 From: MorningOffering Website | † Quote of the Day "O man, when the world hates you and is faithless toward you, think of your God, how he was struck and spat upon. You should not accuse your neighbor of guilt, but pray to God that he be merciful to you both." -St. Nicholas of Flue Today's Meditation "Christ is the second person of the Blessed Trinity, true God and true man, eternally united with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Just as there can be no separation within Christ's human nature, so there can be none within His divine nature. Just as we cannot separate Christ's body from His blood, or His soul from His body and blood, so we cannot separate Christ from the other persons in the Trinity. Time after time, we hear the priest pray to the Father at the end of the opening prayer of the Mass: We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever." —Vinney Flynn, p. 25
An excerpt from 7 Secrets of the Eucharist Daily Verse May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the holy Spirit. -Romans 15:13 |  EWTN Daily Saint | | St Fergus Of Scotland St. Fergus of Scotland (d. 730 A.D.), also known as St. Fergustian or Fergus the Pict, Bishop of the Gaels, was a bishop serving in the north of Scotland. Little is known of his life. He is believed to have been trained as a bishop in Ireland, ministering there for many years before traveling as a missionary to Scotland. He went throughout the Scottish countryside preaching the Gospel, setting up churches dedicated to St. Patrick of Ireland, and working to convert the pagan people to Christianity. He also traveled to St. Peter's Basilica to participate in the Council of Rome in 721 A.D. He died around the year 730 A.D. and is buried in Glamis, Angus, in Scotland. Nearby is St. Fergus' Well. The site is believed to be where St. Fergus presided over religious services before the first church of Glamis was built. His feast day is March 30th. | Monday of Holy Week Lectionary: 257 Reading 1 Isaiah 42:1-7 Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one with whom I am pleased,
Upon whom I have put my Spirit;
he shall bring forth justice to the nations,
Not crying out, not shouting,
not making his voice heard in the street.
A bruised reed he shall not break,
and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,
Until he establishes justice on the earth;
the coastlands will wait for his teaching. Thus says God, the LORD,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spreads out the earth with its crops,
Who gives breath to its people
and spirit to those who walk on it:
I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,
I have grasped you by the hand;
I formed you, and set you
as a covenant of the people,
a light for the nations,
To open the eyes of the blind,
to bring out prisoners from confinement,
and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 27:1, 2, 3, 13-14 R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
When evildoers come at me
to devour my flesh,
My foes and my enemies
themselves stumble and fall.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart will not fear;
Though war be waged upon me,
even then will I trust.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Verse Before the Gospel
Hail to you, our King;
you alone are compassionate with our faults. Gospel John 12:1-11 Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany,
where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served,
while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him.
Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil
made from genuine aromatic nard
and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair;
the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples,
and the one who would betray him, said,
"Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages
and given to the poor?"
He said this not because he cared about the poor
but because he was a thief and held the money bag
and used to steal the contributions.
So Jesus said, "Leave her alone.
Let her keep this for the day of my burial.
You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me." The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came,
not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus,
whom he had raised from the dead.
And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too,
because many of the Jews were turning away
and believing in Jesus because of him. | Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! |  From Word Among Us WAU.org | Daily Meditation: John 12:1-11 Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil . . . and anointed the feet of Jesus. (John 12:3) It's the final week of your Lenten journey. Perhaps you're eager to enter into these last days leading up to the Triduum—your Lenten commitments have prepared you well. Or maybe as you enter Holy Week, you're all too aware of your struggles. Either way, Mary of Bethany's actions in today's Gospel can show you that it's not too late to respond generously to the Lord. Mary was extravagant in her gesture of love when she anointed Jesus' feet with precious oil and wiped them with her hair. John's Gospel doesn't explain how or where Mary obtained such expensive oil. Nor does it explain why she chose this moment, in the midst of a large dinner, to anoint Jesus. We can only guess that her actions took everyone by surprise. But Jesus made it clear that he approved of Mary's generosity. He saw in it a preparation for his burial anointing (John 12:7). But let's look more closely at what Mary did. This is, after all, the same Mary who chose to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to his teachings (Luke 10:38-42). And while she might not have understood everything she heard, she knew Jesus was someone extraordinary. She also knew that Jewish kings and priests were anointed, so she decided to treat Jesus like the king and priest that he was. And she didn't use the everyday oil people would ordinarily use. She held nothing back. She chose this special oil, held in a jar made of alabaster. Mary's extravagant love calls us to follow in her footsteps. So consider: how can you be generous with God? How can you pour yourself out to honor him? You might spend some extra time praying with the Mass readings this week or lifting your heart in praise and worship as you sit before the Blessed Sacrament or a crucifix. You might say yes to a chance to serve this week, loving the Lord through the sacrifice of your time and energy. It's never too late to draw close to Jesus and to respond to the lavish love and mercy he has shown you! "Jesus, grant me the grace this Holy Week to pour myself out in love for you." Isaiah 42:1-7
Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Audio of 2 Cents | From today's Holy Gospel: ".. Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples,
and the one who would betray him, said,
"Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages
and given to the poor?"
He said this not because he cared about the poor
but because he was a thief and held the money bag
and used to steal the contributions.
So Jesus said, "Leave her alone.
Let her keep this for the day of my burial.
You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me." ...." | From Roberto Juarez:
"Jesus interprets Mary's gesture in a surprising way: "Leave her, I had it in store for the day of my burial." That is, Mary, without knowing it at all, is anticipating the death of Jesus. While many do not want to see what is coming, she, from love, intuits the mystery. This teaches us something very profound: true love has a special capacity to understand the essential. Mary has understood something that others do not: that Jesus is going to give his life. And his gesture is a response of love to that love that is going to be given.
The scene takes place in a house, in the everyday, in the simple. There are no crowds, no great speeches, no spectacular miracles. Just a gesture. But that gesture has remained forever in the Gospel. This also challenges us: our life is full of small gestures, of everyday acts, of details that no one sees... But when they are done out of love, they have immense value before God. We may not be able to do great things, but we can love a lot in the small things.
We are starting Holy Week. And this Gospel invites us to live it not as spectators, but as Mary, drawing close to Jesus, dedicating time to him, taking care of prayer, making concrete gestures of love. It is not about doing extraordinary things, but about living with a dedicated heart. We too can "pour out perfume" in forgiveness, in service, in patience, in giving ourselves to others.
Today the Gospel presents us with two paths: Mary's, the way of generous love, and Judas', the way of selfishness in disguise. In this Holy Week, let us choose well. That we do not remain in a superficial or self-interested faith. Let us ask the Lord for a heart like Mary's capable of loving without measure, of giving of ourselves without fear, and of recognizing in Jesus the greatest treasure of our lives." end quote.
Wow, interesting reflections, and there's more. But what have you got out of this Gospel today?
Looking back since Lent started, what has been gained? † Fasting: Have you given up anything? Did you gain anything from it? Did you faith increase by hurting yourself? Did you give until it hurt at all?
† Praying: Did you increase your prayers and prayer time much? What did you gain from it? Did your faith increase? Was anything illuminating and life changing? Did it pain you to increase your prayers? Anything at all?
† Almsgiving: Did you increase your giving to the needy? Did you gain anything from it? Did your faith increase by your almsgiving? Did you give until it hurt? Anything at all? The reflection from Roberto makes me wonder to myself...did I give lavishly, like Christ pouring Himself out on the cross?
Or did I give halfheartedly? Have I been stingy? Have I stopped being so greedy and selfish? Did I even try to spend an hour a day in prayer? Half an hour? In quiet adoration?
All I can say is that I've been tested, tempted, and weak mostly this lent. What a weak attempt to be holy and perfect!
But...there is still time! Lent is a preparation, an anticipation for the coming of Christ.
You are breathing, you have a shot! We can still be lavishing our Lord. We can still pour ourselves out onto the Lord. Judas said "WHAT!? How could you WASTE all that on Jesus?", like the parents that say to their child that wants to be a religious "that is a waste of your life!". The world teaches the opposite of Mary, who poured our whole life onto the feet of Jesus...lavishly bathing and kissing His feet.
This is how she treats God!
I repent.
All I know how to do is to repent! I wish I was more giving. More lavishing to God.
Yet, I remain stingy, with my time, talent, and treasure, how I wish I could lavish Him more!
He has given us everything...even His body on the cross and now in the Eucharist!
And not only that, but Divine Mercy! He just gives and gives! And He wants to give through you and me!
Lord, I don't want to block your love and grace...please help me....help us! |  Click for Audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Deuteronomy 7:9 "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations" | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment