The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, February 29, 2004
First Sunday of Lent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Deuteronomy 26:4-10
Psalm 91:1-2,10-15
Romans 10:8-13
Luke 4:1-13

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

When I hear someone quote Sacred Scripture to make a point, I often remember today’s Gospel. In today’s quote, Satan tempts Jesus in the desert and quotes Holy Scripture, hoping it seems, to catch Jesus off guard.

We know, however, that the seemingly clever tact of the Evil One, did not work. Jesus didn’t comprehend the Scriptural texts in the fragmented and manipulated way of those who are not led by the Spirit; He was not fooled by a few well-placed words.

This Gospel teaching reveals to us that unless we comprehend Sacred Scripture with a heart conformed to the mind and heart of God, we might fall prey to those who are seemingly smart, know all the right words and make all the right moves.

If we truly rely on God, our defense is no feeble one, but one that will truly protect us lest anything harm or defile us. Let us pray constantly, then, for God’s help, remembering: “When the devil had finished all this tempting he left Him, to await another opportunity.”

- Donna Nelson, ocds
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, February 28, 2004
Saturday after Ash Wednesday

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 58:9b-14
Psalm 86:1-6
Luke 5:27-32

A reflection on today's Scripture:

Gifted, we are asked to give. . .

The reading from Isaiah voices the Lord’s clear will for us regarding the Sabbath, our holy time with Him. He pledges in return, to nourish us as heirs of His eternal promise. Our beloved, spousal Lord places His covenantal invitation before us: to humbly give to Him the littleness of our willing hearts and actions. He asks us to empty ourselves of the sin that displaces the room in our lives intended for His Love. The bread and satisfaction we then bestow on others are the bread of His Love, eucharistically feeding and satisfaction of the consolation others experience.

The denial of self on the Sabbath appears small, like the apple in the Garden of Eden. Yet when we deny ourselves in the “free willing” of self to our Beloved, our humble little gift prompts His joyful guidance, perpetual renewal and His promises to provide and care for us in all ways.

He “rebuilds the ruins” of our interior kingdom. He “raises up the foundation” that is His Life from which our life rises. He “repairs the breach” of covenant broken by our sinful self-will. He “restores the ruined homestead” of His dwelling within us. And we in corresponding love are compelled to go and do the same with others... to love as we have been Loved. We are thus His begotten children, the heirs of this wealth that is Love.

- Mary Williams
(www.impactbydesign.biz)

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, February 27, 2004
Friday after Ash Wednesday

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 58:1-9
Psalm 51:3-6,18-19
Matthew 9:14-15

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

At the very beginning of Lent, it's good for us to get our objectives straight as to why we fast. The people in the first reading complain to God that He has not heard them. After all their efforts to fast, He has not attended to their interests. The prophet, Isaiah, tells them that a true fast would help them see things from the viewpoint of the poor and the downtrodden. Then they would know a day acceptable to the Lord.

In the Gospel, Jesus contrasts the fasting of His disciples with that of John the Baptist. True fasting is discreet, hidden, not imposing burdens on others, but leading to a true change of heart, change of habits. True fasting is not contrary to joy, but fosters it.

Let us fashion all our Lenten fasting with a view to growing in alertness to the needs of others, an energy and the will to pray, and to work for justice.

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at twcny dot rr dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, February 26, 2004
Thursday after Ash Wednesday

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Psalm 1:1-4,6
Luke 9:22-25

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

“Take Up His Cross Daily”

Welcome to Lent, a time to refresh the soul by spending a great deal of energy in examining and cleaning out the storerooms, wiping away the dust, and generally making the place fit for a King. A King who will come regardless of what it looks like, but nevertheless, we would do well to prepare Him room.

One of His commandments to us is that we should take up our cross daily. Regarding this, C.S. Lewis has some very cogent advice in Screwtape Letters, a fictional story in which Uncle Screwtape (a senior devil) gives advice to his “nephew” (a junior devil) about us, the living:

“What [God] means by this is primarily that he should accept with patience the tribulation which has actually been dealt out to him--the present anxiety and suspense. It is about this that he is to say, “Thy will be done,” and for the daily task of bearing this that the daily bread will be provided. It is your business to see that the patient never thinks of the present fear as his appointed cross, but only of those things he is afraid of. Let him regard them as crosses: let him forget that, since they are incompatible, they cannot all happen to him, and let him try to practice fortitude and patience to them all in advance. For real resignation, at the same moment, to a dozen different and hypothetical fates, is almost impossible, and the Enemy does not greatly assist those who are trying to attain it: resignation to present and actual suffering, even where that suffering consists of fear, is far easier, and is usually helped by his direct action.” (Screwtape VI)

The cross of the day is not what tomorrow will bring, but the fear of what tomorrow will bring. When we take that up and move forward, we are bearing our cross. The cross of today is not the work of next week, but the weeds in the garden in our front yard right now. The cross of today is not serving in the soup kitchen the second Tuesday of March, but smiling at the person we don’t particularly care for when we pass them in the hallway today. In sum, the cross of today is today--not yesterday, not tomorrow, not next week, not ten years ago. When we take up the cross and live through one day at a time, we are walking with Jesus. When we sidestep the cross of today in preference to thinking about the distant past or future, we may be bearing a cross, but it is one that we have custom-fitted for ourselves and does little to advance our walk with the Lord.

So, day by day, walk with Him in love. Carry the cross of the day and it will be far lighter and more fulfilling than carrying our own phantom crosses--advertising our martyrdom for all to see.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Ash Wednesday

[Editor's note: Every year we include the Lenten Regulations. This year we present the regulations for the Diocese of Ogdensburg, NY which are probably typical for the entire United States of America and perhaps most other areas of the world. If in doubt, be sure to check your local regulations.]

2004 LENTEN REGULATIONS

1. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of both fast and abstinence. Fasting, or eating less, obliges those between the ages of 18 and 59.

2. All Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from meat. This rule applies to all who are 14 years of age or older.

3. The entire season of Lent should be observed in a spirit of prayer and penance. Spending extra time in prayer or Bible study, attending daily Mass, voluntary sacrifice and self-denial, combined with works of charity and service to others, are all excellent ways to obey the Lord's command to do penance and to prepare for the joyful celebration of Easter.

4. All Catholics who have reached the age of reason must confess their serious sins in the Sacrament of Penance at least once a year. They must also receive Holy Communion at least once each year during the Easter season, which this year extends from March 9, the First Sunday of Lent, until Trinity Sunday, June 15.


Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Joel 2:12-18
Psalm 51:3-6,12-14,17
2 Corinthians 5:20--6:2
Matthew 6:1-6,16-18

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture. . . .

“Return to me with all your heart
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”(see Joel 2:12)

The words spoken by the priest as we receive ashes today remind us of our mortality, a fact that should cause us to reflect on how we live from day to day; for it is this that will determine our destination when we depart from this life. Modern theology has greatly underplayed the seriousness of sin and has over-emphasized God’s all-forgiving, all-loving mercy -- virtually (and falsely) eliminating our need for the Sacrament of Confession and reconciliation with God and man. Also they omit mention of sin’s destructive force in our relationships, in society and between nations. Were not sin an abomination, God, our Father, would not have sent His Son to die sacrificially in human flesh to assume the sentence we deserved for our sin, willful disobedience to His truth and love.

Many theologians and priests fail also to stress that we’re called to “work out” this gift of salvation by daily practicing those virtues Christ taught and lived. Our obedience to God’s living Word, Jesus, should be inspired by our accepting that “He loved us first” by creating us, breathing His life into us, saving us from eternal damnation and offering us a new resurrection life on earth in His Son.

We think of Lent as a season for fasting, but fail to see those things from which God truly desires us to abstain: selfishness, self-will, self-seeking, self enriching -- all that inflates us while diminishing others’ rights, dignity and the well-being they deserve as God’s children, regardless of their stage of development or condition of their lives.

O God of love and truth,
instill in us a desire for sanctity,
that we may reflect Your Image
in our daily lives
and draw others to You. Amen.

- Marie Bocko, ocds
(mlbocko at borg dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, February 24, 2004
Tuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
James 4:1-10
Psalm 55:7-8,9-10a,10b-11a,23
Mark 9:30-37

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

The readings chosen for today are so human! It's good that Christ understood our human nature, but even He must have been frustrated at times. Christ is trying to teach the apostles and prepare them for what lies ahead. And how are they spending their time? By arguing about who was the greatest! Doesn't that sound familiar? In a way maybe for us it's good that they were so human, so that we would hear the lesson that Christ taught them, once He realized what was happening. He instructed them that whoever wants to be first, needs to be last of all and the servant of all. Ouch!!!! That's a significant responsibility for anyone to take on. It sounds so unlike the culture of today. That means, to follow Christ I'll be going against the common behaviors of today.

Am I up to it?

Christ understood that also, and thus we have in the first reading from James that we need to consciously submit ourselves to God and draw near to Him. That statement is so reassuring, as obviously we can't do this role alone. We perform our duties by the grace of God. Having done that how can we lose? We also have the added pleasure of knowing from the gospel that whoever receives a person in the name of Christ, receives the Father also.

The scriptures are so rich in instruction, the Word among us!

- Joan of Jesus, ocds
(jmurphy at utica dot edu)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, February 23, 2004
Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
St. Polycarp, bishop, martyr

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
James 3:13-18
Psalm 103:1-4,8,10,12-13
Mark 9:14-29

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

I am blessed in that I can often attend weekend or longer retreats with fellow believers who are striving to be ever closer to our Lord. I meet many people who I consider wise and knowledgeable in the things of faith.

The only complaint I have about this is that I must return to what my wife calls “the real world” and face all that we must face in our lives.

In today's first reading we hear St. James speak of one of those things we must face: wisdom that does not come from above. Take a look once again at what James says. Wisdom from the earth comes with jealousy, selfish ambition, disorder and foul practices of every kind. In fact he states plainly that it is unspiritual and even demonic. It is sad that we see so much of this type of wisdom today.

But James also tells us about the wisdom that comes from above. It is pure, peaceable, gentle, compliant, merciful, fruitful, constant and sincere. A good description of those I meet on retreat that I consider wise, and a stark contrast to what the world considers wise.

As we rapidly approach Lent let us examine our own wisdom. Are we humble in our wisdom, or full of selfish ambition? Are we at peace or find our lives full of disorder. If you find yourself selecting the latter descriptions, make it your Lenten intention to fully seek and accept the wisdom that comes only from God.

- Don Claunch, sfo

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, February 22, 2004
Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Samuel 26:2,7-9,12-13,22-23
Psalm 103:1-4,8,10,12-13
1 Corinthians 15:45-29
Luke 6:27-38

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

There are some gospels where Jesus lays it on the line about what it means to be His disciple, what kind of radically different behavior we must embrace if we expect to inherit everlasting life. Today is one of them.

I’m always taken aback when Jesus reminds His listeners (us) that even sinners love those who love them -- and there’s no credit in that. He seems to know that our broken human nature wants to avoid loving unequivocally and instead “pats itself on the back.”

That is not good enough, Jesus says -- we get no credit for that. Instead we’re to love those who hate and persecute us in imitation of our Heavenly Father, “since He Himself is good to the ungrateful and the wicked.”

But how Lord, are we to do that? How are we going to change our hardened hearts into loving hearts?

Jesus tells us: be compassionate, do not judge, do not condemn. In saying so, He gives us the beginning steps for conversion. It doesn’t mean that we automatically feel compassion, that we’re no longer feeling wronged, that we wouldn’t like to vindicate our own behavior and condemn other people’s behavior, but rather that we are to use our free will instead of acting on our feelings. Instead we choose to be like Jesus -- striving to become more and more like Him.

O Lord,
Your mercy is my hope,
my heart rejoices in Your saving power.
I will sing to You, Lord,
for Your goodness to me.(Psalm 12:6)

- Donna Nelson, ocds
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, February 21, 2004
Saturday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Peter Damian, bishop, doctor of the Church

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
James 3:1-10
Psalm 12:2-5,7-8
Mark 9:2-13

A reflection on today's Scripture:

The Word.

Consumed by what we consume...
the Word Incarnate whom we hear
with our ears
in the Liturgy of the Word
and receive with our tongues
in the Liturgy of the Eucharist
transforms and transfigures us into the Word.

Repositories of this Word made flesh again in us,
we become both tabernacle and monstrance
with those around us.
The Word that we share with others then,
is the word of our actions,
our care-full relationships and our dedicated work.
It incarnates as prayer-full com-passionate service
to soulful redemption.

We listen to His BeLoved Son
who takes up His dwelling within us
when we are void of the darkness of self and sin
that eclipses the Light of the Word.

He becomes ever so visible to the Father
and to others as on Mount Tabor.
We see and know the Father
who looks with favor on His only begotten Son
dwelling within us.

May we take in the Word with eager, listening hearts.

May we Present Him will-fully to all.

May we adore Him and the Father
whose Love makes us new.


- Mary Williams

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, February 20, 2004
Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
James 2:14-24
Psalm 112:1-6
Mark 8:34--9:1

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

The first reading from James treats of the familiar issue of faith and works. For hundreds of years this has been a source of controversy between Christians. The recent joint declaration of Catholics and Lutherans has laid this issue to rest. It states that for both Paul and James, faith flows into good works. Good works are rooted in a foundation of faith. When God gives us the grace to believe, He also lays on us an obligation to put that faith into action.

In the Gospel, Jesus demands that his followers accept renunciation, suffering, and total commitment. In other words, our faith in Jesus is not faith at all unless we're willing to act in accordance with His teaching.

The question we ask today is: How much do I believe that the Cross is necessarily bound to my following of the Master? Not just occasionally, but day by day, hour by hour and moment by moment, whenever Jesus demands it of me.

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at twcny dot rr dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, February 19, 2004
Thursday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
James 2:1-9
Psalm 34:2-7
Mark 8:27-33

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

“Who Do You Say I Am?”

This is one of the most important questions Jesus asks us, and it is a question we should ask ourselves every single day -- in the morning to strengthen our resolve to follow Him, and in the evening as part of our examen.

Who do we say that Jesus is? When we treat our neighbor poorly; when we bicker, fight, and complain; when we steal time or supplies from our employer; when we treat our spouses and families in ways that serve ourselves but show no love, we say that He might have been a wise holy man two-thousand years ago in some god-forsaken Roman infested pit at the center of the world.

However, when we serve our neighbor; help the poor; smile at and welcome the forsaken; feed the hungry; clothe the naked; wait upon the abandoned, forsaken, and hopeless; serve those who employ us with proper time and dedication; pray for those who hate us and attend Mass and the duties of the Church -- then we’re doing those things from the heart, we’re saying that He is the Man-God, the Son of God made flesh for Us, the Savior of the World.

We speak with more than words. Our lives should make clear what answer we would give to the question. And so each morning when we wake we should address Jesus and answer Him, “You are the Christ.” And each evening when we retire we should look at the opportunities we had in the course of the day to make that answer manifest and praise God for His goodness to us. We should pray for the strength to make Him known each day.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, February 18, 2004
Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
James 1:19-27
Psalm 15:2-5
Mark 8:22-26

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture. . . .

“Who shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord?” (Psalm 15:2)

To better understand today’s Gospel we must review the events immediately prior to it. Jesus had just performed such miracles as feeding the four thousand, expelling a demon from a possessed child and restored hearing and speech to a deaf man. Still the Pharisees repudiated Jesus being their long-awaited Messiah and demanded a “heavenly sign,” one of greater magnitude, to prove His identity.

Why were the Pharisees so hardened in unbelief? They had much to lose; for their elaborate body of man-made rules, their mode of worship, their system of prescribed sacrifices and most important their authority -- position, prestige, power and “perks” -- would be curtailed or eliminated. Jesus, had read their hearts and knew that no miracle He performed could ever convince them. Faith must come to them from God and from their sincere desire for the good of “His Chosen,” not from selfish clinging to debased ideas and elevated status. Prudently, out of necessity, Jesus put them to the test, attempting to turn their hearts to God for light rather than spectacular sky-signs.

The old adage, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating” can be applied to the blind Pharisees. For only those who draw close to God in prayer, remain forgetful of self, and who seek only to hear and receive God’s offerings, will learn His truth, grow to love Him and so taste of heaven on this earth.

Father God,
grace us to humbly receive Your Word
and put Your truth and love in practice
in every aspect of our lives.
Amen.

- Marie Bocko, ocds
(mlbocko at borg dot com)

The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, February 17, 2004
Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
The Seven Servite Founders, religious

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
James 1:12-18
Psalm 94:12-15,18-19
Mark 8:14-21

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

I think today’s Gospel is a difficult one for us to really comprehend.... Jesus warns the disciples to be wary of the leaven or bread of the Pharisees and Herod. The disciples, confused, assumes He is talking about the lack of bread they have on the trip with them. But he quickly admonishes them saying that the lack of bread is no issue for Him, to remember the ‘Loaves and the Fishes’ -- so the disciples are left to figure out what He means.

Leaven is an agent, like yeast, that causes batter or dough to rise, it works to subtly modify. In a certain way, one’s inner spirit and motivations is the ‘leaven’ which influences the world around us. Before we see the material evidence or the physical results of our actions, there will have been unseen forces at work within, a ‘leaven’ which will have contributed to our outer world. Inviting the Holy Spirit into our hearts, we can be sure that we’re using ‘good’ leaven in our hearts. And with good leaven we’ll see with the eyes of our heart, our very soul, the Truth surrounding us which will make our journey a fruitful one and full of Love.

- Cliodhna Doyle
(clia at cliadoyle dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, February 16, 2004
Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
James 1:1-11
Psalm 119:67-68,71-72,75-76
Mark 8:11-13

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

I must admit that the letter of James is one of my favorite books. For some reason, I always have found it easy to understand him, to see fully the gospel as he presented it and to feel he was writing the letter directly to me.

In today's first reading, James is giving us some fairly straight forward advice on living the Christian life. Endure trials, he instructs us, that we may be fully mature and lack nothing. Lacking in wisdom? Just ask God for it in faith, James says, and you'll get it free of charge. But if you doubt you'll get it, you probably won't. Those who are humble should take pride in their greatness, while those who are great should take pride in their lowliness as this is the way of God.

Simple advice, and easy to grasp. Thank God almighty for St. James!

- Don Claunch, sfo

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, February 15, 2004
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 17:5-8
Psalm 1:1-4,6
1 Corinthians 15:12,16-20
Luke 6:17,20-26

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In today's Gospel Jesus delivers His familiar speech about who are the recipients of blessings and who are the recipients of woe. Because the sermon on the beatitudes is so familiar, we might fail to understand how radical were the concepts Jesus was preaching, from the religious perspective of His time. Even we who know and believe all Jesus taught, often find it difficult to comprehend that the poor are the truly rich and those who seem to have everything that this world considers valuable, are really the bereft.

Sometimes the lesson about what really matters, is learned at a tremendous price. It is however, a price worth paying because the promised reward is not temporal, but everlasting life.

That is hard to remember though, when moment by moment, inequity and injustice seem to be prevailing. It is precisely because it is so difficult that we need to have the Word of God seared into our memory, active in our intellect and the prime mover of our will.

“Blest are you poor,” Jesus said, “the reign of God is yours.”

- Donna Nelson, ocds
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, February 14, 2004
Saturday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Cyril, monk and St. Methodius, bishop

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Kings 12:26-32; 13:33-34
Psalm 106:6-7,19-22
Mark 8:1-10

A reflection on today's Scripture:

“My heart is moved with pity for the crowd.”

Jesus knows just how starved we are for fellowship with Him! He too longs for us to come to Him to be nourished, but we are sometimes such creatures of habit, and so easily led. Look at the Israelites in the Old Testament reading: Jeroboam made them a substitute god, and they were satisfied, because they had a thing to worship (and furthermore, a thing which made few demands that they change their lives). It's very very easy to exchange our glory for the image of a grass-eating bullock (a Ford Taurus!) or for the image and glamour of power, or riches, or whatever.

It is when we remember the Lord and how He loves us that we realize the glory of our heritage in Him. Seek Him always, do not forsake Him, for He longs to be with you, to love you, heal you, redeem you, change you from glory to glory --- we shall never have our fill of HIM, that's for sure! He always has more for us.

My soul rejoices in my God,
and my spirit proclaims the greatness of the Lord!
May we be ever in search of His love!

- Rose Atiyeh @>-->--

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, February 13, 2004
Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Kings 11:29-32;12:19
Psalm 81:10-15
Mark 7:31-37

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Day after day, as the readings enrich our lives with God’s providential care of the people of the Covenant, we’re amazed at the patience of the Almighty. He’s always shifting to “Plan B”, and somehow, it turns out to the advantage of His people. “His love is everlasting” plays over and over in our minds. Ten tribes are removed from the tutelage of Solomon and his son, all to the advantage of both Jeroboam and those under his care.

Does it occur to us that God is doing the same thing for us today? He’s always adjusting His plans according to our free will decisions, while always maintaining His overall Grand Plan. In the final analysis, God’s ultimate goal will be achieved.

Each time we say the ‘Our Father’, we pray that His will be done--on earth as it is in heaven. At the same time, we should pray that we’ll be more and more attuned to that Will in our individual decisions. How pleasing it must be to the Father to reflect on all those trillions of decisions that further His plan, and how patient He is with all who resist His Will, over and over again.

How very important that we praise and bless and glorify the all-powerful, all-merciful God who holds us in being each second of our life.

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at twcny dot rr dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, February 12, 2004
Thursday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Kings 11:4-13
Psalm 106:3-4,35-37,40
Mark 7:24-30

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

“Let the children be fed first. . .”

Jesus makes clear in many ways that while His message comes first to the people of the first covenant, the Children of Israel. But He did not come only to Israel, and this is one of the place He reveals His mission in scripture.

What is the meaning of this to us today--all of this has already happened, how can it have any significance? It is meaningful because Jesus Christ comes to each of us today. Every person has the opportunity to receive Him and believe.

Sometimes we feel too unworthy of His Love--and we are correct, we are unworthy. On the other hand it is His Love that in turn makes us worthy of love. We are lovable because He loves us. And that is an important point to remember. We approach the throne of grace not under our own power, but in the power of His redemptive love. And while it sometimes seems we stray far from it and are not worthy to return--still while the children may be fed first even the dogs under the table get the scraps, and these scraps are enough and more than enough. So, if you ever have a dog-under-the-table day, recall that Jesus speaks to you and redeems you even as you feel unworthy. We are all children of God, all offered the same love and the same redemption.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, February 11, 2004
Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Our Lady of Lourdes

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Kings 10:1-10
Psalm 37:5-6,30-31,39-40
Mark 7:14-23

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture. . . .

“What emerges from within a man,
that and nothing else is what make him impure.” (Mark 7:23)

God instills wisdom in those hearts who sincerely seek to know Him and desire to live in His goodness. Conversely, Satan instills cunning within hearts that only seek to fulfill their selfish, worldly desires. Today's readings illustrate the importance of humanity's inner life, our remaining in communion with God and fulfilling our responsibility of keeping our hearts pure, loving and life-giving.

Solomon proved his great, worldly wisdom to the Queen of Sheba who rewarded him with money and precious jewels. But of what use are such gains that bring us the envy or admiration of others but which will be taken from us when we close our eyes in death. God desires to give us an eternal gift, the purest of joys and a peace that this sinful world can never give. This human flesh can never be totally satisfied by things, sensations and experiences; our rest will come only when our human spirits, our hearts and wills have become one with God's Holy Spirit.

Jesus speaks of the wickedness that springs from within those who choose the world and self over God and His eternal life. Solomon shows us that temptations will always present themselves and wisdom alone cannot prevent a "fall" from grace. Vigilance plus humility added to a sincere love and desire for God equal salvation.

Lord of all blessings,
pour out Your Spirit upon us,
turn our eyes from this world
by whetting our hunger for Your eternal gifts.
Amen.

- Marie Bocko, ocds
(mlbocko at borg dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, February 10, 2004
Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Saint Scholastica, virgin

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Kings 8:22-23,27-30
Psalm 84:3,4,5,10,11
Mark 7:1-13

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

The readings chosen by the Church for the feast of St. Scholastica are a challenge for all of us and a tribute to this saint.

In the first reading we hear the prayer of Solomon “If the heavens cannot contain you how much less this temple.” (I Kings 8) We might have the same thoughts at times regarding God dwelling within each of us, in the temple of our souls. The reality is awesome! If Solomon was overwhelmed over God dwelling in his temple made of stone, what joy we rightfully experience over becoming living temples! As the psalm chosen for today states “How lovely are your dwelling places, Lord, Mighty God.”

The day to day challenge for us lies in the gospel. Once God dwells within us, He expects more than just ‘lip service’ from us. God is a God of Love. He is LOVE itself and thus our thoughts, words and actions rightfully should reflect that love-bond with Him who is dwelling within us. God does not demand that love from us, in fact He has given us free will. It is just that He loves us so very much, each one of us, and hopes for that love in return.

St. Scholastica, help us to love, LOVE as you have done!

- Joan of Jesus, ocds
(jmurphy at utica dot edu)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, February 9, 2004
Monday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary TIme

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Kings 8:1-7,9-13
Psalm 132:6-10
Mark 6:53-56

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

The Healing Presence

This place where You dwell, You make awesome. This vessel You inhabit becomes sacred. This temple You fill with Your glory...and protect in the shadowing wings of Cherubim...oh joyous covenant of Love, God with us. The house of each soul is made Princely by the One who inhabits it. Behold the ark where our Beloved abides eternally. The first reading today reveals to waiting hearts, God's dwelling in covenantal presence with His espoused BeLoved.

Our waiting hearts see that it is within each of us that the Lord takes up His dwelling. He presents Himself, the eternal covenant, breathing Love into life, in the ark of each Be-Loved. Life is begotten and breathes back Love to the beloved as aspirations, the fruit of His Inspiration...the breath of Love is adoration for Him. Holy. Holy. Holy.

The tassels of His indwelling Presence thus heal the souls we pass each day when they encounter Him in their kind eyes, loving smiles, gentle words, caring labor, listening hearts, suffering perseverance: spouse, child, coworker, client, a sick or dying or troubled one....

O come,
let His espoused adore Him
in the Ark of each Be-Loved soul
we encounter throughout this day.

Amen


- Mary Williams

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, February 8, 2004
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 6:1-8
Psalm 138:1-8
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Luke 5:1-11

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Sometimes it’s fascinating to see the way gospel stories unfold - how Jesus patiently waits for some very common human situation as the stage for Him to teach an unforgettable lesson. Today’s story is one of them. The fisherman-apostles have worked hard all night and have accomplished nothing. Do you know that kind of feeling, where nothing seems to come together no matter how hard you have tried?

Enter Jesus, who tells Peter to try again, perhaps not in the same way, but in the way He directs. Human nature being what it is, usually bristles at such suggestions because it seems to infer that the initial efforts were not sufficient or quite right. Instead, Peter demurs to Jesus -- after a brief and polite defense of his efforts:
“if You say so, I’ll lower the nets again.”

We know the results: an astonishing catch of fish!

Now, the Lord didn’t mean to diminish Peter’s expertise as a fisherman, but rather to determine if Peter in the final analysis would obey.

We see the reward for obedience and politeness - an outcome that was thought impossible.

It is a great lesson: obedience (and politeness). It gets results not only from the Almighty, but sometimes even from the not-so-almighty. It’s worth considering though, isn’t it?

- Donna Nelson, ocds
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, February 7, 2004
Saturday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Kings 3:4-13
Psalm 119:9-14
Mark 6:30-34

A reflection on today's Scripture:

Today's reading from the Book of Kings gives us an opportunity to imagine what we might request if God said to us, as he did Solomon: “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.”

What would it be?

It's a wonderful exercise. Akin to daydreaming about how you would spend multimillions if you won the lottery.

But more than a fanciful activity, it gives us the opportunity to identify who we are with all our needs and more importantly, who God is.

Like Solomon, do you recognize God's goodness to you? Are you a grateful, praising, humble person? Do you love Him so much, that, to discern His will and do what is pleasing to Him, it’s your only delight?

If you fall short, raise your voice in prayer, begging the Father to give you wisdom and love.

He will not refuse.

- Donna Nelson, ocds
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, February 6, 2004
Friday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Paul Miki, martyr, and his companions, martyrs

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Sirach 47:2-11
Psalm 18:31,47,50-51
Mark 6:14-29

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

The consequence of truth is the shining forth of justice, with its ‘terrible swift sword’. The power of truth clashes with the misuse of power by rulers. In the first reading, the strength and power of King David is celebrated, but ends with a reminder that even this great king misused his power through sin with Bathsheba. When confronted with the truth by Nathan, he repented for the injustice, and was restored to righteousness before God.

In the Gospel, Herod Antipas misuses his power. The salacious dance of Salome seduces his heart, and he compounds his adultery with Herodias through the murder of John the Baptist. Now, cowering in fear at the mention of the name of Jesus, truth and justice triumph as dogs lap up his blood.

Indeed, truth shines with a terrible beauty -- the beauty of ultimate justice. May we take both comfort and warning from today's readings.

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at twcny dot rr dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, February 5, 2004
Thursday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Agatha, virgin, martyr

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Kings 2:1-4,10-12
1 Chronicles 29:10-12
Mark 6:7-13

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

“So they went off and preached repentance. . .”

Jesus sends out his disciples with absolutely nothing for themselves. And he sends them with that ever-popular message: repentance.

We know what preaching repentance got for Jeremiah and the other prophets. We know what preaching repentance earned for John the Baptist. And yet the time had come, the time was ripe, and repentance was the message of the day.

And strangely, repentance is still the message of the day. We need to preach repentance not so much through what we say but through how we live our lives. Do our lives show the fruits of repentance? Do we experience joy and peace in our knowledge of the Lord. If not, it is time to reevaluate, to repent or think again about how we conduct our lives. Because repentance is what the Lord tells us to preach and repentance is what we know deep down inside will allow us to live lives worthy of Him.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, February 4, 2004
Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Samuel 24:2,9-17
Psalm 32:1-2,5-7
Mark 6:1-6

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture. . . .

“No prophet is without honor except in his native place...” (Mark 6:4)

We often don’t realize when God is trying to touch our minds and hearts because He does so through seemingly ordinary people. Like children who turn blind eyes and deaf ears toward their familiar parents, we tend to take for granted those we think we know, people we have stereotyped and then dismissed their being instruments of God. Such was the situation when Jesus visited His home town. The natives may have heard rumors of His powerful teachings, healings and miracles, but still dismissed Him as their former carpenter now suffering from “delusions of grandeur.”

The Gospel shows that through human prejudice and narrowness, His townspeople cheated themselves of God’s very life; they rejected their Creator’s truth and love embodied in Jesus who was sent to pour out blessings upon them, and through them to the entire world. Ponder the truth that “no man is an island.”

Why do so many remain deaf and blind to God when He tries to touch them through other humans? Most likely because of our dislike for facts. By selectively choosing the appropriate Scripture passages,we have created a fictional mental image of God, one with whom we can feel completely comfortable and thoroughly understand, one we can manipulate, cajole into forgiving us, bargain with and from whom we can extort favors. In brief, we want a God that fulfills our will, not one who asks that we do His.

Merciful God,
heal our blindness,
cleanse us and regenerate us into Your holy image,
that we may pour forth from our hearts
the very goodness You revealed to us in Christ.
Amen.

- Marie Bocko, ocds
(mlbocko at borg dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, February 3, 2004
Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Blase, bishop and martyr

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Samuel 18:9-10,14,24-25,30--19:3
Psalm 86:1-6
Mark 5:21-43

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

“I believe ...in all that is seen and unseen.”

Today's gospel shows us the miraculous effects our faith can have, if we just believed with all our hearts. In the Apostles Creed we acknowledge God as the Creator of all things, not just Creator of the visible domain but also the invisible. With this should come a profound humility that we don't have all the answers, as indeed we don't have God's infinite power and knowledge. So, why then do we sometimes think we know better than God?!

The challenge for each one of us every day is to do the best we can with what we have been given. When events go contrary to our expectations, we need to accept our current circumstance and then work to do what we can to better it. Again, we do not have all the answers; let's not pretend that we do!

Mother Mary, help us to not resist the will of God in our lives, but help us to use every circumstance in our lives as an opportunity to grow more deeply in your Love....

Amen!

- Cliodhna Doyle
(clia at cliadoyle dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, February 2, 2004
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Malachi 3:1-4
Psalm 24:7-10
Hebrews 2:14-18
Luke 2:2-40

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

“He Will Sit as a Refiner and Purifier”

Who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears?

Good questions. And the answer is, By our own virtue, might, and power: NO one! However, through His grace we are made worthy of Him.

God promises us that we will be refined by Him, we will be purified, until our offerings are worthy of Him.

What are our offerings? They are prayers, songs of praise, and people we bring to the Lord with us. Our offerings are love for one another, love for those who despise us. Our offerings are prayers for the unborn and assistance to their mothers. Our offerings are obedience to God and all of His commandments. Our offerings are, in short, our Gifts from God returned to God. God makes our offerings worthy, for they are Gifts from Him, refined by Him and returned to Him, to make for us a crown which we shall achieve upon entering heaven.

God is worthy of all praise. Our heavenly Father brings us to Him and protects us in His love. He holds us in the palm of His hand, and makes us worthy to worship Him and praise Him.

- JuandelaCruz

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, February 1, 2004
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 1:4-5,17-19
Psalm 71:1-6,15-17
1 Corinthians 12:31--13:13
Luke 4:21-30

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today's second reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians is often read at weddings. Speaking about the qualities associated with love, it becomes for the bride and groom, and indeed all witnesses, an excellent measuring stick for our fidelity to all that love demands.

The most excellent example of love is, of course, Jesus. By surrendering the glory of heaven and becoming one of us He begins to demonstrate what true love is all about. He continues by His selfless ministry which finally culminates on the Cross by His ignominious death. For us it is difficult to fathom imitating that kind of love, and we often give up before we really even give it a shot.

Paul's letter offers us another set of criteria which are a reflection of divine Love, no less difficult to accomplish, but seemingly more within our reach. I offer just one for your consideration: “Love is kind.” If we are willing to critically evaluate our behavior and motivations against those three little words and honestly discover that we measure up, then the other more familiar three little words will not be like mere clashing cymbals ringing discordantly with disturbing noise, but instead pure and beautiful because they'll be on pitch -- they will be true.

- Donna Nelson, ocds
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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