† Quote of the Day "It is a lesson we all need—to let alone the things that do not concern us. He has other ways for others to follow Him; all do not go by the same path. It is for each of us to learn the path by which He requires us to follow Him, and to follow Him in that path." — St. Katharine Drexel Today's Meditation "In truth, if the earth and all it contains must one day disappear by fire, the goods of this world are no more to be esteemed than wood and straw. What point is there, then, in making them the object of our desires and cares? Why seek to build and leave marks of our genius and power where we have no permanent abode, and where the form of this world will be removed, like a tent that has no travelers to shelter? It may be said that it will be a thousand years before this frightening cataclysm takes place; but Christ has said that a thousand years are but an instant compared with eternity, and when the moment comes—when, from the land of the future life, we are the witnesses and actors in that supreme drama—the whole span of humanity will seem so short to us that we shall scarcely consider it to have lasted a single day … Christ tells us to meditate upon these great teachings, for it is certain that we shall be taken by surprise, and that the time will come sooner than we think." —Father Charles Arminjon, p. 28 An excerpt from The End of the Present World Daily Verse "Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." — Ephesians 3:20-21 | St. Margaret Clitherow St. Margaret Clitherow (1556-1586), also called Margaret of York, lived in York, England, the daughter of a candlemaker and wife of a wealthy Protestant butcher. She was raised Anglican just after the time that King Henry VIII severed the Church of England from communion with the Roman Catholic Church. A few years after her marriage, at the age of 18, she converted to the Catholic Church due to the work of covert missionary Catholic priests. While her husband remained Protestant, she aided persecuted Catholics by sheltering priests (which included her brother-in-law) and having Mass and Confessions said in her home, which became a safe house and hiding place for priests. Margaret witnessed the torturous death of many of the priests she aided, and she would publicly pray on the spot of their martyrdom. Undaunted in her work, she was imprisoned numerous times. On her final arrest she was charged for harboring Catholic priests and was condemned to a public execution by being crushed to death, a martyrdom of which she considered herself unworthy. All three of her children entered the religious life, two priests and a nun. St. Margaret Clitherow, the "Pearl of York," is the patron saint of martyrs, businesswomen, and converts. Her feast day is March 26th. | Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent Reading 1 Deuteronomy 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 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 John 6:63c, 68c Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;
you have the words of everlasting life. Gospel Matthew 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."
| Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9 Be earnestly on your guard not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen. (Deuteronomy 4:9) Imagine a family reunion, class reunion, or gathering of old friends. At any of these events, you will see people sharing cherished memories with one another. They recall joyful or meaningful times they have spent together and celebrate the relationships they have built. In today's first reading, as the Israelites prepare to enter the Promised Land, Moses gathers them together for a similar reunion, to remember and marvel at the mighty works God had done during their desert journey. What did "remembering" do for them? It reminded them of who God is. We can imagine the stories they shared: how the Lord revealed his faithfulness when he sent Moses to set them free from slavery. Or when the Lord showed his mighty power in sending the plagues to Egypt. Or when he showed them he was their provider when he gave them manna in the desert. Remembering can do that for us, too. We can recall stories from the Bible that reveal God's power, his faithfulness, and his mercy. We can also recall times when God worked in our own lives, and those memories can deepen our trust in who he is. It reminded them of who they were. As the Israelites shared their memories, they couldn't help but understand more fully that they were God's people. He showed them that they were his beloved as they crossed the Red Sea on dry land. They understood that they were the "flock he shepherds" when he led them through the desert and provided manna from heaven and water from the rock (Psalm 100:3). They knew they weren't orphans when he worked to purify their hearts. Remembering also helps us to see who we are: children of God. It shows us that we are beloved. We understand that we are his adopted children, his very own possession. And we see that in Baptism, we have become members of his own body, the Church. In prayer today, ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of the many ways God has moved in your life and the lives of your loved ones. Let him remind you of who he is and who you are. And let your remembering fill you with joy! "Lord God, help me to recall your goodness and your great works!" Psalm 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20
Matthew 5:17-19 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: | From today's Holy Gospel: "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......." - Word of the Lord! | From Bishop Robert Barron:
"Friends, in today's Gospel, Jesus promises that he has not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it. Matthew says that Jesus went up a mountain, sat down, and commenced to teach, calling to mind Moses, who went up Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments from God. Therefore, Jesus is being presented here as the New Moses who will promulgate from this Galilean mountain the definitive Law. I realize that this immediately poses a problem for contemporary readers, who are put off by a religion that leads with laws, rules, and prohibitions. An Irish wag once summed up the Catholicism that he was taught with this phrase: "In the beginning was the word, and the word was no!" Since the Ten Commandments have been honored mostly in the breach, why should anyone think it a good idea to introduce new and even more stringent laws? But then we attend to the first word out of the mouth of the lawgiver: "Blessed," "Happy." The law that the New Moses offers is a pattern of life that promises to make us happy.
..." end quote Bishop Barron.
From Roberto Juarez:
"Jesus calls us to be faithful witnesses to his teaching, not just in words, but in deeds. Am I an example of Christian living to others? Do I teach by my testimony and actions what I believe? • Do I live my faith as a list of rules or as a loving relationship with God? • Do I seek to deepen the meaning of God's Word and apply it in my life? • Does my testimony inspire others to draw closer to God? Lord
Help me to live your teaching authentically.
May I not see your Word as a burden,
but as a path of love and fulfillment.
Make me a faithful witness of your truth,
so that others can find you through my life.
Amen." end quote Roberto Juarez.
From brother Adrian:
What are you teaching others?
Did you know that your body language teaches more than you say
Did you know that others are looking at what you do, more than what you say?
Did you know that when you go to Church or in public, people are noticing if and how you pray?
Did you know that what we say is a matter of what is in the heart? Did you know that people can tell the difference?
Did you know that we are not supposed to tweak the laws?
Our Lord did not come to tweak, and I would say He did not add, but He simply explained them, what was to be ....from the beginning.
Lord help us be true...down to the deepest parts of my heart! | Random Bible Verse 1
John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
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God Bless You! Peace | | |
