MARCH
The
winds of March point to the power of God's Spirit working in us. We need to
listen and respond to the gentle breezes of the Spirit; but will we, or will we
be too distracted? The rebirth of spring reminds us of the energy of nature so
that we ask ourselves whether we waste or wisely use energy –electricity, oil,
gas, etc. Can we and should we continue to use nonrenewable fossil fuels, often
with accompanying air pollution, at the rate we do? Or will the environmental
ills we cause today call us in the future as a society to use wind and solar
energy?
John Paul II
further said, “Because St. Joseph is the protector of the Church, he is the
guardian of the Eucharist and the Christian family. Therefore, we must turn to
St. Joseph today to ward off attacks upon the real presence of Christ in the
Eucharist and upon the family. We must plead with St. Joseph to guard the
Eucharistic Lord and the Christian family during this time of peril.”
As we continue our journey "up to
Jerusalem" during the month of March, three prominent ideas are proposed
for our contemplation by the liturgy of Lent: the Passion and Resurrection of
Christ, baptism, and penance. The Solemnity of St. Joseph is a special
landmark this month in which we will celebrate the great honor bestowed upon
the foster father of Jesus. And if you are Irish (who isn't), St. Patrick's
feast is another cause for a joyful celebration. The feast of the Annunciation
is celebrated on March 25.
The
entire month falls during the liturgical season of Lent
which is represented by the liturgical color purple — a symbol of penance,
mortification and the sorrow of a contrite heart.
A Time of Penance
and Promise
Here and there in the stark March
landscape, a few plants and trees are beginning to give evidence of the new
life that winter’s frost and chill had concealed from our eyes. The Church’s
vibrant new life has been obscured, too, by the austerity of the penitential
season of Lent. But that life is indisputable, and it will burgeon forth on
Easter as Christ coming forth from his tomb! During this month we will continue
our journey to the cross with our acts of penitence. We will reflect on our
mortality ("Remember man thou art dust") and the shortness of
life ("and to dust thou shall return"). We will heed the call,
"Now is the acceptable time, now is “the day of salvation (2 Corinthians
6:2).” Just like Our Lord's earthly life every moment of our lives is leading
up to the last moment—when for eternity we will either go to God or suffer the
fires of hell. During this month we will go from the suffering of Good Friday
to the joy of Easter Sunday. We will trade the purple of penance for the white
of victory and resurrection. The feast of the Annunciation, normally celebrated
on March 25, has been transferred to April 9 since it falls on Palm Sunday. Let
us not tire of doing our good works and penance, but continue with the
enthusiasm of the catechumens on their way to Easter and Baptism. May our
Lenten observance be a joyful journey — and not a forced march.
MARCH
1 Thursday
FULL
WORM MOON
Isaiah, Chapter
54, verse 14:
In justice shall
you be established, far from oppression, you shall not fear, from destruction, it cannot come near.
Isaiah
in this chapter states that God will create a new Zion, which He has in the
State of Israel and God gives assurances of love for Israel and of safety from
various possible threats; the phrase sums up both the positive aspects of
shalom, which implies a fullness of blessing, and protection from all that
might harm and a perpetual promise of peace-shalom.
If
we wish to have peace or Shalom, we must develop a holy fear, that is wonder and awe at God, in ourselves to do so, we
should read the bible every day. Perhaps today would be a good day to shut off
the TV and read a chapter a day for every day of your life or read the daily
readings for the Mass. Perhaps doing this along with a family dinner where you
pray together over the meal and then read the bible together would help
strengthen families.
A
good resource to peruse to strengthen the family is:
Know Your Enemy
Like
it or not, you are at war. No matter who you are— whether or not you know it—
you have a mortal enemy who wants to destroy you, not just in this life, but in
the next. No matter where you live on this planet— whether or not you can see
it— you live on a hotly contested battlefield, and you can’t escape the
conflict. It’s a spiritual war with crucial consequences in your everyday life.
And the outcome of that war will determine your eternal destiny. The first rule
of any type of warfare is to know your enemy.
·
Your
adversary is the Devil, with his army of demons. Your battle with him rages not
only all around you, but also within you, a fierce conflict for control of your
mind, your heart, and your ultimate destiny.
·
Those
who deny the devils existence are easy prey.
Blessed
is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is the LORD. He is like a tree
planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: It fears
not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; In the year of drought it
shows no distress, but still bears fruit.
Lenten Calendar[3]-The Third Servant Song-
In the third song, we learn of the abuse and derision the Servant endured at
the hands of his enemies.
Salvation
through the Lord’s Servant
Thus
says the LORD: Where is the
bill of divorce with which I dismissed your mother? Or to which of my creditors
have I sold you? It was for your sins you were sold, for your rebellions your
mother was dismissed. Why was no one there when I came? Why did no one answer
when I called? Is my hand too short to ransom? Have I not the strength to
deliver? See, with my rebuke I dry up the sea, I turn rivers into wilderness; their
fish rot for lack of water, and die of thirst. I clothe the heavens in black, and
make sackcloth their covering. The Lord GOD has given me a
well-trained tongue, that I might know how to answer the weary a word that will
waken them. Morning after morning he wakens my ear to hear as disciples do; the
Lord GOD opened my ear; I
did not refuse, did not turn away. I gave my back to those who beat me, my
cheeks to those who tore out my beard; my face I did not hide from insults and
spitting. The Lord GOD is my help; therefore
I am not disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, knowing that I
shall not be put to shame. He who declares my innocence is near. Who will
oppose me? Let us appear together. Who will dispute my right? Let them confront
me. See, the Lord GOD is my help; who
will declare me guilty? See, they will all wear out like a garment, consumed by
moths. Who among you fears the LORD, heeds his
servant’s voice? Whoever walk in darkness, without any light, yet trust in the
name of the LORD and rely upon
their God! All you who kindle flames and set flares alight walk by the light of
your own fire and by the flares you have burnt! This is your fate from my hand:
you shall lie down in a place of torment.
Full Worm Moon
According
to the almanac we are having a Full Worm Moon-plan to take your family or
grandchildren fishing!
Daily Devotions
·
Manhood of
the Master-Day 5 week 5
·
Day
9 Devotion to
the Holy Face
·
Do
20 min. in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
·
In
honor of Purim—fast Thursday-Friday and Saturday evening/Sunday have a feast.
·
Please
pray for me and this ministry
[2]Thigpen,
Paul. Manual for Spiritual Warfare (Kindle Locations 115-124). TAN Books.
Kindle Edition.
[3]http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/march-1.cfm
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