Posted on 03/11/2015 8:37:44 PM PDT by Salvation
March 12, 2015
Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
Reading 1 Jer 7:23-28
Thus says the LORD:
This is what I commanded my people:
Listen to my voice;
then I will be your God and you shall be my people.
Walk in all the ways that I command you,
so that you may prosper.
But they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed.
They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts
and turned their backs, not their faces, to me.
From the day that your fathers left the land of Egypt even to this day,
I have sent you untiringly all my servants the prophets.
Yet they have not obeyed me nor paid heed;
they have stiffened their necks and done worse than their fathers.
When you speak all these words to them,
they will not listen to you either;
when you call to them, they will not answer you.
Say to them:
This is the nation that does not listen
to the voice of the LORD, its God,
or take correction.
Faithfulness has disappeared;
the word itself is banished from their speech.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
“Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works.”
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Verse Before the Gospel Jl 2:12-13
Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
for I am gracious and merciful.
Gospel Lk 11:14-23
Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute,
and when the demon had gone out,
the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.
Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons,
he drives out demons.”
Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.
But he knew their thoughts and said to them,
“Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste
and house will fall against house.
And if Satan is divided against himself,
how will his kingdom stand?
For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.
If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul,
by whom do your own people drive them out?
Therefore they will be your judges.
But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons,
then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
When a strong man fully armed guards his palace,
his possessions are safe.
But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,
he takes away the armor on which he relied
and distributes the spoils.
Whoever is not with me is against me,
and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Luke | |||
English: Douay-Rheims | Latin: Vulgata Clementina | Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000) | |
Luke 11 |
|||
14. | And he was casting out a devil, and the same was dumb: and when he had cast out the devil, the dumb spoke: and the multitudes were in admiration at it: | Et erat ejiciens dæmonium, et illud erat mutum. Et cum ejecisset dæmonium, locutus est mutus, et admiratæ sunt turbæ. | και ην εκβαλλων δαιμονιον και αυτο ην κωφον εγενετο δε του δαιμονιου εξελθοντος ελαλησεν ο κωφος και εθαυμασαν οι οχλοι |
15. | But some of them said: He casteth out devils by Beelzebub, the prince of devils. | Quidam autem ex eis dixerunt : In Beelzebub principe dæmoniorum ejicit dæmonia. | τινες δε εξ αυτων ειπον εν βεελζεβουλ αρχοντι των δαιμονιων εκβαλλει τα δαιμονια |
16. | And others tempting, asked of him a sign from heaven. | Et alii tentantes, signum de cælo quærebant ab eo. | ετεροι δε πειραζοντες σημειον παρ αυτου εζητουν εξ ουρανου |
17. | But he seeing their thoughts, said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself, shall be brought to desolation, and house upon house shall fall. | Ipse autem ut vidit cogitationes eorum, dixit eis : Omne regnum in seipsum divisum desolabitur, et domus supra domum cadet. | αυτος δε ειδως αυτων τα διανοηματα ειπεν αυτοις πασα βασιλεια εφ εαυτην διαμερισθεισα ερημουται και οικος επι οικον πιπτει |
18. | And if Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because you say, that through Beelzebub I cast out devils. | Si autem et Satanas in seipsum divisus est, quomodo stabit regnum ejus ? quia dicitis in Beelzebub me ejicere dæmonia. | ει δε και ο σατανας εφ εαυτον διεμερισθη πως σταθησεται η βασιλεια αυτου οτι λεγετε εν βεελζεβουλ εκβαλλειν με τα δαιμονια |
19. | Now if I cast out devils by Beelzebub; by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. | Si autem ego in Beelzebub ejicio dæmonia : filii vestri in quo ejiciunt ? ideo ipsi judices vestri erunt. | ει δε εγω εν βεελζεβουλ εκβαλλω τα δαιμονια οι υιοι υμων εν τινι εκβαλλουσιν δια τουτο κριται υμων αυτοι εσονται |
20. | But if I by the finger of God cast out devils; doubtless the kingdom of God is come upon you. | Porro si in digito Dei ejicio dæmonia : profecto pervenit in vos regnum Dei. | ει δε εν δακτυλω θεου εκβαλλω τα δαιμονια αρα εφθασεν εφ υμας η βασιλεια του θεου |
21. | When a strong man armed keepeth his court, those things are in peace which he possesseth. | Cum fortis armatus custodit atrium suum, in pace sunt ea quæ possidet. | οταν ο ισχυρος καθωπλισμενος φυλασση την εαυτου αυλην εν ειρηνη εστιν τα υπαρχοντα αυτου |
22. | But if a stronger than he come upon him, and overcome him; he will take away all his armour wherein he trusted, and will distribute his spoils. | Si autem fortior eo superveniens vicerit eum, universa arma ejus auferet, in quibus confidebat, et spolia ejus distribuet. | επαν δε ο ισχυροτερος αυτου επελθων νικηση αυτον την πανοπλιαν αυτου αιρει εφ η επεποιθει και τα σκυλα αυτου διαδιδωσιν |
23. | He that is not with me, is against me; and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth. | Qui non est mecum, contra me est : et qui non colligit mecum, dispergit. | ο μη ων μετ εμου κατ εμου εστιν και ο μη συναγων μετ εμου σκορπιζει |
The inscriptions: "toll-taking", "whereby the thievish are tried".
Held by the angel: "fasting and prayers".
Held by the devil: "envy".
Feast Day: February 14
Born: 758, Constantinople
Died: 817
St. Fina (Seraphina)
Feast Day: March 12
Died: 1253
Seraphina was born in a little Italian town called San Geminiano, Tuscany. Her parents had once been rich, but difficult times had made them poor. Seraphina, or Fina, as her family affectionately called her, was their pretty and lively daughter who had a generous nature.
Each day she saved half of her dinner for someone in the town poorer than she was. During the day she sewed and spun cloth to help the family with expenses. At night, she usually spent a long time praying to Jesus and Mary.
When she was still quite young, her father died. Soon after, Fina was struck with an illness that deformed and paralyzed her. She found it very painful to move and had to be carried everywhere on a board. Fina lay for six years on wooden planks.
Pain rushed through her whole body and the only way she could bear it was to think of Jesus as he was nailed to the cross. "I unite my sufferings to yours, Jesus," she would whisper. Sometimes, when the pain was just too much, she would say, "It is not my wounds but yours, O Christ, that hurt me."
Fina was left alone for many hours every day because her mother had to go out to work or beg. The neighbors knew about Fina, but her sores smelled so bad that people made excuses not to go and visit her.
Then suddenly, Fina's mother also died and she was left alone. Only one neighbor, her good friend Beldia, came to care for her giving Fina as much attention as she could, but Fina had to be left alone most of the time. Fina knew that she could not live much longer but she refused to lose heart.
Someone talked to her about the terrible sufferings St. Gregory the Great had to undergo during his life. Fina became devoted to him and although she did not join the order, she lived the rest of her life following the Benedictine rule.
One day, as she groaned in pain, St. Gregory appeared to her. He said kindly, "Child, on my feast day God will grant you rest." which in older calendars was celebrated on March 12 that was the day he died in 604. And as promised, on March 12, 1253, St. Gregory came to take Fina home to heaven.
Thursday, March 12
Liturgical Color: Violet
Today the Church recalls St. Seraphina,
virgin. St. Seraphina was stricken by a
malady that made any movement painful.
She united her suffering with Christs and
spent her life performing tasks for those
less fortunate than herself. She died in
1253.
|
1 Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; 3 so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. 4 They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, 7 and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ. 11 He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; 12 whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
13 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you shut the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither enter yourselves, nor allow those who would enter to go in. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you traverse sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
Other ancient authorities add here (or after verse 12) verse 14, Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you devour widows' houses and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation.
Call no man your father: Jesus uses hyperbole to post a warning that no one should pridefully desire honorific titles. His words are not meant literally. The NT writers elsewhere use father for natural fathers (Heb 12:7-11) and spiritual fathers in the Church (1 Cor 4:15; Philem 10). The spiritual fatherhood of New Covenant priests is an extension of its application to Old Covenant priests (Judg 17:10; 18:19).
Lent Day 23 – God of the Nations
by Fr. Robert Barron
While we take comfort from much of the Bible’s message, the Bible is not always comforting news. It often carries a message of warning and danger. During this penitential season, it’s good for us to attend to the darker side of the biblical message.
When we read about the pollution of the Lord’s Temple, we discover a familiar prophetic theme: the people have wandered from the ways of God, rendering impure what God intends to be just and upright. God sends prophet after prophet in order to bring his people back, but they are ignored, mocked, and rejected. Then God’s judgment falls on the unfaithful nation.
What is the instrument of God’s justice? In one case, it was the Chaldeans, one of the heathen nations. They came and destroyed the city of Jerusalem, burned the Temple, carried off its most sacred objects, and led the people into exile.
What was this? Dumb bad luck? Just the give and take of geo-political forces? No! The Bible insists that this should be read as God’s action, more specifically, as God’s judgment and punishment. How at odds this is with the typically modern Enlightenment view, according to which religion is a private matter, confined to the heart and the mind of the individual. For the biblical authors, God is the Lord of history and time, and hence the Lord of nations and the Lord of nature. His works and actions must be discerned in all events.
If you want an example of a boldly theological reading of political events, look to Karl Barth, widely considered one of the greatest Protestant theologians of the twentieth century. At the start of the First World War, Barth was a country pastor in Switzerland who had been trained in the confident liberal theology that was all the rage around the turn of the last century. This theology shared the common view that with the rise of the natural sciences, the development of technology, and with political and cultural liberation, human beings could build the Kingdom of God here on earth.
From the quiet of his parsonage in Switzerland, Barth followed the horrors of the First World War, the slaughter of hundreds of thousands, the devastation of nations, the collapse of the European social order. Then something dawned on him: it was precisely the inflated self-regard and hubris of nineteenth-century liberalism that led to this disaster.
He saw the European powers as descendants of the Tower of Babel builders, attempting to reach up to God on their own terms and in their own way. Behind the sunny confidence of the liberal period, he discerned arrogance, imperialism, and colonialism. The advances of science were made possible through the rape of the environment and economic comfort for some was made possible through the enslavement of others.
In the end, bad personal habits have bad consequences, but bad national habits have bad consequences as well.
Daily Readings for:March 12, 2015
(Readings on USCCB website)
Collect: We implore your majesty most humbly, O Lord, that, as the feast of our salvation draws ever closer, so we may press forward all the more eagerly towards the worthy celebration of the Paschal Mystery. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
RECIPES
ACTIVITIES
o Good Example — A Lesson in Discipline
o Lent Hymn: Open, O Hard and Sinful Heart!
o Religion in the Home for Elementary School: March
o Religion in the Home for Preschool: March
PRAYERS
o Prayer for the Third Week of Lent
o Traditional Novena Prayer to St. Joseph
LIBRARY
o Gregory the Great, a Model for Civil and Religious Leaders | Pope Benedict XVI
o Saint Gregory the Great (1) | Pope Benedict XVI
o Saint Gregory the Great (2) | Pope Benedict XVI
· Lent: March 12th
· Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
Old Calendar: St. Gregory the Great, pope and doctor
According to the 1962 Missal of St. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today is the feast of Pope St. Gregory the Great. His feast in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite is celebrated on September 3.
Thanks to Fear of the Lord, There is no Fear of Evil
History, in fact, is not alone in the hands of dark powers, chance or human choices. Over the unleashing of evil energies, the vehement irruption of Satan, and the emergence of so many scourges and evils, the Lord rises, supreme arbiter of historical events. He leads history wisely towards the dawn of the new heavens and the new earth, sung in the final part of the book under the image of the new Jerusalem (cf. Revelation 21-22).
It must be reaffirmed, therefore, that God is not indifferent to human events, but penetrates them realizing his "ways," namely his plans and his efficacious "deeds."
According to our hymn, this divine intervention has a very specific purpose: to be a sign that invites all the peoples of the earth to conversion. Nations must learn to "read" in history a message of God. Humanity's history is not confused and without meaning, nor is it given over, without appeal, to the malfeasance of the arrogant and perverse. There is the possibility to recognize divine action hidden in it. In the pastoral constitution "Gaudium et Spes," Vatican Council II also invites the believer to scrutinize, in the light of the Gospel, the signs of the times to see in them the manifestation of the very action of God (cf. n. 4 and 11). This attitude of faith leads man to recognize the power of God operating in history, and thus to open himself to fear of the name of the Lord. In biblical language, in fact, this "fear" does not coincide with dread, but is the recognition of the mystery of the divine transcendence. Because of this, it is the basis of faith and is joined with love: "the Lord your God requires of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul" (cf. Deuteronomy 10:12).
Following this line, in our brief hymn, taken from Revelation, fear and glorification of God are united: "Who will not fear you, Lord, or glorify your name" (15:4)? Thanks to fear of the Lord there is no fear of the evil that rages in history and one takes up again with vigor the journey of life, as the prophet Isaiah declared: "Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened: ‘Be strong, fear not!’" (Isaiah 35: 3-4).
Excerpted from Thanks to Fear of the Lord, There Is No Fear of Evil, Pope Benedict XVI, May 11, 2005
Things to Do:
The Station is at the church of Sts. Cosmas and Damian, physicians. These martyrs were twin brothers originating from Arabia. They practiced medicine in Aegea, Cilicia, but accepted no money from the poor. Their beautiful Christian lives edified the pagans and converted many to the Faith. They were arrested in the persecution of Diocletian, subjected to torture, and finally beheaded.
3rd Week of Lent
By the finger of God . . . (Luke 11:20)
If you went to battle against a fearsome army, how would you defend yourself? You’d likely have your own weapons, bulletproof armor, and lots of backup. But in today’s Gospel, we hear that all Jesus needs to overcome the devil is his finger!
Jesus is stronger than the devil, so much so that when Satan, a “strong man,” bothers us, Jesus, the “stronger” man, easily overcomes him! This is what the story of the two strong men in today’s Gospel reading is about. One man is “strong,” “fully armed,” and has possessions he thinks are safe. But then a “stronger man” comes along, takes away the strong man’s armor, and “overcomes” him. The strong man is Satan, whose lies and temptations can make us feel like hostages.
Where do you feel trapped or held hostage? Perhaps you feel that a pattern of sin or a struggling relationship will never get resolved. The downward spiral is too strong for you to overcome. Don’t give up! Remember Jesus, the stronger man. Remember the finger of God! In story after story in the Gospels, we read about the Lord doing awesome deeds as if it were nothing. Remember when he was confronted with a violent storm at sea. All he had to do was say, “Quiet! Be still!” and everything went calm (Mark 4:39). Or think about how he raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead with just two words: Talitha koum (5:41).
Satan may be strong, but Jesus is stronger. What’s more, he considers you very valuable. So he will absolutely answer when you call to him. Remember, he formed you and loves you. He has redeemed you and claimed you as his own. He will always come to your aid.
So invite Jesus into your strongholds. You may not see immediate results, but that doesn’t mean that he isn’t breaking through and answering your prayers. He is! Just stay close to him. “Gather” to him instead of “scattering” to other forms of comfort and security (Luke 11:23). Keep your heart fixed on him, and you’ll find him giving you his peace and his deliverance.
“Lord, you are my strong deliverer! In your protection, I rest secure.”
Jeremiah 7:23-28
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9
Daily Marriage Tip for March 12, 2015:How long has it been since you had a real date with your beloved? This is the time of year when spirits lag. Christmas and Valentines Day have passed. The weather is gloomy. Plan a romantic pick-me-up.
Jesus or Satan | ||
|
||
March 12, 2015. Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
|
||
![]() |
||
|
March 12, 2015
In the first reading, we are told that there are people who just will not listen to God. They are stubborn and have decided not to obey God. They find pleasure in sinning because it allows them to do what they enjoy doing like cheating to accumulate excessive wealth, engaging in sexual experiences outside of marriage, wasting the goods of the earth and destroying the environment, physically and emotionally hurting others. They are slaves of sin and their consciences have become flawed from repeated sinning. They live without any thought of God and have become depraved. They are slaves of the Evil One. How can such persons be freed from their sinfulness?
The answer to this question is in the Gospel reading. Only through the “finger of God” can demons be cast out. What is this “finger of God”? This refers to the Holy Spirit. Only Jesus who sends his Holy Spirit to save sinful men is strong enough to destroy the many forms of sin.
But the sinner must first come to Jesus for deliverance. He must make an admission of guilt before Jesus can cure him. We, as Christians, have the duty to let people know that Jesus can liberate man from any sin. But man must first acknowledge his faults and believe in the gratuitous love of God. Jesus came to cure sinners and not to exalt the righteous. Let us turn to Jesus when we are in the pit of sin and death. Let us hope in his merciful love and forgiveness.
|
||||
Jeremiah 7:23-28 View Readings |
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9 | Luke 11:14-23 Similar Reflections |
||
ARE YOU HARDLY PRAYING THIS LENT? |
||||
"O, that today you would hear His voice: 'Harden not your heart.' " Psalm 95:7-8 | ||||
There's a lot of attention these days on hardening of the arteries, arteriosclerosis. The arteries clog and harden to the point where the flow of blood can be almost completely blocked. This can lead to sudden death. In a similar way, a hard heart, stiff neck, and turned back lead to spiritual death. That's why we bend our knees in worship and bow our heads in prayer. That's one side effect of the various patterns of standing, sitting, kneeling, processing up to Communion and back, and so on during each Mass. We are constantly moving, which is an aid to preventing a stiff posture before the Lord. Yes, our hearts can still be hard, twisted, tortuous, and self-deceived even at Mass (see Jer 17:9). Yet at Mass we are in the Real Presence of the beating heart of Jesus in His eucharistic glory. I challenge you during the rest of this Lent to try your best to attend Mass daily or as often as possible. If this is not possible, then increase your daily prayer time and try to pray on your knees or bowed down before the Lord. This is a way of humbling ourselves in the sight of the Lord (see Lk 18:9-14; 1 Pt 5:6). Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like Yours. |
||||
Prayer: "Change my heart, O God. Make it ever true." | ||||
Promise: "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters." Lk 11:23 | ||||
Praise: Jan received a healing when praying: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." |
March 12, 2015
In the first reading, we are told that there are people who just will not listen to God. They are stubborn and have decided not to obey God. They find pleasure in sinning because it allows them to do what they enjoy doing like cheating to accumulate excessive wealth, engaging in sexual experiences outside of marriage, wasting the goods of the earth and destroying the environment, physically and emotionally hurting others. They are slaves of sin and their consciences have become flawed from repeated sinning. They live without any thought of God and have become depraved. They are slaves of the Evil One. How can such persons be freed from their sinfulness?
The answer to this question is in the Gospel reading. Only through the “finger of God” can demons be cast out. What is this “finger of God”? This refers to the Holy Spirit. Only Jesus who sends his Holy Spirit to save sinful men is strong enough to destroy the many forms of sin.
But the sinner must first come to Jesus for deliverance. He must make an admission of guilt before Jesus can cure him. We, as Christians, have the duty to let people know that Jesus can liberate man from any sin. But man must first acknowledge his faults and believe in the gratuitous love of God. Jesus came to cure sinners and not to exalt the righteous. Let us turn to Jesus when we are in the pit of sin and death. Let us hope in his merciful love and forgiveness.
Looked for the image and could not find a credible one. The image in Wikipedia clearly reads “episcopos”, and so must be St. Theophanes Bishop of Nicea, also known as Confessor.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.