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Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful!
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   20060303

The Catholic Calendar for Friday, March 3, 2006
Friday after Ash Wednesday

St. Katharine Drexel, virgin

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 Scripture. . . .

The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them
and then they will fast.
(Matthew 9:15)

This Lenten season calls us to admit our sinfulness, embrace self-denial and renounce our self-indulgent practices. Jesus affirms Isaiah's correcting our false views of fasting. Most often we interpret fasting to mean our denying ourselves of something pleasurable such as eating or seeking entertainment. However, we now discover that such fasting does nothing to change the condition of our hearts, the seat of all human problems. Instead they leave us hungry, dry in spirit or puffed with pride over our marvelous self-discipline.

True "fasting" takes place when we willfully abandon all those attitudes and activities that set us at odds with our fellow humans. We do best to deny indulging ourselves of any unkindness, judgmentalism, jealousy, covetousness, lying, greed, lust, stinginess and the exploitation of others. The basis of all sin is mankind's dedication to self rather than to God, denying His sovereignty over us. Jesus tells His critics that His very presence in this world is a time for celebration; for He bears to us in His very Person, God's forgiveness of our sin and the grace that will enable us to participate in His holiness.

Jesus predicts the Godlessness that this world's societies are experiencing today. Our mourning and fasting should then be such that it would make us worthy to participate in His wedding feast. Christ came into this world to gather all true believers to His bosom and present them, pure and free of sin, to His heavenly Father. Such will be His Church, His bride, to whom He is espoused and kept in His loving care throughout eternity.

Blessed Redeemer,
imbue all those who profess belief in you with genuine faith,
one that embraces and fully lives in Your love and truth.
Amen.

- Marie Bocko,
OCDS
(mlbocko at earthlink dot net)

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