Posted on 03/25/2006 10:20:53 PM PST by Salvation
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Reading I
2 Chr 36:14-16, 19-23
In those days, all the princes of Judah, the priests, and the people
added infidelity to infidelity,
practicing all the abominations of the nations
and polluting the LORDs temple
which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.
Early and often did the LORD, the God of their fathers,
send his messengers to them,
for he had compassion on his people and his dwelling place.
But they mocked the messengers of God,
despised his warnings, and scoffed at his prophets,
until the anger of the LORD against his people was so inflamed
that there was no remedy.
Their enemies burnt the house of God,
tore down the walls of Jerusalem,
set all its palaces afire,
and destroyed all its precious objects.
Those who escaped the sword were carried captive to Babylon,
where they became servants of the king of the Chaldeans and his sons
until the kingdom of the Persians came to power.
All this was to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah:
Until the land has retrieved its lost sabbaths,
during all the time it lies waste it shall have rest
while seventy years are fulfilled.
In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia,
in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah,
the LORD inspired King Cyrus of Persia
to issue this proclamation throughout his kingdom,
both by word of mouth and in writing:
Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia:
All the kingdoms of the earth
the LORD, the God of heaven, has given to me,
and he has also charged me to build him a house
in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
Whoever, therefore, among you belongs to any part of his people,
let him go up, and may his God be with him!
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6
R. (6ab) Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
By the streams of Babylon
we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion.
On the aspens of that land
we hung up our harps.
R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
For there our captors asked of us
the lyrics of our songs,
And our despoilers urged us to be joyous:
Sing for us the songs of Zion!
R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
How could we sing a song of the LORD
in a foreign land?
If I forget you, Jerusalem,
may my right hand be forgotten!
R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
May my tongue cleave to my palate
if I remember you not,
If I place not Jerusalem
ahead of my joy.
R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
Reading II
Eph 2:4-10
Brothers and sisters:
God, who is rich in mercy,
because of the great love he had for us,
even when we were dead in our transgressions,
brought us to life with Christ -. by grace you have been saved .-,
raised us up with him,
and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,
that in the ages to come
He might show the immeasurable riches of his grace
in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and this is not from you; it is the gift of God;
it is not from works, so no one may boast.
For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works
that God has prepared in advance,
that we should live in them.
Gospel
Jn 3:14-21
Jesus said to Nicodemus:
Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
And this is the verdict,
that the light came into the world,
but people preferred darkness to light,
because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light
and does not come toward the light,
so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,
so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.
The Need for Some Soul Searching Fourth Sunday of Lent John 3:14-21 Introductory Prayer: As I place myself in your presence, Lord, I ask you to enlighten me during this prayer. Help me to shake off all laziness and distractions and listen to your words of life. Show me what it is that you want of me today, and give me the generosity and strength to surrender it all, not holding anything back for myself. Give me the same courage you gave Nicodemus to seek you above all else. Petition: Lord, grant me the grace to discern your presence in the Eucharist and all of the circumstances of my day. 1. A Shaky Member of the Sanhedrin. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a member of the leading class in Israel. He had certainly caught word about the miracles Jesus had worked. Perhaps he had heard one of Christs sermons. Something aroused in him a deeper search for God. But what would happen if someone were to find out that Nicodemus had gone to speak with another rabbi who was not part of their group? He was risking quite a bit in making this visit, for Jesus had already raised a few eyebrows in the Sanhedrin, some whom were already envious of Jesus. Nicodemus heart is not at peace. He seeks to know more about this new way; thus he comes to Jesus at night. Have I allowed routine to set in, diminishing or eliminating all desire for improvement in my life? Have I already labeled Christ as a radical so as not to lose my comfort zone? What price am I willing to pay for this peace of heart, for eternal life? 2. The Forbidden Question. Jesus gives Nicodemus the answer to his unasked question. The problem the Pharisees had with Jesus was their outlook on life. God had chosen Israel as his people. He had made a covenant with them: If they would fulfill his commandments then God would bless them. But they had come to understand everything in a very legalistic manner and the true love of God and neighbor had been forgotten. This is why Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be born again. He needed a radical change in his life. Have I too fallen into a legalistic mentality, concentrating on the mere fulfillment of my obligations and brushing aside the more weighty matters of loving God and neighbor? Have I opened the door for God to enter into my daily existence and bring his salvation? 3. The Serpent on the Pole. A man cannot save himself. Only God can save man. How? "Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." This phrase harks back to the Exodus, God leading his chosen people out of slavery into the Promised Land (cf. Numbers 20:4-9). That serpent fixed to a pole is a symbol of Jesus being nailed to the cross. Thus, as that serpent was a sign of curing (it is the logo for medicine even today), it only had healing power in as much as it symbolized the saving power of Christs cross. Every day, the hands of his priests lift Jesus up. As they celebrate the sacrifice of the Mass, Jesus renews the memorial of his death as he offers himself to the Father for the salvation of mankind. Here is where Nicodemus was unable to comprehend the depth of Jesus words: so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. Dialogue with Christ: Lord Jesus, as I kneel before your cross in this prayer, I thank you for kindling in my heart a renewed desire for holiness and salvation. I know I need a new mentality and a deep conversion of heart. I therefore turn to you. Give me the strength to leave aside my mediocrity and truly search for you throughout this day. Grant me the grace of receiving you in the Eucharist today and retaining your presence in the midst of all of todays struggles. Resolution: I will attend Mass today with special fervor, seeking Jesus in the Eucharist, and if possible I will also receive him in Holy Communion. |
To all FReepers reading this thread, may you have a blessed Sunday!
Faith-sharing bump.
Jn 3:14-21 | ||
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# | Douay-Rheims | Vulgate |
14 | And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of man be lifted up: | et sicut Moses exaltavit serpentem in deserto ita exaltari oportet Filium hominis |
15 | That whosoever believeth in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting. | ut omnis qui credit in ipso non pereat sed habeat vitam aeternam |
16 | For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son: that whosoever believeth in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting. | sic enim dilexit Deus mundum ut Filium suum unigenitum daret ut omnis qui credit in eum non pereat sed habeat vitam aeternam |
17 | For God sent not his Son into the world, to judge the world: but that the world may be saved by him. | non enim misit Deus Filium suum in mundum ut iudicet mundum sed ut salvetur mundus per ipsum |
18 | He that believeth in him is not judged. But he that doth not believe is already judged: because he believeth not in the name of the only begotten Son of God. | qui credit in eum non iudicatur qui autem non credit iam iudicatus est quia non credidit in nomine unigeniti Filii Dei |
19 | And this is the judgment: Because the light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than the light: for their works were evil. | hoc est autem iudicium quia lux venit in mundum et dilexerunt homines magis tenebras quam lucem erant enim eorum mala opera |
20 | For every one that doth evil hateth the light and cometh not to the light, that his works may not be reproved. | omnis enim qui mala agit odit lucem et non venit ad lucem ut non arguantur opera eius |
21 | But he that doth truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest: because they are done in God. | qui autem facit veritatem venit ad lucem ut manifestentur eius opera quia in Deo sunt facta |
Here's the link if the picture does not show up.
http://www.comeandseeicons.com/ymg10.jpg
Pray for A Voice in the Desert
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The Archbishop's Response - with a commentary Response of Fr. Altier and Fr. Welzbacher, pastor |
Glorify the Lord with me. |
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Most Reverend Harry J. Flynn Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA This action of the Archbishop is not related to any scandal We regret any inconvenience and humbly ask for your prayers. Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Most Reverend Harry J. Flynn |
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
Psalm 109 (110) |
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The Messiah, king and priest |
The Lord has said to my lord: Sit at my right hand while I make your enemies into your footstool. From Sion the Lord will give you a sceptre, and you will rule in the midst of your foes. Royal power is yours in the day of your strength, glorious and holy; from the time of your birth, before the dawn. The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: You are a priest for ever, a priest of the priesthood of Melchisedech. The Lord is at your right hand, and on the day of his anger he will shatter kings. He will judge the nations, he will pile high their skulls; he will drink from the stream as he goes he will hold his head high. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
Psalm 111 (112) |
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How blessed are the just |
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord and loves his commands above all things. His seed will be powerful on earth: the descendants of the just will be blessed. Glory and riches will fill his house, and his righteousness will stand firm for ever. He rises up in the darkness, a light for the upright, compassionate, generous, and just. Happy the man who takes pity and lends, who directs his affairs with wisdom he will never be shaken. The just man will be remembered for ever, no slander will he fear. His heart is ready, hoping in the Lord; his heart is strong, it will not fear, until he looks down on his defeated enemies. He gives alms and helps the poor: his righteousness will endure for ever, his future will be glorious. The transgressor will see, and be enraged: he will grind his teeth and fade away. The desires of the wicked will perish. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
Canticle | 1 Peter 2 |
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Christ's passion, freely chosen | |
Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, to follow in his path. He committed no sin, in his speech there was no deceit; when they cursed him, he did not curse them; when he suffered, he did not threaten retribution, but committed them to the one just judge. He endured our sins in the sufferings of his body on the tree, so that we would die to our sins and live for righteousness and by his bruises you have been healed. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
A short Bible reading and responsory may follow here. |
Canticle | Magnificat |
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My soul rejoices in the Lord | |
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation. For he has shown me such favour me, his lowly handmaiden. Now all generations will call me blessed, because the mighty one has done great things for me. His name is holy, his mercy lasts for generation after generation for those who revere him. He has put forth his strength: he has scattered the proud and conceited, torn princes from their thrones; but lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. |
A concluding prayer may follow here. |
May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life. |
A M E N |
Sunday, March 26, 2006 Meditation John 3:14-21 Ask a physicist to define light, and you might learn that light consists of electromagnetic radiation visible to the human eye. Ask a biologist to define life, and you might learn that it manifests itself in growth, reproduction, and response to stimulus. Ask one of the writers of the New Testament, however, and youll get an entirely different answer. Most likely, youll hear that light and life are divine gifts from God given to us in Jesus Christ. There is so much more to the Christian life than the light of intellectual understanding. There is so much more to life than simply surviving in this world. Endless galleries of divine revelation and unmerited grace exist that can bring us to a personal knowledge of God and his plan for our livesto his own light and life. Where do we find this revelation? In Jesus Christ, the Word of God. According to the church, in giving us his Son, God spoke everything to us at onceand he has no more to say (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 65). Now we can spend the whole of our lives digging ever more deeply into that revelation. He is like a rich mine with many pockets containing treasures; however deep we dig we will never find their end or their limit (St. John of the Cross, Spiritual Canticle). Why do we need the light and life of Christ? Because without him, we are dead. Scripture tells us that because of sin, we have forfeited our inheritance of divine life. The law of death holds sway over all of us, and there is no escaping it on our own power. Only the wooden cross and the open grave can restore this life to us. Faith in Christ can open so many more doors than we can imagine. Let us come to Jesus today and ask for a double portion of his light and his life. Lord Jesus, I believe that by your cross you have overcome my darkness and restored me to divine life. May I be like you, bringing light and life into a needy world. 2 Chronicles 36:14-16,19-23; Psalm 137:1-6; Ephesians 2:4-10 |
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Faith and Works |
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03/14/06 |
Perhaps the most publicized verse in the whole of Scripture is John 3:16. In all of the nationally televised sport events, as the camera pans the baseball park, football stadium, hockey or basketball arena, you can see a sign which simply reads: John 3:16. |
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O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
This is an excellent moment for an examination of conscience. In a communal celebration of Compline, one of the penitential acts given in the Missal may be recited. |
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
Psalm 90 (91) |
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The protection of the Most High |
He will shade you with his wings; you will not fear the terror of the night. |
He who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells under the shade of the Almighty. He will say to the Lord: You are my shelter and my strength, my God, in whom I trust. For he will free you from the hunters snare, from the voice of the slanderer. He will shade you with his wings, you will hide underneath his wings. His faithfulness will be your armour and your shield. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day; nor the plague that walks in the shadows, nor the death that lays waste at noon. A thousand will fall at your side, at your right hand ten thousand will fall, but you it will never come near. You will look with your eyes and see the reward of sinners. For the Lord is your shelter and refuge; you have made the Most High your dwelling-place. Evil will not reach you, harm cannot approach your tent; for he has set his angels to guard you and keep you safe in all your ways. They will carry you in their arms in case you hurt your foot on a stone. You walk on the viper and cobra, you will tread on the lion and the serpent. Because he clung to me, I shall free him: I shall lift him up because he knows my name. He will call upon me and for my part, I will hear him: I am with him in his time of trouble. I shall rescue him and lead him to glory. I shall fill him with length of days and show him my salvation. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
He will shade you with his wings; you will not fear the terror of the night. |
Reading | Apocalypse 22:4-5 |
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They will see the face of the Lord, and his name will be marked on their foreheads. There will be no more night: they will not need sunlight or lamp-light, because the Lord God himself will shine upon them. And they will reign for ever and ever. |
Short Responsory | ? |
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Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. You have redeemed us, Lord, God of faithfulness. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. |
Canticle | Nunc Dimittis |
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Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. | |
Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace. You have fulfilled your promise. My own eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples. A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness; the glory of your people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. |
Prayer | |
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Let us pray. Today we have celebrated the mystery of the Christs resurrection, and so now we humbly ask you, Lord, that we may rest in your peace, far from all harm, and rise rejoicing and giving praise to you. Through Christ our Lord, Amen. |
May the almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end. |
A M E N |
God is indeed rich in mercy!
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