Sunday, March 19, 2017 Third Sunday of Lent

Christ again foreshadows his victory (this time over the devil), but as we move closer to Passiontide, he also hints at the way in which this will be done.

Deuteronomy, Chapter 31, Verse 12-13

¹²Assemble the people—men, women and children, as well as the resident aliens who live in your communities—that they may hear and so learn to fear the LORD, your God, and to observe carefully all the words of this law. ¹³ Their children also, who do not know it yet, shall hear and learn to fear the LORD, your God, as long as you live on the land which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess.

With the coming of the secular age we have forgotten Who made us great and have not taught our children and immigrants fear of the Lord and as a result our world languishes.

Fear not, my people! Remember, Israel, You were sold to the nations not for your destruction; It was because you angered God that you were handed over to your foes. For you provoked your Maker with sacrifices to demons, to no-gods; You forsook the Eternal God who nourished you and you grieved Jerusalem who fostered you. She indeed saw coming upon you the anger of God; and she said: “Hear, you neighbors of Zion! (Baruch 4: 5-9)

Fear not, my children; call out to God! He who brought this upon you will remember you. As your hearts have been disposed to stray from God, turn now ten times the more to seek him; For he who has brought disaster upon you will, in saving you, bring you back enduring joy.” (Baruch 4: 27-29)

What Can We Do? We must promote faith by having devotion to the Divine Mercy and prayer in our families. Christ started His ministry via Mary’s request at the wedding at Cana with a new family: a couple; a new Eve and a new Adam. Christ ended his ministry by making a new family. Woman this is your son…what is needed today to restore, protect and sanctify our world is devotion through families to the Divine Mercy. The Divine Mercy devotion is meant for the end times, therefore, the consecration prayer which enriches the devotion, fits perfectly into the “real time” of families everywhere.

Lord Jesus, if you want to pour your mercy out on souls, how much more must you desire to pour it out on whole families, especially in our time when so many families reject you. Therefore, we the ______________ Family offer ourselves to your merciful love and ask for the graces and mercy that other families refuse. We ask this in order to console your Heart and because we need your mercy. Fill us with your mercy, Lord. Please forgive us our sins, and give us the grace to be merciful to one another in our deeds, words, and prayers. May the rays of mercy that go forth from your Heart reign in our home and in our hearts. Please make our home a place where your mercy can rest and where we, too, can find rest in your mercy. Bless us with your mercy when we leave our home and bless us again when we return. Bless everyone we meet with the mercy you pour into our hearts. Especially bless those who visit our home — may they experience your mercy here.

My spring edition of Be Not Afraid is now available at my estore.

Mary, Mother of Mercy, help us to faithfully live our Offering to God's Merciful Love. We give ourselves to you and ask you to share with us your Immaculate Heart. Help us to accept your Son's mercy with your own openness of heart at the Annunciation. Help us to be grateful for God's mercy with your own joyful heart at the Visitation. Help us to trust in God's mercy, especially during times of darkness, with your own steadfast faith at Calvary. Finally, Mary, protect and preserve our family in love, so that one day we may rejoice together with you and all the saints in the communion of the eternal Family of Love, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

St. Joseph, pray for us. St. Faustina, pray for us. St. Thérèse, pray for us.[1]

Aids in Battle[2] When tempted and tested

The ordinary activity of the Enemy is to seek the ruin of souls through various kinds of temptation. These passages offer counsel about how to turn away from evil so that you can overcome temptation and pass the tests that God allows for your strengthening.

· Because He Himself suffered and has been tempted, He is able to help those who are tempted. . . . We may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Heb 2: 17– 18; 4: 14– 16

· My son, if you come forward to serve the LORD, remain in justice and in fear, and prepare yourself for temptation. Sir 2: 1

· [Jesus prayed:] “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the Evil One.” Jn 17: 15 RSVCE

· Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been tried, he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him. Let no man say when he is tempted, that he is tempted by God; for God is no tempter to evil, and He Himself tempts no one. But everyone is tempted by being drawn away and enticed by his own passion. Then when passion has conceived, it brings forth sin; but when sin has matured, it begets death. Therefore, my beloved brethren, do not err. Jas 1: 12– 16

· The fear of men lays a snare, but he who trusts in the LORD is safe. Pr 29: 25

· The Lord knows how to deliver the God-fearing from temptation. 2 Pt 2: 9

· Have no anxiety, but in every prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God. And may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. For the rest, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever honorable, whatever just, whatever holy, whatever lovable, whatever of good repute, if there be any virtue, if anything worthy of praise, think upon these things. Phil 4: 6– 9

St Joseph[3]

The feast of St Joseph commemorates Joseph, the husband of the virgin Mary and Stepfather of Jesus. Joseph married Mary and later discovered that she was pregnant. Knowing that this child was not his own but not wanting any harm to come to her, he sent her away. Joseph only brought her back when an angel came to him in a dream explaining that the child Mary carried inside of her was conceived from the Holy Spirit. It is believed that Joseph died before Jesus began his public life as an adult as there is no mention of Joseph in the bible after Jesus' childhood. The feast of St. Joseph is celebrated annually on March 19^th, however, because today falls on a Sunday the church officially celebrates the day tomorrow.

St Joseph Facts & Quotes

·         Joseph is noted in the Bible for being a direct descendant of King David in the Old Testament, which gives him a royal lineage (Matthew 1:1-16, Luke 3:23-38).
·         St. Joseph actually has two feast days in the Roman Catholic Church. The March 19 date celebrates him as husband of Mary. He is revered again on May 1 as a worker. In the Orthodox tradition, Joseph is revered during the Great Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord in September.
·         St Joseph is the patron saint of the dying and of carpenters.
·         It is a wise father that knows his own child. - William Shakespeare

St Joseph Top Events and Things to Do

·         Practice carpentry skills to build something. Jesus is known as the son of a carpenter, or builder. Saint Joseph is the patron saint of carpenters.
·         Investigate your lineage. Genealogy can sometimes yield interesting information about where we came from. Maybe you come from royal lineage, too!
·         Joseph raised a child that was not his own. Thank a man who has served as a father for someone else's children.
·         Enjoy Italian food in St. Joseph's honor. He is one of the most beloved saints in Italian-American communities.
·         Visit an Italian Bakery and pick up some delicious St Joseph's bread (Pane di San Giuseppe). St. Joseph's Bread is typically made with egg and has a thicker crust. It is often marked or shaped in a cross.