Monday, March 26, 2018
Baruch was Jeremiah's secretary, and he thus
lived in the 6th century B.C. (though some conjecture that the book is only
attributed to him but may have actually been written in the 2nd century B.C. to
give people hope during the Maccabean Revolt). Baruch's book offers the People
of God in either century (and our own) a second chance and reasons for hope. In
his pages, we'll read of the Jews in exile in Babylon and of his call to pray for
them, send them funds, and even pray for the ruler there, Nebuchadnezzar: delivery into
his hands had been God's will, and now the people were to pray for forgiveness
of their sins (ch. 1); we hear more about cannibalism in the next chapter, as
well as a wonderful Prayer for Deliverance (well worth our own occasional
saying) and the promise of a new Covenant ahead (ch. 2); then comes a beautiful
poem on Wisdom which should serve as a guide back into God's graces (ch. 3);
this poem continues into the next chapter which then launches into
encouragement for those in exile not to lose heart because help is on the way
and they will be free—perfect Lenten themes (ch. 4); then, just as in other
places in the Bible God gives people new names when a new divine-human
relationship is struck, so too the whole people God is saving receive new
names: “Peace-Through-Justice” and “Glory-Through-Devotion”—God was into
hyphenated names (ch. 5); the final chapter in some older Bibles actually
appears as a separate book between Lamentations and Baruch as it is a Letter of
Jeremiah which Baruch, his secretary, here incorporates into his own book: it
reiterates that the people's long captivity was due to their having turned in
the past to foolish idols (ch. 6).
Monday of Holy Week
This
is why you put into our hearts the fear
of you: that we may call upon your name, and praise you in our exile, when we
have removed from our hearts all the wickedness of our ancestors who sinned
against you.
What we are talking about is the effects of having
the sins of our forefathers having a negative influence on us. This is often
referred to as generational sin.
It is very important to remember that the sins of
previous generations can be visited upon the present generation, as well as our
sins today being visited on future generations. The Bible says in Exodus 20:5
(where God gives us His First Commandment to have no strange gods before Him),
Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18, & Deuteronomy 5:9, that the punishment for sins
can be given to the 3rd and 4th succeeding generations. You may want to think
about that while you are considering committing a mortal sin. Do you really
want the punishment for your sin given to your baby daughter, or to your
grandson? This actually happened to David, where his son was killed for
his adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:14), even after his guilt was removed.
In the New Testament, Jesus talks about the blood of the prophets killed in
previous generations being brought to bear on the current generation in
Jerusalem (Matthew 23:29-36 and Luke 11:47-51). That's a scary thought for us
alive today, with all of the blood of the 60 million or so innocent babies who
were legally killed in the womb in the USA since 1973 being brought to bear
upon us someday. There are people who don't believe in future generations
being punished for the sins of previous generations, but then you have to
remember that we are ALL still suffering for the one sin of Adam and
Eve. In 2 Maccabees 6:14, it says that God waits patiently to
punish nations until they have reached the full measure of their sins. Of
course, the really good news is that for those who love and serve Jesus, his
love is extended to a thousand generations, from Deuteronomy 7:9. So what do we
need to do about all of these inter-generational curses caused by ancestral
sins? Two things - You can recite the prayer below from Father Hampsch
and the Claretian Teaching Ministry every day. The best time to recite it
is immediately after Holy Communion, when you and Jesus Christ are one; when
you are like the Blessed Virgin Mary - a living tabernacle of The Savior.
That is when you are the holiest, and when your prayers are the most
efficacious. A few minutes of heartfelt prayer after receiving Jesus in
the Eucharist while in the state of grace are worth many hours of prayer later
on. And, you can also have the spiritual benefits of
having Holy Mass celebrated for your family tree - past, present AND future.
Prayer for Healing the Family Tree
"Heavenly
Father, I come before you as your child, in great need of your help; I have
physical health needs, emotional needs, spiritual needs, and interpersonal
needs. Many of my problems have been caused by my own failures, neglect and
sinfulness, for which I humbly beg your forgiveness, Lord. But I also ask you
to forgive the sins of my ancestors whose failures have left their effects on
me in the form of unwanted tendencies, behavior patterns and defects in body,
mind and spirit. Heal me, Lord, of all these disorders. With your help I
sincerely forgive everyone, especially living or dead members of my family
tree, who have directly offended me or my loved ones in any way, or those whose
sins have resulted in our present sufferings and disorders. In the name of your
divine Son, Jesus, and in the power of his Holy Spirit, I ask you, Father, to
deliver me and my entire family tree from the influence of the evil one. Free
all living and dead members of my family tree, including those in adoptive
relationships, and those in extended family relationships, from every
contaminating form of bondage. By your loving concern for us, heavenly Father,
and by the shed blood of your precious Son, Jesus, I beg you to extend your
blessing to me and to all my living and deceased relatives. Heal every negative
effect transmitted through all past generations, and prevent such negative
effects in future generations of my family tree. I symbolically place the cross
of Jesus over the head of each person in my family tree, and between each
generation; I ask you to let the cleansing blood of Jesus purify the bloodlines
in my family lineage. Set your protective angels to encamp around us, and
permit Archangel Raphael, the patron of healing, to administer your divine
healing power to all of us, even in areas of genetic disability. Give special
power to our family members' guardian angels to heal, protect, guide and encourage
each of us in all our needs. Let your healing power be released at this very
moment, and let it continue as long as your sovereignty permits. In our family
tree, Lord, replace all bondage with a holy bonding in family love. And let
there be an ever-deeper bonding with you, Lord, by the Holy Spirit, to your
Son, Jesus. Let the family of the Holy Trinity pervade our family with its
tender, warm, loving presence, so that our family may recognize and manifest
that love in all our relationships. All of our unknown needs we include with
this petition that we pray in Jesus' precious Name. Amen.
"St. Joseph,
Patron of family life, pray for us.
Behold,
the eye of the LORD is upon those who fear him, upon those who count on his
mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive through famine.
(Ps. 33:18-19)
The Gospel
for the Mass gives an account of Judas' character, foreshadowing his act of
betrayal.
Spring Cleaning
Just as the
Hebrews cleaned and swept the whole house in preparation for the Pasch
(Passover), so too is there an ancient custom in Christianity that the first
three weekdays of Holy Week be a time for the year's most thorough cleaning.
Everything is to be scrubbed and polished, and all work is to be completed by
Wednesday evening (in time for Tenebrae).
Tenebrae consists of the
divine office of Matins and Lauds for Maundy Thursday. It is generally held on
the night of "Spy Wednesday" of Holy Week, so-called because it is
believed to be the night on which Judas Iscariot betrayed our Lord.
Attend the Chrism Mass which is conducted on
this day when the bishop blesses the holy oils to be used for the year.
Today the liturgy presents two
noteworthy characters who play dissimilar roles in the Lord's passion. One
fills us with solace and comfort; the other with uneasiness and wholesome fear.
Their juxtaposition produces a powerful effect by way of contrast. The two
characters are Mary of Bethany and Judas. Jesus is in the house of Lazarus, at
dinner. Mary approaches, anoints the feet of her Savior for His burial and
dries them with her hair. Judas resents her action and resolves upon his evil
course. These two persons typify man's relation to Christ. He gives His Body to
two types of individuals: to Magdalenes to be anointed, to Judases to be
kissed; to good persons who repay Him with love and service, to foes who
crucify Him. How movingly this is expressed in the Lesson: "I gave My body
to those who beat Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked them. I did not turn
away My face from those who cursed and spit upon Me." The same must hold
true of His mystical Body. Down through the ages Christ is enduring an endless
round of suffering, giving His body to other Marys for anointing and to other
Judases to be kissed, beaten, and mistreated. Augustine explains how we can
anoint Christ's body:
Anoint Jesus'
feet by a life pleasing to God. Follow in His footsteps; if you have an
abundance, give it to the poor. In this way you can wipe the feet of the Lord.
The poor are, as it were, the feet of
the mystical Christ. By aiding them we can comfort our Lord in His mystical
life, where He receives Judas' kisses on all sides-the sins of Christians. The
Gospel account may be understood in a very personal way. In everyone's heart,
in my own too, there dwell two souls: a Judas-soul and a Mary-soul. The former
is the cause of Jesus' suffering, it is always ready to apostatize, always
ready to give the traitor's kiss. Are you full master over this Judas-soul
within you? Your Magdalen-soul is a source of comfort to Christ in His
sufferings. May the holy season of Lent, which with God's help we are about to
bring to a successful conclusion, bring victory over the Judas-soul and
strengthen the Magdalen-soul within our breasts.
The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?
Daily Devotions
·
Manhood of
the Master-Day 2 week 9
·
Do
60 min. in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
·
Please
pray for me and this ministry
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