conrad of Piacenza is not the norm in the Church, he and other contemplatives remind us of the greatness of God and of the joys of heaven.
Francis of Assisi was drawn both to contemplation and to a life of preaching; periods of intense prayer nourished his preaching. Some of his early followers, however, felt called to a life of greater contemplation, and he accepted that. Though Conrad of Piacenza is not the norm in the Church, he and other contemplatives remind us of the greatness of God and of the joys of heaven.
Quote:
Pope Paul VI’s 1969 Instruction on the Contemplative Life includes this passage: "To withdraw into the desert is for Christians tantamount to associating themselves more intimately with Christ’s passion, and it enables them, in a very special way, to share in the paschal mystery and in the passage of Our Lord from this world to the heavenly homeland" (#1).
Pope Paul VI’s 1969 Instruction on the Contemplative Life includes this passage: "To withdraw into the desert is for Christians tantamount to associating themselves more intimately with Christ’s passion, and it enables them, in a very special way, to share in the paschal mystery and in the passage of Our Lord from this world to the heavenly homeland" (#1).
LECTIO DIVINA:
LUKE 9,22-25
Lectio:
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Lent Time
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1)
OPENING PRAYER
Lord our God,
you love us and you invite us
to share in your own life and joy,
through a personal decision.
Help us to choose you and life
and to remain ever loyal
to this basic option
by the power of Jesus Christ, your Son,
who was loyal to you and to us,
now and for ever.
you love us and you invite us
to share in your own life and joy,
through a personal decision.
Help us to choose you and life
and to remain ever loyal
to this basic option
by the power of Jesus Christ, your Son,
who was loyal to you and to us,
now and for ever.
2)
GOSPEL READING - LUKE 9, 22-25
He said, 'The Son of man is destined to suffer grievously, to be
rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death,
and to be raised up on the third day.'
Then, speaking to all, he said, 'If anyone wants to be a
follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and
follow me.
Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who
loses his life for my sake, will save it. What benefit is it to anyone to win
the whole world and forfeit or lose his very self?
3)
REFLECTION
• Yesterday we enter into the time of Lent. Up until now the
daily Liturgy followed the Gospel of Mark, step after step. Beginning yesterday
until Easter, the sequence of the reading of the day will be given by the
ancient tradition of Lent and of the Preparation for Easter. From the very
first day, the perspective is that of the Passion, Death and Resurrection and
of the sense which this mystery has for our life. This is what is proposed in
the rather brief text of today’s Gospel. The text speaks of the Passion, Death
and Resurrection of Jesus and affirms that the following of Jesus presupposes
that we carry our cross after Jesus.
• Before, in Luke 9, 18-21, Jesus asks: “Who do the crowds say
that I am?” They answered giving the different opinions: “John the Baptist”,
“Elijah or one of the ancient prophets”. After having heard the opinions of
others, Jesus asks: “Who do you say I am?” Peter answers: “The Christ of God!”,
that is, the Lord is the one expected by the people.! Jesus agreed with Peter,
but he orders and charges them not to say this to anyone. Why did Jesus forbid
this? Because at that time everybody was expecting the Messiah, but each one
according to his own mind: some as king, others as priest, doctor, warrior,
judge or prophet! Jesus thinks in a different way. He identifies himself with
the Messiah, servant and suffering, announced by Isaiah (42,1-9; 52,13-53, 12).
• The first announcement of the Passion. Jesus begins to teach
that he is the Messiah, the Servant and affirms that, as Messiah, Servant
announced by Isaiah, soon he will be put to death in the carrying out of his
mission of justice (Is 49, 4-9; 53, 1-12). Luke usually follows the Gospel of
Mark, but here he omits Peter’s reaction who advised Jesus against or tried to
dissuade him to think in the suffering Messiah and he also omits the hard
response: “Far from me, Satan! Because you do not think as God, but as men!”
Satan is a Hebrew word which means accuser, the one who draws away the others
far from the path of God. Jesus does not allow Peter to get away from his mission.
• Conditions to follow Jesus. Jesus draws conclusions valid even
until now: “If anyone wants to follow me, let him deny himself, take up his
cross every day and follow me”. At that time the cross was the death penalty
which the Roman Empire gave to marginalized criminals. To take up the cross and
to carry it following Jesus was the same as accepting to be marginalized by the
unjust system which legitimized injustices. It was the same as to break away
from the system. As St. Paul says in the letter to the Galatians: “The world
has been crucified for me and I to the world” (Ga 6, 14). The cross is not
fatalism, neither is it an exigency from the Father. The Cross is the
consequence of the commitment freely assumed by Jesus to reveal the Good News
that God is Father, and that, therefore, we all should be accepted and treated
as brothers and sisters. Because of this revolutionary announcement, he was
persecuted and he was not afraid to deliver his own life. There is no greater
proof of love than to give one’s life for the brother.
4)
PERSONAL QUESTIONS
• Everybody was waiting for the Messiah, each one in his/her own
way. Which is the Messiah whom I expect and which people today expect?
• The condition to follow Jesus is the cross. How do I react
before the crosses of life?
5)
CONCLUDING PRAYER
How blessed is anyone who rejects the advice of the wicked
and does not take a stand in the path that sinners tread,
nor a seat in company with cynics,
but who delights in the law of Yahweh
and murmurs his law day and night. (Ps 1,1-2)
and does not take a stand in the path that sinners tread,
nor a seat in company with cynics,
but who delights in the law of Yahweh
and murmurs his law day and night. (Ps 1,1-2)
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