Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 2-20-03, Optional, Blessed Francesco and Jacinta Marto

USCCB.com/New American Bible ^ | 2-20-03 | New American Bible

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For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments and discussion.

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Alleluia Ping!

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Thought for the Day

Those whose hearts are pure are temples of the Holy Spirit.

 -- St Lucy

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The Word Among Us

Thursday, February 20, 2003 Meditation Mark 8:27-33 Who do you say that I am? (Mark 8:29) During a twenty-five-mile journey to the district of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked this question of his close friends. The crowds thought he was one of the great prophets like John the Baptist, who challenged Herod’s lifestyle; or Elijah, who had humiliated five hundred false prophets in a single demonstration. But what did the Twelve say about him? It turns out that even they were not very clear either. Peter knew that Jesus was “the Christ,” but to him, it meant that Jesus had supernatural power, a divine purpose, and a special relationship with God. Of the deeper and more costly answer to this question—an answer that involved the cross—Peter seemed clueless. How different are God’s ways from ours! He sent his Son not as a fiery prophet or a social activist, but as a suffering servant whose death would atone for all our sins—past, present, and future. Through Jesus, the cross has become the fountain from which every grace and blessing flows: deliverance from sinful patterns; relief from the “shoulds” and “musts” of legalistic observance; wisdom for living in the world; and freedom from the powers of darkness. The instrument of death has now become the way to freedom and life! Who do you say Jesus is? What does it mean for you to embrace the cross? The two questions go hand in hand, for a crucified Messiah must have crucified followers. Do you take up the inner battle of saying “no” to fallen ways of thinking and acting, so that you can be lifted up into the life of God? Do you ask the Spirit to write the truths of your redemption on your heart every day? Do you fix your eyes on Jesus, the crucified Messiah, in prayer? Today, let the Spirit lead you to the cross, where your heart can be healed and your mind renewed. Obey the Spirit’s promptings today—perhaps to deeper repentance, to greater patience, or to stronger love. Listen for his still, small voice as he whispers words of encouragement and correction today. Trust that as you obey the Spirit, he will lead you from death to life. “Thank you, Jesus, for offering your life as a sacrifice for me. Your wondrous expression of love fills my spirit with gratitude and praise.”

[Salvation]

Imagine walking with Jesus that day!

What would I have said about who Jesus is/was?

I like this paragraph above, don't you?

**Today, let the Spirit lead you to the cross, where your heart can be healed and your mind renewed. Obey the Spirit’s promptings today—perhaps to deeper repentance, to greater patience, or to stronger love. Listen for his still, small voice as he whispers words of encouragement and correction today. Trust that as you obey the Spirit, he will lead you from death to life.**

[Salvation]

**Who do you say Jesus is? What does it mean for you to embrace the cross? The two questions go hand in hand, for a crucified Messiah must have crucified followers.**

And good questions to answer as we go about our day today.

[Salvation]

One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

<< Thursday, February 20, 2003 >>

Genesis 9:1-13

Psalm 102

Mark 8:27-33

View Readings

GOD’S FIRST WORDS TO US

“God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them: ‘Be fertile and multiply and fill the earth.’ ” —Genesis 9:1

One of the first things God said to Noah after the flood was the first thing He said to the human race after creating us: “Be fertile and multiply” (Gn 1:28). God concluded His blessing of Noah with the words: “Be fertile, then, and multiply” (Gn 9:7; see also Gn 1:22).

The Lord has made it very clear that children are a blessing from Him (see Ps 127:3) and should be welcomed (see Mt 18:5). In the new covenant, however, the Lord wants us to multiply not only people but also people who are His disciples (see Mt 28:19). He insists that we bear abundantly the fruit of evangelization, or we will be “like a withered, rejected branch, picked up to be thrown in the fire and burnt” (Jn 15:6).

Naturally, the Lord wants human beings to be created within the marriage covenant through sexual relations and brought to birth through the mother’s suffering in pregnancy and delivery. Supernaturally, the Lord makes us new creations (see Gal 6:15) and gives us new birth (see Jn 3:3, 5) by our covenant relationship with Jesus (see Jn 15:5) and our suffering for love of Him.

Don’t be abortifacient or contraceptive. Choose love and life-giving pain. Choose life and be fruitful.

Prayer: Father make me faithful, fruitful, and pleasing to You.

Promise: “The nations shall revere Your name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth Your glory.” —Ps 102:16

Praise: Although enduring more than one miscarriage, Sandra continues to choose to follow God’s call to love and openness to life.

[Bigg Red]

Glory and praise bump

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Pro-life bump!

“God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them: ‘Be fertile and multiply and fill the earth.’ ” —Genesis 9:1

[Desdemona]

BUMP

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Welcome!

[Salvation]

Good morning, Desdemona. How is the rain in St. Louis? Or was that over the weekend?

My sister lives in St. Louis and was at my daughter's wedding and they drove through lots of rain. That's why I phrase my question.

[EODGUY]

Thanks for the ping.

God bless,

EODGUY

[Desdemona]

Well, it's sunny today, but cold. There's water everywhere, though. Actually we fot snow Saturday night. It's almost gone.

[Salvation]

There was a little bit of snow in Chicago on Friday -- had to walk through it to the Rehearsal dinner. Wonderful place, however, Buca d'Beppo or something like that.

Wouldn't you know I had toeless shoes and the boots were back at the hotel! LOL!

[Salvation]

Have a blessed day!!

[EODGUY]

And you as well.

God bless,

EODGUY

[Salvation]

Papal Pilgrimage to Fatima for Beatifications

PAPAL PILGRIMAGE TO FATIMA FOR BEATIFICATIONS

VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- Pope John Paul II traveled to the famed Fatima shrine in Portugal on May 12-13, to preside at the beatification of Francesco and Jacinta Marto, two of the three children to whom the Virgin Mary appeared there in 1917.

During his trip, the Pope made newspaper headlines all over the world by disclosing the content of the "third secret" of Fatima: a vision which essentially predicted the attempt on the Pope's life that occurred on Mary 13, 1981-- the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. (For more details on that announcement, see the special CWNews.com Feature story of May 13.)

The Pope was welcomed at the airport in Lisbon by Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio, and by a large delegation of young children dressed in white. After his helicopter ride to Fatima, he was greeted there by tens of thousands of pilgrims who had come to the shrine for the feast and the beatification ceremonies. 

When the Popemobile arrived at the Fatima shrine itself, the crowd cheered enthusiastically, and the cheering stopped only when the Holy Father knelt before the statue of the Virgin Mary. After a few minutes of silent prayer, the Pope saluted the crowd, saying: "It is a great joy for me to come to this blessed place." The Pope did not participate in the candlelight procession to the shrine, which is an annual tradition on the eve of the feast. But after an evening's rest, he returned to the shrine for the beatification ceremonies on the morning of May 13.

"The message of Fatima is an appeal to conversion," the Pope said in his homily. "In her motherly solicitude, the Blessed Virgin came here, to Fatima, to ask men not to offend God any more. It was a mother's sorrow that obliged her to speak." The Pope told the massive congregation-- estimated at 600,000-- that the feast of Bl. Francesco and Jacinta Marto would be observed on February 20, the day when Jacinta died in 1920. He also reminded the congregation of the "intense spirituality" of the young seers, and the fervent prayer which led to their "true mystical union with the Lord." 

Just prior to the beatification ceremony, the Pope prayed at the graves of the two Fatima seers.
He also met with privately with the third seer, Sister Lucia, who is now a 93-year-old Carmelite nun. Sister Lucia was also present for the beatification, along with the superior of the convent where she lives in Coimbra, Portugal.

[Salvation]

Images from Fatima?

I've got to go to work.

[Gophack]

Praise the Lord BUMP!