 clickable | | Take Off the Mask When we see hypocrisy—the enemy of integrity—we are cautious. If we condemn it—as Jesus and the great teachers did—we expose ourselves to attack. No one likes to be called a hypocrite, yet at some level we all know that we are. The word comes from the Greek hypokrisis, which means "actor." Yet it is almost inevitable that we pretend to be or feel what we are not, or do not, even if we would also like to be what we pretend. We don't have to despair about our inauthenticity, simply admit it. That defuses it and prevents our false self from blocking the way to the deeper level of consciousness. The sign that we are heading there is that we don't take ourselves too solemnly and that we laugh at our false self and welcome other people to do the same. Gradually the actor's mask becomes—as in great theatre rather than in soap opera—a transparent means of revealing the deeper truth. Form can then communicate the emptiness that is fullness. The wonderful thing is that this happens—if we allow it and make the space necessary—in subtle ways and in the most ordinary things of life. That is why Lent is about small things. And why meditation is more about practice than good intention. —from the book Sensing God: Learning to Meditate during Lent by Laurence Freeman, OSB |  MorningOffering.com | †Saint Quote
"Pray with great confidence, with confidence based on the goodness and infinite generosity of God and upon the promises of Jesus Christ. God is a spring of living water which flows unceasingly into the hearts of those who pray."
— St. Louis De Montfort †MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Many try to fly away from temptations only to fall more deeply into them; for you cannot win a battle by mere flight. It is only by patience and humility that you will be strengthened against the enemy. Those who shun them outwardly and do not pull them out by the roots will make no progress; for temptations will soon return to harass them and they will be in a worse state. It is only gradually—with patience and endurance and with God's grace—that you will overcome temptations sooner than by your own efforts and anxieties . . . Gold is tried by fire and the upright person by temptation. Often we do not know what we can do until temptation shows us what we are . . . This is how temptation is: first we have a thought, followed by strong imaginings, then the pleasure and evil emotions, and finally consent. This is how the enemy gains full admittance, because he was not resisted at the outset. The slower we are to resist, the weaker we daily become and the stronger the enemy is against us."
— Thomas à Kempis, p. 32-33
AN EXCERPT FROM
Imitation of Christ † VERSE OF THE DAY
"If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
1 John 1:9 |  click to read more | | ST. CYRIL OF JERUSALEM St. Cyril of Jerusalem (315-386 A.D.) was a well-educated man from Jerusalem and a scholar of Sacred Scripture. He was ordained a priest by the bishop of Jerusalem shortly after the legalization of Christianity in the Roman Empire. He was given the task of catechizing new Christians leading up to and immediately following their baptism. Later he himself became bishop of Jerusalem, and soon after his ordination a miraculous apparition of a cross appeared in the sky, visible to the whole city. Because St. Cyril defended Christ's full humanity and divinity against the Arian heresy, he was exiled from his bishopric three times in twenty years due to misunderstandings, intrigue, and politics. Saint Cyril of Jerusalem is one of the early Church Fathers and one of the most important sources for how the early Church celebrated the liturgy and sacraments during the first few decades after Christianity was legalized. For St. Cyril's work in catechesis he was named a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIII in 1883. His feast day is March 18th. | Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent
Lectionary: 239
Reading 1 Dt 4:1, 5-9 Moses spoke to the people and said:
"Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees
which I am teaching you to observe,
that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land
which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.
Therefore, I teach you the statutes and decrees
as the LORD, my God, has commanded me,
that you may observe them in the land you are entering to occupy.
Observe them carefully,
for thus will you give evidence
of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations,
who will hear of all these statutes and say,
'This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.'
For what great nation is there
that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us
whenever we call upon him?
Or what great nation has statutes and decrees
that are as just as this whole law
which I am setting before you today? "However, take care and be earnestly on your guard
not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen,
nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live,
but teach them to your children and to your children's children." Responsorial Psalm 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20 R. (12a) Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
He spreads snow like wool;
frost he strews like ashes.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem. Verse Before the Gospel Jn 6:63c, 68c Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;
you have the words of everlasting life. Gospel Mt 5:17-19 Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven." | Today's Meditation: Matthew 5:17-19 I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17) So just how does Jesus fulfill the Law of the Old Testament? Today's first reading gives us a clue. Moses reminds the Israelites that even though the Law blesses them with God's wisdom, what really sets them apart is how close God is to them: "What great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God, is to us?" (Deuteronomy 4:7). That closeness is the key. Yes, God wants his people to know his thoughts; but even more, he wants them to know his heart. In Jesus, God has come even closer to us. By showing us, up close, what loving God and our neighbor looks like, Jesus reveals the heart of the Law and perfectly fulfills it. Here are some examples: • Keep holy the Sabbath. Jesus does this, not by scrupulously avoiding work, but by praying and reaching out to the needy with the healing compassion of God. He even invites synagogue leaders to reflect on the real meaning of this commandment: "Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" (Luke 6:9). • Do not bear false witness. Of course, Jesus never breaks that law, but he goes even further than just not lying about another person. He notices and praises the kernel of righteousness he sees in them. The first time he meets Nathanael, for instance, he declares, "Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him" (John 1:47). No wonder Nathanael becomes a disciple! • Do not kill. Especially during his passion, we see Jesus fulfilling this law. Not only does he not strike back at those abusing him, but he forgives them (Luke 23:34). He does not argue or defend himself against accusations but keeps silent. He pours his life out in love even for those who condemn him. Jesus shows us that the heart of the Law is loving God and our neighbor. He shows us that true obedience goes beyond a matter of "thou shalt not." He comes close to each of us to show us what it looks like. That's how he came to fulfill the Law. "Jesus, thank you for patiently teaching me how to love." Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9
Psalm 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20 |  clickable | I arise today through God's strength to pilot me; God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me, God's way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me afar and anear, alone or in a multitude.
—St. Patrick
from The Trials of St. Patrick | my2cents:
"For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him?"
Right now, many people are afraid. People want the basics of survival. Stores are packed, and the church is empty. Souls are empty and God is available to fill that ...void. God says "come to me.."
Psalm 81:10
"I, the LORD, am your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide and I will fill it."
Dt 8:3
"He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD." John 6:33-35
"For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world." | We prayed: "He sends forth his command to the earth; swiftly runs his word! He spreads snow like wool; frost he strews like ashes. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem."
The Word runs swift, and there is talk about snow and ashes and ashes that look like snow. If a volcano erupted right now, then what? What kind of calamity would that cause? When fire and brimstone poured, Lot's family was told to be on their way and never look back. Think now of our Lenten journey, allbeit, already, an unforgettable one. God is calling us. | Our Lord said: ""Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill."
The Laws were fulfilled and fully revealed in Jesus. Their original intention was revealed, and Christ becomes Revelation. Right now, as some are acting as if the end of the world is here, the truth is being purified and revealed. The purifier of gold is here, the tests of fire. Where has my heart been? And where should it be? Where should it have been?
"Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven."
You are a teacher. Whether married, single, involved in teaching or not, you are a teacher. You teach others with what you say and how you live. Many times I hear of conversions or people turning away because of others' actions and words. As it stands, our Master Teacher is calling us to fortify ourselves with faith.
"But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven."
Those who obey will be great, and those who obey and teach will be greatest. Is that true of a person on earth? Will you be called great in Heaven? Or, will you see in Heaven who truly are the greatest? There are levels of greatness...that is, the feat of holiness. What few people strive for holiness. The Sacraments help our holiness. And now that the pandemics are among us, how will you receive the Sacraments? If before you didn't truly seek them out, how will you seek Jesus out now? If before you had no time, and now God makes time, how will you obtain what is being taken? Masses are being cancelled, unbelievably, they just announced yesterday they were cancelling ours. Now what? I hope you hunger. I hope you fall on your knees. Whence you see people going crazy in the streets for food, look towards the Church, and look to Heaven, and pray "God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I Trust In You". And let tears roll out, out of sheer and true contrition, a contrition like you've never experienced, and the Sacraments will begin to take hold that are within you...the Holy Spirit, and the yearning to be reunited with Him will grow. And this is the greatness of holiness. | I can sense something supernatural is occurring. Have faith.
"Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place." I believe one person has died in my state, and now schools and churches are shut down. Why is it that people heed the warnings of the media, and not the warning of Jesus Christ? He who wishes to save his life...will lose it.
But they who lose it for Christ...will save it.
Do you believe? Lord, bless us with your Holy and mighty hand of victory, help us conquer our fears, help us overcome doubt, help us be a holy people, a more united people, a people that hungers for you and is satisfied only by you. Guide our next steps, and help us be love to one another....in your Holy Name Jesus, we pray. |  click to hear a message | Random Bible verse from an online generator: Mt. 11:28
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." | If one day you don't receive these, just visit my website Going4th.com, surely you'll find me there. God Bless You! Share the Word. Share this, share what is good | |
